Hi #scitlap! Megan, STEM Lab Coordinator and Digital Skills Teacher in Brookfield, IL. Today was mid-30s, but we’re preparing for some more snow and a big dip in temps this weekend!
A1: I’m a planner at heart. But my first year of teaching, it was obsessive - copies made TWO weeks in advance. Now, I have a skeleton of plans that I’m comfortable being very flexible with! #scitlap
A1: I try to plan a week out but really follow the pace of my Ss. Sometimes they move fast and sometimes they don't. I have been known to change my plans during lunch for my classes later in the day. #scitlap
A1) It's funny, because I used to be a "game time decision" kind of teacher. Now I'm co-teaching our 6th graders, so we plan out the unit, meet constantly for checkins... #scitlap
A1 Oh Lordy, I wish my answer was yes...always. But low and behold it's not. I try my best to plan 2 weeks at a time...but sometimes it happens as I'm walking up the stairs. #BeingPreparedIsBest#AlwaysBeReadyToImprovise#scitlap
A1 I try and plan 2 weeks out. Tough teaching new material this year and trying to coach and be dad at the same time. ugh. Only nebulous plans for tomorrow so far. #scitlap
A1: Each year I start with a skeleton of a plan, but week to week, I allow for days when we dig deeper on a topic or lab. Also, now I’m not afraid to “interrupt” a unit (say on Cells) to do #Makerspace challenges or to have a guest speaker on a different topic. #scitlap
Last year I went all in with hyperdocs. This gave kids the overview. This year I'm putting everything in Classroom and less with hyperdocs per say. I also give kids a cover sheet with an overview of the unit. #scitlap
A2) This year, I brought in a heart surgeon to help review the cardiovascular system. He brought gloves, masks, and 2 REAL HUMAN HEARTS! That was pretty "blowtorch"! #scitlap
A2) This sem I am really trying to lead each unit with a intriguing driving question. This last one in genetics was an article about biracial twins. #scitlap
Hi #scitlap -ers! James from @wcsdistrict Middle grades science. I'm reaching back to my meteorology days and forecasting our next winter storm for this weekend. Fun times!
I'm doing the same this year as NYS adopts our version of NGSS. Phenomena followed by questioning and/or modeling. Loving how its working out so far. #scitlap
A2: To keep things lively, I try to discover what the kids are most curious about & sprinkle in articles or youtube videos on those topics. This year it’s paper folding. Here’s an amazing video that shows how that fun skill ties to science: https://t.co/LRHjC7VNAn#scitlap
A3) One of the unintended consequences of doing aquaponics in the classroom is the "zen" environment it creates with the running and splashing water, grow lights glow, and the right music in the background. Ss are digging it! #scitlap
A3) Constantly telling kids we learn from mistakes. Giving them examples of my mistakes. Letting them know I try new things and fail. Using tech like @nearpod to make sure their answer are always anonymous and they feel comfortable sharing. #scitlap
I've heard this from other teachers doing this. One teacher said the SMELL of the room got better. That and people would just come in to chill out. You find this as well? #scitlap
A3 Smiling and joking around. All business and middle school just doesn't work. I do some small talk, check in on everyone, give compliments...I like happy and comfortable. #scitlap
Q4) It’s 2 weeks into the new year. If you put a BAROMETER in your room this week, what would the pressure be like? Remember, HIGH pressure = clear skies! #scitlap
A4: Definitely high pressure right now, because second semester started today and I got a brand new crop of classes and students! Clear skies with the fresh start, though the forecast remains unknown... #scitlap
A3: Because we use so much tech & my students lives are so surrounded by modern electronics, I’ve designed my classroom using Montessori values: real wood, real art on the walls, organized materials, sunlight & I use noise cancelling “white noise” when they are working. #scitlap
I have just started the aquaponics - fish are in but no plants yet. I've not experienced the smell of the room getting better just yet but more kids are coming in to chill out for sure! #scitlap
A4 Supposed to get over a foot of snow this weekend. Vibe in the school/classroom is similar. Next week is regents week (state tests), midterms are in progress, and grades are coming due. Budget is due as well. #scitlap
A4) It's pretty calm. Gave a low stakes google form quiz this week over just a small chunk of content. In 6th, we kicked off astronomy by discussing scale models. #scitlap
A4 Medium pressure. All is good, we've got our flow down, we've got fun projects happening. Students really showing growth and maturity (for the most part). #scitlap
A4) I'd say high pressure. Learning about genetic inheritance and kids are having some fun making videos on punnett squares and now getting into sex-linked traits. Lots of questions coming from the Ss. #scitlap
A4: For the students, low pressure, it’s mid-trimester, no big exams happening now, but for me it’s the opposite. I’ve a lot of irons on the fire in & out of school. Each day I’ve an impossible to do list. I’m carving out time with a pick axe! ⛏ 🥾 #scitlap
A5: I transformed the collaborative space in my former district into the “Ridgeland Medical Center” to run a BreakoutEDU at the end of an anatomy unit! #scitlap
A5) I haven't. I'm a chicken! The 2 ideas I have are to transform a space into the HMS Beagle to kick off studying Darwin and natural selection. And a GIANT cell. #scitlap
A5: When it’s storming out, normally, instead of trying to fight it, I go with it, esp. if it’s indoor recess! I play rain & thunder sound effects. We turn out the overhead lights & play board games! #scitlap
A3: Slowing down through discourse. Giving students wait time, encouraging students to build on each other's thinking. When I take it down a notch, so do the Ss. #scitlap
I did something similar a few years ago. Groups created "museum-like" displays to teach about frogs. (we had just been in DC visiting MANY museum exhibits...) #scitlap
A5: Not a complete room transformation, but my Ss have routinely come back to a reconfiguration of desks, all the bulletin boards changed, my desk being thrown out... always a work in progress! #scitlap
A6) This year we added an "inclement weather" blurb on syllabi. One day, no big deal, but beyond that, we will likely be offering digital distance learning/assignments #scitlap
A6: Is that the new way to say, “Snow Days?” We’ve only had 2 days in the last, 15 years... when school was closed for weather. So, there aren’t any ‘trends’ here in CA. But, I’d probably find a way to stay in touch with families & my students, if I lived elsewhere. #scitlap
I love a good snow day, looking at weather predictions, statistics on @SnowDayCalc - it's fun to guess what's gonna happen and I always connect with Ss on my class IG if we have a snow day - just so they know although I love snow days, I love them too! #scitlap
Haha - yes. The most recent phrase used by all local schools (public AND independent): In an abundance of caution, the _____ will not have school tomorrow. #scitlap
A7: Last year while studying the different forms of matter during the winter months, we took a couple days to bend pipe cleaners & place them in water saturated with borax. The result? Crystal snowflakes! https://t.co/evXGOKkWLH#scitlap
A7 With our new state standards, I don't have anything 'wintry' but I do have some astronomy so it's usually Jan/Feb when I do this unit. Clear winter skies, great nighttime viewing. #scitlap
A8: The Digital Skills class I teach now is 100% dependent on having internet....so Jenga, Apples to Apples and loads of coloring supplies are always on hand in case it goes down! #122edchat
Wait, can I just mention the CDC has a great educators guide on preparedness (well, for zombies), but they have fun game with a family emergency kit, where kids make a list and then you read a story. Last man standing (most prepared) wins. Check it out. #scitlap
I like how the new standards in MA encourage modeling and scientific thinking, BUT, I find them difficult to understand and so much overlapping and nothing aligns because most resources are NGSS. #scitlap
