A chat that offers middle school teachers a chance to have a collaborative discussion about a different topic each week. Our topics change from week to week, ranging from Common Core State Standards to Character Education. During the chat, participants exchanges ideas and resources. The chat group ranges in size each week from 10 to 50+ participants. Discussion can be general talking about instructional style or process to specific. Recently members of the chat group help each other create lessons.
Good evening, #mschat! Tonight is a special night where we celebrate an iconic group from the 90s, The Spice Girls. It started out as a joke, and has now become a reality.
Intros: Who are you? Where are you? What do you teach?
Also, which Spice Girl are you and why?
Hi, all! Ryan in Michigan — 6th Grade Social Studies.
I’m probably most Scary Spice, because not afraid to take the lead and be outside the box. #mschat
Erin from Northeastern CT. Teacher of 7th grade students, teaching them math, endurance, and to care for themselves and others!
I would have to say Baby Spice, my kids today said I am like Cindy Lou Who... so that seems to match!! #mschat
Tonight, we will count down to the end of 2018 and look forward to 2019, but with a bit more Spice!
Q1/A1 format to questions and don't forget to use the #mschat hashtag in all Tweets.
First question is coming up in 1 minute.
a1: having a couple days of rest and relax. I have so many ideas for term three, but really need some time to just unplug, step away from e-mail and recharge! #mschat
A1: My extended family gathers in a beach house together for a week. I LOVE it. This year, I’ll be tucking myself in the sunny patch on the side deck to finish the first draft of the book. #mschat
A1) I try to give it all I've got... and now I am drained! I need the break to rejuvenate and come back in the "new year" with spunk and energy (that isn't created by caffeine!) #mschat
Hi all. Kristen here from PA for a little. I need to go to the store, but I can’t quite get myself off of the sofa. We’ll see how long it takes... 😬 #mschat
A2) Our new state assessment will include paired “text” where one text is a podcast, video, or graphic. I need to get my kids practicing that. We have a holocaust unit scheduled, so it’s the perfect time to use the wealth of primary sources we have access to. #mschat
A2: I am going to venture into podcasting and would like my students to take part in my adventure. Letting them share their thoughts on Flipgrid or on another platform. #mschat
A1) The part where I get to read, and read some more, without the need to plan. And just "being" with family...enjoying their smiles, laughter and merry-making without feeling like I should be doing something else. #mschat
Time out #mschat, I just read my email, and I have been accepted to present @NELMS_info I put in two proposals one that I did at the @AMLE conference, and one brand new one. I will find out in the new year which one(s) were accepted!!!
Time out #mschat , I just read my email, and I have been accepted to present @NELMS_info I put in two proposals one that I did at the @AMLE conference, and one brand new one. I will find out in the new year which one(s) were accepted!!!
A3) I’ve been working hard to bring work home less often—use digital tools for immediate feedback, etc. I’ve got to stick with it, or it will eat up my family time. #mschat
A3) This year I've done fairly well with this area. I schedule my workouts and keep them like a doctor's appointment. What I need to do is to add time in for personal reading/writing regularly. Scheduling usually helps me achieve balance. #mschat
A3: I plan to be diligent in setting aside certain days to accomplish specific tasks and use my planning period more wisely. Baseball season starts and obviously other new endeavors I’ve mentioned so this will be vital. #MsChat
A2) I am looking forward to incorporating more @seesaw activities...especially where my Ss can create and share what they are loving about their independent reading books. #6thchat
A3) My fun is choreographing our high school's musical, But I will also be sure to make sure there is time for my husband (planned date nights!) #mschat
A3 #mschat
Balance, what's that?!?
