The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
Some days are very stressful. Some school years bring extra stress for different reasons. This is one of those years. Realizing I need to change my own mindset. 👍🏻 #teacherlife#bfc530
Good morning, #bfc530 ! I’ve got an early morning ahead with progress reports to write, so I’m only going to hang for a few minutes. Wish you all a great day!
Although much has already been done on this front, I would research the relationship between expectations of teachers and achievement of Ss. Also-how identifying Ss as gifted early on and teaching them as such affects perceptions of themselves as learners and outcomes. #bfc530
I'm struggling with the idea that we must pretest everything in order to drive instruction and to chart growth. To me, we waste too much time collecting data on what we already know the answers to. #bfc530
School phenomena that I would like to research ... “that teacher” ... what is it about “teacher teacher” that makes the kids run to their class ... no catch phrases or photo ops ... kid perspective stuff #bfc530
Although much has already been done on this front, I would research the relationship between expectations of teachers and achievement of Ss. Also-how identifying Ss as gifted early on and teaching them as such affects perceptions of themselves as learners and outcomes. #bfc530
There are so many areas of interest! More strategies for effectively shifting kids to growth mindset, learning more about how trauma impacts kids’ brains, more cognitive psychology research about how we learn, utilizing nature, and pbl ideas... #bfc530
I'm struggling with the idea that we must pretest everything in order to drive instruction and to chart growth. To me, we waste too much time collecting data on what we already know the answers to. #bfc530
And on the other end of the spectrum, why some of them seem to advance over the summer without ever opening a book or doing much more than looking at social media and youtube. #bfc530
If I could go back to school and not worry about college tuition for my own children, I’d want to research how and why decisions get made about book purchases in schools. There are too many non relevant books out there taking up WAY too much instructional time #BFC530
I've definitely had to rethink some of my teaching strategies with 24 first graders in my classroom! Took some heavy lifting to make a schedule where I see every child during literacy #bfc530
Great question! I'd love for us to do some deeper longitudinal studies on the effects of @teacherpowered approaches vs. traditional organizations in schools...with a focus on high needs students. This book is a start, but we need more: https://t.co/xb4KmqeuAk. #bfc530
I think leadership at all levels. Building leader, teacher and student. What kind of an impact would it have on learning for everyone if we taught what it meant to lead #bfc530
My former school now has only Advanced English - despite the fact that some SS are reading FAR below grade level. Wonder if the label will change things?! #bfc530
Although much has already been done on this front, I would research the relationship between expectations of teachers and achievement of Ss. Also-how identifying Ss as gifted early on and teaching them as such affects perceptions of themselves as learners and outcomes. #bfc530
I think I would research effective math instruction. After learning about @joboaler in my math methods course, there's so much to math besides just fact tests! #bfc530
I'm fascinated by math teaching strategies, even though that's not anything I've ever taught. It's such a fraught subject for students and parents. #bfc530
Yes, which would make me want to research if year round schooling is actually more effective than giving brains a longish break (of course some kids do go backwards) It would be interesting to see actual numbers #bfc530
Homework. It is a huge part of every student's day and in many classes it's still the same old same old. We need to know what sort of work at home (if any!) combined with feedback in classrooms has the greatest impact on learning and then make it happen. #bfc530
Equity and the Achievement Gap.
What factors are most strongly associated with a student's likelihood to take Honors/AP courses? What approaches within a school/district have shown meaningful outcomes?
#bfc530
Reply on research topic: Research the correlation betwn at risk Ss and student retention. Research correlation btwn SBL, course design, and SLO achievement #bfc530
Slightly insane, but overall pretty good. It was a rough opening for a variety of reasons (none of which I had control over) but things seemed to have settled down! #bfc530
Absolutely! My uncle was telling me @ a workshop he went to the presenter had a strategy for positivity - journaling about one good thing that happened to you #bfc530
I think the key is asking the right question and collecting the right kind of data (often NOT test data). Using the #designprocess to continually improve, prototype solutions, and collaborate with peers to scale proven results is essential for a #growthmindset. #bfc530
Good morning #bfc530 I would research full inclusion vs. self-contained models for special ed students. I believe the lack of access may be hindering Ss.
Equity and the Achievement Gap.
What factors are most strongly associated with a student's likelihood to take Honors/AP courses? What approaches within a school/district have shown meaningful outcomes?
