Run by Iowa educators, #IAedchat is on Twitter the first, second, and third Sundays each month at 8:00pm CST. We have added #IAedchat LIVE to the fourth Sunday of the month at 8:00pm CST. This will take place in Google Hangout on Air. We will share the invitation and link to #IAedchat LIVE each month.
Hi friends! Dave, teacher educator at @DordtEDUC here for #iaedchat. I’m taking a tweet break from grading unit plans to join in tonight. (First unit plans from my sophomore students are looking pretty good!)
Good evening, #iaedchat! Dan Butler, principal of #eesbobcats in the Western Dubuque School District. Pleased to be able to connect with you this evening.
A1: I try to bring energy, enthusiasm, and excitement to our school day. I feel one of my strengths is building lasting relationships with folks.
#iaedchat
A1: I try to be an enthusiastic and supportive leader while also challenging us to be our best. My door is always open and I work to bring humor and the lighter side of our work to the surface. You can tell a lot about a culture based on how many smiles you see. #iaedchat
A1: I try to be positive and choose joy in all situations. It’s not always at the surface and I have to give myself reminders, but that’s my deep down goal. #IAedChat
A1 - I think being available is a gift I bring to my position. Even if I am not physically available, teachers know they can call, text, or email, and I'll get back to them quickly! That know they can come to me for anything! #IAedChat
A1. I would say I bring a positive outlook, a student focused approach to education, and wanting to help all teachers continue to improve the instruction they provide students. #IAedchat
Andrew with PBIS Rewards. We help schools manage their PBIS initiatives digitally and promote a positive school culture. Joining in from Southwest Indiana.
#IAedChat
A1: Maybe this sounds corny but I bring love. I love kids, my staff, families and community so much and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to ensure we have success. I lead with love, always. #IAedChat
A1: Maybe this sounds corny but I bring love. I love kids, my staff, families and community so much and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to ensure we have success. I lead with love, always. #IAedChat
Not corny at all! I end our morning announcements: "If no one has told you they love you today, know that Mr. Duffy does." Our kids, staff, world needs a little more love. #iaedchat
Not corny at all! I end our morning announcements: "If no one has told you they love you today, know that Mr. Duffy does." Our kids, staff, world needs a little more love. #iaedchat
A2: Being there is EVERYTHING. I am in the halls, at lunch, at recess, at games, I shop where families shop, go to community events, I am THERE. #iaedchat
A2: It starts first thing in the morning...being on campus, in the parking lot, giving high-fives and hugs...greeting parents, students and staff...
#iaedchat
It’s everything, this has been a difficult semester and I’ve been stuck in my office a lot I can tell when I’m not out with the kiddos our culture suffers #iaedchat
A2: We have to be in the moment with whoever we are with. As I’ve gotten better at this I’ve noticed that my conversations and relationships have deepened with others! #IAedChat
A2: when S’s and T’s see you out and about, being involved and connected to what’s going on, they begin to feel that you’re someone hey can count on and a trust begins to build. With trust, positive culture can start to build #IAedChat
A2: I am not in a classroom, but I always try to show up for the districts I serve. I will find ways to move other things on my calendar if I know a school needs something. #IAedChat
A2: Showing up is step 1. Step 2 is being fully present. When students need you, devote your attention to them. Step 3 is connection—get to know them as unique individuals, and *teach* them that way. #iaedchat
A1: sorry to join late! I am a strong advocate for the Ss. I help clear the path so Ss can experience alternatives to what they think is possible #iaedchat
A2: If you're a leader and the culture thrives with you in your office... I don't know what to say. I think presence is so critical for leaders. W/in classrooms, having that connection to students may be the one thing that helps them stay engaged. Be present! #iaedchat
A2: Your students know if you are there.... You have to be present for your students, even when its hard to be. It starts when they walk in the door until the last one leaves.
