#122edchat is a weekly conversation designed to help inspire educators across the globe to reach their greatest potential in service of others. Megan Hacholski (@megan_hacholski) and Michael Abramczyk (@_on11), along with guest moderators, lead each week with a different focus tied to their strengths and areas of expertise.
Hey #122edchat! Louie from Lancaster PA here. We've gotten at least a foot of snow today! Delay already for tomorrow. Mid School SS T. Excited to learn with and from you.
Kristen, from PA< just got finished from playing in the 12+ inches of the snow that I finally got this season! Better late than never! I teach 6th grade physical science. #122edchat
Hello! I'm Sarah, an 8th grade Social Studies and Spanish teacher in Oak Lawn, and I love when the days get lighter and I can spend more time outside! #122edchat
What up, ##122edchat! Michael A. in Chicago. I am the #STEM Facilitator for @SmartLab_tweets from @Simmonsknights1. Love baseball and the fresh smells every time that I go outside. Also, running outside of my house is another springtime win.
Mike, Tech Integrator, livin' la vida TOSA at Lake Shore CSD in Western NY. I think I've missed the last few chats here. Love the #122edchat crew! Favorite part(s) about Spring...NHL Draft, NHL Draft, grilling, driving with the window down, @BlueJays season is back!
Good evening, #122edchat! Lauren from NY - 6th grade English teacher and author of EMPOWER Your Students & Curriculum at Your Core. Favorite thing about spring is the burst of creativity.
Hi everyone, it’s been too long! I’m Julia, a preservice Elementary teacher from Trinity Christian College. My favorite part of spring are all the flowers that it will bring! 🌸🌷🌻#122edchat
Vanessa Heller: #inquiry#pbl & #GiftedEd trainer and 6th grade Humanities teacher in So. Cali. Favorite part about spring is that my dry, brown, charred part of the world greens up for a bit! #122edchat
Good evening #122edchat! Meghan from Cincinnati. I working on my M.Ed at Xavier University. Aspiring to teach middle school math and science. Favorite part of spring? The flowers blooming! :)
Hello all! Tracy Flood, Simmons Middle School Principal in@Oak Lawn, IL. My favorite part of Spring is standing on the porch and watching my kids play at the park and then calling them home when the street lights go on #122edchat
A1: A few years back we had "Bad Joke Friday" at precisely 8:27 AM. Kids that told jokes got booed, mercilessly. Broke up the monotony of the week. Finding ways to share stories and laughs with kids is key. #122edchat
A1: To brighten the mood of the classroom, I think music and video clips can be a great way to add energy if you normally don't do as much of that. To learn more about WWI, my students listened to six songs from WWI and analyzed them as primary sources! #122edchat
A1: Throughout the year I work to incorporate student voice and creativity into my lessons. Spring is not different. I overheard some of my students say the other day that history class flies by. My hope is because they feel like they are involved in our learning. #122edchat
A1: To brighten up the room, I usually tell a dry joke or tell a story about myself. Ss love hearing stories to see that their teachers are also humans. #122edchat
A1 Drones, robotics, coding projects, basically anything I have in my possession that gets the kids doing some hands on stuff. We have an @arsandbox ready for launch too. Should keep things fun. Trying to get some @microbit_edu for the Spring! #122edchat
A1: I used to do spontaneous lessons and activities. They were sometimes tied to our units but were sometimes just what we needed to break things up and leave the room with a smile!
