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.
A1: Many of my projects allow for students to chose HOW to express their knowledge: example write a story, comic, picture book, poem or create a video #mschat
A1) Once I have introduced different formats for math practice, I will offer students the choice of how they want to practice and/or study. (this kind of blows their minds... we get to choose!) #mschat
A1 I don’t think we do it enough but choice board can be good. Asking them for their opinion and feedback is a great way to find out what choices they would like to have #mschat
A1: Choice of what to read in genre studies, where to work in room, which platform to complete & share digital work, how to demonstrate learning, etc. #mschat
When I teach at my placement, what I’ve seen really helps is offering students many different modes of showing that they have understanding of a topic #CEDUC2353#mschat
Love this idea! #mschat Did it once and students chose poorly and really made me earn my $$ reassessing and grading work.... Need to rethink and do a better job next time I try #mschat
A1) On assessments I require students show me the different ways we learned how to show our work, but they get to choose which problems to do each way. They need at least one for each "way they learned" then any other problems can be solved in the manner of their CHOICE. #mschat
A1- I’ve used choice boards for projects, I’m flexible weigh seating sit, stand, sit on floor, we use AR so Ss can read whatever they want. During reading time I allow Ss to sit where to be comfortable. I have Ss on the floor, sprawled across chairs etc.. #mschat
A1: First, I listen to them. When they ask to do something, if they can give me a purpose, I usually say yes. I also allow them to choose how they want to study and learn by offering them a variety of activities. Some are non- negotiables, others are choices! #mschat
What are the different choices you offer? I'm a preservice teacher studying math ed and think choice is so important and would love some suggestions! #ElonEd#mschat
A2: Offering choice gives students more than one way to show their learning - not everyone learns the same, so why should everyone do the same assessment? #mschat
A1 at my placement, students usually work in groups but sometimes, they have the choice to work alone or work with a different group. They also have a choice in what they will be discussing at times #mschat
One standard choice might not work for all students learning styles, and they might get discouraged and think they can’t learn if they are assessed in just one mode (cress to my prof for this) #CEDUC2353#mschat
A2 choice gives Ss the opportunity to make personal connections, share passions, create greater engagement find meaning in their learning and create something they can be proud of #mschat
They thought they were taking an easy road to learning and it was too hard for them #mschat when they couldn't hit they standard they needed to figure out a new path
A2: Choice makes us feel safe. That little bit of control is powerful. & it helps create a sense of ownership. Besides, there’s more than one effective way to do just about anything. We can all demonstrate we can make choc chip cookies but all have diff recipes! #mschat
A1: when teaching coding, introduce and let student experience multiple options. On “workdays” let them choose the option they are most interested in....boosts engagement #mschat
YES!! Rubrics need to focus on the learning standards #mschat Can't be a recipe rubric ... IF you get 30 of the same thing you are teaching cooking was that your target?
A3: Student often pick tasks that they think are easy but are really hard. I have many students try to show understanding by writing songs, but struggle and have to go back and pick a different method #mschat
For every unit in my class we have to do a project. What I do is a give the students a list of 4 projects they can choose from. Ranging from 80 points to 100 points. The 100 point assignment is usually the most difficult. #mschat
Choice is something I build into my classroom climate & something we practice often and value. but it is something that I model and teach- down to where you choose to sit, what you choose to do first/prioritize, how you choose to demonstrate learning, ect. #mschat
A3: Often students waste time trying to pick what to do that they don't get working #mschat like asking family where to goto dinner... No decision is easy
A3: The first time they are presented with choices they think it’s a trick- they have to be encouraged to take that first daring step. You have to have a culture of trust and the relationships built first. #MSchat
Joining a little late - hey everyone!!