#iaedchat
TRUTH! I have a "mobile office" (AKA and ipad), we can't lead folks who don't see us with our sleeves rolled up to do the work along side them. #iaedchat
It’s everything, this has been a difficult semester and I’ve been stuck in my office a lot I can tell when I’m not out with the kiddos our culture suffers #iaedchat
I loved each and every one of my students….Truly and deeply. I brought them with me home emotionally every night. Sometimes that’s the only time they heard it. Not corny at all. Kids need to know that there is a loving adult there for them. #IAedChat
A1: Maybe this sounds corny but I bring love. I love kids, my staff, families and community so much and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to ensure we have success. I lead with love, always. #IAedChat
A2: It starts first thing in the morning...being on campus, in the parking lot, giving high-fives and hugs...greeting parents, students and staff...
#iaedchat
A2: I am really working on how my energy impacts others. Whether that is in a meeting, with students in the hallway, in a classroom, etc. The energy we bring matters so much to the vibe within these settings. #iaedchat
Agreed! I always tell my students (future teachers) that they MUS have a plan for the lesson. But they have to hold the lesson plan loosely…sometimes more important things come up. #iaedchat
A2: A feeling of presence is because of a desire to always do what's best for kids because it's your passion to do so. If you aren't lead by that, you don't thrive. #iaedchat
A2. Presence is being there for accountability and building relationships with Ss on a daily basis! They begin to trust and want you to be there! #iaedchat
I read the book blended leadership by @reshanrichards and @stephen valentine it had some good ideas for using tech to be more present as a leader #IAedChat
A2.2: As @AneseCavanaugh would say, we are contagious. The energy and presence we bring starts to shape and define our culture. One interaction at a time. Be present, be intentional. #iaedchat
A2: I am a firm believer in bringing the noise or not bringing it at all! My kids, my staff & my community know where I stand and they know how much I love them! #IAedChat
Agreed! I always tell my students (future teachers) that they MUS have a plan for the lesson. But they have to hold the lesson plan loosely…sometimes more important things come up. #iaedchat
A2: as a principal, it is my job to be there for EVERYONE! Students, families, teachers, & paras. Here is how I make sure to be there for my paras: https://t.co/exoNr8TEgB#iaedchat@middleweb
A2 You can show up for kids by committing to be the most positive person they see. Every 5 second interaction counts especially because it might be the only positivity a kid gets that day! #IAedChat
Absolutely! Kids learn our names and we owe it to them to know theirs. When you can call a student by name, they feel and are "seen." How sad for a kid to not experience being seen at school. #iaedchat
A3: @burgessdave was exactly right when he said you need to start with the hook. Getting kids excited or intrigued about the content can be as simple as a video clip, a song, or a costume!
#iaedchat
A3: The most effective way for me to do this is to use analogies that relate to kids. When they are able to connect with a comparison that makes sense to them, the content sticks. This works pretty well for adults too. Make the complex simple! #iaedchat
A3: I teach in higher ed, where lecture rules the teaching toolbox. But I realize that lecture isn’t my strong suit, so I aim for lecture+ (if I’m going to lecture, it’s not more than 10 minutes at a stretch, and then we have to do something interactive with that info! #iaedchat
A3: I share why I'm excited about the things we do in class and model the process on how to gain mastery over the content. I've found that it's difficult to resist ones' passion. #iaedchat
A3: I love anything from @chrisemdin’s White Folks Who Teach in the Hood. Co-generative dialogues are my favorite. I also love using circles for community building and healing from conflict. #IAedchat
A3: I work hard to create a culture that promotes effort and joy. That opens folks up to asking questions & trying new things. Read about how here: https://t.co/qwby3UWr09@middleweb#iaedchat
A3: The most effective way for me to do this is to use analogies that relate to kids. When they are able to connect with a comparison that makes sense to them, the content sticks. This works pretty well for adults too. Make the complex simple! #iaedchat
A3: play!!! When S’s are reluctant to talk or are just meeting me we play legos or in the sandbox in my office. We just chit chat while they play- it helps keep things relaxed and not so scary when they’re ready to open up more #IAedChat
A3: play!!! When S’s are reluctant to talk or are just meeting me we play legos or in the sandbox in my office. We just chit chat while they play- it helps keep things relaxed and not so scary when they’re ready to open up more #IAedChat
Yes! It needs to be relevant. So many kids, myself included as a student are wandering the halls asking, "Why am I learning this?" Let's give them a meaningful answer! #iaedchat
A3: I teach in higher ed, where lecture rules the teaching toolbox. But I realize that lecture isn’t my strong suit, so I aim for lecture+ (if I’m going to lecture, it’s not more than 10 minutes at a stretch, and then we have to do something interactive with that info! #iaedchat
I am going to have to check this out. I have learned of the power of story telling and making content sticky by the one and only, @jimknight99#iaedchat
And if our only answer is, “You’ll need this in high school” (or next year, or even later this year) we need to rethink it. Has to have some meaning in their lives TODAY. #iaedchat
A4: Way back when I started my student teaching, my master teacher gave 2 pieces of advice that have stuck with me the last 22 yrs:
1. Don't reinvent the wheel.
2. Make best friends with the head custodian and the office manager.
#iaedchat
A4: "Balance is knowing that there will always be papers to grade and emails to write. Your own kids see your time as your love."
"Are students better because of you today?" #iaedchat
A4: I think the best advice I received was from my mentor my first year in the classroom. Whenever I asked her about doing something different she would always say, "try it." You can always do it differently after you learn more. #IAedChat
A4: I can tell you the WORST advice I ever got from a colleague: “Don’t smile until Christmas."
That classic “Don’t smile until Christmas” is a bunch of baloney, and we have to stop saying that ridiculous stuff to teachers. #iaedchat
A4: everybody is bringing their very best to us every day- if they had something different to bring they would- so we have to meet them where they are, not where we want them to be #IAedChat
Most important people in the school: administrative assistants, custodians, and cooks. You’ll never regret going out of your way to make friends with them. #iaedchat
A4: Best advice: "All students want to learn and they all can learn. A teacher's job is to lend students their expertise and then get out of their way." ~John Wolfe
#iaedchat
Hey #iaedchat - Come join us on #MEMSPAchat Thursday at 8pm EST (7pm Central).
It’s a trending chat for lead educators and principals!
Join @MrDomagalski leading the discussion @MEMSPA#MEMSPA18 (Michigan Elem & Middle School Principals Association)
A4.2: Great mentor told me "The day you stop learning, get out of my profession." Also said, "If you're satisfied with the lollipop of mediocrity, you'll always suck." Not all advice was a winner. Ha! #iaedchat
A5: We have a fall service day where kids get involved raking leaves in the neighborhood, donating goods or time for community non-profits, or assembling care packages. We also pack meals for the hungry in the spring. We do monthly assemblies as well. #iaedchat
A5: we have an annual trim the tree program where kids sing a variety of holiday songs and put ornaments in a huge tree in our school. Parents, Kids and staff all love to sing and get in the holiday spirit during this event! #IAedChat
A4: When it comes to discipline, be a tomato! Firm and sweet. If there is a dichotomy between the descriptors firm and sweet as related to classroom management it’s a false one. This & more tips from @middleweb#iaedchathttps://t.co/L17kx5UJZf
A5 our last day before winter break we have a trivia and movie day and teachers wear ugly sweaters. Students have also done a good job coming together for Kindness day #iaedchat
A5: This year we just added fun positive behavior incentives for kids and staff so that’s been awesome. We also do an ugly sweater contest and everyone gets really into it this week! #IAedChat
A5: Each faculty meeting we hand out certificates and high fives and celebrate the good things our teachers do around the building. It's nominated by other teachers and has been a great way for the group to pull together #iaedchat
A5: Each faculty meeting we hand out certificates and high fives and celebrate the good things our teachers do around the building. It's nominated by other teachers and has been a great way for the group to pull together #iaedchat
A5 Borrowed from @angiemahoney92 we have monthly Celebration Circles in which staff get up to highlight positive things individual students have done while everybody else celebrates them like crazy #iaedchat
A5: Each faculty meeting we hand out certificates and high fives and celebrate the good things our teachers do around the building. It's nominated by other teachers and has been a great way for the group to pull together #iaedchat
A5: Each faculty meeting we hand out certificates and high fives and celebrate the good things our teachers do around the building. It's nominated by other teachers and has been a great way for the group to pull together #iaedchat
