#HSD1Chat Archive
#HSD1Chat will be a PLC based chat involving educators from Helena Public Schools. However, other educators are invited to participate. It will occur on the second Tuesday of every month.
Tuesday October 11, 2016
10:00 PM EDT
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Riley Thatcher
Bryant Elementary
Kindergarten
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Erin Maxwell
Ray Bjork Learning Center - PEAK Gifted and Talented Program
4th and 5th grade
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Severena. First Grade. 4Gs. - Moderator
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Kelly Van Dyke, here: Bryant, Kinder,
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Jamie Hoovestal
Four Georgians Elem.
1st Grade
hsd1chat Moderator
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JoAnna Nelson,4Gs Helena, 3rd Grade
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Kaylee Nathe
Starbase
5th grade
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JoAnna Nelson, 4g's Helena, 3rd Grade
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A1: PD over the summer. Trying flexible seating. Research to best benefit all Ss.
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Janna McBride, Hawthorne, Special Ed.
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A1: I attended PD, vowed to try one new thing a month in my classroom, and I cleaned it!
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A1: I prepared my classroom differently than I usually do. I allowed more space for movement bc of incoming needs.
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A1: I put up material on bulletin boards, but left them empty for students to fill with ideas. Use as student brainstorm spaces.
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A1: I rearranged my room to provided some flexible seating. Used training to provide more prep for SmarterB. Meeting my Ss needs!
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What brainstorm activities do you do?
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a1 Researched new ideas, communicated with Ps to effectively set up and prepare my classroom for new Ss-went to many conferences.
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A1: I prepped as much as I could last spring. I spent time on Pinterest and online to find new strategies, and PD this summer.
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A1:B
I improved my reading group space to maximize 30 min. walk to read.
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Have you added any flexible seating options? carpet squares? sensory seats?
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A1: I moved classrooms, so I cleaned out all the unused junk I have collected! I "found" so many great things I forgot I had
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That's the best feeling! I attempt to clean my space @ the end of the year. clutter free, Ts are natural hoarders
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Kyle McBride, 1st grade, Smith
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I haven't added any new flexible seating but changed the location of the ones I got through donors choose last year
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How is the flexible seating going?
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Use the 3 rules (quantity over quality, piggybacking ok, no judgement of ideas) soltn ideas, projects boards, etc.
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A1: set up the materials I needed for the year. I teach the same thing over and over.
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My aunt retired and I then had to clean to make room for my new treasures!Its hard to let go of what u might need.
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A1: I left my room feeling unfinished, so my maternity leave sub could make it feel like his classroom...that was hard!
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A1: I rearranged my classroom for incoming students and to provide more room for movement.
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I wrote lesson plans, but only for like a week! lol
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Flexible seating is great!
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a2: I use for a majority of my classroom management. LOVE how involved I am with my 1st Grade Families
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A2: For my chatty classes I've implemented a limited number of words they are allowed to speak they can write as much as they want
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Yes it is! Treasures from other teacher are awesome. I have centers my grandma made years & years ago!!
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A2: I use whole brain teaching. I pick a secret hall person who gets a prize 4 being good in the hall. It's magic!
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Love this! I am so using this strategy. Thanks for the idea!
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A1: b: also trained with great falls Starbase team and my new co teacher.
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I need to try ClassDojo. I heard great things. Is it hard to manage through the day?
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A2: Penny system. Gold Nuggets. Positive verbal reinforcement. Building S responsibility.
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love that idea. How is it going?
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Develop a routine and stick to it! hold the students accountable for being responsible for the routine.
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Pretty well most days. Another bonus is that students that don't talk have to use all the words. participate more.
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some days I am more on it than others, but the Ss are great about reminding me. I use it mostly for communication!
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A2
Class dojo, HUGE attempt at 4:1, check in check out, a few S specific behavior plans, Pawsitives
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A2: Whole Brain Teaching, Check in Check Out, Rhymes, simplified my classroom, visual schedules, MBI lessons and rewards
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A2: I set my expectations right away and tells students what I expect them to be doing. Count down from 5 also.
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yes to student responsibility. We need to instill this in our classroom management.
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Yay! I don't see many people using Whole Brain teaching in this district! Would love for it to be offered as PIR .
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A2: I separate the Ss who are chatty. I give a lot of praise to encourage positive behavior.
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what consequences do you use after your countdown from 5?
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Me too! Me and a coworker are doing video resources for our staff as our PCAP!
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I like using "oh class" in various voices, volumes, versions, etc. students love responding back, good to get and keep attention
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I usually don't have to do much after 5. The kids don't want to miss the next fun learning activity at Starbase.
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A2: whole brain teaching, positive relationships, and consistency.
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a3: I do weekly lunch dates and treasure box prizes to motivate my Ss
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A3: Showing my excitement about a topic, team projects: use team members to keep others motivated, HUMOR
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if it gets to a point where the student isn't behaving I have them sit out of the activity for a bit.
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Relationships are key to finding each students motivator! Especially students who struggle with learning or given up
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A3: class prizes, gold nuggets, goal setting, get them up and moving
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A3: I started blogging and my Ss have to complete their work before they can blog. Individual and whole class rewards
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Yes! It is fun to see how excited students are to eat lunch with you
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A3: I recently implemented song and dance into my classroom. It's ridiculous, but it's working. I also have a class BINGO chart.