A3: I've seen students struggle when the choice is too vague and/or systems aren't in place to allow them to be successful with the freedom of choice. #mschat
A3: When Ss have no direction for their choice, they tend to struggle the most. Just giving Ss the choice of picking their style of project doesn't mean they know what will be best. Give options and make it easier for them to choose. #mschat
A3) Too many choices can inhibit Ss ability to get started, and prevent them from having the time they need to work. Sometimes Ss go "too big" with a project choice and their ideas don't fit the time frame or don't communicate their understanding. #mschat
I have done it this way where students have a menu of artifacts in learning and have to obtain 100 pts. Hard projects are worth more .. #mschat Many students like the challenge
A3: It can be hard to stay organized and manage time well if the whole class isn’t doing the same thing. Let’s face it—they aren’t ALWAYS truly independent workers. #mschat
A2: Choiices allows us to appeal to all ss on an individual way. It gives thema voice and allows them to find out what they are good at, what they are interested in, etc. We are creating thinking, problem solving humans instead of robots when we provide choices! #mschat
I agree! I'm actually just now working on lessons to guide students through the process of planning their own projects. Walking them through every step is key -- otherwise they see such a big picture and struggle to narrow it down. #mschat
Yeah, even if it is a link to somewhere else... at least you have a single place to go to find everything. (it is one more step for the Ss, but that can be a final step on "turn in" day, and done together in class) #mschat
In reply to
@Beyond_the_Desk, @blocht574, @burnham_kent
A3: Ss struggle with actually making a choice at times. I try to give a specific amount of choices & I try to give a specific amount of time. I also like to have students quickly share out their choices - metacognition in middle #mschat
A3) Hyperdocs are a good way to start building a culture of choice. Start by having them choose half of tasks. Just make sure to keep rigor up on all or they'll sniff out the DOK 1 material. #mschat
A3: Sometimes they choose one thing because they think it will be easier for them, but then somewhere along the line they might realize that something else is better for their subject matter. #CEDUC2353#mschat
A3. All kids are different. Some need more choices than others. Some need specific directions. Get to know your students and what motivates them. Find out how they learn and work best. If we don’t we are not engaging them. Differentiate. Capitalize on strengths. #mschat
A3: Sometimes Ss spend too much time on trivial things, like choosing the music for a presentation instead of concentrating on the content. But, wait, I do that too! #mschat
A4: Letting staff make independent decisions in the classroom and giving them room for trial and error. How about choosing to not go to staff meetings? #mschat
A3: The learning menu helps them begin because in this case everyone has to do the center square but where they go from there is up to them. #tictactoe#buncee#MSchat
A3 If they have not been given choices in the past, they may be overwhelmed because they have trouble choosing. They may also feel like the choice isn't necessarily theirs. #mschat
A4: Ed Camp style PD opportunities. As need to give their Ts the opportunity to share their learning journey with others and provide resources that can be truly beneficial to that T. Personalized PD is the way! #mschat
A3: Ss who aren't used to being allowed to choose are indecisive or anxious about the opportunity. Some ss struggle because they want to be cool or join their friends. And ss like me can't make a choice. I always WANTED TO DO IT ALL and could never settle on one idea! #mschat
A4 you allow them to share their passions and run with special projects or events I. Your building. Give them the opportunity to take the lead. Create opportunities for them to share and collaborate regularly #mschat
A4) Pick-a-PD, allow staff to write proposals for the use of their PD time. These have resulted in super successful work for me and my teams.
