Welcome to tonight's #rcstechchat! We have a special teacher focused chat tonight and prizes at the end! The more your interact tonight the greater your chance of winning! Don't forget to use the hashtag #rcstechchat on all of your tweets so that they can be seen by everyone!
Welcome to tonight's #rcstechchat! We have a special teacher focused chat tonight and prizes at the end! The more your interact tonight the greater your chance of winning! Don't forget to use the hashtag #rcstechchat on all of your tweets so that they can be seen by everyone!
Hello everyone! I am Clarissa Miles, the technology coach at Rockvale Elementary and one of your Co-hosts tonight! Thank you so much for joining us! We are thankful you are here! Below is my current status...lol #rcstechchat
A1 - Teaching dance 19 years... though officially in the classroom 8! I LOVE my art and want to instill the same passion in our youth! Lets breed some creativity!!! #rcstechchat
This is my 17th year in education and my 10th as an Instructional Technology Coach. I keep coming back because I love my teachers and students. #rcstechchat
This is my 11th start. I enjoy the lightbulbs that I see when students FINALLY get something. Plus, when I start to get overwhelmed, there is a well scheduled break!
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21 years!!! I love learning new activities and ideas to use in the classroom. I enjoy working with my students and learning from them as well!
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A1: #rcstechchat
This is my second year. I'm sticking with it to hopefully see myself grow and make a bigger difference in the lives of my students.
lol I forgot to put A1 the first time.
Q1: This is my second year. I love the kids!! It is so exciting and rewarding to watch them grow, and to help them develop positive habits. #rcstechchat
A1: This is my 14th year of teaching. I have a heart for the kids. There is nothing like seeing a kid grasp something for the first time after seeing them work so hard.
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A1: This is year 14. I still love what I do. I know my work has value. I've also worked in retail, waited tables, bartended, done factory work, driven forklifts, been a web designer and a radio dj. None of those paths were as fulfilling as teaching. #rcstechchat
It's all about knowing your why. This is a very important path to wellness. So many career paths don't help students understand that while they are figuring out what they want to do. #rcstechchat
A2- I try to protect my time for my family and when I am home I really work on being present with them and not working on "work" stuff. That is hard to do, but slowly but surely I am getting better! #rcstechchat
A2 - I focus a lot during my day to complete tasks so that I do not need to bring them home. I need me time.. and my family needs momma/wife time. They are my #1 #rcstechchat
A2: my wife and I both teach, so it is very difficult. We read or play with our daughters. Very often we just say “let’s not talk about school tonight” #rcstechchat
A2: When I student taught, one of my cooperating teachers told me every day to “run screaming from the building.” While I don’t do that, I do turn my email notifications off on my phone...so that helps, lol! #rcstechchat
A2
The stuff I do at home has to be mindless stuff I can multi task and do. Laminating, cutting, printing, etc. the lesson planning and prep I make myself do at school. I’ve started getting to school 30 minutes early and its made a HUGE difference in my stress level! #RCSTechChat
A2: I have learned that it will be there tomorrow! I work to complete what I can during my planning, and remind myself I can't be my best if my "cup" is empty
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A2-
I have a special time each weekend that is when I work on school things. My personal kiddos know that is school time and the rest we can have fun! Mine is every Sunday night.
Th e week isnt' as defined. it is a big mash up.
A2: Once home, my families needs come first. It is hard sometimes to turn off school, but I know my family deserves my best just as my school kids do. I will check emails, but I may not respond until the next day and have told the parents that. #rcstechchat
A2: the answer is that usually I don’t. I’m a workaholic and I work all the time. I do try to leave everything at school, so home is a haven, but then I end up going back to school to hang out and work. It’s my stress reliever. #RCSTechChat
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I feel like I’m a little unusual in my demands from home. I don’t have a significant other or kids. So it frees me to be more available to students and parents. I do have quiet hours set on DOJO (our school’s chosen way to communicate with parents) though.