#bfc530
The effect of pop culture stereotypes on Ss who are the target of them and how That effects perceptions and educational outcomes in the learning environment #BFC530
And it seems to me that for a country that prides itself on giving adults choice (15 different kinds of OJ at the supermarket), we tend not to offer much choice at all to our young adults. And then wonder why they hate reading. If the only OJ I got had pulp, guess what? #bfc530
Such a great question today- I stayed longer than planned. Who can we have conduct all of this research??? (Or we can just add it to our already marathon like To Do lists!) #bfc530
I use my brain breaks whenever I see my Littles getting a little antsy / anticipating that they will be sitting for a while. Usually we do a song or two and stretch. In my student teaching placement I used @GoNoodle#bfc530
This leads me to another question - are labels really necessary & how do they affect learners? If we differentiate can't we meet all learners where they're at without labeling them? Again - I think class size matters in order to do this. #bfc530
Great idea. we have some tough classes that "break" teachers and I have to be Mr positive all the time to support them and let them know I'm there #BFC530
I’d research the effects of parental involvement on student achievement. People tend to use that as the reason students aren’t succeeding. Why aren’t we focusing our attention on what’s happening for the student that IS succeeding despite not having it? #bfc530
There are so many areas of interest! More strategies for effectively shifting kids to growth mindset, learning more about how trauma impacts kids’ brains, more cognitive psychology research about how we learn, utilizing nature, and pbl ideas... #bfc530
This leads me to another question - are labels really necessary & how do they affect learners? If we differentiate can't we meet all learners where they're at without labeling them? Again - I think class size matters in order to do this. #bfc530
YES. There was one school I interviewed at that asked me to name the different qualifications for special education & the 5 factors of reading instruction...I felt it was odd bc I can Google the answer to those questions #bfc530
Indeed! Positive Expectancy is important in student success. Check out the Efficacy Institute at:
https://t.co/pHeIoEUeSR
Dr Jeff Howard lectured my cohort at Harvard Graduate School of Education on this. Very impressive, with interesting ideas. #bfc530@hgse
In reply to
@lethajhenry, @BFC_530, @DrKnicki, @hgse
Good morning #bfc530 - I would want more research on the effectiveness of homework and spelling tests in elementary school. Do they really work? 🤔#BFC530
I totally feel like interviews are not enough. But at the same time everyone can teach one great demo lesson. Almost like there needs to be a probationary test period. #bfc530
In reply to
@DrKnicki, @kathyiwanicki, @msiwanicki
I further research inequity in education and the further dwindling of public, neighborhood schools and what that does to the student, the community and the country as a whole. #bfc530
Right! The demo lesson was incredibly difficult because you have little knowledge of the class and it was in June so they already had their procedures set up. I found in a few districts they had a very clear idea of what they wanted me to teach (after I taught the lesson) #bfc530
In reply to
@wheeler_laura, @DrKnicki, @kathyiwanicki
We sort of have that in our T contract. We have a 90 days clause & a time frame to earn prof T status. Focus should be on support & coaching imho. #bfc530
In reply to
@wheeler_laura, @DrKnicki, @kathyiwanicki, @msiwanicki
I like questions that got to the philosophy of my teaching, when I was able to authentically tie in my experiences. Also questions that allowed me to reflect / improve. #bfc530
Great one, Robin! That reminded me that I just met the author of Hip Hip Genius (https://t.co/UtJ83T2M5y) when I was visiting the Stanford d-school. Great book touches on this topic! #bfc530
I totally feel like interviews are not enough. But at the same time everyone can teach one great demo lesson. Almost like there needs to be a probationary test period. #bfc530
In reply to
@DrKnicki, @kathyiwanicki, @msiwanicki
We've just changed the way we assess math (our classes are discovery based) and it has completely changed the way our students feel about math class & their own ability. We experimented last year & now all Ts are on board. #bfc530https://t.co/NVchbSCQ81
Good morning #bfc530! Checking in a little late from Varina, VA this morning. Given the time and opportunity, I would like research the phenomenon of Ts observing other Ts and analyze how these interactions influence instructional practice and T morale & community.
Excellent questions and food for thought this morning! You woke my sluggish brain up. Maybe some of these would be good for our #bfc530 question bank....
#bfc530
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Our board in Quebec has a 2-year Teacher Induction Program- after which a teacher can be eligible for tenure. Sometimes takes much longer- depending on availability of full-time positions #bfc530
I'm definitely curious about suspensions. I believe much data is falsely attributed. For example, SPED students have a higher rate of suspension than the general population and prisons use that data as a predictor of future business. Principals will then use this . . . #bfc530
. . . excuse not to suspend. Where I believe that suspensions in the SPED population are more symptomatic of underlying, untreated mental illness, especially concerning PTSD in volatile homes. Instead of suspending less for behavior that warrants suspension . . . #bfc530
. . . we need to treat these kids at a younger age, or fix our households in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods before they become endemic of societal cyclical oppression. The cause of incarceration is not the suspension, but rather the person not being able . . . #bfc530
To deal with this trauma and society labeling criminals based on how they look or what neighborhood they were born in. Several things need to happen in this regard. 1. Culturally, we need to stop buying into the culture of fear that politicians and advertisers . . . #bfc530
. . . use to drive agenda. 2. We need to lean heavier on education to break the cycle. 3. We need to provide mental health assistance and other wrap around services to people that cannot afford it without stigmatizing our own population. Wow I was feeling this question. #bfc530
Depends. If it's a TPA during your LTO then that's useful. But not once you get a contract. I just think there are Ts that interview well but aren't excellent in the classroom & vice versa. #bfc530
The thing about #bfc530 that everyone is missing is that we are on the verge of runaway climate change and we need a complete re-think of the global economy to ensure a just society & avoid planetary catastrophe.
The future lies in online portfolios bc Ss will eventually assume and demonstrate near total ownership of their learning in very personalized, meaningful, and creative ways. Let's invest time, research, and resources in best practices to make it happen. #bfc530#gafe#kindersCAN
I want to dive into what I call vertical learning. By making Ss stand up to attack problems at a board, I’m curious as to how would we track focus, engagement, collaboration skills, and mathematical thinking. #bfc530
I agree with Ss choice, but sometimes this is easier said than done. Do you feel that we need some whole group, small group, independent reads to accomplish all that we are expected to accomplish? Or should we just allow 100% Ss choice and attempt to manage that as Ts? #bfc530
Could be interesting then if it was mandatory to do a TPA during a teacher's first LTO longer than x days. Totally agree with you. I think there are great interviewers that don't end up great in the job in any profession. #bfc530
Also just a side note about interviews/demo lesson - it was AWFUL not hearing back from schools. I had demo lessons at 3 schools that I never heard back from... it's a real confidence crusher #bfc530
