#whatisschool is an award winning edchat space where people can express an unbiased response to questions about schooling, where educators have a voice in shaping the future through their experience, recommendations and interests. Join us Thursdays 7pm ET / 11pm GMT / Friday 7am SGT/WA (Perth) / Friday 9am AEDT / Friday 11am NZT.
Kevin Rickard, Instructional Technology Specialist at Newtown Elementary in Virginia Beach, middle post of the Tri-Campus #whatisschool Glad I could make it this time and not in the ER again.
Good evening! This is Sherri with @ThirstyBeesNY in the Catskills. Sadly, I missed last week, but I'm looking forward to participating tonight! #whatisschool
Can one of you also post a link to last week’s transcript for those of us who are a little behind the 8-ball on this series and *curious* about what happened last week? Thanks! #whatisschool
We're sorry you were in the ER. Glad you're here to learn more about curiosity this week. Are you familiar with @smokeylit book? It's changing how I teach for the better. #WhatIsSchool@ShiftParadigm
In reply to
@KevinRickard4, @smokeylit, @ShiftParadigm
A1 -- what am i curious about? well i have an active mind and am curious about lots of things. Currently most of my curiosity is focused on life in the mountains where I live -- elk, deer, bears, eagles, hawks, wildflowers. #whatisschool
A1 Curious about the interactions /behaviourbetween people/Ss. Behaviour = a message. Curious about how to meet Ss need, about things that happen in life - leads to many science inquiries :-) #whatisschool
I've always been curious about people's stories/lives, especially in areas I'm not as familiar with (ex: politics, medical etc). I think that's why I love reading biographies #whatisschool
A1: I’m fascinated by geology & the history of rocks, I’m intrigued by the ancient Puebloan peoples who lived in the Southwest in places like Chaco Canyon & Mesa Verde, & I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of awe & wonder at the mysteries of space & the universe. #whatisschool
A1- Science, the way things work. human behavior- why we do what we do- especially my students. Cultures and traditions from around the world- I love travelling to learn about the amazing diversity of our planet and its inhabitants. #WhatIsSchool
Remember the beauty of Twitter is you can always join the conversation. More of us are here on Thursdays from 6-7pm EST, but I actually have more time to look through tweets and notifications during the week. #WhatIsSchool
In reply to
@KevinRickard4, @dubioseducator, @egchapma, @ShiftParadigm, @RitaWirtz, @stephenkelley85, @DennisDill, @DerekRhodenizer, @laurie_azzi, @noasbobs, @narelleford, @Math912Teacher
A1. I tend to go deep into topics that interest me. It’s an #autism thing. Currently? Bunnies, stimming, disability advocacy, steampunk fashion, and nordic walking, #whatisschool
A1 I've always been curious about nature, specially human biology. I also love learning about different cultures, thus the "itch" to travel whenever possible. #whatisschool
I am curious about people ... what makes people tick ... I think it is why I dig history so much ... I try to get inside people’s minds and see things from their perspective ... #whatisschool
Loved exploring Mesa Verde. So many curiosities about living there - tried to imagine raising a family there. Place based learning at it's finest! #whatisschool
I'm not sure we have a transcript, but please feel free to DM me, and I'll share whatever I've prepared for the chat. The biggest resource that has helped me is @smokeylit book The Curious Classroom. We're discussing some of his constructs, and how to apply them. #whatisschool
In reply to
@gallianstone, @ShiftParadigm, @smokeylit
Hi, #whatisschool tweeps. Late Leslie strikes again. I am up here in frozen, snowy @RosseauLake, teaching chemistry, biology, doing some exam week scheduling, photography club activities, and supervision duties. You know, the usual. This morning's #sunrise for you.