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A3: Brain break videos, play, extra art or recess time, MBI pawsitives, tech time, treasure box, send them on important errands.
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Earned time in the standing desk, pawsitives, tech time, clip up chart
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Students feed off Ts excitement!
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A3: Being extremely excited about the topic. Giving students positive reinforcement. Encouraging students to be involved.
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love it! We should buddy up and do a joined class reward with dance and music!
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A3: Earned time in the standing desk, pawsitives, tech time, clip up chart
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A3: gonoodle is great for brain breaks and movement.
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The Ss love the standing desk! I like the idea of using it has a motivator. I randomly pick a Ss each day.
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A3: Effective lesson plans and relating it to real life learning.
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I also use Just Dance Kids on YouTube
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A3: Parties, games, competition, engaging lessons.
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What kind of competitions do you have?
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A3: Ss set goals for reading and math and keep track of their progress. they choose individual and group rewards
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word wall lighting (sight words), incentives for beating personal records when progress monitoring.
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Personal record, great idea!
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A4: Questioning about personal life. Best at lunch time and during recess walking with students. One-on-one time.
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A4: Finding Ss interests. Connecting on their level. Showing them they are important.
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Talking with students can go a long way. I like to go outside and play with them at the end of the day on the playground. Play!
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A4: asking students new questions every day. Showing them respect when they are talking.
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I try to remember one interesting fact about each student and what they might want to be when they grow up.
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A4: Structured recesses with kiddos, lunches, postcards.
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A4: Listen and remember, 1 on 1 time, show kindness/care, get to know each other activities, greet each other
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A4
Spending time individually. I liked 's lunch date idea. Home visits help A TON.
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A4:I pull Ss 1:1 for data collection regularly, so I use some of this time to ask ?s, listen to their stories, share about me
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a4: I try to do a lot of 1on1 time by pulling Ss into the hall for a quick hug, etc. Lunch dates, recess reading groups.
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playing at recess is great, you get to see a different side of your Ss.
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A4: Talk to Ss on a personal level, show Ss that I'm interested in what they are doing. Listen to them, give them time to share.
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How often can you pull Ss 1:1? I struggle to find the time.
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A4: I share their successes by giving students positive notes to bring home and share with parents or their classroom teachers.
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I use my prep time if I don't have paperwork to do. Also if a group doesnt show up bc of field trip or something.
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Time to share is important, but a struggle to fit into our BUSY schedules!
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We start every morning with a circle. Students have 10 words to share an "elephant" It'smax 10 min
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Yes! Time is hard to find, but sometimes 30 seconds can make someone's day. Just have to pick and choose when.
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Building parent relationships too!
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Thats a great idea! Fun for both teacher and students
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Something big getting in way of learning for the day. everyone shares. Ss part. more day
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What do you mean by elephant?
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Oh, I like that! I'm stealing it!
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A5: Difficult with over 80 students. End of unit events, invite families. Have parent lunch discussion groups twice a year.
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a5: Lots of updates and sharing pictures of their Ss and their work. I send a weekly newsletter. Parent Volunteers.
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A5: connect (not just for neg), weekly newsletters, open door policy, volunteers
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A5: hard to with new 5th graders every 5 days..starting open house nights this year.
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A5Again, Home visits are HUGE. Use my involvement with bryant alliance to create another relationship aside from just the teacher
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A5: Monthly P Letters. Open Door Policy. Frequent Emails for updates. Positive Notes home
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A5: I like to chat with parents afterschool during pick up, random positive phone calls home, sharing personal stories.
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A5: Positive phone calls/email/notes home.
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What about choosing a Ss a week to call home with positives?
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A5: Communication! journals, email, calls, positive notes.
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A5: I invite families in to volunteer. I send positive notes home to each S in the first few weeks of school. Newsletter & emails
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A5: Remind. updates parents on all events, activities, field trips, etc.
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That is what I have to do to hold myself accountable! I pick three a week to be more frequent.
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Parent volunteers can be big help!
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Awesome. I am going to try this next week.
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A5b: I also have Facebook Page and teacher website that parents can access.
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A6: Relating to real life experiences, field experiences, praise effort not product.
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A6
I'm excited to see these answers! It makes me sad to see the burn out and no intrinsic motivation in littles so early.
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A6: talk with ss about importance of education and give examples of how hard work pays offs.
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A6: Verbal praise. Showing our Ss we care about them as a little human.
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A6: Lead by example, model, bucket filler,goal setting w/o rewards, praise, tell them y they are learning what ur teaching.
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A6: model it for them in ourselves, guide them to find their value and help them appreciate what they CAN do!
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A6B
Share excitement about our own goal setting and accomplishments. Talk about how good hard work feels.
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A6b: at Starbase we celebrate failing when ss challenges don't always go right. They love to celebrate learning from failing.
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A6: Provide positive reinforcement for hard work without a reward. Give verbal praise with enthusiasm and excitement.
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a6: LAST QUESTION!
value Ss - they're pure, innocent, and special. Be a role model. Show them that they matter, be their positive
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A6: Fun and engaging lessons that get Ss excited about learning. Making Ss successful while providing them with challenges.
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A6: We have to get parents on board to do the same. They are their first teacher. Trust between teachers and students is pivotal.
