#6thchat Archive
#6thchat is used to chat, collaborate, and grow with other sixth grade educators from around the globe. Each session we discuss a topic voted on by #6thchat participants. It's a great way to help grow your PLN and share ideas with others.
Tuesday October 11, 2016
Welcome to ! Please introduce yourself, what you teach, and where you are from! I am Kristin, teach ELA and… https://t.co/nlkmHRVAcj
Hi teach 6s math from Weatherford Tx
Welcome Cindy! Thank you for joining us!
Hello , I'm Sam and I teach 6th ELA in Waukegan, IL. I might be in and out for a bit tonight at least at the start
Evening
Misty checking in from Georgia and I teach 6th ELA
We will use the Q1/A1, Q2/A2 format; please feel free to ask questions related to this topic as we go! We are better together!
Good evening! Michelle, from Saskatchewan, Canada. I am a principal and 6th grade ELA teacher.
We will enjoy your thinking as you can be here! Thanks Sam and welcome!
Hi I'm Phil, 5th grade teacher from NJ. Happy Tuesday
Wendy Heffler 6th grade ELA New Jersey
Hi Michelle! Welcome! So glad you are here!
Happy Tuesday for sure! Welcome!
Nick here from the mitten. Eager to learn.
Welcome Kristyn! Glad to have here here at
Thanks Kristin! Glad to join you tonight!
Sorry for the misspell of your name and typo...going too fast!
A1) Taking groups outside to "notice" their surroundings from human characteristics to natural characteristics.
A1) Also, use sidewalk chalk to have students write excerpts or quotes from their own writing and illustrate
A1: Writing as engaged citizens is a Soc. St. goal so I am looking into leading exchange of op-Eds & blogs with Ss at other schools
A1: Have Ss interview a family member or write a critique of a TV show or movie.
Have you checked out ? I used this last year with SS class. Very well set up.
I am going to try a new activity, ironically, called a Transition Walk. We are going to walk the halls and then use transitions 1/2
A1 Helping students find ways to connect with the community and try to make a difference.
when we change directions. Hopefully transitions will come to life lol
That sounds really interesting. Let me know how it goes!
I am using something similar this year as well. They love it.
Love that idea. Anything specific in mind?
some of the creativity was astounding!
Thanks. I am hoping it will work :)
The next question is coming up and will relate to some of your responses. Let's keep thinking!
I could not agree more. I am blown away each week!
A2) Want to have Ss research issues in the community that matter to them Write to people/organizations, suggest solutions to issues
Write letters to town council, flyers to promote good health, rally behind a cause, elections.
what is ? Sounds interesting!
A2: blogging book reviews and recommendations
I want to learn about digital portfolios & student learning. Send ideas, resources & leads
One of my fav. writ activities is taking them outside, having them observe senses and write what they noticed.
A2) Another idea I've heard is to have Ss interview local community members to write bios/stories (local heros, seniors)
A2 Students researched and wrote scripts for podcasts about health. Shared our poscasts and a teen health challenge.
We have a local park that is in the news a lot about litter. Thought it would be a good community connect. A2
Great ideas Thanks for sharing with
Welcome! So good to see you! Yes, sensory details is fabulous for outdoors writing.
A2: One way to connect writing is through journals where students are writing on topics they care about and can relate to
A2: I was thinking about doing the same thing!
I have been exploring for portfolios.
Yes! start some action! Get the city involved and ask how you can help. Invite the mayor in to listen to their ideas.
We have veterans day ceremony and they always 2 or 3 kids from each grade share their writing. Powerful.
Oh, I like this one! This is definitely important to them and relevant in all communities.
The more we chat the more I am thinking our classes do many similar things! Great minds!
A2: misread the ? 1st time...Write about school topics to admin to try to get changes they want
We do that as one of our custodians is a vet and he brings in Veterans and supplies us with flags.
Ours too! Typically they do poems etc about veterans but I am thinking interviews may do more.
Hello ! Sorry we are a bit late, we are a tech startup all the way in Auckland, New Zealand! https://t.co/oR52JJ3DI6
Would like to convince the local radio to play our podcasts.
A3) Ss read books and blog about them. Ss read each others' blogs and comment on the books, student writer's ideas
Very cool. I will check that out! Thank you!
A1: Encouraging something like a blog where Ss write about their passions is a great idea. Ss always write better when interested!
A2 Get them behind a cause they care about. Write advertisments, flyers, posters, find out info by making calls, writing emails.
A2: Writing into local newspapers, magazines, etc is a great way for students to feel listened to and a part of the community!
A3: Blogs and shared Google Docs are easy ways to have Ss read each other's work.
A3: This is an area that I don't have much experience in, but would love to find some ways to do
Time for me to jump on out of here! Excellent chatting with you all!
A4) Talk about importance of finding voice in writing & voice comes from passion; help Ss brainstorm issues & then write about them
A4: Passionate writing comes from Ss choice in topic and I am excited to use Genius Hour this yr to spark Ss interest.