I think I'm remembering correctly that @mjjohnson1216 mentioned last week that her chat had also discussed the book for 2 weeks, so you might want to message her, too. #whatisschool
In reply to
@gallianstone, @ShiftParadigm, @mjjohnson1216
A1. I'm curious about lots of things. How jumbo jets get up & stay up in the air. Ppl's stories. Where they come from. how they got that job. travel history. #whatisschool
A1: Curious to see my student's reactions when they get raw exposure to new things. Like when they found a grub worm in the courtyard garden club and were examining him and watching him move. #whatisschool
A2: the only barrier I have is that I’m not in the classroom anymore, but I’d enjoy sharing my thoughts on this with them because I’m curious about their curiosities #WhatIsSchool
A2: Focus on test scores, collecting data having some way to hold students accountable. Its funny, I was showing kids how to make "plant food" w/blender and threw coffee grounds and other stuff in and push the button and the kids were like, they let you do that. #whatisschool
This is good to know. I can tag you in the future with some pictures of my kids in action. Some of my after school kids were very creative today, but since they aren't in my class I don't know if they have a photo release. #WhatIsSchool
In reply to
@KevinRickard4, @smokeylit, @ShiftParadigm, @LFlemingEDU
A2: Focus on district curriculum: is that in the curriculum, and time, time is a big factor, that's why I like my clubs. No restrictions other than time. #whatisschool
A2: Not to many, to be honest. Ss have access to my IG account and can see my nature photos. S who love photography too are underway with a club and a shared IG account so we can all enjoy nature and photography together. Their wares: #lifeisgood#whatisschool
A2. Biggest barriers are finding media that are accessible to my students, and overcoming my own discomfort (and social push-back) for deviating from mainstream expectations #whatisschool
#whatisschool a2 Within these digital walls we encourage curiosity but in the past I perceived that some IRL colleagues really dislike how messy curiosity can be.
A2: The only barriers that might interfere with me sharing my curiosities is if they don’t fit in with the canned curriculum. I’m an English teacher, so exploring rocks, archeology, & space may appear to be straying away from traditional English class expectations. #whatisschool
A2 Respect = barrier - finding answers to curiosisties about Ss or what is happening when working with new colleagues often delves into personal experiences that should not become public/ impinge on professional boundaries. Keep focus on purpose of relationships #whatisschool
#Whatisschool I share a lot of my curiosity with students. We talk a lot about traveling and science of course. Plus we love talking about motivation and human behavior- but I am a science teacher so it makes it easy to do so- but time definitely limits some of our conversations
I don’t know what grade you teach, but I find it is primarily my science and social studies curriculum that drive my literature choices - reading stories and myths that relate to the places, times, people, and skills that we are studying. #WhatIsSchool
A2 Got lots of curiosities that I'd just blurt out when we get excited during discussions, but the problem might be if it's getting us sidetracked from what's in the curriculum. Yes, they're almost always still related to the lessons but in the interest of time... #whatisschool
A2 time and money can also be barriers - secretly there are times I wish I could be "Miss Frizzle" & have a magic school bus to follow the curiosities of my Ss in the moments when they surface! #whatisschool
I am with you. I had to realize as a co-moderator that I had to focus on doing the best that I can. It is super fast. Please let me know if I can help in any way. #WhatIsSchool
In reply to
@KevinRickard4, @gallianstone, @ShiftParadigm, @smokeylit
A2. Gd teachers find a way to share their curiosities with Ss, regardless of what they teach. Thats authentic. thats modelling. thats building relationships! #whatisschool
A2 This is making me think that I may be the barrier from sharing my curiosity of people's lives with my Ss....I'm now feeling challenged to find some good nonfiction/biography style read aloud books to read to my Ss :) #whatisschool
The curriculum is so full and our time (not blocked) limited when I have to cut our conversations short they get disappointed. BUT I make time during our 1-minute check ins to keep the conversation going with those students. #WhatIsSchool
A3: Last year there was no photography club, this year there is and I am the faculty member in charge of it. We knock the barrier down. Curiosity and wonder are two of my primary motivators. This is very hard to hide from students. They know I'm a kid too. #whatisschool
A3: My clubs have been a big answer to that. I run the morning broadcast club, the morning gardening club. Add in some geek clubs after school. More relaxed, more freedom to work outside the curriculum. #whatisschool
#whatisschool a3 One of the biggest signs of a curious but blocked student is frustration. Sometimes it's language gaps and so we need to detour to play with language.