A2. Ha. Honestly still struggle with this and trying to work on it, but I think you have to designate a certain amount of time, and realize there will always be more to do. #rcstechchat
#RCSTechChat A2) TBH I don’t all the time!! I don’t have a family of my own in Murfreesboro so one of the most important things in my life IS my work. A lot of times to relax at home, I will make PowerPoints or create fileFolder activities 😂😂
A2: I set "quiet hours" on my ClassDojo app on my phone and I try to get as much as I can done at school. My biggest issue is trying to not vent all night when I get home! :-) It's a work in progress. #rcstechchat
A2 there are definitelydays where the boundaries don’t exist but I try to make sure that family is 1st even when I have to bring work home #RCSTechChat
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I guard my time. If I don't need to be at school to get my extra work done, I go home and do it. I think to myself, "Can I do this work while my children climb on me?" If the answer is "yes", I go home and do it. I have to have my time with my family.
Realize that everything cannot be a priority. Do what important, and come back to rest. It's important to keep from getting burned out and overwhelmed.
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A2 : You have to get the students to become stakeholders in their education! Many don’t have resources at home so they come in during bus room or I set a time in station rotation for the students to get caught up! If you set the expectation they rise to the occasion! #rcstechchat
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A2 I try hard to leave everything work-at work and not bring it home. Some days that is easier than others. It helps me to remember I only get 3 hours with my baby before his bed time and I don't wont to be working, I am already gone all day.
A2 #rcstechchat
I feel like I’m a little unusual in my demands from home. I don’t have a significant other or kids. So it frees me to be more available to students and parents. I do have quiet hours set on DOJO (our school’s chosen way to communicate with parents) though.
So hard!!! Especially when I was in admin. So much confidential stuff. Now I have a 45 min drive home and it helps me decompress and be fresh when I get home. Some of the sad stuff can get you. #rcstechchat
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I guard my time. If I don't need to be at school to get my extra work done, I go home and do it. I think to myself, "Can I do this work while my children climb on me?" If the answer is "yes", I go home and do it. I have to have my time with my family.
lol A2
A2: I set "quiet hours" on my ClassDojo app on my phone and I try to get as much as I can done at school. My biggest issue is trying to not vent all night when I get home! :-) It's a work in progress. #rcstechchat
A2: Keeping work at work makes be better at my job. My principals have always done a good job of reinforcing that. It's also important to have hobbies. That's what make #geniushour successful. #rcstechchat
#RCSTechChat A2) I do make sure not to be communicating with parents at all hours. They can (usually) wait until school times for those conversations 😀
A2: I usually stay at work until all of my tasks are completed. This allows me to focus on school tasks without distractions and keeps me from bringing things home. Once I am home, my job is to focus on my family. #RCSTechChat
A2: I set "quiet hours" on my ClassDojo app on my phone and I try to get as much as I can done at school. My biggest issue is trying to not vent all night when I get home! :-) It's a work in progress. #rcstechchat
A2: I do respond to parents as soon as possible as long as it doesn't put me out of my way. I use Remind, so it comes as a text. Let's be honest we usually have our phones and can spare a moment.
#mydownfall#communication ##RCSTechChat
A2 : I try not to leave school until all of my schoolwork is done so that I can spend the rest of my time with my family. No more than 1 hr though! My husband & kids come first. Even now I am multitasking by doing this & helping my 2nd grader with her research proj. #rcstechchat
A2 - Misunderstood the question ! I set a time on Saturday for grading and planning ! As an English teacher, I do an hour of grading every night ! Essays, Essays, and more essays ! 🤓 #rcstechchat
A2 there will ALWAYS be more to do. The list is forever endless. Prioritize!! I know that’s easier said than done but I’m trying. 🤷🏻♀️ #lessonsfirst#organizelater#RCSTechChat
open another tab and go to twitter. Tweet from there using the hashtag and there will be a GIF button. Has to be on the other twitter tab! #rcstechchat
Log into twitter you can do it from there. Or you can find one and save it to your computer...then click the add images or video button below then add it. #rcstechchat
A3- I try to do at least one thing that makes me happy each weekend. Sometimes that a hike, find a concert to go to, or something as simple as take a nap. #RCSTechChat
I think it's important to have a fellow teacher that you can vent to. If I didn't have my teacher friends that are right there with me, I don't know what I'd do. #rcstechchat
A3 I play a LOT of candy crush, watch trash tv, YouTube, and other mindless things like napping on the weekends. Anything to detach myself from school. #RCSTechChat
A3: Don't laugh: I usually come home and watch the soap opera General Hospital while checking my social media pages. This allows me to chill and catch up on other people's drama, lol!
