Hi everyone! Johnny Downey, instructional coach from Cincinnati, Ohio! I have been looking forward to this chat since I had the chance to shake @drgravityg hand at NCTE! SO PUMPED!!! #G2Great
Hi everyone! Johnny Downey, instructional coach from Cincinnati, Ohio! I have been looking forward to this chat since I had the chance to shake @drgravityg hand at NCTE! SO PUMPED!!! #G2Great
Hi #g2great Brent from Magrath on partial ROBO mode as I have Basketball practice. Love #teachlikeyourself and think it is the message Ts need now more than ever with the flood of "be someone else" messages coming out. #g2great
Hello, Faige sub teacher in Los Angeles. This week kinders and 4 year olds. Glad to be here for awhile. It’s really raining here and we never do well in rain. #g2great
A1. Core values are defined and aligned with instruction, assessment and the caring attention provided to each and every student. Find that role that matches YOU! #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
Don’t you love it when your computer has a nervous breakdown just as you start a chat. Sorry I disappeared for a few minutes. Sort of like teaching, isn’t it - we never know? #G2Great
A1 to me it means bring my passion and my all into daily teaching. One way I do that is by sharing professional text I’ve been reading. Show the Ts I work with that I am a learner too, I don’t have all the answers but will find them! #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A1 Authenticity begins by knowing and celebrating your WHY – those things we value based on knowledge about research and the learning process. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A1. 'Teaching Like Yourself' to me means offering your true self to your students to form relationships with them. Trying to remember why you became a teacher in the first place will usually bring you back to your authentic teaching self! #G2Great
A1- Staying true to your own teaching heart. It's not just emulating what others are doing even if it seems to be working for them. It has to align with who you are and what you believe. #g2great
A1: As I am reading through #teachlikeyourself and the idea of Authenticity impacting my teaching I think about that idea to focus on what I am good at and can bring to the table. The teaching comes from our strengths but also analyzing our fears. #G2Great
Recently had to record myself for a class at #bankstreet and I felt so self conscious because I didn't feel authentic. Felt like I was being more animated and acting. Trying to figure out my authentic teaching self. #litbankstreet#G2Great
A1 When I teach like myself I am in the moment and not over thinking things in my head. I trust myself and my students. I listen to my gut and I act from a place of steady confidence #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A1: Authentic teaching is about bringing your whole self to the classroom - mistakes and all. Letting your students know there are things you are working on, just like they are. #g2great
A1: Teaching like myself means choosing to be vulnerable. It means practicing what I teach by taking risks just like I ask my students to do. We write together in collaboration not competition. #g2great
A1 Always follow your personal compass to do what’s best for kids. You know more than any resource ever can about the people and minds that sit in your classroom day in and day out. #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A1 AUTHENTICITY comes with RESPONSIBILITY. Being authentically true to one’s self also requires us to be responsible for grounding that authenticity in knowledge. We can’t have one without the other. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A1: Teaching is an ART. It takes PASSION. Each educator has a special “pizazz” that makes him/her unique! Bring this to LIFE by being OPEN with your communication with your students. Express your feelings and SHARE parts of your life story with them ❤️ @drgravityg#g2great
But in the early stages of learning it’s those messy moments of uncertainty that plants the seeds for authenticity. We’ve all been there and I never want to lose that sense of newness. It shows you care! #G2Great
Recently had to record myself for a class at #bankstreet and I felt so self conscious because I didn't feel authentic. Felt like I was being more animated and acting. Trying to figure out my authentic teaching self. #litbankstreet#G2Great
A1: I relate this to being ‘real’ - celebrating wins, accepting some failures and continuous reflection because both of those two things will happen. Guaranteed. #g2great
A1 Teaching like yourself means avoiding copying strategies of others & making teaching your own. Avoid redoing what others do because it's popular or is all over social media. Be who you are. Seek inspiration, reflect on who you are and bring your passions to the front. #g2great
I love that Cornelius Minor reminds us that when our lessons are too complicated, we can’t really be present in those precious learning moments. Authenticity and simplicity can be wonderful mergers! #G2Great@MisterMinor
Recently had to record myself for a class at #bankstreet and I felt so self conscious because I didn't feel authentic. Felt like I was being more animated and acting. Trying to figure out my authentic teaching self. #litbankstreet#G2Great
A1 Being AUTHENTIC doesn’t mean we get free range to do whatever we choose without considering the implications for kids. We celebrate who we are as teachers while celebrating what matters most for our kids. It’s a two-way street #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A1: We have to show ourselves as learners to kids. They need to know we make mistakes and grow from them, too. We have to know our passions and continue growing right beside our Ss. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A1: Teaching like myself means choosing to be vulnerable. It means practicing what I teach by taking risks just like I ask my students to do. We write together in collaboration not competition. #g2great
A1: To #teachlikeyourself#G2Great for me means having #ThankfulThursday class meetings where we may share our problems, solutions and must share something for which we are thankful. My students shared they are thankful for me.
A2. Ss gain the energy that comes from the match between your voice, actions and habits when you are authentic. Ss fuel your continued learning. Happiness and success snowball for all!