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A1 Spring is a great time to build on themes and skills students have learned throughout the year—e.g. after studying social justice themes and poetic devices during other units, students created and performed their own spoken-word poems. #122edchat
A1: when possible I move to another area in the school, I don't have any windows in my nook. This helps change the mood just to be somewhere else.#122edchat
A1- I try to make class as entertaining as possible. I try to save our novel until the end of the year to really keep the students involved in class. #122edchat
A1: Most of the time, I just talk to my Ss about their day.. this usually leads to finding out they made the soccer team, that they're going to be a big sister, they went to the movies last night, etc. It always gets the Ss talking and brightened up again! #122edchat
A1. Definitely looking for ways to bring the classes outside in the spring. Will need to wait a couple weeks until all the snow melts and we are back at a balmy 50 degrees! #122edchat
A1: Team challenges, and getting outside to use phys ed with our reg curriculum. Spelling words are way more fun when you need to run for them! #122edchat
A1: Provide extrinsic motivators that allow kids to tap into their own intrinsic motivation. As a team our #kmsheroes will soon be introduced to ‘Herbert the Husky’. He keeps an eye on our 7th graders as spring fever hits us hard! #122edchat
A1 More games! Spring starts the testing season and my partner and I do everything we can to not add to the testing stress of our kiddos! Amazing race, breakouts, protractor golf, etc. right @KanesKiddos#122edchat
A1: I have just started to build up a happiness board. Students can bring in pics or objects to pin to the board that makes them happy to look at and bust their moods! #UMedTech#EDL577UM#122edchat
A1: I always find that the best way to lighten a classroom is to engage students in conversations that have nothing to do with students academic lives. Remind ourselves and our students that we are more than teachers and scholars #122edchat
I've been more intentional about taking class time to learn about the students! There has been a lightening of the mood! Maybe too goofy sometimes! ;) #122edchat
A1: Humor. I usually find a great meme or dad joke to start off class at this time of year. Plus I start teaching about Middle Ages France and I do an awesome French accent. #122edchat
A1: Team challenges, and getting outside to use phys ed with our reg curriculum. Spelling words are way more fun when you need to run for them! #122edchat
A1 Jokes, random dancing, & dumb short videos certainly help. I am pretty darn entertaining on a regular basis tho; I rarely need to do something special. I will be trying https://t.co/e3fuJdqLEP as a creative writing activity. I learned about it at #CUE18#122edchat#eyebombing
A1: When I sense we are in a funk, a brain break is a must, especially one that involves music and dance! Or a classbuilder/teambuilder activity too. #122edchat
A1- I use music and movie clips to bring sunshine into the classroom. I also use mindfulness and Social Emotional Learning to discuss emotions #122edchat
A1: I always find that the best way to lighten a classroom is to engage students in conversations that have nothing to do with students academic lives. Remind ourselves and our students that we are more than teachers and scholars #122edchat
JENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! I was just thinking about you the other day. How's my favorite math teacher doing? Hope you doing OK with that crazy weather. #122edchat
This is a really great idea. One thing a classroom I was observing in did was have the Ss take a moment to shut their eyes and meditate. It worked wonders! #122edchat
Hi! I seem to be doing this as well, I tell my students that in their free time, they can color, draw, or read. I find coloring therapeutic too #122edchat
A2: Reward positive behavior when you see it. Ss will see that their behavior can be rewarded and will encourage them as well. It could be as simple as listening to a song, or free time, or an extended break. #122edchat
A2: Increase student voice and choice, and buy-in should follow. We need to give them more options than essays and PowerPoints, right @DMooreSpanish? #122edchat
A2: Provide more opportunities for them to be able to work independently and build some cool products. My students have spent the last two weeks on a choice menu. Giving them a lot of freedom as we head into break. #122edchat
A2: To increase student engagement, I try to do as many activities possible that are relevant to my students and their lives. This will help students feel like they are more in charge of their own education and believe that it matters. #122edchat
A2: #EdTech is a big component of this for me. Every class may not get outside (though they should try) but with #edtech your class can be anywhere in the world exploring, collaborating, creating...