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A3: I stare at my fish tank, sand a wood project, go run, noodle on my guitar. I try to avoid the news or social media until after dinner. However, that's kinda my area of refinement. #rcstechchat
A3: Reading books with great twists is my recent go to (read 4 books since October), puzzles, and TV. I'm in introvert so I need some quiet things to help me.
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A3: If I have the energy, I love a good run or walk, and then a hot shower. I used to love to read to relax, but somehow that changed after teaching reading all day! If I don't have the energy- I call my mom and watch New Girl on Netflix. #rcstechchat
A3 - I go 1 of 2 ways... Blasting 90/early 2000 rap and channel my gangsta on the way home... or listen to Dave Ramsey get aggravated with people and their money! LOL #rcstechchat
A3: Time with the furry friends!! This time of year...it's turning on the Christmas tree lights, lighting a candle, and turning on Hallmark! #rcstechchat
A3: I do things that have nothing to do with school. I read fiction books or listen to podcasts about my favorite books and shows. I watch sports or superheroes shows with my boys and husband (I probably love those more than they do, lol). #rcstechchat
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I hug my sweet daughters and drink some coffee. I bother my wife with kisses. I watch funny youtube videos with my oldest.
A3 lol. maybe I will remember next time.
A3 - I decompress by watching some of my favorite shows or reading. I also love to do crafts by myself or with my kids. On the weekends I love watching football and spending time with my family. #rcstechchat
A3 Friday night rest with a movie or a nap, then if I feel like it meet up with friends. Sat is workout day and Sat night if I can go dancing. Sunday is house and family. Especially need organizing for the next week #rcstechchat
A3 - unwind by playing Emoji Blitz (haha), spending time with my nieces, reading self-improvement or light-hearted fiction books, social media, playing ball with my dogs. #rcstechchat
A3. This could be a trick question, but anyways... I love to read spiritual and self-help books. But my favorite is walking my golden retrievers at sunset... nothing better. #rcstechchat
A3 part 2 - Sometimes though I have to drive in silence and prepare for the LOVING attack of my 3 year old twins when I walk through the door!! #rcstechchat
Question: I read things that require a lot of thought so my mind can’t wander to school. My teacher bestie reads no-thought stuff. Which do you prefer? #RCSTechChat
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A3 I like planning things for the weekend and random week days to look forward to! I like just chilling after work and then watching mindless tv:)
This is also my answer! It took me a few years... but I learned i was MUCH less stressed when I said no to things I knew wouldn't bring me joy!! #rcstechchat
A4) I believe chats such as this help. Along with professional and constructive conversations with other educators outside of the regular school setting. Random praise from students, parents or community. #rcstechchat
A4 I had to learn not to take comments personally. Sometimes parents are venting and don’t realize the hurt their word can cause. I’m a worrier- I worry what I could have done better. #RCSTechChat
A4: finding someone at work to vent with, problem solve with, and laugh with is good medicine. Also, and probably most importantly, finding a spiritual center, whatever that may look like for you, to keep the job in perspective. #RCSTechChat
A4 - Hard not to get emotional connected when your in the profession the kiddos, but I run or do yoga to wind down ! Then I think you have to start each new day with a clean mind and spirit #rcstechchat
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A4: Focus on others. Find joy in building others up. Forget yourself for 7 hours. Take one day at a time. One bad day doesn't make the next bad.
A4, I finally remembered
#RCSTechChat A4) my skin definitely gets thicker every year! TIME helps! Also, knowing the positive comments, outcomes, & feedback always outweigh the negative.