#G2Great#teachlikeyourself@CorwinPress
A1 for me authenticity requires accountability. Easier to be myself when I've already told someone that it's a goal and they've agreed to support me in that goal. Right now that person is my husband :) #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
In reply to
@hayhurst3, @drgravityg, @DrMaryHoward, @franmcveigh, @brennanamy
A1: I try to remain as present as possible w/Ss so that I can be my authentic, calm, positive self. I will say I have become a better person through teaching. #G2Great
#g2great A1 being present, sharing your passions, humbled by your weaknesses, and proud of your unique contributions...when students see you as a lifelong learner who enjoys walking side by side them on their journey
A1 I think letting Ss in on my thinking process and inviting their thoughts too so that they see themselves as part of the process. Important to me because I need a team around me to support the real me! Team gives me confidence! #g2great
A1: To teach as our authentic selves is to realize that we either know our lines and our blocking or we improvise as we go. When the students are in the room and the bell rings, it's showtime. There is no understudy waiting in the wings. #g2great
A2 students get to see teachers being real and true to who they are. Authenticity always adds an element to classrooms that cannot be replaced by anything else. Authenticity is real world, it’s what our Ss deserve and need from us each and every day! #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A2 Being authentic as educators and not trying to fit a “teacher mold” comes with a sense of freedom and happiness. This will have a domino effect for students since our committed joy impacts them as well. Professional happiness is contagious #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A1: Catching up, but to be authentic, sometimes you have to figure out who you are. You might not know! My best teaching experiences have been riddled with failure, success, excitement, it's all good. I didn't know what wld happen but I was led by inquiry #G2Great
A2. Our most important lesson to our Ss: we need each of you to be exactly who you are! So we need to model this. Our students shouldn’t have a building full of cloned teachers who all did a book study. If teaching is an art, the artist needs to shine through. #G2Great
#g2great A1 being present, sharing your passions, humbled by your weaknesses, and proud of your unique contributions...when students see you as a lifelong learner who enjoys walking side by side them on their journey
A1: showing your excitement for something, honesty if it’s something you struggle with. Ss can feel your emotions and being honest about name brings a level of authenticity #g2great
#G2Great A2: Listening to your students takes confidence. Step back and let them tell you who they are. They will accept who you are if you first accept them.
A2: Students gain the knowledge that it is not only ok to be themselves but that to be the best learner they can be we should embrace our strengths and share them. #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A 2: I remember my teachers who were authentic. The ones I connected with, the ones who taught me what they were passionate about, and the ones I remember now. If my teachers weren't authentic with me, I wouldn't have opened up to them as a student. #G2Great#litbankstreet
A2: For me, as a reader, writer, learner, etc., I share my life experiences and how they have been changed by my learning and desire to know more. #G2Great
A2 Students gain role models, passionate adults, caring educators. When teachers are authentic, we learn with our hearts and build relationships. There is empathy & understanding. Students are invited to be themselves, take risks & know it is okay to fail & learn. #g2great
#G2Great A1 keeping students front and center, keeping my pulse on them, being responsive to needs observed, personalizing and tailoring instruction to those needs and using experiences relative to class community
A2 #g2great They see your passion, your looking to learn, your wonder. They see that you willing to try and somethings aren’t there “yet” Their empowered by your authenticity’s a person as a teacher, as a learner.
A2: “Wow, Mr. Carter really gets into this reading 📖 and writing ✍️ stuff... He gets as excited as I do when I get a new LEGO piece! I’m really going to try my best today because I like when Mr. C gets excited!” - 1st grade brain 🧠 #G2Great@DrMaryHoward@drgravityg
A2: Ss can see it’s okay to show excitement and it’s okay to be nervous. Implementing a new math curriculum, I’ve shared if it’s hard for us Tt to figure out. It’s okay to mess up, Ss remove a level of fear and take those chances #g2great
Q2: trust & safety in knowing we are a community of learners-all learning from each other, taking risks together and that learning is continuous no matter how much practice we have. #G2Great
A1: Also, being my authentic self means I try really hard to follow educational research. Even when it's hard, especially when it's hard and challenges my own assumptions and practices. #G2Great
A2: I hope, and believe, my Ss see me as a learner, right along side them. I'm reading, I'm writing, I'm problem solving. I'm sharing it with them. #G2Great
A2: students see that teachers deeply care about them and are then more willing to learn, rise to challenges, and open their minds to new perspectives #litbankstreet#G2Great
A1: To teach as our authentic selves is to realize that we either know our lines and our blocking or we improvise as we go. When the students are in the room and the bell rings, it's showtime. There is no understudy waiting in the wings. #g2great
A2 Kids gain the benefit of meaningful purposeful and AUTHENTIC learning experiences. In turn, we gain from the knowledge that we’re doing the right thing on their behalf. WIN WIN! #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
They see how you react when you face moments of challenge or trouble. The problem solving process is demystified allowing kids to see how learners grow from difficult moments #teachlikeyourself#g2Great
A2: An authentic teacher gives Ss a true mentor - which makes them feel SAFE and learning can grow. They see themselves in you and their trust in you helps them trust themselves. #g2great#litbankstreet
A2- The Ts I remember most from my days in school are those who shared their passions with us- I can so clearly remember how their faces lit up when they spoke about what/whom they loved. #g2great
A1: Teach like yourself to me means to bring your personality into the classroom. Let your kids find our the person you are, your interests, family etc. This helps build that classroom community. #G2Great
A2: when Ts are authentic Ss see a real version of who they might become. They build trusting relationships that take learning as far as it can go. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A2) When teachers are authentic, it shows investment in relationships and that makes kids more willing to invest in relationships; in the eyes of kids, it means you care. #g2great
A 2 Our authenticity gives students strength to be honest, open and find their authenticity. Relationships between teachers and students flourish when both develop comfort with who they are and where they can go. #G2Great
I totally agree with you on this. It shows a great example of teachers being vulnerable and willing to go above and beyond to support the success of their students. #litbankstreet#G2great
A2 students get to see teachers being real and true to who they are. Authenticity always adds an element to classrooms that cannot be replaced by anything else. Authenticity is real world, it’s what our Ss deserve and need from us each and every day! #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A2 They see that, like me, they can be open and vulnerable while being true to themselves and trusting their feelings. A ‘fail’ can be their first attempt in learning and the path to finding their why! #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A2: It helps students see that we are the same regardless of our titles. We all are learning, making mistakes, and taking risks everyday together #g2great#litbankstreet
A2: As a student myself this semester, I hope that I have been able to demonstrate for students how I approach my studies/work. How I fret like them that what I am submitting is my best. That I am "smart." That feedback for my work matters. And I know it matters to them. #g2great
This question about authenticity is such an important one in this day and age. I think that so many teachers are bombarded with mandates that we need to work even harder to keep our authentic alive! #G2Great .