My secret sauce is enthusiasm - I struggle with public speaking and presenting to adults but with kids my gift is the gift of gab with lots of energy and positivity #WhatisSchool 😊 hooks them every time
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @deem_ellen, @JasonSalhaney, @Dunnie98, @clowningar, @laurie_azzi
I started a reply to you and then changed it. Normally we think of younger kids as more naturally curious and malleable, so I am interested in your choice of the word 'freedom.' Can you please tell me more about why you feel this way? Thanks! #whatisschool
A3. Depends where the barriers come from. If they come from the students, then let it go. If they come from outside, then it’s time to try a different approach, or wait and approach it differently another time. #whatisschool
A3 I have a google sheet with 3k+ teachers for Mystery Skype/hangout from around the World to keep Ss curious about the World https://t.co/qhiVJIrnFh#whatisschool
#WhatIsSchool I love love my clubs. All four are competition/academic clubs- National Academic Quiz Bowl, National Science Bowl, National Geographic BEE and Future City- you really get to know them all year with clubs!
Q4 In your classroom, what specific things might you do to overcome barriers so you are comfortable sharing your curiosity with students? #whatisschool@ShiftParadigm@smokeylit
As an Inst. Coach my teachers are also my students. I try to use enthusiasm, showcase what others are doing, build curiosity within them. See if I can get them to come ask me. We use Wixie, and Minecraft so I have displays of student work up they have to walk by. #whatisschool
A4 building a sense of community and trust between the people in the room - allows for more open conversations and willingness to problem solve, support, and learn together #whatisschool
February 18-22 is our Digital Learning Week and I will set up stations again in the atrium for everyone to explore as they go to lunch, PE. I team up with my LMS for different things too and introduce them in the library. #whatisschool
Last week we walked to see our church nativity, and on the way Ss kept stopping to check out the worms on the sidewalk because it was raining. (We were pretending to be the 3 Wise Men). Catholic School #WhatIsSchool@ShiftParadigm
In reply to
@lesliefarooq, @pdelrosario17, @ShiftParadigm
A4 #WhatIsSchool The only way to really accomplish this- is by building relationships and getting to know them. When a community is built and trust and respect transforms the classroom into a safe haven- this will happen naturally- barriers will drop & curiosity will flourish
Q4 In your classroom, what specific things might you do to overcome barriers so you are comfortable sharing your curiosity with students? #whatisschool@ShiftParadigm@smokeylit
A4: Relationships. Build them. Attempt to build them with everyone, even the holdouts. Once you know them better you will feel less on your guard about sharing curiosities, and so will they. Worth a try. #whatisschool
A4. Going slow and staying within or close to people’s comfort zone. Letting people see the positives for themselves. Avoiding controversy. (All sounds real good on paper doesn’t it?!?) #whatisschool
Thank you, Ellen. If you are on IG that's where I share them. The link is on my profile page. Not fishing for follows, just want you to know there are tons more where they came from! It's a passion and hobby of mine. #whatisschool
Yes, they've really brought a certain touch to the household. They are still kittens (teenage mutant ninja kittens?), so they are always up to something. Today they were sitting on my son's switch screen to get attention. Delightful little souls. #whatisschool
In reply to
@deem_ellen, @ShiftParadigm, @pdelrosario17, @RosseauLake
A4 Model it. When Ss see that you don't have a problem humanizing yourself - that you don't necessarily know everything - that would be a good way to get them out of their shells for them to start sharing their own curiosities. #whatisschool
So cool! I do a lot of mythology based on the different peoples and times in the 7-12 curriculum since my students are at a much lower reading comprehension level. Just about to start South America mythology for the great expansion unit! #whatisschool
Q5 How has your natural curiosity affected the curiosity of your students? How do both affect their learning? Please provide examples. #whatisschool@ShiftParadigm@smokeylit
A4: I’m always comfortable challenging the status quo. I just don’t want any of the negativity and resistance that may be directed at me to discourage my students. That said, positive relationships with my students are key to any successful sharing of curiosity. #whatisschool
Weigh the relevance of what you'd like to share. If it means getting sidetracked for just a few minutes, then I suppose that wouldn't hurt whatever learning target you might have for the day. #whatisschool
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @JasonSalhaney, @Dunnie98, @clowningar, @egchapma, @dubioseducator
One of my boys wondered if these ornaments were going on a real tree. I had my Ss imagine what that tree would look like, draw it and write about it. They did a phenomenal job:) #whatisschool@ShiftParadigm@smokeylit
A2 As a tutor I am usually working on the student's work from class. Also, my interests probably don't match a grade school student's interest. #whatisschool
#WhatIsSchool Its funny but I made a lot more Dr. Who fans for sure. But I think that my curiosity & love of science has lured kids who hated it before over to the world of science. Make it relatable and relevant and they will latch on and look for their own curiosity within it.