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A2 Better than fighting spring fever is to use it: create playful yet rigorous assignments, play games, use new media to express ideas. One time we weeded the school garden and then painted responses to poems using dandelions as brushes. #122edchat
Light is such a great way to brighten the mood and add a little light to the classroom. It is amazing how quickly moods can shift with just a little natural light. #122edchat
A2- Make sure your activities are interactive. I try to include even more group activities and cool projects. Maybe even read outside and soak up the SUN!! #122edchat
A2: Especially during this week, Ss need to be motivated.. I try to connect the lesson to their interests. It always catches them off guard.. and makes them start paying attention! The Ss also love when I throw in my bitmjois :) #122edchat
A1: I try to foster a learning environment that is very focused on student choice. This can be from their group members, activity or classwork. This technique promotes student voice. I also often sit in a student desk too which helps open discussions too! #122edchat
A2 Luckily we do our Physics unit now, so I can do a lot of fun stuff. Today we tested gravity by dropping and throwing balls around the room. #122edchat
Speaking of testing... Would love to do dabble in some Genuis Hour work during testing week. Would love to dive into student passions and lighten the moods this way! We shall see. #122edchat
Ss design a mini golf hole, we place holes inside Of clear page protectors where they then have to use a protractor and expo to identify the angles they would need to hit the ball at to make it in the hole. List all angles beside hole! #122edchat
A2: give every student a voice!!! Quit letting 10% or less of the class be the active participants. Use tools like @flipgrid and @Socrative to embrace the voices of everyone. #122edchat
A1. Planning for some outside activities and lessons. Making terrariums with flowers for spring! Did a project with Ss on plants and their roots. #122edchat
A2: I like to plan larger culminating projects towards the end of the year that are personal and require reflection. Students engage when they get the opportunity to observe their growth #122edchat
Brent from Magrath, A2: Put the focus on Voice and Choice more than ever as you close in on holidays. Next week are doing a writing prompt from The Creativity Project and watching Inside Out then having the break. #122edchat
A2: Ask the Ss what choices they would like on our journey together for the last months. W/ their VOICE it is easier 2 make planning decisions for their CHOICES. Some want 2 create videos. Some want 2 work independently have big questions they want 2 answer! #122edchat
I try to create projects where the students will be showing off their work to an audience. Right now we are working on a Shark Tank invention convention & stop motion movies for a premiere. They are more engaged when they have a goal & an audience. #UMedTech#EDL577UM#122edchat
A1 Spring is a great time to build on themes and skills students have learned throughout the year—e.g. after studying social justice themes and poetic devices during other units, students created and performed their own spoken-word poems. #122edchat
A2: Incorporate their interests to the classroom. When you are doing something that matters to them and helps them to see how it applies to their life, Ss seem to light up and jump in! #122edchat
A3 Since the snow is melting by this time, taking in some warmer weather and some of the fun of a Western New York Spring can do a ton for recharging the batteries that can get a little drained over the winter. #122edchat
A1: Most of the time, I just talk to my Ss about their day.. this usually leads to finding out they made the soccer team, that they're going to be a big sister, they went to the movies last night, etc. It always gets the Ss talking and brightened up again! #122edchat
A2 I once saw a wall where the teacher asked Ss to write a book review on a post it and recommend it to someone in their class. By the end of the year I saw that most of the books had been read. #122edchat
A2: while some of what I do is intentionally rote in nature I do work to mix it up, cover the same skill in a different way, throw in a fun activity "game" like to the Ss. #122edchat
A2-I plan plenty of interactive,innovative lessons that allow for movement and getting them outside. Allow students to have a voice and choice in planning the activities.#122edchat
A3: I'm still working on trying to get more sleep and go to bed by 12:30am, but I have also been trying to be more active...even if it is a dance party by myself at midnight haha #122edchat
A3: Well I've got a trip to the dentist and a trip to the eye doctor in mind. Spring has a lot of great movies coming out, so I plan on spending some time there as well! Date nights with @LBStrunk are a great way to celebrate together as well! #122edchat
A3: Based on @CRCarter313's money tweet yesterday, I am going to be screaming "Plot twist!" then move on whenever I face adversity instead of being defeated. #122edchat
Hahahaha! I have a photo I need to tweet to you. My son had a heyday with the sidewalk chalk on Monday. I pulled up and said, "Boy! What are you doing?" #122edchat
A3 the school year just ended there are some PDs I want to attend to. But this spring I want to go to the beach and lounge around the whole day. #122edchat
A3: Start running again and spending as much time outside after school as possible. I can't wait for visits to the park again w/ my nieces & nephews. #122edchat
A2 #122edchat this time each year is when I step away from the curriculum and go “off the grid” with them. The excitement of the u unknown & introduction to something we’ve never done before gets them (&myself) back in the game! (Usually a novel study)
A3: Spring is the time when hiking kicks back in as a favorite past time alongside scenic motorcycle rides. Tech. is only there to capture the special moments, work is not allowed.