Also, asking what it is the staff needs to learn, so that we are learning what will benefit us as educators (and in turn our Ss) #mschat
A4: Choices in the PD. Choice in how to implement curriculum. How to bring their "voice" into the classroom. Allow them to make decisions, to be themselves. Encourage them to take risks and celebrate failure. #mschat
A4b put trust in your people and allow them to showcase their gifts. We don’t all have to be the same. Encourage risk taking and celebrate growth and failing forward #mschat
A4: Although documentation serves an important purpose much of the time, sometimes it just enforced compliance. If a teacher is doing what they’re supposed to do, do they have to do every form the same way? #mschat
A1. Assessment options and projects allowing for student creativity are one way. Not every kid wants a recipe. Not every kid needs one. Some kids need the recipe and for them it’s great. #mschat
I agree they get stuck but I feel they need to struggle to learn ... They can figure it out with feedback and time. We revise all the time in my class... #mschat
A4: Model the model. Professional learning is individualized to help each person on their own journey. Choice is also key in community building - we had BINGO activities last month. Even our PD days provide choice of sessions. #MSchat
A4 this year our teachers had the opportunity to have passion driven PD plans as long as they shared them with the staff. So far it has made for some great PD days #mschat
A1: Always plan at least two choices for product, and aim for several choices for process, too. I’m really loving using a point system/grid for students to show mastery in ways they choose. #mschat
YES but my art sucks need a digital path to #sketchnotes#mschat When I did it with students many had just scribble on their page that they could not read
A5 Have a conversation with the Ss - talk about what went well/not so well. Discuss why the results didn't meet the expectations and develop a plan for next time (include the students throughout the discussion). #mschat
We were even talking about getting as say when your prep period is... some of us prep better in the afternoon, while others prefer the morning. Let us have schedules that make us most successful. #mschat
A4 It is important to think about what students should learn to help them keep learning and be informed citizens, rather than cramming them for tests. 23% of millennials vote and some get their news from social media for example #mschat
A5. Allow students to learn from their mistakes. They need to learn cause and effect as well. Be reasonable. We aren’t supposed to make a wonderous decision making adult out of them in one day. #mschat
A5: Consequences are a part of adolescence and I work for modeling all kinds of choices to dealing with consequences. - Personal Responsibility, & conflict resolution are my two favorite topics:) #mschat
A5: Reflection is key to all learning. When it goes good or bad it’s always a necessary but sometimes forgotten step. You can’t make changes if you never look back to see how it went. #MSchat
A5: Mistakes are great learning moments! #mschat Teacher need to share and be honest about choices GONE BAD and how consequences are the results ... ALSO we can have a bad choice ruin a students learning why REDOs are important
A5: Discussing the consequence of a bad choice with Ss prior to giving them their choice. We need to prepare them for that ahead of time so when it turns negative, we have something to build our conversation around. We need to allow for self-correction in the end. #mschat
A5: Set clear expectations from the onset & hold to them. Hold students accountable for quality demonstration of learning.
(Zeros & reduces credit do not hold students accountable for learning.) #mschat
A5: I think this starts with classroom management from teachers at the beginning of school teaching the importance of this concept to students. That way, it’s not as much of a battle during the school year. #mschat
A5 great question. This comes down to teaching, discussing and Indentifying intended results. We must prepare students that our best intentions can have unintended consequences. Build on the idea that that learning from our mistakes is what is the most important thing #mschat
That would be awesome this is my first year with it in the morning. It’s been an adjustment but, I’d definitely take afternoons back given the option! #mschat
Loved reading and liking tweets in #mschat tonight -- so much good information I had to screenshot some tweets so I can look back at them in the future when I have my own classroom #ElonED
A5: I try to reinforce that in every opportunity you either learn or you succeed. Sometimes, if we are lucky, we do both. Consequences are just ways to learning what NOT to do. #mschat
Mr. Rather says it best. #mschat#waledchat#6thchat
Thank you to all teachers for giving your best, even when the odds are stacked against you. Know that you are appreciated.
Public schools represent the best of America. Teachers, administrators, coaches, aides, and all who give their time inspiring young minds and shaping the bonds of citizenship are heroes. What's the news peg? Why just a Tuesday night. It should be news every night.
To me it felt like not "SO" much to ask the students to do, while also giving freedom for creativity. The outline keeps us all organized in the same way, so sharing notes isn't hard. #mschat
PS Used an old "plain" notes page... and my Ss complained that there was "no where to color"... mind you it was still a white piece of paper!!! They got more creative when I pointed that out. #mschat
She was going to have them write a self reflection about how their behavior affects their learning. They started to do the work after she said that they would be the first classed to receive homework tonight, so they did not get the homework #mschat
There are always a few that try to produce similar things. Providing examples that aren't perfect is great too, have Ss reflect on what could be done better. I do this with a career project, they all turn out so different, the examples start them thinking. #mschat
