#RuralEdChat Archive
#RuralEdChat is a chat that focuses on the needs of the rural educator. This chat has been revised by Tammy Neil (@MathNeil), John Martin (@edventures) and Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz).
Tuesday March 15, 2016
Good Tuesday evening to the community.
Hi Linda! Glad you're here tonight for . Are you ready for this one?
Henry Burroughs, Co-Founder Technology WIN!, an consulting company in FL. & summoned by
Hi Henry! Happy to have you along for tonight's chat.
Hey there , how are folks tonight?
I honestly think I'm clueless--which is why I need to be here!
Not at all! Love the conversation with you, Linda!
So sorry I'm running behind. But I'm here now.
Hiya !! Erin, from western Maine (aka 3.5km w of nowhere). How's it tonight?
Hey, John! How's the advisory duty going?
Aw ... I just come to cause you say such nice things
Hi Erin! love your geographical description! I think many of us can relate!
Hi, ! Watching election returns with my wife, dad, and stepmom.
I'm impressed. 3.5 km w of nowhere is the preeminent address
So we're talking edu leadership this month. Tonight we want to talk about how we achieve balance...if that's possible!
Nice. I probably don't deserve it, given that there's a McDonalds in my town. My Ss are always impressed.
New here. Was curious about just wanted to check out what was going on
Hi, Paul! How rural are you?
eek. I can hardly watch any of it this year. crazy crazy times.
Welcome, Paul. We look forward to you joining in.
. Definitely feeling out of balance lately.
Hi community, first-timer here. Excited to learn from you all
It kind of comes with the Feb-April run in education, no?
In PA not that rural. but i have a few students "out there" just thought I'd chyme in
Hey Teri! Happy you are here tonight!
Excellent! Welcome, Natalie.
Glad to see you tonight. What's happening in your part of ?
You've found a great spot here in
we are actually really happy when non-rural edus join us here at Diverse perspectives matter!
students getting ready for Regional Science Fair. Sunny weather and snow
I like Richmond.Glad you could join
Kind of why I am here. Diversity!
1st Q coming up. Feel free to let the conversation go where it will or add in your own Q's along the way.Tag your responses w/
Q1 How do you focus your attention when so much comes our way as educators?
You said it. Open hate has no place in our country/politics. Nor hidden hate.
Student art show here this week. No snow. Some sun. and 1st contested Village elections in years.
A1: I chunk my day the way I chunk my lessons. At a predetermined time, I switch tasks. Otherwise I'd never remember to move on
Yes. And yet this stage. Horrified by what it's become lately.
I just promised my support staff I would swear them off soon! I pile them until I can't make anymore sense!
A1) I use Google Keep now instead of post it notes.
A1 Time with kids grounds me, as does my nightly sign-off. Always trying to grow personally and in my work w/student agency.
It's a pretty cool tool! And they are coming up with new changes quite often. Hope it "sticks" around ;)
A1: Triage mode. Most critical emergency gets my immediate attention. Everything else, not so much. And therein lies the rub...
A1: I really need these answers tonight. Too many interruptions. I'm having a hard time focusing tonight.
I hope so. I was very saddened by the loss of .
I really really really appreciate that sign off whenever I catch it in my feed, Bill. Kids & animals are so grounding.
When you have six things that feel like they're code red, how do you choose? https://t.co/8qunr2sM3p
A1: Triage mode. Most critical emergency gets my immediate attention. Everything else, not so much. And therein lies the rub...
Love it! Problem- it works for us with computers but what if the 1 student doesn't have one https://t.co/7tIdGClcDC
A1) I use Google Keep now instead of post it notes.
definitely always an issue. Equity of access is key. I use digital and paper n pencil still quite a bit
Phones! Just download the app and sign in to Google/GAFE.
. Sometimes it is purposeful, other times happenstance, sometimes just plain dumb luck. Would prefer intention.
Yeah. This is often how I function too. When all the little things pile up though...deep breaths!
