#7thchat Archive
Join 7th grade teachers discuss education topics, support, and learn with each other. Chat is 1st Tuesday of month 8pm PST. Founders @rondorland @hughtheteacher
Tuesday April 5, 2016
For the next hour my tweets will be dedicated to on Student Motivation. Join us & learn with us as we explore this topic.
My name is Hugh. I'm a grade 6/7 teacher in Surrey, BC. I will be your host for tonight. Please take a moment & introduce yourself.
Hello ! Gallit here. From Surrey, BC.
Good evening , I'm Scott from Iowa City
I'm Stacie from Texas I'm a curriculum coordinator glad to join
Hi PLN! Do you teach intermediate or middle school? Join right now! They are chatting about student motivation ( )
First question of on Student Motivation coming up in 1 minute.
Q1. What do you do in your classroom to keep students motivated? Examples? Please RT
Lisa from Hershey, Pennsylvania - 6th grade social studies teacher. Lurking on while I can't fall asleep.
Hi Happy to see you here!
A1- start with their interests when planning, not the learning outcomes.
a1. I offer a lot of choice and do fun collaborative activities to build community and trust among those in class.
A1: Recently BreakoutEDU has been very motivating; they work so they can try to solve the breakout.
Hi ! Carolina from Boston area. Teach 7th grade math. How's everyone doing?!
A1: I think the sts are motivated when I am excited--so #1: bring my enthusiasm :) Also: ! And choices in learning
A1- I try to keep the students active and moving in activities relevant to them.
a1. Yes so important to do that. fun improv games in small groups help build trust and can tap into their interests
YES! bring excitement and then see it spread! https://t.co/cKudpXC6s5
A1: I think the sts are motivated when I am excited--so #1: bring my enthusiasm :) Also: ! And choices in learning
A1 find out their interests and what challenges them
A1: I vary activities often. Too much of the same thing gets boring, even if the *thing* is initially fun.
a1. is something that is interesting. I haven't dove in yet. seen members of community love it
A1: Many different shorter activities, mix up student interests. 52 minutes can feel like an eternity if it's not interesting
Love it. I also think that our interests=imp too! When we're stoked about what we're doing, they will be too! Thoughts?
A1- have a room of creators not consumers.
welcome to discussion on student motivation!
cant fake it in our profession. Show love of learning if you want others to follow.
a1. yes you need to when you are in your class/school. Students feed off of excitement!
I created my own to match curriculum using assorted locks, QR codes, and invisible ink on the maps around my room.
I agree ! I told my para that I don't love teaching the current topic +she said "Really? I can't tell. You fake it well."
When planning, I have given out a SS interest survey to help guide my planning. Also, the energy I am bringing.
good point! Balance of some routines and also keeping it fresh is probably key!
A1. Yes we need to be open different types of activities for the different kind of learners in our classes/schools
2nd question of on Student Motivation coming up in 1 minute.
Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences - important to take into account in planning learning opportunities
Q2. What difficulties do you face in your class with keeping students engaged? How can your PLN help? Any great lessons to share?
A1- a classroom needs to be fun. It is about priorities, esp w/ kids, if learning is no fun then kids will find things that are.
so have them help create new interesting topics.
A2: I have an inclusive class with 80 unique learners. It's hard to stay engaged if it's too hard or too easy for you
A2- Student apathy and their phones are the largest obstacles. --9th graders not 7th--
A2- kids coming to class as a pre-soaked sponge unable to focus due to being full of home issues.
a2. i have difficulty when students who leave class for different support reasons & then attempting to bring up to speed when back
what.... snapchat is great... :) or...
We spent two in-service days talking about this and the ACEs. https://t.co/BEf9rtg1dz
A2- kids coming to class as a pre-soaked sponge unable to focus due to being full of home issues.
a2. do you have a policy with your phones in your classroom?
a2. I agree. I had a kid the other day that looked like he was about to fall asleep during an active group discussion
A2 Ss are less motivated when work isn't at their level pre assessing and student choice r important
Tools like GoogleDocs and help, but the struggle is real
a2. Something that works for me is opening my doors early and letting kids filter in. Many arrive early to hang out in the room
gonna be tough for that kid to focus. Thats where a program like zones of regulation helps.
A2: I think things need 2 b openended so that all sts can find entry pnt.Tricky 2 plan @ times (which is why we need 2 share ideas)
a2. agree. teaching the kids to recognize this in themselves is the biggest challenge but once they do it is golden
yes and then finding strategies that work at all times.
similar at my school. We have kids with devices and some without. I like byod for access but unique challenges too.