I don't seek a 50/50 split, I just try to work really hard during the week so I can have the weekends to myself. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't
A1: I'm really looking forward to baby snuggles and family time! Also in need of some self-care so that I can come back and give 100% to the kids! #mschat
In my internship my mentor was very clear that you must use any short cuts that you can to leave your work at work. Set up assignments that peers can help grade, have very specific questioning so you can look for specific answers. It’s been great advice. #MsChat
A1: Hoping to capitalize on the time off and going to see if that gets me walking and gives me an emotional break. Or at least help me find a semi-temporary rhythm that works. I’ve been floundering and barely surviving the past 3 months. And I’ve always been a thriver. #mschat
A3: this year I have found that Monday’s and Wednesday’s after school are my days to get a lot of grading and planning finished. I have been using those days and my plan period more effectively and efficiently. I need to keep at it in 2019. #mschat
A3: Holy cow I missed a lot when I stepped away for a minute! I try to keep a balance by not having phone notifications for my work email. I have my email on my phone but I have to go into the app to see if I have messages. #mschat
That’s great advice. Thanks to being one-to-one w/ chrome books, I have access to a slew of great tools (and my own weird ideas), so it works out ok. I never want to go back to the way I used to grade! 😳 #mschat
A4: @watkinskaleb is easily the best resource in my PLN. He has made me want to include more reading in my subject area. My Ss are taking books off of my recommendation like candy. #MsChat
I had a year like that when my youngest was born. Maternity leave. Then surgical leave. Then swine flu for my older son. Then for me. It was a hard, hard year. I think I barely survived it. I’m pulling for you. #mschat
A4) Feels like the answer is in the question @Beyond_the_Desk has become a great friend, a team mate in another state! #mschat I am also really loving working with the @AMLE board and @cmt215il there are a few 7th grade teachers on the board, and we rock the colab
A2: Honestly, I want to try and focus more on reaching the kids' social-emotional needs. I have been so stressed about cramming content in for the past couple of years. I need to supply my toolkit with love and whole-child teaching this year. #mschat
A5 #mschat
Currently working on an action research project looking at the impact of reflection on student growth and achievement. That is going to consume all my time in the next few months.
a5:
1) Finish the first 3 chapters of my book by the end of winter break (inspired by @Beyond_the_Desk )
2) Continue to grow our math program (I am dep't teaching coach)
3) Incorporate SS in my math and science classes
#mschat
A3: Balance is tough. I think I need to set an alarm on my phone that tells me when I HAVE to leave school. That will be my reminder to turn school off, go exercise, pick up my kiddo, and focus on him until bed time. Then back to school work ;) #mschat
A5: I want to keep growing and educating myself - I want to include more PBL units -keep teaching students how to use and navigate technology efficiently. #mschat
A5) May sound silly, but if you put it in writing, it is more likely to happen. I really need to improve my Ratios/Proportions assessment, it hasn't tested the Ss knowledge in the way I want, and I know it is always at a busy time of year. Needs to be prioritized. #mschat
A5: Finish passion projects. Make plans for my #Steam club for next year. Help plan a Pink Day for anti-bullying. Improve the force and motion unit. #mschat
oh, I generally don't teach a science standard w/o incorporating some Soc. Studies. This is also why I'm upset I haven't blogged - so many good ideas this year. need to record them! #mschat
A5:
1) Submit a presentation to @AMLE.
2) Revamp Social Studies curriculum at school to better meet student needs for differentiation.
3) Bring more awesome, everyday. #mschat
A5: I have the widest range if students that you can have at a school. I teach the high and the low. My goal is to inspire the low to believe they can attain the same things as the high. Boy is that hard. #MsChat
Yes, I'm struggling a bit with low attendance and wondering if I need to explore moving the time slot. May send out a questionnaire about it. #6thchat#mschat
In reply to
@TeacherRunner42, @jmattmiller, @AngelaStockman, @Mr_Lisek
#mschat A1-5 LOL Just looking to kick back. my kids are home from school and I am just as pleased as punch that I have a new 7 month old Godchild to buy toys for! #substitutegrandchild. Lots of reading to do. Prepping for @DiscoveryEd in Schaumburg, IL #happinessadvantage
A5: Set a daily time deadline for school work, integrate more technology in my teaching, incorporate more performance tasks, and be more efficient in my planning and grading. #mschat
A5. - Learn from my mistakes.
- Seek continuous self improvement.
- Work w/team for student academic growth.
- Seeing continued improvement in Culture and Climate through PBIS, character education, and a whole child approach. @PosProject#mschat
