#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.
Welcome to #6thchat! Please introduce yourself, where you teach, and what! I am Kristin and will be moderating tonight's chat! This is my favorite night of the
work week!
A1) Honestly, this is a hard task for me. I define the essential learning targets for students using formative assessments and exit slips, but I tend to over-commit in the rest of my life, and that's where my process is less transparent. #6thchat
A1: This is tough, I think the best way is to look at what Ss know or can do as shown on various assignments and assessments and taking that knowledge to determine what is essential still and what isn't
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A1 Most essential for me is figuring out how I can help my students become real world critical thinkers, while giving them a chance to master standards set forth by the state. #6thchat
A1: As far as the classroom, I try to keep reading as the most essential thing. I don’t like wasting time on things that don’t afford my Ss with more time to read. #6thchat
A1 Stop, look, & listen to what's going on around you. What do the people you're with show you they need. In the classroom it may be gathering information about learning progress, in other areas of life people show us what they need through what they say/don't say & do. #6thchat
A1 Reading is always essential in my class. We are reading everyday. Ss need to read everyday instead of "assigning" reading that might not get done. #6thchat
A2) To be truthful, I probably say "I have to..." more frequently, even if I "choose" to do most activities. I think these are interesting sentences to consider as we approach our commitments and determine our dedication to them. #6thchat
A2: I sadly use "I have to..." a lot more than I use the other. It comes down to a mindset though, saying I choose to not only gets ownership but sounds more interested in the action
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A2 I would love to live in the "I choose to" but it doesn't always work out that way. I try to create more of the "I choose" moments in my class instead of "I have to." #6thchat
A1 I feel I must get my students ready for our secondary building (7-12): more responsibility, organization, time-conscious, and so much more. #6thchat
A2 Just like we try to teach our students, it's all about mindset! We can have unintended consequences if we aren't intentional about the words we choose -- words often frame our actions. #6thchat
Running late...Ryan in MI, 6th Soc. Studies.
A2: I say "Choose to..." more often. The ideas were ingrained in me through the Leader in Me, and the realization that I only do what I can control has made life less stressful. #6thchat
A2: I sadly use "I have to..." a lot more than I use the other. It comes down to a mindset though, saying I choose to not only gets ownership but sounds more interested in the action
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A2 The is going to sound silly but I’m new to my building and just teaching 6th gr reading so I’m still in an “I get to” phase. A bit of a honeymoon phase right now. But there are always “have tos” that drive our teaching and schedule. #6thchat
sadly i use the saying "I have to..." more often than "I choose to...". Even for things that I choose to be involved in, at the time I seem to complain about these events being a waste of my time, and most of these things I enjoy being involved in! #6thchat#CI2300
A3) So,up until a couple of years ago, I was the queen of multi-tasking and struggled saying "no". In the past 2 years, I have refocused and begun to practice saying "no". I find that I am getting better at it, and not feeling as guilty for having priorities in my life. #6thchat
A3: I go with the 1st one; I don't feel like I am being productive unless I am doing multiple things or I'll finish one and then sit there with nothing to do
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A3: I used to choose the "Get everything done, make everyone happy" course of action. I found it wore on me and made me less effective. I now choose the big rocks over the small pebbles so I could make a greater impact on what I'm doing. #6thchat
A3: I am definitelya multitasker but I have been more selective of what I say yes to. Multitasking isn’t stressful for me. It makes me happy to invest in several people and places. #6thchat
A2 Just like we try to teach our students, it's all about mindset! We can have unintended consequences if we aren't intentional about the words we choose -- words often frame our actions. #6thchat
A3 I want to be better at determining the essentials. Feel like I go in spurts. Sometimes I have it nailed, then others....well the multitasking is something to behold - teachers juggle, don't we! #6thchat
A3 I put the most time/effort into anything that I believe in and that I am passionate about. If something is directed at me that I'm not feeling is best for kids, my effort will be lukewarm at best, and then I will quickly move on to something that is best for the kids. #6thchat
A3 While completing my Masters, I became good at saying no. Now I continue that practice, I've also drawn the line on working at home and spending too much time after contract. #6thchat
A3: I have often tried to do many things and usually when I feel like I am doing a great job with one thing, something else is slipping! This year I have been incredibly excited about my new teaching assignment, but slacking on leading Student Council... #6thchat
A3 cont. I feel I do what I must to be ready to instruct students, but other duties and work must wait, there are not enough paid hours in a day to get it all done. #6thchat
A3: I used to choose the "Get everything done, make everyone happy" course of action. I found it wore on me and made me less effective. I now choose the big rocks over the small pebbles so I could make a greater impact on what I'm doing. #6thchat
Best advice I ever got (during year 3): It's always okay to say NO when appropriate. Did wonders for my stress level. If you can't give the task your best, don't force yourself to do it. #6thchat
A4) It's a necessity that I often do not prioritize as such. I think I feel as if it is a luxury. Turning off the noise, tuning out the distractions, getting quiet with my thoughts...a goal but not always a reality with me. #6thchat
A4: It is a required necessity. I don't know what I would do without my time to sit and plan and think through my day with my grade level partner
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A4: Time to think is a necessity. If not then I won’t be putting my best self forward. I will get burnt out or simply dial it in I am fortunate that we get a planning period and a conference each day. I have time to think if I make good use of it. #6thchat
A3 I put the most time/effort into anything that I believe in and that I am passionate about. If something is directed at me that I'm not feeling is best for kids, my effort will be lukewarm at best, and then I will quickly move on to something that is best for the kids. #6thchat