Aww, show the Post-Its some love, for they are the most versatile of the office supplies. https://t.co/zWPRPaNeN3
Love it! Problem- it works for us with computers but what if the 1 student doesn't have one https://t.co/7tIdGClcDC
A1) I use Google Keep now instead of post it notes.
A1 Also put events like on calendar and posts for my blogs by specific times each week to give my week a rhythm.
Yup! A call from my son, a conversation with my students, a purring cat, and hope returns.
Love that idea of giving shape to our days and weeks, Linda. Somehow pushes back on life happening to us!
I ask myself which one is most likely to cause a giant problem in the life of a student, and start there.
A1: I write everything on sticky notes and carry them around with me. I'm bad about multitasking & not being in the moment
that's an awesome filter, Erin.
So following up on Q1-->Q1.2: If you do set intentions or get present, what helps you most to do so?
A1.2: I choose different styles of music for different tasks.
I tend to dive into projects and not emerge unless I have that calendar item to force me to breathe.
A2 We sometimes do meditation in my Humanities 7 class, especially Fridays. Always good for me as well.
A1.2: I have to make a conscious decision to be present. Close the extra browser tabs full of distractions.
Was just reading about the elements of focus and flow. Sounds like you have this down!
A1.2: Cleaning off my desk, clearing the piles, helps me refocus. It also shows me I have a huge collection of pencils/pens.
I agree. Focus on 1 item at a time https://t.co/qgB62ELSc3
Was just reading about the elements of focus and flow. Sounds like you have this down!
- I'm like you there. A latté in a coffee shop with wifi and I can focus for ages.
mindfulness & meditation are finding ways into more & more learning environments. Much otential here https://t.co/pNlouOOUbu
A2 We sometimes do meditation in my Humanities 7 class, especially Fridays. Always good for me as well.
Just did this today and like magic I cranked out 4 pages that I'd been struggling with.
a pen for every task. So right!
Magical, isn't it. It's all about building up some momentum!
My dad was a pen connoisseur back in his day. I blame him for taking me to pen stores. !
& sometimes decluttering or cleaning stops the negative thought spiral that disrupts creativity.
I get that. I have to have the right color ink for specific tasks!
Q2ish: Where do you turn for philosophical support for your work in edu?
For me: Purple- conventionally unconventional. Pink- boldly unconventional. Blue- boring necessity. ;-)
A2: I start with , because I'm married to him, haha. My department is fab! Colleagues who are positive/supportive!
I also love those really large yellow pencils. They are my favorite. https://t.co/GyYTgCyQK9
For me: Purple- conventionally unconventional. Pink- boldly unconventional. Blue- boring necessity. ;-)
reading Psalms in AM. Finding comfort in realizing the universe isn't against me personally.
That's awesome. It helps to be able to process the work with someone who knows the work!
A2ish I turn to my wife, my long-time friends, my Twitter PLN. So many social justice and kid-focused people.
A2: I have a really great support system. Some on my campus, some not. All very important to my mental health.
Right. Deliberately creating, bldng & maintaining support in edu is so essential. Especially since it's
A2ish I go outside edu to business, to the novels I review, to people in STEM fields.
But when I need to really dial out, I turn to free cell. I can play that for hours. Its just dull enough to let my brain rest.
How important a reminder! I think many do lose sight of that in the day-to-day messiness of life.
We teach almost the same grade, too. It's so valuable to be able to have prof convos w/o stress
I've never been to a pen store. I'm sure I'd like one.
One of my dearest friends in edu calls it "processing" our day, our moments, our interactions.
except now I really think they are all gone. there used to be a couple in downtown Chicago when I was a kid.
Are there any fans of out there in tonight?
I'm lucky enough to have that too - my wife also teaches in a girls school.
Q3 on it's way in a minute or two.
I have reread it more times than I can count. Brought and still brings so much to my life and thinking.
We could probably devote an entire chat (or six) to it. Maybe not enough time to start connecting it here now...?