A1 I think letting Ss in on my thinking process and inviting their thoughts too so that they see themselves as part of the process. Important to me because I need a team around me to support the real me! Team gives me confidence! #g2great
A2 I’ve watched teachers teach according to district mandates and I’ve watched teachers teach according to what they know and believe without a box. I can tell you that the difference is palpable and lingering! Mandates do not authentic make! #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
I was just typing a similar response. If we don't show care but at the same time show we won't give up, they will see the cracks. We can't give up. #G2Great
A2: Students gain empathy when teachers and adults are authentic. They look at us as models. We can show them it's OK to show emotion and be vulnerable. #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A2: When I am authentic students take me seriously. Yesterday I gathered some students to praise their poetry. I really love their words. They agreed to go public and raise their voices in the classroom and beyond. Slam poetry is in our future. More to come. 😎🎉 #g2great
I think of these authentic experiences as being student driven, often inquiry based and full of S/T collaboration in the form of discussion, feedback and critical thinking. Such a rich and valuable learning environment! #G2Great
A3. What gets in way:
Lack of time.
Competing mandates.
Fear of not being "enough".
Lack of depth of knowledge that matches core convictions.
Need to "have" a job/income.
Punished for nonconformity.
Ostracized by peers.
Need safe environment.
#G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A1/A2: One of the more authentic things we might do our selves and our students is to teach, to model, and to invite reflection. In our writing. In our interactions. Maybe we should call our own assessments, "Me-Valuation." And then show students our affirming criteria. #g2great
This question about authenticity is such an important one in this day and age. I think that so many teachers are bombarded with mandates that we need to work even harder to keep our authentic alive! #G2Great .
By being authentic, I hope students learn how to build relationships with others, how to truly listen to each other, make mistakes, take risks, and working hard to achieve goals. #g2great
A3: Fear. Fear of failure, fear of judgment. I love the thought about not being afraid to go higher but being afraid of the fall. I relate to that so much. I think when we teach Ss that we can be the net when the fall is too great they are more likely to take risks. #G2Great
A3: Fear. Fear of being judged. Fear of being called out. Fear of not doing what’s right for kids, even when they know and have the tools, because it goes against the grain. #G2Great
A3 the pressures of state testing, Ts feel an urgency to because of “the test” I try to ease minds but it’s easy to stand on the outside and say its going to be ok. How about state tests be replaced with authentic assessments? #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A3 Definitely compliance gets in the way. Boxed programs are a major obsession yet again or kids are forced to sit in front of a computer as technological quick fixes get them further behind AND kill the love of reading (and teaching). #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
#G2Great A1. The students need to see you for the person you are and not what they think you are, it what you might want them to think of you. in any case u believe.kids are very smart and they see through any farce ir facade that you might be hiding behind.They are V perceptive
A3: Right now I feel like I am trying to teach in a way that's the same way as my host teacher. Trying to fit into the school system instead of being myself. #litbankstreet#G2Great
A3: Sometimes I'm afraid we trick ourselves into thinking we are completely helpless. If I find this in myself, I ask, "can I show the worth?" If I can, I do it. #G2great
I’d like to cast my vote of a resounding yes. Until we rethink our obsession with numbers, spreadsheets, test scores and grades, we will never truly see the child in front of us - the very reason we are there in the first place #G2Great
A3 the pressures of state testing, Ts feel an urgency to because of “the test” I try to ease minds but it’s easy to stand on the outside and say its going to be ok. How about state tests be replaced with authentic assessments? #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A3: #G2Great For me, the district constraints coming down from well meaning administrators makes teachers nervous and prevents them from teaching from the heart.
A3 An honest answer: excuses. There is always a lack of time, too many mandates, pressure from colleagues/admin, test scores, where children are in learning...etc. We need to be courageous, break the mold and work what we believe into the structure we have. Let's do it! #g2great
A3. Sometimes I think it’s ‘fidelity’ to programs. Sometimes I think it’s pressure to have big personalities or to teach like the newest ‘fad.’ Teachers really need to have strong theories of pedagogy, learning, and THEMSELVES to remain true to their authentic T-self. #G2Great
A2: When we are authentic, students can see that we are genuine people. If we make mistakes and fix them they learn it’s ok to make and learn from mistakes. If we celebrate successes they learn to celebrate. They can learn social emotional skills just by being authentic. #G2Great
A3: curriculum and state standards are easy ones. Time is also a factor. More complicated is fear: fear of failure, judgement from others. Being with authentic is being sometimes being different and that’s OKAY! #g2great
A2 I’ve watched teachers teach according to district mandates and I’ve watched teachers teach according to what they know and believe without a box. I can tell you that the difference is palpable and lingering! Mandates do not authentic make! #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
#G2Great A2. Students see role models in adults and they need to see the real picture not a potrayal...it helps them in developing rounded personalities and not aping or faking
A3: It’s the unobtainable list of “to do” items. It’s the boxes of curriculum and mandated computer programs and the demoralization of teachers who want to be do more for their students but are held back and not allowed to authentically innovate #G2Great
A3 A lot of what gets in the way of us being ourselves as teachers is the idea there is a right way or a best way. When we are so busy trying to arrive as some imagined perfect teacher we are missing the current moment to show up right now for our students. #G2Great
A3: Simple. S-T-R-E-S-S... STRESS‼️ I know when I feel overwhelmed, tired, or pressured, I do not “teach like myself.” We want to minimize our stress factors to MAXIMIZE student engagement with our BEST SELF! 💯❤️ #g2great@DrMaryHoward@drgravityg Stressed is just desserts 🔁
Q2: Our authenticity can allow students to find their true role in the class community #g2great... but it's tough to be authentic, for me it takes constant vigilance, often checking in to see if I'm speaking truth and not using "teacher voice" or playing a fake "the adult" role.
A3: I asked coaches today what are reasons why we think teachers are anxious... competition & test scores was the answer. What if we thought about the best test prep is teaching like yourself because it's real. #g2great
A3: I have felt more and more comfortable pushing the boundaries of test prep, targets, and phony methods. Places please. This "stage" is for my Ss and I intend to make it a great show. #G2great
A3: The feeling that I must always be in control of my students and have perfect behavior can prevent me from the ability to #teachlikeyourself. This year, I've finally started teaching small groups because I've relinquished some control to the kids. #G2Great
I think most of them do mean well but their well meaning form of help in the form of scripts and packages is actually squelching authenticity. The good news is that so many teachers fight to keep themselves at the forefront. #G2Great
A3: #G2Great For me, the district constraints coming down from well meaning administrators makes teachers nervous and prevents them from teaching from the heart.