Q5 How has your natural curiosity affected the curiosity of your students? How do both affect their learning? Please provide examples. #whatisschool@ShiftParadigm@smokeylit
Biggest takeaway is improved relationships within my school community. Remembering I don’t have to do everything I want to right away is still hard though! #WhatisSchool
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @ChouinardJahant, @egchapma, @deem_ellen
A5: I find the younger they are, the more likely they are to embrace the curiosity and if you let them run with it a bit, they start to enjoy school more. #whatisschool
A5 when the teacher models curiosity it can become contagious. 'I wonder why...' also build enthusiasm for a topic - also makes Ss think their T is a little 'crazy' at times...gotta have some fun! #whatisschool
A5: None of my students has ever come right out and said,
"Because of your curiosity, I did [insert the thing here],"
but I would like to think that this counts as a decent example: https://t.co/Tq6WPt9lGN#whatisschool
I'll have to ask the kids:) I was focused on making sure they paid attention to the 3 Wise Men. I definitely need to take them out on a rainy day when we start our wormery:) #whatisschool
In reply to
@ThirstyBeesNY, @lesliefarooq, @pdelrosario17, @ShiftParadigm
A5: There was also the time we subjected spider plantlets to ridiculously high molar concentrations of sodium chloride and sucrose because we could. #chemistry#iteachchemistry#whatif#whatisschool
A5: When my students see that I’m willing to take risks, that I enjoy adventure, that I love learning new things, they are inspired to do the same. + Kids being kids, they tend to thrive at doing the exact opposite of what they are "told" they can’t or shouldn’t do. #whatisschool
So true - its seems the older Ss are more reluctant to embrace their curiosity-why that is , is a curiosity. Do we teach it out of them like we do imagination? Too focused on keeping everyone focused on the curriculum? Balance?
#whatisschool
#WhatIsSchool Tomorrow we are finishing our paper pets & discussing how traits are successful/help organisms survive. I love adaptations and all the variety in the animal world and can't wait to talk about everyone's favorite animals. this really gets them interested & curious.
A5. When we do KWL charts, I have seen meaningful, even insightful questions when we reach the “W” section that I have been able to build whole lessons around. I can’t express how huge of an achievement that is for my early/emerging communicators! #whatisschool
A6 Tomorrow I will let my Ss know that Scientist like Einstein, Newton spent much of their life asking Questions "Scientist are a curious bunch" #whatisschool
A6: Tomorrow is Business as Usual: I love taking advantage of teachable moments. That means being alert and flexible to follow those curiosity rabbit trails when they present themselves. #whatisschool
A6: same ways I have just mentioned. More focused on Monday next week. I meet with teachers tomorrow. Leadership team meeting in the afternoon. #whatisschool
Thanks so much for joining us for #WhatIsSchool Curious Classroom Part 2. Please join us next week for Part 3: Using Curiosity to Develop Empathy and a Sense of Justice in Students. Special thanks to @ShiftParadigm@smokeylit@mrkempnz.
Curiosity enlightens, it sparks, it generates new ideas. It warms the spirit when we solve it-when we ask questions we are engaging with out world. It is the tick tock within all of us. Thank you to the #WhatIsSchool educators here tonight for always winding up the curiosity
I think it isn't Ts & parents it's the shame of thier peers in Middleschool, sadly. Here's talk I gave on that matter https://t.co/Hrw0hndY9X#whatisschool
Yes, each of our cats has a different personality. Jon will meow at you a lot and then not actually want you to pay attention to him. Arya will not meow much at all, yet will get in your face until you are forced to pay attention to her! Both get into everything! #whatisschool
In reply to
@deem_ellen, @ShiftParadigm, @pdelrosario17, @RosseauLake
A6 we are debriefing a bubble lab where diff solutions were used to explore which would create the biggest bubble - curious to hear their findings and explore their learnings. May lead to our next scicence lab...#whatisschool
Sorry, everyone. I fell off the #whatisschool train when @edtechfarooq came home to say goodnight to the kids. He's my squirrel. 😂 Thanks for the chat, everyone. Stay curious!
These all sound like amazing things I need to know more about. I feel like the Mesa Verde people were featured in a novel I read recently. Does "We Fed Them Cactus" ring a bell? #whatisschool