A4) Teaching in Title I for any amount of time forces an emotional resilience that isn't always developed in more affluent schools. Strong teams, clarity and cohesion go a long way in any environment. But teaching is such a complex psycho-spiritual journey. #rcstechchat
A4: I’m working on not taking things personally. I’m not very good at it, though! Trying to practice some of the things Kim Bearden talks about in her book about communion. #rcstechchat
A4. Read appreciation letters from former students, and realizing I get to impact so many young individuals each day, and they may forget what you said to them, but they will never forget how you made them feel. #rcstechchat
A4: I agree that it is important to say no sometimes. I also think it is important to remind yourself that you can't control certain parts of a student's life. Therefore, you need to only focus or stress over the things you can control and change! #RCSTechChat
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A4: Focus on others. Find joy in building others up. Forget yourself for 7 hours. Take one day at a time. One bad day doesn't make the next bad.
A4, I finally remembered
After a hard day with the kiddos I remind myself that they’ve only been on the earth for 5 years. This is their first school experience. They are going to be wiggly and spazzy and THATS OKAY. #RCSTechChat A4
A4 -
I NEED to improve this!! Learn to let things go and not take the negatives to heart. Using feedback in useful ways instead of hurt ego. It’s improved with age and experience but always room for improvement. #rcstechchat
A4 I think this is a tough question and depends on the school year! Truly though, it's good to have a friend to talk to when it gets tough. Other than that, coffee helps. :) #rcstechchat
A4.2) Emotional resilience can be developed by teachers understanding that your career/job is not your identity as a human being. You are not your achievement or TVAAS scores. That's a difficult concept when teachers are SO deeply invested into their classrooms. #rcstechchat
A5- I have often thought it would be neat to have a Rutherford county gym for teachers only. That we get to attend for free with classes and equipment like other gyms in our area. #rcstechchat
A5- I have often thought it would be neat to have a Rutherford county gym for teachers only. That we get to attend for free with classes and equipment like other gyms in our area. #rcstechchat
A5 allow for a little more time on Inservicedays and other days to create your work family and work on building interpersonal relationships with your colleagues #RCSTechChat
Kick teachers out of the building at a certain time. One of my old schools would lock the door and turn on tbe alarm so people would go home. We have to hang up the cape!
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A5 - I think they do a good job! I have been in another school district and moving here my stress level decreased immensely! Sometimes we put too much stress in ourselves! Breathe, relax , and enjoy every day #rcstechchat
A5 - Teacher fitness center!! I just talked about how I want to get a grant to put workout equipment in an empty portable!!! #rcstechchat Lets release those endorphins!
A5 A few things that I have liked that my school has done in the past: book club, exercise after school, and I always love it when admin brings in food-it just makes you feel good! #rcstechchat
A5) Are mental health days a thing? Also, love the idea of full day planning days! I find the biggest obstacle and stress is lack of time! #RCSTechChat
A5) Maybe a room set aside for meditation, cardio, and weights. A place for teachers to go during their brief break or right after school to relieve a little stress. #rcstechchat
We have a SPARK committee(Spreading Positivity and Random acts of Kindness). We meet once a month and plan fun activities both during and outside of school hours to help appreciate and get to know each other. A5 #RCSTechChat
#RCSTechChat A5) I really think our school and district do a great job at this! Not only checking our physical wellness (biometrics and such!) (we also have a great nurse at BHS) but being available/concerned about any other issues as well
A5) Are mental health days a thing? Also, love the idea of full day planning days! I find the biggest obstacle and stress is lack of time! #RCSTechChat
A4: By taking care of yourself. Believing in who you are and what you are doing. Know why you do what you do. Becoming confident in yourself as a teacher can help you overcome negativity. #rcstechchat
A5 - I would LOVE to have a walking track at our school! It would help me physically and in turn emotionally. I know I’d have co-workers who would walk with me too and grow those relationships. #rcstechchat
A5 Support groups for divorce, weight loss, More time on inservice days for social time for teachers. We need time together. Teaching is very isolating. We get 20 in of lunch and no talk time. #rcstechchat
A5: The monthly Risky Business is my favorite email! I'd love more information similar to that, and focused specifically on a teacher's lifestyle. #rcstechchat
A5: I feel like if we had more counselor visits, they would be used. I hear people say often that they stopped going to counseling because they used up their “free” sessions. Counseling is good. #RCSTechChat
A5: I like the idea of a teacher only gym. I also think a team building weekend getaway would really help build relationships among the faculty of each school. It would be nice to have more time to share ideas among colleagues in the county. #RCSTechChat
A5) All districts need wellness programs for students and teachers. We also need to look a little closer at our organizational structures to ensure that we are a being clear about our mission and methods. Healthy organizations have that clarity of purpose. #rcstechchat
A5 reward teachers for perfect attendance each month with 1-2 periods of free sub coverage for all the times we have lost our planning covering someone else’s class 😊#rcstechchat
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A5: Promote teamwork between teachers. My 1st year I felt a little isolated. This year I feel I have connected with my fellow teachers a lot better. I feel so much stronger knowing others have my back if I'm in need. I have their back as well.