Fear, Lack of time, not wanting to be judged to name a few.... One way to address these challenges is being able to take risks and an assertive stance in what you believe in! #litbankstreet#G2great
A3 The flawed belief that perfection is the goal often gets in the way. Teaching isn’t meant to be perfect,The teaching learning process are gloriously wonderfully messy but that mess is where we stand to gain the most. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A3: Allow Ts and Ss the autonomy for more student-generated curriculum and you will automatically get authenticity. Very fortunate to currently be working at school where this is reality. #g2great#litbankstreet
A3 I think pressure from campus and central admin often get in the way of teachers feeling they can be themselves. It's also hard when they feel pressure to conform to their peers. #g2great
A3: Lack of confidence in own knowledge, knowing what is best for their students because the curriculum or T next door is doing it differently. We address these challenges by talking and having an open door and willingness to learn from others #G2Great
A3: One thing that gets in the way of teachers being authentic self in the classroom is that we forget that we get to write our narrative each and every day. In the micro setting. In the room. With our students. And then reflect and revise. And then write again tomorrow. #g2great
#G2Great A3. The sense of how the society has always viewed teachers .. in the Indian culture teachers have been placed very high and the expectations have always been too much ...so a teacher normally ends up performing her role and living up to that "image".
A3: We are pulled in different directions and that is overwhelming. Hard to know thyself when we aren't given enough time or professional space to reflect. I externalize all my thinking to stay present, read educational research, and lean on mentors & my PLN. #g2great
A3: For me, relying too much on pre-written curriculum lesson plans. It can close me off to really seeing my students and their needs right in front of my eyes #litbankstreet#G2Great
A3 KNOWLEDGE is the great equalizer. But we can’t wait for our pot to be filled by others. Authenticity does not rise from a vacuum devoid of understanding. It comes at a price and that is OUR commitment to our own learning. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A3 the fear of not doing it right or not having enough time to dig deep with anything because new initiatives come their way all the time. This can be battled with powerful PLCs, PD, and working together to combat those challenges #g2Great
A3 What gets in the way of teaching like ourselves is also not taking care of ourselves- being run down, not sleeping enough, saying yes to too much, eating poorly etc. How can we be ourselves when we are simply trying to get through the day. Self care is so important. #G2Great
So true... This is what gets in the way of being able to #teachlikeyourself, especially fear of judgement. Sometimes, we have to feel the fear and do it anyway in order to go from #G2Great
A3: Sometimes I feel like all the outside demands such as pacing, data, etc can cause me to stress and lose my ability to be a positive authentic leader. Luckily I have good co-teachers that can center me and bring me back. #G2Great
A3: Solutions—don’t defend what you do, articulate the what, the why, the where, the how, the how often. Make plans & collect evidence that matters. Reflect & shout out the celebrations and make plans for next steps. #G2Great
A3: For me, relying too much on pre-written curriculum lesson plans. It can close me off to really seeing my students and their needs right in front of my eyes #litbankstreet#G2Great
A3: Evaluations, mandates, and lock-step curriculums get in the way of teachers being their authentic selves. Break free by surrounding yourself with great minds who have moved beyond those enclosures. Seek those friends in @ncte, @ILAToday, @TeachWriteEDU and #g2great
A3: I think many folks (teachers and teacher educators) are fearful of speaking out. It feels like a silencing teacher era—much like it felt during the NCLB era. #g2great
Yes! I often feel like a very different teacher in the last period of the day vs. first thing in the morning. Took a long time to figure out that getting outside at lunchtime was what I needed to reset. #g2great
Sad but true!! So much pushing teachers back so we have to fight even harder to keep ourselves in the mix. I’d say being around supporter others is the magic fairy dust right Sis? #G2Great
A3. What gets in way:
Lack of time.
Competing mandates.
Fear of not being "enough".
Lack of depth of knowledge that matches core convictions.
Need to "have" a job/income.
Punished for nonconformity.
Ostracized by peers.
Need safe environment.
#G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A4. Keep the conversation going with Gravity on Twitter & Facebook. Be authentic ourselves. Share our joys and mishaps. We have to build the habits & be accepting of our approximations.