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A2 It’s just a matter of all hands on deck…. Lots of work to be done, the 7th grade to prepare for, etc. By 4th quarter, we know our routines and ourselves as students, so it’s business as usual but with more independence/autonomy. #122edchat
A3- I'm going to try to do more activities outside. I'm going to try to take my kids to do fun activities. I'm going to try to reconnect with people I haven;t seen much over the winter. #122edchat
A3: I have a busy spring break planned, but I hope to spend some time catching up with some friends I haven't seen in awhile.. while getting breakfast or lunch of course :) I'm also planning a spa day #122edchat
A3, Seriously speaking, now: I am looking forward to getting outside, running in the woods. Watching @railcats baseball starting in May. Taking advantage of having fun outside of my own house. #122edchat
A2- time for free write- my students love having the choice to write what they want- we have comics, cards, research, stories, poems- just to name a few they are working on #122edchat
A3 I love to get out and just walk on the beach, clear my head, pause and look up for signs of spring. When I find myself getting bogged down by too much, I meditate or turn on my classical music and just let it go. #122edchat
A3 Every season has its own form of self-care: https://t.co/mhAaZdzAxp In spring I love to visit farmers’ markets, cook healthier food, and take walks with @jhweinstein.
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Have students build their own tetrahedron kites in small groups and then fly them! Straws, string, glue, tissue paper and a lot of PATIENCE! But such a good end of year activity! #122edchat
A3-Meditation has changed my life! Can't recommend it highly enough for all of my teacher friends out there!! Lowers stress & increases peace of mind #122edchat
A1: I have just started to build up a happiness board. Students can bring in pics or objects to pin to the board that makes them happy to look at and bust their moods! #UMedTech#EDL577UM#122edchat
Currently working on a self-paced classroom w/ a bit of flexible seating & a HUGE connecting community in the classroom project is on its way! :)
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Lean hard on my PLN and come to terms with the fact that im not super human. I dont have all the answers, or the time, but TOGETHER we have the answers, time, and a plan to get it done! #122edchat
A3: Ask for help if needed especially as things start to get crazy quickly. And also, make time to sharpen the saw! Balanced time, work, family, and self. #UMedTech#EDL577UM#122edchat
A3: Take the necessary time to highlight teacher and student growth. With the heavy load of standardized tests we will all see data we may not be ready for. Always remember that real gains are not always visible #122edchat
A1: I always find that the best way to lighten a classroom is to engage students in conversations that have nothing to do with students academic lives. Remind ourselves and our students that we are more than teachers and scholars #122edchat
A3 #122edchat I can’t wait to exercise! And hopefully the weather cooperates to get some outdoor running in! I’m looking forward to the extra time to get some good workouts in & to read a book or two!
A3: @chrisemdin recently reminded followers that there’s no prize for perfect attendance.
If you need a day for YOU, then take it. Better to do that than to have you fail yourself and your students by pushing along!