A4: Journals, let students write on topics that they are interested in & offer free write as an option for finish work early
Ss love to free write. I always see the best voice used when they free write.
A4: I use journals and for passion writing!
A4 Get to know them and what they r passionate about. Lots of choice with topics. Let them pick a topic of interest to explore.
I agree! The more you can connect genius hour with writing, the more likely Ss will reveal their passion.
A4: Sounds simple but ask them! Hard to accommodate all Ss, but even having them bounce ideas off each other and gauging response
Yes! With many teacher-driven or led classrooms, I find many Ss who need help figuring out what THEY like.
A5) Some Ss can write thoughts directly to digital platform while others are too slow & lose track of thinking = poor quality.
A5: Ironically, I usually get better writing when we write using pencil and paper. Sometimes Ss get distracted with digital tools.
A5: I like digital because I can give instant feedback. Real time conference w/ S while they write on shared Google Doc. Powerful!
A4. With reluctant writers, I give them the option of creating video logs or pod casts to share their voice.
A5 Using digital formats really helps some of my weaker students get their ideas down and they can do a lot more writing.
My tweetdeck died a moment ago. Getting it back!
A5:Good mix needed, as a S, I found I wrote more personally (unknown reason) in a physical writer's notebook compared to digitally
A5 love google docs, shows Ss revision, easy to quickly give feedback vs paper. Some Ss still prefer writing with paper.
I love the interactive piece of google docs. Can reply to a S's writing from home while they r actually working on it.
A6) Collaborative Slideshares, , , ,
And typing skills can't always keep up.
A5: The main notice I find is that Ss will try to write less on digital thinking it looks longer than on paper
A6 This year I have Ss creating Ebooks with Google slides.
I agree that both are needed and both can be used for different purposes and students.
A6: Mainly through Google for me
I think typing skills play a role.
A6 I've used weebly in the past. Has a blog feature and great way for them to personalize an online portfolio.
Has anyone tried ? I just found it and wondered if anyone has tried it.
A6: Seesaw has a great blogging/eportfolio function
DIdn't know that. Great tip!
Interesting! I have done collaborative class books but not individual ones. Great idea. Using templates?
Yes, we are 1:1 chromebooks.
A6: going to try this year live
A7) In SS, Ss create a country map they research & write info "pins" using Google's MyMaps, add images. Just did 5 themes of Geo.
A7: next quarter we are reading Percy Jackson and SS will be doing Ancient Civ (Rome, Greece) so we are trying for all 6th on theme
Popping in late-Anne from NE IN, ELA.The election has offered us opportunities to write arguments and send candidates 3 word tweets.
A7 Persuasive pieces related to social justice issues in Sstudies
A6: Finally getting around to trying Penpals this year. We are also going to try to write book reviews online.
A8)Schools could have a writer's exhibit where Ss work is displayed along w/another arts display. Publish writing on websites
A8: Schools can display S writing around building and publish through school site occasionally
I like that Writing Exhibit.
A8 I think that when my school committed to paying for Kidblog, it demonstrated a value of authentic writing and connecting.
A8: With all attention STEM is rightfully getting, remember importance of humanities/writing. Doesn't need to be a contest!
A8: writing celebrations,meet the author,poetry cafe
Our town is small enough that student letters to the editor will be published--important to contribute to the community.
A8: My school has Friday Writing where every grade writes during a remediation block on a different core content's prompt.
Exactly. We still need to be able to communicate our ideas with one another, explore our creativity and be inspired!
Love the idea of a poetry cafe!
Boom! Going to use this one! Bringing this idea to school tomorrow...thank you! https://t.co/LELA1KynwM
A8: My school has Friday Writing where every grade writes during a remediation block on a different core content's prompt.
A8 Talk about the power of writing. How words can make changes/ differences. Look at world inspirations,community,school
Good idea, why not add essay/short story section for something like art exhibition https://t.co/H1aR3YC44G
A8)Schools could have a writer's exhibit where Ss work is displayed along w/another arts display. Publish writing on websites
Nicely said! Making students see and feel the importance of writing in our lives. https://t.co/J64wEE3jRk
A8 Talk about the power of writing. How words can make changes/ differences. Look at world inspirations,community,school
A8 Celebrate kid's writing. Have older kids share writing with younger kids. Use announcements to showcase writing.
Thanks and for a great chat. Excited to have my Ss write letters to Brian in Hatchet tomorrow.
We are doing a fact writing assignment tomorrow using The Most Important book as a mentor; focusing on global issues. Can't wait!
Both great ideas. https://t.co/5X0JNXDzH2
A8 Celebrate kid's writing. Have older kids share writing with younger kids. Use announcements to showcase writing.
Oh, that can be fun! Will try! Thanks!
They are going to encourage him to not give up. We are at the climax. But I am sure that will come up.
Thank you ! Lots of tools to check out and great writing ideas! Thank you! See you next week!
Thanks everyone for all the ideas shared tonight. Have a great rest of your week.