#G2Great#teachlikeyourself@CorwinPress
A3: If the meso setting's our building, it would serve us well to be in shared narratives of successful strategies and approaches. If the macro is a culture that attempts to tell our story, we need to go back to the meso. Macro and meso have direct effect upon the micro. #g2great
A3 The silencer of fear and anxiety for me is always the same no matter if I am in school or at home- taking an intentional breath and asking myself, "What is real right now?" Most of the anxiety is about future based things that have not happened. Focus on now #G2Great
A3: trust—in ourselves or believing that others trust in our abilities to do what’s best. Address it first by believing in yourself and knowing you’re in this work to do what’s best for kids. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A4 the first step is to value and recognize when Ts are being authentic. Shine a light on those who are, and let others follow in their footsteps. I am reminded of my friend @CHarrod who is the most authentic #teachlikeyourself teacher that I know! #G2Great
A4 We can be accountable and responsible for our own learning. I am astounded how many teachers never read a professional book. If we want agency and authenticity then we have to seek what will support agency and authenticity. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A3 The silencer of fear and anxiety for me is always the same no matter if I am in school or at home- taking an intentional breath and asking myself, "What is real right now?" Most of the anxiety is about future based things that have not happened. Focus on now #G2Great
A4: My #ThankfulThursday class meetings have been the best thing for me to create a community where I can be authentic with my students. If people share a problem they have, our job is to listen. Only the person with the mic speaks. #G2Great
A4: Be a listening ear. I love the idea of the mirror conversations. Truly listening to not only understand but also help the person see their idea in the eyes of another. I think by being that mirror for our coworkers we open up that authenticity. #G2Great
A4: Teacher and student guided professional learning, gallery walks, learning labs, using Ss work as a #1 source for evidence, reflection as a tool for growth and movement forward. #G2Great
A3) Sadly, it's often fear of the very things we tell our students not to be afraid of: failure, peer opinions, the unknown and new. Fear of low evaluations. Although we encourage differentiation for our students, many schools often discourage it for their own teachers. #g2great
A3: For me, relying too much on pre-written curriculum lesson plans. It can close me off to really seeing my students and their needs right in front of my eyes #litbankstreet#G2Great
A4: Great question! We can’t have a school that values Ss agency without creating learning spaces for Ts that empower them. I am interested to learn what you all think creates this in our schools- #G2Great
A4: Just like Ss, Ts need to know they are seen. School cultures in which everyone believes that everyone else has something valuable to contribute cultivate authenticity and trust. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A3 a great way to learn to teach like yourself is self-reflection as well as getting feedback from other Ts and admin. I’ve learned the more PD you get the more confident you become with trying new structures #g2Great
A4: 1️⃣ It starts with YOU. Always BE YOURSELF. 2️⃣ Avoid negativity. 3️⃣ A supportive school community of colleagues and administrators. 4️⃣ Do something every day that makes YOU smile 😊. 5️⃣ GO FOR IT‼️ Have an idea 💡⁉️ Nothing ventured nothing gained #g2great@drgravityg
A4 We need to make teacher agency & authenticity a priority in our schools/part of our missions. We need to collaborate to create authentic possibilities, to remove barriers & obstacles and do what is best for students. Let's listen to each other, uplift & support. #g2great
#G2Great A4 We can start with candid conversations, peeling back the data and asking what the data isn’t telling us, including teachers in decision making and perhaps most important invest in educators vs programs, empower educators, stop knee-jerk solutions & funding bandaids
A4 Schools could do much less professional development and much more professional learning. The difference is that the first is scheduled in the calendar and the second is just a way of life. Ongoing professional learning is key. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A3: For me, relying too much on pre-written curriculum lesson plans. It can close me off to really seeing my students and their needs right in front of my eyes #litbankstreet#G2Great
Best way for me- my "boss" told me "We hired you to be you." What would it be like if every teacher was told this regularly?! #teachlikeyourself#g2great
A4: setting up teacher observations so we can all gain new ideas! Admin encouraging authentic activities. It meant so much to me to hear my principal say, I love how to embrace a little chaos’ to my co-Tt and I. It keeps me going! #g2great
Q4: We focus so much on differentiation for students. Let’s try it for teacher learning. Let teachers guide their own professional learning instead of all teachers get the same training. #G2Great
A4: I often see high school runners carrying their upper body trainers with them when they run. When on, the whole upper carriage is tight. Proper form but look tight and restrictive. Must feel this way too. Could this be same for pacing guides and scripted curriculum? #g2great
A4: Mentor Student Ts and Associate Ts to find their authentic selves - not to become a 'mini me' of the head teacher. Give them opportunities to develop their own voice and vision. #g2great#litbankstreet
A4: what if we tried to follow the #1 rule of improv? Say YES.. and....when colleagues and teachers and leaders & Ss have ideas...welcome them as seeds and grow them together by saying yes! All ideas welcome here. #g2great
A4. I think we need brave leadership in administration. It seems that everyone is scared lately. Let’s all be brave enough to do what’s right for kids. Teachers need admin support. #g2great
A4: Start by offering choice and voice. It is just as important for teachers as it is for students. When districts empower their teachers they amplify student opportunity. #G2Great
That’s why ur preservice teachers are so important to this process Susie. We have to help the build that sense of priority and have the tools to hold tight to what really matters. #G2Great
A3: For me, relying too much on pre-written curriculum lesson plans. It can close me off to really seeing my students and their needs right in front of my eyes #litbankstreet#G2Great
A4 We must acknowledge that CHOICE for professional learning is just as critical as choice is for student learning, We could open the door for teachers to choose opportunities based on their professional passions and then let them collaborate. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A 4 Foster teacher leadership and advocacy. Foster ongoing building level professional learning. Build consensus. Principal leads by example and builds a culture that values authenticity. #G2Great
A5 Ongoing support. There should be a reading coach in every school who not only knows literacy but has great people skills. Teachers need ongoing supportive relationships to support their meandering pathway to increasing authenticity. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A5 We need to praise them for the hard work they are doing daily, we also need to give them on site coaching and support. They need it more than anyone else! They need to feel the positives so they know they’re doing good work! #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A5: Let Ts determine what they know and where they need support. Then, create and put structures in place to support their self-identified areas of need. #G2Great
A4: In addition to letting students in on the conversation around standards, older students could cue in on the other tasks their teachers take on in addition to teaching. My students are interested in "bus duty" and "PLCs" and "HLC requirements." This is the whole "we." #g2great
A4 Teacher agency is best facilitated by a supportive campus leadership; principal, ass't principal, instructional coach. When leaders focus on teacher assets, celebrate them, then facilitate reflection and learning teachers have freedom to grow in authentic ways. #g2great
A4: I've been trying out a question in my coaching, "What about this lesson, genre, unit, topic, etc. do you care about?" "What excites or interests you in this work?" I think one piece of finding our authenticity is connecting with what matters to each of us #g2great
A5: One I think we need to stop telling them that they are going to burn out. I was told a lot as a new teacher to dial back my enthusiasm. But this is me, I loved support and try to provide that to others. We need to celebrate our strengths and others. #G2Great
A5: Give every teacher, new or veteran, a thinking partner for continued study, learning, and reflection. Thinking partners could be instructional coaches, the teacher next door, or the teacher across the district. #G2Great