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A3: This year I have started writing down 3 things that I am grateful for daily and it has truly helped me mentally and keeps me going. After 21 days, this practice can improve your outlook and points out why I love my job! #122edchat
A4 I get an extra jump in my step when the weather warms up. I am also able to be more efficient because the nice weather makes me want to get home to the family while there is plenty of daylight to do something fun along the water or in town. #122edchat
A3. I enjoy going on walks, spending time with friends and family, thinking about changing the landscaping in our yard, having a garden this year. #122edchat
A4: Minimize the number of activities that can/should be done after school hours. Prioritize relationship development with a curricular focus. Remember that each minute that passes, it one less opportunity to have an impact. #122edchat
A4: I start by doing the task I want to do least during my planning time, which helps prevent it from getting pushed off and allows me to keep moving forward to other tasks. #122edchat
A4: I make sure to have plans finalized for the next day before I walk out. Solid procedures in place help to minimize lost transition time. #122edchat
It's so important to sometimes just ask for help, as painful as it can be. I am learning this lesson more and more everyday. Definitely a great thing to model for the Ss too! #122edchat
A4: Take time to utilize #edtech to make your life easier. Any multiple choice assessment should be made in something that grades it for you.
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A4 when planning lessons have the end in mind always. That way all your activities are purposeful and you know how to prep. With the students, get them to talk or start talking to them, nows the time to get to know them on a personal level. #122edchat
A4: Only grade for purpose. If you are not going to allow the students to reflect, revise and reassess, then do not waste your time grading it #122edchat
A4 Instead of stuffing in content we haven’t gotten to, we can maximize learning by creating projects that allow students to consolidate their learning, choose their own topics, and make choices about how they do work. https://t.co/BAxauRhkdd#122edchat
A4: I'm all for spur of the moment experiences, but if it is important to you, schedule it - date nights, twitter feed, favorite shows, reading good books - schedule it! #122edchat
A4- I try to use any minutes I might have in the day to get things done. I come in early and use plan time to try not to bring too much home with me. #122edchat
A4: I try not to look at my phone during plan & lunch.Otherwise I can get pretty distracted. I'm always working through both.. I try to not take much work home and hang out with my husband instead :) #122edchat
MAKE A LIST OF REASONABLE GOALS FOR THE DAY, MORNING, CONFERENCE, WHATEVER. I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE THIS HAS MADE ME. YES IM YELLING RIGHT NOW #122edchat
A4b: Come up with concepts for projects and give the reigns to the students. Let them pitch their ideas for how to show their mastery and how they feel it best assessed.
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A1: When I sense we are in a funk, a brain break is a must, especially one that involves music and dance! Or a classbuilder/teambuilder activity too. #122edchat
Q4 organization! LOL not my strong suit, but when I am, my day goes so much more smoothly. Prepare the day before. Consistency, set and practice expectations to keep from putting out small fires all day, be flexible and forgiving of yourself, have fun! #122edchat
A4: I moved my desk so that it was not visible from the hallway.
Make a must do and a hope to do list at the beginning of each week.
Breathe with my students. If they see me taking a moment they feel they have permission to do the same. #122edchat
A4: No dilly-dallying! I like to get as much as I can done before school & during my plan period b/c after school there is always something going on. I like to be proactive in the a.m. instead #122edchat
A4 #122edchat I’m such a waste of space past 8pm. Always have been. If I have something I want done for the day, I wake up early and get it done immediately. A lot of the “to do” list often gets pushed aside until the weekend. Which is A-ok!
Ha! Well I believe the @CountingCrows song is titles Raining In Baltimore, so its been raining on your parade since the 90s, according to the song! #122edchat
In reply to
@MHSLewisHistory, @_on11, @BlueJays, @Orioles, @OrioleBird, @CountingCrows
A4: I need to not procrastinate or put things off and think to save them for later. If I have the time to do them I need to get them done and not bring them home. #UMedTech#EDL577UM#122edchat
A4: I moved my desk so that it was not visible from the hallway.
Make a must do and a hope to do list at the beginning of each week.
Breathe with my students. If they see me taking a moment they feel they have permission to do the same. #122edchat
A4: I am relentless about using all the time allotted to me during the day to grade/plan etc. This is often to the detriment of hanging out with other Ts. Time at home is family time...except for Twitter Chats, PD books and other work that creeps home. #122edchat
A4 #122edchat I’m such a waste of space past 8pm. Always have been. If I have something I want done for the day, I wake up early and get it done immediately. A lot of the “to do” list often gets pushed aside until the weekend. Which is A-ok!