A5: One that is on my mind for this coming week is an annual sing-a-long that our staff and students do together. Live piano, holiday songs, and roughly 350 people belting out holiday songs together. #iaedchat
A5 Borrowed from @angiemahoney92 we have monthly Celebration Circles in which staff get up to highlight positive things individual students have done while everybody else celebrates them like crazy #iaedchat
A5: Because our team doesn't see each other a lot in person, we have a Vox conversation going to lift each others' spirits and keep each other going. It's great to stay in contact even it's not in person! #IAedChat
A6: Number one thing I wish would change: the way we over-emphasize and abuse standardized tests. They have their place, but they are almost always used for things they were not originally intended to measure… #iaedchat
A6: Doing things because that’s the way we’ve always done it. If that’s the first go-to answer… then it’s time for a change…. Grades, schedules, calendars… #IAedChat
A6: A continued and increased emphasis on social-emotional learning and greater support for helping students with mental health challenges. I'd also love to see schools that are powerhouses of creativity and passion-based learning. We need to reimagine the system. #iaedchat
A6: state mandated assessments- I do believe there should be some form of measuring how S’s are doing but not in he way we currently assess through the state and then deem how schools are doing based on those numbers #IAedChat
A6: I would like to see a system where kids and adults are valued all day every day. So much of the system was built for choosing winners, and that system has to stop in order for the whole to improve. #IAedChat
A6: Doing things because that’s the way we’ve always done it. If that’s the first go-to answer… then it’s time for a change…. Grades, schedules, calendars… #IAedChat
A6 There no “bad/unreachable” kids. Too often we demand kids fit into our box for the sake of compliance instead of taking time to meet them where they are at. Spend time forming relationships EVERYDAY #IAedChat
A6: If I could make one “small” tweak it would to to build each school (space and staff) to be trauma sensitive. Right now we are trying to fit this stuff in to systems that are opposite and I would just like to start from scratch sometimes! #IAedChat
A6: It's been voiced multiple times about standardized testing. I'll add the state school report card that "grades" each school. I fail to see how such public scoring engenders innovation in our school systems. #iaedchat
A7: Anywhere I go, I want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. I will continue to find ways to support those I can throughout my work. #IAedChat
A7: many of our families will be receiving gifts and food for Christmas thanks to the generosity of our staff and community. I’m the school contact for the giving program and can’t wait to share the holiday cheer with them! #IAedChat
A7: I'm rolling in with great vibes this week and uncontainable joy. If I want a joyful, enthusiastic and energetic school, I need to be joyful, enthusiastic and energetic. #iaedchat
A7: I’m going to teach some science to 3rd graders at a local elementary school…in the last days right before Christmas break! #lovethis#lookingforwardtoit#iaedchat
And I really miss teaching science on a daily basis. Teaching science methods to future teachers is fun too…but it’s just not the same as seeing their eyes light up with the joy of discovery! #iaedchat
A7: Help keep the kids level-headed as they approach break. Acknowledge their excitement (or apprehensions) and help them to keep on task. Reflect on the growth they've made to date and let them know how much we are looking forward to continuing with them after break. #iaedchat
Thanks to tonight's participants and my partners in moderating @danpbutler and @duffysclassroom! Don’t forget to bookmark our #IAedChat google site which houses an archive of these chats, our live chats, and resources! https://t.co/q8mtcjVIo3