A5 Teacher/education needs to be a positive place. We need to increase the possibility to collaborate, to create, to push the envelope. We need more support, more mentorship and allow creativity, research & reflexion. As a system, we are failing new teachers. #g2great
A5: acknowledge that it’s difficult sometimes (often). We often don’t realize that the more experienced we become, the more it looks like “magic.” We have to be the role models of what’s REAL. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A4 Schools could do much less professional development and much more professional learning. The difference is that the first is scheduled in the calendar and the second is just a way of life. Ongoing professional learning is key. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A5: it is beyond finding their gifts and talents. It is about creating a larger school community where parents and administration respect and honor their work. If I feel supported, even in a stressful job, I will stay in the job and give it my all. #g2great#litbankstreet
A5 So many new teachers are ill prepared for the realities of school. Either they don’t possess the knowledge or schools don’t nurture what they do know. We can’t tell teachers to be authentic and then dump them in inauthentic schools. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
Spending a lot of time with my mentee getting him to see curriculum as a base level of expectations. Luckily, he recognizes they are capable and appreciate being pushed to do much more than the minimum. #G2Great
A5: JOIN A PROFESSIONAL HOME 🏡 STAY connected with colleagues who have similar values of education, BUT also CHALLENGE you to your best abilities. I will always advocate for getting involved in organizations EARLY! @ncte is my HOME ❤️🏡 #NCTEVillage#NCTE18#g2great@drgravityg
Q5: New teachers should have mentors to go to for advice and guidance. They should also be given time to observe different teachers and attend PD's to learn new ideas. #g2great#litbankstreet
A5 New teachers need to be taken seriously and their gifts need to be acknowledged right away and often by the school community. Help them feel confident in at least one area and build from there. Let's not tell them they have to be someone else to survive #G2Great
A5: Come alongside them to mentor, encourage, listen, advise, and support as needed. Help them learn to creatively use their passions/interests in the classroom. #G2Great
A5 Sharing struggles and accomplishments within our teaching careers. I also think a supportive team to play off each Ts strengths. When this is lacking it can be devistating to Ss & Ts #g2Great
A5: We continually check in on them to see how we can support them: academically, socially, emotionally. We collaborate, share and provide guidance when asked and continually encourage #g2great
A5: mentoring and facilitating their planning. Ask ‘what do you want to do? And how can we support it?’ Lots of support, being authentic doesn’t come easy #g2great
A4 Making feedback something that teachers desire, not fear. Give pointers of how to sharpen our teaching not point out what’s wrong. We are always giving our Ss feedback on how to outgrow themselves, we should accept the same thing #G2Great
A5: Being vulnerable is an important aspect. We all strive to be better as thinkers and teachers, but there is a myth that some teachers have it figured out. None of us do. We are all on a journey, seeking ways to move students. And we should have open talk about that. #g2great
A5: When we know better, we do better. I think it starts with honoring what Ts want to grow and develop in, and helping them on that path. It’s okay for it to be a small piece- we can’t become great over night! And certainly not in everything! #G2Great
A5: Veteran teachers must flip the paradigm when a new teacher has an idea for an innovative lesson that does not go as planned. How powerful might it be to invite, "Tell me what you were looking for in this activity" vs. "See, I told you so?" #g2great
A5 Harry Wong discussed the critical role of mentors but if their mentor just doles out worksheets it sends mixed messages. If we’d build meaningful relationships with mutually authentic teachers at every turn they wouldn’t WANT to leave. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A5: Give every teacher, new or veteran, a thinking partner for continued study, learning, and reflection. Thinking partners could be instructional coaches, the teacher next door, or the teacher across the district. #G2Great
A5: Give teachers a guaranteed and viable curriculum. Have them do much less but more in depth. Reduce workload as much as possible. Value simplicity over innovation. #G2Great
@drgravityg A3 sometimes a lack of preparation can get in the way. When we don’t really understand what we’re teaching, we fall back to a script or rely on how someone else is doing it. #G2Great#TeachLikeYourself
A5: it’s like using an Admiring lens, right @drgravityg. Teacher should’ve receiving support in what they’re already doing. So everything doesn’t feel so overwhelming. And they need a tribe #G2Great
A4 We have to empower our teachers with the necessary knowledge to get rid of the fluff and get them teaching the student, not just the curriculum. #G2Great
Such truth my friend. And anyone who says they do are either delusional or afraid to admit it. But it’s that sense of uncertainly that keeps us striving to know more, do better and rise to the occasion until we falter again. #G2Great
A5: Being vulnerable is an important aspect. We all strive to be better as thinkers and teachers, but there is a myth that some teachers have it figured out. None of us do. We are all on a journey, seeking ways to move students. And we should have open talk about that. #g2great
#G2Great A5 Value their voice! I will never forget veteran teachers say, “newbies w/ heads in the ☁️ thinking they can save the world 😳 isn’t that the very teacher we want for our kids, one who believes they can & will do what it takes to make a diff in the life of a child?!
A 5 Develop a mentor program to support new teachers. Build community and schedule time for new and veteran teachers to share stories and develop relationships. #G2Great
A5 Continued PD to promote growth and finding strengths as well as strategic thinking from admin. when building grade level teams based on strengths of teachers #g2Great
A6. That there is no "one way" to be a model teacher. Not even remotely. Great Ts have their own styles. Great Ts need nurturing. Continue to find and build support systems that will nurture Ts every day. Prof. & Personally!
#G2Great#teachlikeyourself@CorwinPress
A6 I think outsiders can stop all the judgement when they don’t understand/know. It’s so easy to stand on the outside and say someone isn’t doing it “right” Let’s help them have open minds and see that Edu is different than when they were in school. #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
That’s why our observation system is so poorly thought out. You can’t reduce a lesson to a checklist and not even have a clue the thinking behind it. It baffles me why we keep doing this just because someone made up a list. #G2Great
A5: Veteran teachers must flip the paradigm when a new teacher has an idea for an innovative lesson that does not go as planned. How powerful might it be to invite, "Tell me what you were looking for in this activity" vs. "See, I told you so?" #g2great
A6 This is a critical given the current climate of groups touting opinion devoid of understanding. We MUST share our stories of wonderful successes happening in schools and the honest thoughtful knowledge-based AMAZING. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A6 People need to know all the good that is going on in our schools. In education, we need to be better story tellers and show how our authenticity builds kids up, deepens their learning & makes a difference. We need to take charge of our narrative and rally support. #g2great
A5: Celebrate successes! #PBIS says we need at least 4 positive to 1 negative interaction to develop lasting relationships. This should apply to are relationships with new teachers and colleagues as well! #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A5. I think we took the “purpose” out of teaching when we handed new teachers scripted programs. They came because they felt a calling and then we scripted them. I’d have left too! #g2great
A6: We need to stop focusing on awards. I think the value we place on teaching that achieves testing results but forgets the child is a huge problem that contributes to what we value in teaching. #G2Great
#G2Great A5 Mentor, encourage them to contribute, provide ample opportunities for observing and collaborative coaching, listen, share, honor their experiences and be refreshed by their energy
A5: We must lend some due attention to the fact that the new graduates of teacher education programs will represent the first group of teachers who will be teaching people born AFTER 2000. The same kids we've been trying to reach. They can be our allies. And advisers. #g2great
A6: that things are not how they use to be 😉 #G2Great but in a positive light - like Ts are studying their craft to do what’s best for Ss. There are current, progressive ways we’re doing things based on research.