A4: My planner and my to do lists are my lifeline. They help me to prioritize what needs to get done and when. I also use a lot of color coding:) #122edchat
A4: I have tried to prioritize and make a “to-do” list which usually consists of the first action being “write to-do list”. There is something very satisfying as you check each item off! #122edchat
A5 When we're back from Spring Break there are only a few days until state ELA testing & then Math testing. In my role, I can help support student growth by bringing creative activities to students. Facilitating publishing of work & connecting globally helps this. #122edchat
A4 Thanks for the push everyone. I have been getting to work late in the morning, and today I spent 25 minutes talking in the copy room! Gotta get my focus back! I am adrift right now #122edchat
https://t.co/PzQNCuGGmW. I maximize time by sticking to a routine so much as possible. I have checkists for after school, before home, end of week, and start of day. I definitely don't get to check off all items, but it keeps me focused during times I'd get distracted.#122edchat
A4: I’m actually feeling that I need to do the opposite and slow down. I was so on autopilot today and got a lot done. At the end of the day, I felt a bit disconnected-missed opportunities for conversation and reflection. #122edchat
A5: Motivate Ss to end the year strong as soon as they come back. They're definitely going to need it going into PARCC testing! They need to know they CAN do it! #122edchat
A5: When we return, PARCC testing begins full force & Ss begin preparing for graduation. I plan to spend as much time as possible solidifying relationships and making them feel prepared for their future. #122edchat
A5: Focus on positive encouragement of ALL efforts. Tell them, "I am proud of you." Keep reminding students that "greatness is their destiny". With that mindset in sight, it is easy to keep moving forward. #122edchat
A3 The family is going to New Orleans for fun and check to out a college for our oldest while there. Then I go on a girls’ trip to the desert! Maybe I will get some sleep and read a book for fun sometime that week. #122edchat
A5: Don't let Spring break be lost time. Send students off with a challenge (not homework) that ties to something you're working on. Let them then present when they return on their creative paths to a solution.
#122edchat
A4. I struggle with procrastination and so I’ve been working hard to make a list of reasonable tasks that won’t be as overwhelming as a full list. #122edchat#troll209
I know that I am 15 minutes behind, but I saw @sdtitmas in the house tonight for #122edchat. I want to take a moment to plug #DitchBook tomorrow night at 9 CDT. Scott and @KarlyMoura (my favorite "crazy aunt") are hosting that show. Be sure to support them, #122edchat fam!
A5- When we get back we will buckle down fore the home stretch. I will make sure that I'm 100% prepared and my lessons are set. The more I challenge my students the harder they work and the more they grow!! #122edchat
When a portfolio is based on a student’s own definition of “meaningful,” it becomes more than just another assignment students have to complete. Read how: https://t.co/L3AOzQmoyf#studentengagement
A5 After spring break is a sprint to the end of the year. I end the year with human body, which they love. This year I am going to do more games and try a breakout with them #122edchat
A5: Keep being supportive & celebrate their successes! We'll be starting their next unit in a whole new way that will hopefully engage them & help them grow more than just their math skills! #122edchat
We’ve already made it back BUT we looked at all of our data before breakand sat down to really plan out how to best reach our kiddos who are starting to form gaps and on how to build rigor WITH engagement #122edchat
A5 Come back refreshed. Help them set goals and support them as they work towards them, be there for them, help them find and use their voice, support who they are and help them grow. #122edchat
A5: April is Nat. Poetry Month so I hope to ignite their poetic spirits by bringing back our Poet of the Week and other fun "non-poetry poetry" activities!! #122edchat
A5: remember there are still 7 weeks of school and a lot can be done during that time. Finding a balance between heavy lifting, who has the cognitive load, and some fun.#122edchat
A5: Ask them what they still hope to gain as knowledge and/or skill before the end of the year. Too often we forget to ask our most important stakeholders what they need/want.
