The #2PencilChat is a weekly conversation about educational technology. As we enter a more student-centered age, let's talk about using all the tools in our toolboxes to be innovative and dynamic teachers.
Welcome to the #2PencilChat!
Tonight, we're taking a Teacher Interest Survey. You know, because it's a new school year (here in the Northern Hemisphere).
Say hey, and introduce yourself!
Priscilla here. I'm the one who teaches in the all male juvenile detention center in Maryland. And. I'm a gym rat. I'm "feeling myself" today as I went up in weights on the bench press. #2pencilchat
A1 I honestly wasn't sure about it at first, and then at some point in college, I realized that I liked hanging out with kids and digging their energy. It's not always what I expected, but it's what you make it. #2PencilChat
A1- I came into teaching after years spent travelling and tour guiding. I've tried to always follow my passions and teaching is no different. I get dismayed by the politics at times, but the kids keep me coming back. #2pencilchat
I've wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. I had many impactful teachers throughout my academic journey, and I want to make a difference in my small corner of the world. I never thought I would be teaching 5th grade science, but here I am! #2PencilChat
This is my first year teaching so I hope it goes as expected! My love for kids and helping them reach their goals made me want to be a teacher! #2pencilchat
A1 I loved school at all levels and always knew that was the work environment I would suitable for. I tried other things along the way, but was led back to Education in the end. #2PencilChat
A1 During law school I did a program that sent law students into middle schools to teach the students about law. I spent more time on those lesson plans than on any of my courses. Three months after getting my JD I started teaching, because it mattered more. #2PencilChat
#2PencilChat good morning from India ..monsoons in full swing in Delhi here. I am a teacher ,taking secondary School History. Haven't been part of this chat for long now.
A1: My grandmother gave me some discarded basal readers & the teacher guides that went w/ them so I could practice my reading skills. I loved "reading" the teacher guides bc they were for teachers! Interestingly, I don't like to teach using scripted programs now. #2PencilChat
A1. I'm that teacher Ss either love or hate, but usually for the same reason. I've always wanted to be a T. What I wanted to teach changed over the years before going to college. I was a 5th grade T, then a Math T at the detention center & now I teach CRD. #2PencilChat
A1: As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a teacher. Love working with children 1st - 3rd graders are the best. This will be year 20 teaching! Yes I starting teaching at age 12;) Everyday is an adventure and you never know what will happen. #2pencilchat#edt5335
I think my ability to make connections with the students and allow them to explore how they learn best. My proudest moments are when my students have that "aha" moment. #2pencilchat
A2-I'm good at loving books and reading. I get SO excited talking about books, smelling them, sharing them, hugging them that the kids start by thinking I'm a little nutty but eventually I catch them starting to do all those things too. And it makes me very proud. #2pencilchat
A2: I really love the moment of shared discovery, when the seeds I’ve planted in ten different directions come together into something new that I’ve never imagined #2PencilChat
A2: I have so much to learn about being a GREAT teacher of anything. But I think I am doing ok at teaching perseverance. Subject wise....science #2pencilchat
A2: The thing I love doing that I've been told I'm good at is my use of positive affirmations. I'm thankful for my "don't give up" attitude. I keep working until I find what works best for my students. #2PencilChat
A2. Shifting!!! Every day is an adventure where I work. When they're off...oh, boy. To quote Tim Gunn, I gotta, "Make it work!" And. I typically do. #2PencilChat
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I moved to Nevada this year from Texas and will be teaching self-contained Common Core. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Plus, I have a smart board, so anything for this would be great. #edt5335
A2 I really love teaching math & science & feel it's what I do best. It's funny because my degree specializations are Reading & English. Incorporating new technology into my lessons makes it even more exciting. #2pencilchat#edt5335
I feel I’m strong at creating a positive learning environment. I’m still very fresh, but I think I had some success with that during my first year. #2PencilChat
A2 wow you're really making us say it aren't you @MagicPantsJones ?
I'm really, really good at hooking Ss into learning - I see them, I take time to hear them, I let them do learning how they like it #hooked
A2 I feel I’m strong at creating a positive learning environment. I’m still very fresh, but I think I had some success with that during my first year. #2PencilChat
A3- I struggle with using my time effectively. I used to be the first to arrive, the last to leave, and the one who showed up on weekends. I've dialed it back b/c it always ended w/ burnout. Now I do what I can do & forgive myself for the rest #2PencilChat
A3) When students are actually mean and unpleasant to each other and staff. And how the victim then feels despondent and I have to some how pick them up. That's the hard bit #2pencilchat
This one is easy - organization. Time management. Scripted programs. Grading 10 year olds in a middle school setting. Teaching ELA in 47 minutes. I could go on and on... #2PencilChat
A3: Keeping up with all of the demands: Schedule, meetings, parents, admin, county, structures, etc.... Get organized, enjoy the fun times and do your best. It's a tough job but rewarding! #2pencilchat
A3 I have a tough time with paperwork and angry students. Everything else is pretty great. It works a lot better when you partner well with your team. #2PencilChat
A3: I will be switching jobs next year, so it shouldn't be as bad... time management, especially with long term projects that I'm not super excited about. #2PencilChat
A3 I struggle with administrators who don’t recognize and elevate excellent teaching. I cope by writing articles about my excellent colleagues. Here’s one: https://t.co/khtQZ6Ya9X#2PencilChat
I struggle seeing students with home problems that are out of my control. I do everything I can to make them happy while they're in my classroom. #2pencilchat
A3 I struggle with taking things personally & feeling guilty when I've tried every trick & still a std doesn't get it. It helps to have a fantastic team teacher to bounce ideas off of & a supportive administration that allows experimenting with new ideas. #2pencilchat#edt5335
A3: I struggle with not taking my work home with me. I'm very passionate about teaching and love my kiddos so much, it's hard for me to accept when there is a problem I can't fix for them. So I love on them when I can, and they always know my door is open! #2PencilChat
A3. My weakness is an official closing to a lesson. I like working up to the very end. Where I T, it's not a big deal. My other weakness is spelling in front of ppl. I've learned to just ask for help from my Ss or other adults in the room. It's good modeling.#2PencilChat
It will be so much easier this year. I feel like I felt really good at the beginning of the year starting my 3rd year teaching. #2pencilchat I just finished year 20 or 21... not sure.