3rd question of on Student Motivation coming up in 1 minute.
Q3. How can we build autonomy in our students without losing accountability?
Random Q: my students learned about Canada & they wrote a letter describing Hershey. Can I mail/email it to an authentic audience?
TY to for a great chat. I got a paper to write. Thanks to all who came to tonight. Great group!
Q3- I think by giving them choice, Ss feel more accountable for their learning, which builds a sense of autonomy
A3: Choice with clear and specific expectations. I want them to be autonomous, but I reserve the right to change my mind
A3- I attended a SBG conference last week and I think it has some merit it in increasing and maintaining accountability
a3. Establish trust and a sense of belonging. Community first and involvement in a meaningful task 2nd. Our this year
A3: I think it helps when sts help create criteria, when they have choice, when they learn to self-assess and reflect on process.
A3. agree! with autonomous choices you're giving increased purpose with purpose students accountable to self & peers
So true. It has to be built into the culture of learning https://t.co/n81M4vzuF8
a3. Establish trust and a sense of belonging. Community first and involvement in a meaningful task 2nd. Our this year
Yes! I started doing a bit of co-creating w/Ss this year, and it teaches them to self-assess/regulate their needs.
4th question of on Student Motivation coming up in 1 minute.
A3: Discussing autonomy with them and giving them opportunities to exercise it.
Q4. Creativity and purpose are huge to build engagement. What do you do in your classroom and/or school to allow for this?
Be be upfront with them. kids love underdog story. outline many may believe they can't do it but you can prove them wrong
A4- Allow for multiple types of student work submissions
a4. like this & do this. I find that some sts get comfortable with strategies & don't venture as much as i would like
A4 Work on weaning Ss off of producing for T approval! Audience & purpose.Then, open-ended criteria for creativity (diff for some S
A4: I try to connect my subject (math) to the world around them. They find purpose in what's relevant to their lives.
a4. any specific projects you do? links to them? I would love more for my tool chest. :D
Don't have links (yet) but my students loved my income tax lesson this year, for one. :)
so true! Relevancy is key to all educational purpose!
a4. I do in class. Our most recent projects that had students leverage strengths to help a cause most were
A4: , inq-based learning, Caine's arcade, Fine Arts: choreograph dance, improv, etc, Marble Race track (simple machines)
5th question of on Student Motivation coming up in 1 minute.
cool! were they given a salary and then taxed on it?
I do the same thing. I have a standard. menu of creation options, but they can always make something of their choice
Q5. How can you set up an environment to support, allow autonomy, mastery, and purpose?
Love this. You could have students create blueprint designs/floor plans etc.
# genius hour is very powerful. Again with relevancy, and advocating for self. What subject to have been best?
I think I just need to be dilligent & continue to introduce them to new strategies to demonstrate their learning.
We explored the 3 major income tax systems through salaries of ppl like a cashier, engineer, famous pop star, etc
A5: Good Q! Need to build community and scaffold toward it. I think self-assessment, reflection & ePortfolios help!
a5. I am a classroom generalist teacher in Surrey, Canada and I did it with Language Arts
a5: projets, concrete rubrics, choice in subjects, and peer evaluation. Routines as well. Positive modeling.
A5: I have normal seat and flexible seating options: cushions around a low coffee table, cubbies with pillows, misc. chairs
Very Cool! I love opportunities like that.
A5: I think keeping standards high is key here.
agreed 100%. If they don't understand relevancy, I have done something wrong and need to change.
Love it. Choice in where to sit/what works for u for this partic lesson! & I team-taught & did this too!
a5. I have this too. I also have round tables witch I love. It creates environment to allow for collaboration to thrive
A5 Classroom environment is key--physically & in terms of Ss willing to take risks in front of & w/peers. Variety of work areas.
haha... typo... which... :)
a5. mindset of growth instead of fear of making a mistake. Love this... & always give sts a chance to talk it out.
A5- set up environment that us fair =where students get what they need, not necessarily all the same
Final question of on Student Motivation coming up in 1 minute.
We did this! Kids loved it. We focussed on area/perimeter/shapes/measurement Always looking for more! haha!
Q6. Share 1 blog, post, book, video, tedtalk, resource, activity, or podcast on Student Motivation that has been meaningful to you