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A5: set some "Finishing Goals"... How do we want to finish out this year? Pick one thing to aim for and put max effort into that! And make these goals visible, like the background of their chromebooks to motivate. #justanidea#UMedTech#EDL577UM#122edchat
Don’t forget that this might be a sign that you needed those 25 minutes of getting out of your head and talking with a peer! Brains are crazy like that sometimes! #122edchat
A4 Thanks for the push everyone. I have been getting to work late in the morning, and today I spent 25 minutes talking in the copy room! Gotta get my focus back! I am adrift right now #122edchat
A4: Teachers are at their best when they are motivated to #innovate and adjust to their students needs. A culture of productive change inspires teachers to excel #bendingED#122edchat
Thank you to @MrOGallegos and @sarah_settanni for an incredible conversation! Feeling more ready than ever for Spring Break and some sunshine. #122edchat
Thanks @MrOGallegos and @sarah_settanni for a fast and furious but meaningful and refreshing #122edchat. We'll all have an extra "Spring" in our step after this one. Finish the week strong everyone.
A5: Listen. We have to be cognizant of their needs. We also need to be mindful of curriculum restraints and ensure that we are matching their needs with the learning that must occur. #122edchat
A5: Ask them what they still hope to gain as knowledge and/or skill before the end of the year. Too often we forget to ask our most important stakeholders what they need/want.
#122edchat
Would LOVE to!! Maybe one of the sessions could be a student led Twitter chat with their own custom hashtag. Help them learn the power of positive social media use for learning and connecting. #122edchat
In reply to
@_on11, @StudentEdcamp, @MaryBethBrumagi, @AJschmidtLS
A2 Better than fighting spring fever is to use it: create playful yet rigorous assignments, play games, use new media to express ideas. One time we weeded the school garden and then painted responses to poems using dandelions as brushes. #122edchat
A4: I'm learning to be a better guardian of my time. Strategic check-ins keep me connected and taking advantage of peak times to be present helps. #122edchat
Thanks so much #122edchat PLN family. I have missed the last couple of weeks and this is a chat that really lifts me up. I'll try to make it next week, but it is spring back and I'm out of town.
A3: I have a small container garden. When I get home, I'm immersed in trying to figure out the right fertilizers, organic or man-made and catching rain water. My seeds are already sprouting. #122edchat
A5 #122edchat I think returning after spring break is a great time to start the “Next year you’ll be in____grade.” To get them thinking about heightened expectations in the next year of school. To raise the bar for maturity and work effort.
A3: Remember to stop and breathe. Remind myself that everything won't get done in a day. Do a better job of prioritizing what really "needs" to get done when. #122edchat
A3: As a mom of 3 kids 5 and under, I have been great at doing little things at a time. Even if I do some@I’d the small things, it makes me feel productive. I prioritize what I have to do and make time for a little is what I want to do. #122edchat
A5: I like to take a look at the goals that were set each marking period. Assess if the Ss have achieved their goals. Then begin to look ahead towards goals for the following school year. #122edchat
A4 Be well planned and well prepared so you don’t waste instructional time on getting ready. And if your plan falls apart, you can just reach into your back pocket for your Plan B! (I also spend lunch in my room to get work done and use my prep time wisely) #122edchat
Absolutely love this, Jen! This is such an essential component of the planning process...the students. Thank you for including them in the design process! #122edchat
A2: Ask the Ss what choices they would like on our journey together for the last months. W/ their VOICE it is easier 2 make planning decisions for their CHOICES. Some want 2 create videos. Some want 2 work independently have big questions they want 2 answer! #122edchat
A5 I’m planning our next core novel with graphic novel versions of the story…. Trying something new to ease access into difficult content while being hip at the same time! For my students in intervention, it’s all about scaffolding their entry into learning. #122edchat
A2: Really find a way to connect what they’re learning to their lives. Also create projects that make them more responsible for their learning and allow them to feel as if they’ve grown and can take the drivers seat for a little bit. #122edchat