A5 We need give them grace. So often I hear higher ups criticize new teachers. I say: Have you modeled for them? Have you co-taught? Have you offered PD? If the answer is no, then start there! #G2Great
A6: Non-educators need to have EMPATHY for our commitment to serving EVERY child, as well as their families. There’s no doubt about it: teaching is TOUGH. We need to invite more non-ed. into classrooms to SEE what it’s like. #g2great@drgravityg@LRobbTeacher@ERobbPrincipal
A6 Non-educators need to be reminded of the teachers they still remember years later as adults. They are not memorable because they had high test score results... they showed interest, passion, and were really themselves. Don't they want that teacher for their kids! #G2Great
A5 strong mentor program where the new teacher is supported and shown how to do all the “things” experienced teachers do on a daily basis. This can be done through observation, co-teaching, productive PLC times, etc. a coach is a great resource for new teachers #G2Great
A6 I believe so strongly that we must all stand up and speak up. Authenticity also requires courage to use our voices for the greater good. If we just sit back passively then we’re complicit in the demise of education. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
Other people need to understand so many things but the biggest and most important is that our jobs are to teach little humans! They are humans with emotions and needs that sometimes go beyond the walls of a classroom and great teachers take the time to meet those needs. #g2great
We need to nurture our teachers like we know we need to nurture our students. #teachlikeyourself#G2Great We need to realize we need to nurture ourselves as well. Put the oxygen mask on yourself first, before helping others.
A6: media often celebrates the “above & beyond.” What if media started celebrating the excellence that is in all of us? Our feeds blow up w/special handshakes & choreographed dances, but when was the last time we saw a great reading lesson on the news? #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A6: stop focusing on viral clips, authenticity is more than a cute handshake to enter the room. More atrention needs to be paid to the little details that make a classroom great. And it’s also not just about the test scores #g2great
#G2Great A6 look beyond the numbers, support educating the whole child balancing academic with social and emotional needs, recognize educators who take time to know your child and nurture and equip them with tools and passions to make their own mark on the world
A6: So many people said "that's hard... such honorable work... thanks for your service..." when I said I was going to teach which is absurd. People don't understand teaching. Unsure how to fix it, but people definitely have some strange views of teaching #litbankstreet#G2Great
We need to nurture our teachers like we know we need to nurture our students. #teachlikeyourself#G2Great We need to realize we need to nurture ourselves as well. Put the oxygen mask on yourself first, before helping others.
A6 I believe so strongly that we must all stand up and speak up. Authenticity also requires courage to use our voices for the greater good. If we just sit back passively then we’re complicit in the demise of education. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A6 There are so many misconceptions about teachers. We each need to tell our story, celebrate our students' work and make it much more public. When noneducators don't know what we do they make it up. We need to take control of the narrative ourselves.
#G2Great
A5 Give them permission not to know everything. They’re not supposed to. The teacher across the hall doesn’t either. No one in the school does. That’s what makes education such an exciting career. We keep on learning. Every year we get better. #G2Great#TeachLikeYourself
Perhaps a gift to these new teachers would be @JenAnsbach's Take Charge of Your Teaching Evaluation. Not only to introduce what evaluation looks like, but what a proactive/reflective self-evaluation modality can look like. It would help to save our young teachers. #g2great
A6 Respectful conversations are crucial both in and out of schools. Social media affords this dialogue but that too often turns in an ugly direction. We speak up but engaging in hateful talking back isn’t the answer. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A6: The media often portrays teachers as grimaced disciplinarians or angelic, but robotic. I have never met either extreme. Show us as real people and we will show our real care for your children. #g2great#litbankstreet
A6 focus on Ss growth and successes in all areas, not just academics. A test score doesn’t tell the whole story of what is happening in our classrooms! #G2Great#Teachlikeyourself
Q6 There are "non-educators" are in our classrooms now (students and hopefully parents). Starting with authenticity right now starts to share what teaching is and can be #g2great
A7. There is no greater feeling of "worth" than that success from teaching others. Sprinkle that happiness everywhere I go. Make sure that I leave more happiness in the room - doesn't mean we ignore hard issues. Just solve & move on.
#G2Great#teachlikeyourself@CorwinPress
A7 I want to hang a reminder on my door to #teachlikeyourself so that everyday I am reminded and thinking about why I am doing the work I am doing, and how important it is to Ts and Ss. #G2Great it's a simple reminder for the authentic me to read.