A4 I love to cook and experiment in the kitchen. I use lots of food metaphors when I teach, and my cooking failures are good stories to share when I want to encourage creativity and risk. #2PencilChat
A4 I'm a huge trivia nerd. I love asking my 1st graders random trivia questions as "homework." They love rushing back to be the 1st to give me the answer. Also love music. We play music while we work to help us stay focused. Elvis is the best! #2pencilchat#edt5335
A3 I love playing music and soccer. Music is incorporated into my class daily and it keeps students engaged. Soccer (and sports in general) is one way to connect with students on a personal level. Humor as well, a good meme goes a long way! #2PencilChat
A4 I enjoy making games out of things, so I always like going super deep into gameplay with @classcraftgame by building deeper game elements into the classroom.
Also a big Hamilton fan, and I've enjoyed singing along with students!
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Love that you tell them about your failures. It does teach them that it is okay to take risks. Yoda says, "The greatest teacher, failure is." #2pencilchat#edt5335
A4: I LOVE music! I've played the violin for 14 years and if my students get lucky I'll bring it in to play for them. I also love nature, so my classroom reflects that. I have lots of plants and rocks! #2PencilChat
I grew up dancing and still enjoy it. I love to incorporate movement into my lessons. It gets the students up and allows them to be creative. #2PencilChat
I love singing "There's a million things I haven't done, just you wait!!" on the way to school- it's a great motivator. Also- my 4-yr-old always answers "What time is it?" with "Showtime!!" It cracks me up #2pencilchat
A4: I love to write! During two years, my students worked together to write the words to a song & then I created music for the words. Also, many times each yr I would model story writing by creating an oral story with my students adding story elements to the story. #2PencilChat
A4 There are many things but this post kind of says it all - exploring & learning our way is what I have outside of school but also within https://t.co/uKboCFJ1gu#2PencilChat
That's awesome! I made my way thru test proctoring by silently lip synching the first act. Russell, sitting in back (and legit done with the test) figured out what I was doing and had the biggest smile. #2PencilChat
@MagicPantsJones A2: Made it home in time to catch a little of your wondrous chat, as usual. Partee! School is the best celebration in town! #2PencilChat
A4: Professional Dev't #lifelonglearning and tech tools #gsuiteedu for learning, creativity & productivity. As a coach, it's pretty easy to bring that into school. I try to change PD to be fun and useful! #2PencilChat
Q4: Great question, Sean. I think it's important for kids to know we are people, too, as strange as that seems. Building rapport and trust necessary before learning. Maslow and Dewey paired up for excellence! #2PencilChat
I share @Grammarly with all T's and am transparent about not being a great speller. ;) As a #sped teacher for a large portion of my career, my S's found it refreshing for a teacher to admit to faults they also have. #2PencilChat
A5 my wish would be that every Ss had someone they could trust and that they loved to 'be', to learn, to do, to feel, to grow, to just - 'be' #2PencilChat
A4. Nascar & the gym. Teaching about careers & finance, I bring it up all the time...lol. Gym knowledge gives me clout with my Ss. Mad respect in some cases. I've helped kids write workouts they can do in their cells. #2PencilChat
A5- For us to actually walk the 'every student has unique gifts' talk. Cut the high-stakes assessments and allow time for natural development and meaningful learning. #2pencilchat
A5 I’d wish that ALL teachers would lift each other up and for there to be more recognition for changing a student’s life not just test grades. (Sorry that’s two I know) #2PencilChat
A5: This is a tough one! I would wish for every one of my students show academic growth, and know that literally ANYTHING is possible if you put in the hard work! #2PencilChat
A5: Just one...hmm... Creating an open & reflective culture so T's will be okay with observing each other to get ideas for improving our craft for the S's. #2PencilChat
Me too! I think we have it in us. I think it's awesome that a lot of our wishes are for things that we can make huge dents in, even if we can't do it all! #2PencilChat
A5: This is a tough one! I would wish for every one of my students to show academic growth, and know that literally ANYTHING is possible if you put in the hard work! #2PencilChathttps://t.co/bMwFVL9i4g
I love you SO MUCH, #2PencilChat pals!
Thank you for joining us tonight! Go out there and be amazing for your students - and for yourself!
See ya next Tuesday at 7 PM EDT
A5 Hmm, I wish for Trust. Sts to trust themselves, take risks, try. Parents to trust my love their child & will do my best. Admin to trust Ts to make decisions. Ts to trust that Admin has the bigger picture in mind. Not easy, but will make a better school. #2pencilchat#edt5335