We just need to be the best “YOU”, we tend to put ourselves at the bottom of the pile! Be kind to each other, a smile might change someone’s day! #rcstechchat
I know it’s not always possible, but a comfortable teacher workroom where teachers can get away from their own classroom scenery for a bit A5 #RCSTechChat
A5. More opportunities for us to be mindful of our mental health, & encourage mental health awareness. Maybe family PD. Childcare provided. We are constantly reminded to take care of our students, which is very important, but also we cannot pour from an empty cup. #rcstechchat
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A5 I think teachers just want to be heard and simply asked questions to be able to express what is going on good&bad- and feel supported by admin- How are you and and how are things going? What has been going on lately? How can I help? Instead of all the complaining
You guys are rocking the chat tonight! 1 more question remaining tonight. Remember to not to log off until you complete the form. Also, we will give away prize at the end so don't log off until you find out if you have won. You must be virtually present to win ;-) #RCSTechChat
When my old school was remodeled they built a BEAUTIFUL workroom that really looked more like PLC cafe. Kinda like those shared workspaces that have gotten popular in urban areas.#rcstechchat
Question 6: Last question! Make sure when you answer you put A6 before your answer and add the hashtag #rcstechchat Also, don't log off before completing the form and seeing if you have won one our giveaways.
A6) I don't know of any teacher discounts. Of course we all know a good nights sleep helps.... Not like we all get a full good night sleep every night. #rcstechchat
Telling people at Home Depot or Lowe’s that you’re a teacher at a title 1 school generally leads to them giving aprons and kits for the sweet babies. 💕 A6 #RCSTechChat
A6: This might be a "duh," but the YMCA! Classes included. And for my retail-therapy friends, Anthropologie gives 15% off for teachers at the beginning of the school year. :-) #rcstechchat
A6 - I went to the med point clinic for the first time today since moving here 5 years ago! Service and meds was so nice! Verizon discounts to teachers . The family atmosphere at my school is a big perk for me! #rcstechchat
Michaels and JoAnns both give a 15% teacher discount.
The Adventure Science Museum in Nashville lets teachers in free.
Discovery Center allows an annual membership for your family for $50.
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A6: Goodwill offers a teacher discount. My daughters get to play with all the crazy toys and pick 1 each. Then I get the teacher discount. Cheap fun!
A6: Clothing stores! Lane Bryant and Loft. Also ATT does a discount. Also apartment hunting-many give a discount or money off initial fees.
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A6. @GoodwillIntl . They give teachers 10% off everyday with teacher ID. Also great place to get books... The 2nd wednesday of each month books are buy 1 get one free. #rcstechchat
A6: One word. Summer. NO career lets your reboot and start over every year. It is such a privilege to have the opportunity to learn, grow, and reflect every year. I've had enough other jobs to know. =) #rcstechchat
A2: I have made a major realization this year that my classroom does NOT have to look perfect, and it’s perfectly ok. I don’t work at home unless I just have to, and everything at home is about my family. #rcstechchat
Thank you all for joining us tonight! You MUST complete the form below to get PD credit! Make sure you're signed in to your Office365 account.
#RCSTechChathttps://t.co/htNXbHbmlA
The first giveaway is from the 615 Collection! They have graciously donated a gift basket full of lots of goodies. They picked a tweet number ahead of time and and the winner is..... @BhsStock Congratulations to you and thank you for joining us #rcstechchat