A5: We must stop treating our new teachers like "exhaustible resources." They weren't when they were in our buildings as our students. They are not now that they are back in our buildings as our colleagues. This recognition needs to be top-down for the new teacher. #g2great
A6: We need to be fearless in our approach. Make public the good works, beautiful words, and brilliant ways our students view the world. Move our kids into authentic arenas that go beyond teacher as audience and the four cinder block walls. Ss rise to the occasion. #g2great
A6: Ya’l. It’s a serious problem that people think it sucks to be a teacher. It’s even worse when there are viral pics of teachers wearing shirts before summer break saying “Parents: Tag You’re It!” 😡 #G2Great
A7: Stop focusing on other peoples Highlight Reel's. I have much to say on the topic but love how @drgravityg frames it in her book. I am not a pintrest teacher, I am not a instagram teacher that sells out my students for likes. I need to look at myself and not others. #G2Great
A7 I will continue having conversations with teachers and sharing my worries fears and joys on my facebook page (Mary C Howard). Honestly, writing and talking is my therapy but I’d like to think it’s supporting teachers in being their true selves. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A6 The media will tell great stories if they get access to them or know about them. We could do better at getting those stories out into the world. #G2Great
A7- Well, the other day I showed my Ss how I smell books. They were all puzzled until they tried it and now they all bring me different books to try- "Ms. Henry- you should smell this one!! It smells like an adventure!" #g2great
A5: it is beyond finding their gifts and talents. It is about creating a larger school community where parents and administration respect and honor their work. If I feel supported, even in a stressful job, I will stay in the job and give it my all. #g2great#litbankstreet
A7: Stop focusing on other peoples Highlight Reel's. I have much to say on the topic but love how @drgravityg frames it in her book. I am not a pintrest teacher, I am not a instagram teacher that sells out my students for likes. I need to look at myself and not others. #G2Great
A7 Reflecting about my own education growing up and implementing the strategies, skills and building of relationships that I would have wanted as a student #g2great
A7: focus on my Ss and their needs, not what I think Other Tt are saying. I know my authenticity is creating a positive and loving environment by how my Ss act, that’s what I need to focus on #g2great
A7: Look at my own vision board more often b/c right in the center is says: DO YOU. Be yourself, be happy, rememebr the reason why you chose to be a teacher and just be you #G2Great
A7: focus on my Ss and their needs, not what I think Other Tt are saying. I know my authenticity is creating a positive and loving environment by how my Ss act, that’s what I need to focus on #g2great
A7 As coaches we can quit forcing T’s to teach how we want them to teach. Just like with our S’s, we need to really get to know our T’s so we can help them reach their authentic greatness. #G2Great
Agreed. Some early adopters have that natural enthusiasm. Instead of saying "you might burn out," ask, "How can I help to keep the flame alive?" #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A5: One I think we need to stop telling them that they are going to burn out. I was told a lot as a new teacher to dial back my enthusiasm. But this is me, I loved support and try to provide that to others. We need to celebrate our strengths and others. #G2Great
A7: focus on my Ss and their needs, not what I think Other Tt are saying. I know my authenticity is creating a positive and loving environment by how my Ss act, that’s what I need to focus on #g2great
A7: REFLECT. What do I need to change, rearrange, and alter in order to FEEL and BE my best self? What ways can I manage stress? Who can I lean on for support when I’m feeling overwhelmed with work? Have a “check-in” colleague who will HELP you BE your best self! #g2great
A7 Well I plan to stick around as long as I can. We need supportive respectful spaces where we can come together from across the country in the name of kids and this profession we love so much. Authenticity is fueled by supportive others. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A 7 For me it’s asking questions and reflection. Time to process, think, understand why things aren’t working. My goal is to find more time to reflect. #G2Great
A7 Connect with other like-minded teachers to support each other. Believe in yourself and take the time to reflect and evolve your practice. Take risks and have fun with learning. Bring you to the front and don't worry about what anyone says. #g2great
A7: I need to blog again. Days rush by, piles get bigger, reflection time is sparse. Taking the time to sit down and record thoughts and reflections is so powerful. #G2Great#teachlikeyourself
A4 PLEASE talk about more than just numbers. It robs us of our agency because it's so dependent on an outside source-one in which we have no input or control. Instead, let's celebrate evidence of learning that can be seen and heard in student work. #G2Great#TeachLikeYourself
In reply to
@hayhurst3, @drgravityg, @DrMaryHoward, @franmcveigh, @brennanamy
A7: Seek the lessons that move me and my students by listening and choosing a responsive teaching pedagogy. I will be open with Ss about my learning, risk taking, and growth. Vulnerability wins hearts and minds. #G2Great
A4 PLEASE talk about more than just numbers. It robs us of our agency because it's so dependent on an outside source-one in which we have no input or control. Instead, let's celebrate evidence of learning that can be seen and heard in student work. #G2Great#TeachLikeYourself
In reply to
@hayhurst3, @drgravityg, @DrMaryHoward, @franmcveigh, @brennanamy
A7: I can be excited about my content. I can continue this by reading about science. Learning always seems to fuel my passion.
#teachlikeyourself#G2Great
A7: The best thing I do to help me refocus is to remember my “why” The other day I had a “why” moment when one of my kiddos had a math breakthrough. Love how those moments seem to come when it’s a rough week or I’m stressed. Always brings me back to my why!! #G2Great
#G2Great A7 Resist distractions, Avoid the naysayers, build/participate in a network of like minded educators, don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help, growth mindset, take care of you so you can care for your students
A7 I really care about teachers. I want to see them and let them know I appreciate and love them. It sounds corny but we all need to be loved and accepted for who we are. My goal is to connect and support at least one teacher a day. This sends ripples to students #G2Great
A7: I keep a number of books right by my desk, within easy reach, for a moment's consultation. These are quick-hit motivator books like @TaylorMali's WHAT TEACHERS MAKE and TEACHING WITH FIRE. And the gem pictured here. Survivor Manuals and Guides. #g2great
A7: Remember the power of reflecting with and seeking advice from other teachers. Support and mentorship from fellow educators centers me and reassures me of my choices in the classroom #litbankstreet#G2Great
A7: I need to connect more with my colleagues to be my authentic self. I need to stop by just to say hi and listen to others. If I feel blue, others might too. I don't need to commiserate, but I could be an ear for them. #teachlikeyourself#G2Great
We are so incredibly grateful to Gravity Goldberg for inspiring all of us at #G2great tonight. Teach Like Yourself is truly a celebratory reflection of the teachers we COULD be if we trust ourselves and find supportive others! #G2great#teachlikeyourself@CorwinPress@drgravityg
Thanks so much for being a part of this conversation about Teach Like Yourself tonight. Critical that we have the BEST and most authentic Ts EVERY day!
#G2Great#teachlikeyourself@CorwinPress
Thank you @drgravityg for spending this precious hour with us tonight. It is always so great to read your wisdom and learn from you. Thanks #G2Great family for an awesome chat! #teachlikeyourself