Maybe we could convince you to moderate a chat sometime based on it?
I can talk about it for hours, and sometimes teach an extract to my kids. Maybe for a future chat though???
Background for Q3: We're often caught between 'romance' (joys, frustrations) of our work & practicality or rationality.
Hmm, let me think on that. Open to the idea, and thank you for asking.
I have to admit I've not read Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maint. But I love the Tao of Pooh & The Starship & The Canoe
Big Q3 (do with it what you will!): How do we strike a balance between the two that helps us feel satisfied with our work?
That's the tricky part - but maybe with really carefully chosen quotes, or a blog? Any of those three books?
A3: I find reflection helps. Really digging in to what went well and what didn't.
Right! And actually making peace with things that don't go well. That will always be part of the work. https://t.co/dRgnKTdDSO
A3: I find reflection helps. Really digging in to what went well and what didn't.
A3. I think about what I want to leave behind me, my legacy to the next generation. That gives me focus,
A3b: My next step is to see if I need to step across a line to push the envelope.
A3: Prob the one thing that I can't compartmentalize. I'm super rational about most work things, but always try to
& that's another form of rootedness, grounding: remembering that we r part of a long conversation here https://t.co/D9IuCe0h8x
A3. I think about what I want to leave behind me, my legacy to the next generation. That gives me focus,
There we go! I needed someone to swing this around to the rebel side of things! Bingo, Tammy!
Yes! That often keeps us in this work for sure!
Nothing energizes me or my Ss like thinking we are "stretching" the rules. https://t.co/qGNXIiXv9M
There we go! I needed someone to swing this around to the rebel side of things! Bingo, Tammy!
Once again, I'm with you - hoping at the end of my life I can feel I've helped bend the arc toward justice.
so they can also see what's possible.
Yes. When things upset us, it's often because we're not well grounded at the moment.
Q4 How do you handle critiques when you push the envelope either philosophically or in practice, rebel-wise?
So true. When your school is in a period of transition, the smallest things can make Ts panic. https://t.co/CvObr3OafX
Yes. When things upset us, it's often because we're not well grounded at the moment.
A4: I was once told, "you're making us look bad" (meaning the other Ts). I took it as a challenge to help them get better also.
A4: I try to bring them around to see whatever I'm doing. Usually it's resistance to change, which can be scary!
A4b: It really changed the way I see other Ts. Helped me share ideas and reach out to support their struggles.
That's a weird trait that emerges in some groups. Love how u step it up in response. https://t.co/vmjTkrJOMn
A4: I was once told, "you're making us look bad" (meaning the other Ts). I took it as a challenge to help them get better also.
A4 I try to listen carefully to critiques - always a chance to learn. But I also try to stay grounded in my principles.
A4 depends on how critique hits me that day. Some days listen and smile. Some days snarl.
Right. Have been rethinking how PLN is best made of folks who truly challenge us IRL & in digital spaces.
I would say that's a good balance. :)
A4 If, however, my effectiveness with kids is challenged, and I see the point, that cuts deep and is harder to recover from.
Oh, yes! Those are the deepest cuts. They sting the longest. https://t.co/RdoqH2qnti
A4 If, however, my effectiveness with kids is challenged, and I see the point, that cuts deep and is harder to recover from.
It has been fantastic chatting w/ all of u tonight for :big thoughts, small ones, & everything in between.Please join us again
Nobody wants to hear that. Ever. Especially when you are trying something new or already have doubts. https://t.co/jnYya9bNDc
A4 If, however, my effectiveness with kids is challenged, and I see the point, that cuts deep and is harder to recover from.
Just move to FL so I can be a part of your IRL as well. Then we will both be happy! https://t.co/vlij1IkD9T
Right. Have been rethinking how PLN is best made of folks who truly challenge us IRL & in digital spaces.
And that recovery process could also be part of a future chat for sure!
Love it. But I'm wearing my shirt !!
So important that PLN be people you trust to see what kids need and help you keep developing that keen sight