A4: This is absolutely an essential for me. I often spend time mulling over what is going well, what I need to change, which specific students need something different. Then I'll sit down and do a burst of planning and it will seem easy. #6thchat
A4 Every morning I have this luxury time to think and reflect. It's called arrive at school 100 minutes prior to what is required. I feel it's mandatory for me to be at my best. However, I'm giving up time with my family to make it happen. #6thchat
A4 This think time is essential! A quiet mind is the best for reflection. Then, I can focus on what I'm noticing kids need and how I can best help them along their learning path. Time let's me focus on the essentials! #6thchat
A4: It should be a necessity, but is often viewed as a luxury. I took my records day on Monday to think and make change to my classroom and how I wanted to structure my facilitating of lessons. Felt recharged when I got back to it today. #6thchat
I am trying to break this habit. Last semester I would show up to school 2 hours before kids, and stay 2 hours after kids. I feel the exact same way! If I had more scheduled time during the day maybe it would be better. #6thchat
A5) "No" is not something that comes naturally. I am a pleaser, and often put myself last. As I mentioned earlier, I have made this a goal, and it seems to be working. #growthmindset#Icansayno#makingchoices#6thchat
A5: It is important because if you keep saying yes you will burn out and not want to help your Ss. I need to work on saying yes less and it is something I am trying to do more of
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A5: Sometimes we feel we can give our all to many tasks and the all blow up before our eyes. If we can say "NO" to some, and focus on just the few, the work will be that much better. #6thchat
A5 I don't always have the option of saying no because things fall my way as a principal. I usually don't volunteer for things that I do not value unless I have to. #6thchat
A5 I've learned to be more comfortable with saying no. It's an unhealthy feeling being stretched too thin. If I'm living in too many camps I'm not as effective. #6thchat
A5 as one of two 6th grade teachers in the district, I feel I have to take my share of the duties. So I try to get involved in ones that are important to me or that can contribute to. #6thchat
Yes, the morning is best for me as my family is not up. I miss less in the morning than if I were to stay late, and I am better at focusing first thing in the a.m. #6thchat
A5: I am getting better and better at saying "no". Every year, I feel more sure about what is most important and more willing to say "no" to everything else. #6thchat
A4 This think time is essential! A quiet mind is the best for reflection. Then, I can focus on what I'm noticing kids need and how I can best help them along their learning path. Time lets me focus on the essentials! #6thchat
Teachers need to learn to say NO! We often say yes because we want to do what’s best for children but if we are spread to thin then we will no longer be healthy teachers which is not good for our Ss. #6thchat
A5 Let me think about this and get back to you...is usually my first response to anything that I'm hesitant about. If it's a no, I will say I will probably pass for now. #6thchat
A6) I tend to underestimate and have too much planned so I have to pare back. Again, I never worry about having "dead" air as they say in the radio biz. But, working on the "less is more" so Ss and I have more time to go deeper into content. Choices help w/this. #6thchat
A6: I underestimate; Whenever I am planning I think everyone works at a similar speed to me and then am "surprised" when they don't even though I know that it is the case
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A6 I am not sure why but I usually underestimate. I don't sweat it and try to be flexible focusing on what my students and I see as important. #6thchat
A6: I am getting better and better at this although still sometimes off. BEST investment, cool timer clock thing. I allot myself time and use the timer. If I get done early, bonus free reading time. If not done, I balance shifting later tasks vs. returning next day. #6thchat
A6 I'm always backwards... Things that I plan will take a few minutes will take a long time, and things that I think will take a long time will be finished in a few minutes. This is why I always have extension activities ready. #6thchat
A6: Being new to 6th gr and 45 min class periods, I am still honing my estimation skills for how long things will take. It’s such a hard balance bc I don’t have leveled classes so I have to take into account very high as very low Ss. I probably underestimate if anything. #6thchat
A6: Rarely do I overestimate. That's come with practice. As a class we look at my checklist on the whiteboard at the end of lesson and realize we hit very few of them, yet we worked during the entire block. Makes planning the next block that much easier. #6thchat
A6 Most of the time I underestimate the time needed. It does help to give the kids studio time so they can work at their own pace and have things to work on when finished with activity at hand. #6thchat
I find my biggest issue is that we have 50 min periods buts once I have everyone where they need to be / announcements / and whatever else I only have 30 min left for instruction! #6thchat
A7) I post a work order every day with assignments listed: green (current), Yellow for previously assigned work that should be in progress or turned in, and red for work that should be done/turned in. This helps Ss have control over their work w/o asking "now what?" #6thchat
I got the Kagan timer/clock/random student generator/thermostat/rice cooker (okay, maybe not that last one) as a gift from a principal. I cannot live w/o it. #6thchat
BTW, I borrowed your "studio time" idea and we've used it all year. Ss love it and enjoy getting to chose what to work on thru the time. Thank you! #6thchat
A6 I just roll with time. I find in the aggregate it all works out! I keep my eyes on what the kids need and teach to those needs as we work through the learning targets together. Less stress = more productive learning for all! #6thchat
I attempt to limit my instruction to 7 minutes or less. If the students are not doing, they are not learning (my opinion). I let them figure out a way before I give them the tools. #6thchat
A7: One of the 1st things I do each day is go over the day's agenda so Ss know what is coming up and what we will be getting to.
It is an essential skill for Ss to be successful since being able to manage their time is something they will need through life
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My classroom did a complete switch after christmas break- We now implement stations - my ss are still getting used to it but i feel that since its short and sweet w/ small group it helps. #6thchat
A7: We made "prioritize" a key word throughout 6th grade this year. I often write a prioritized list on the board and then have a kid start with item 3. "Oh, I was supposed to do #1 first?" It's an uphill battle... #6thchat
A7: Since 6th gr is our first year of middle school, I feel like this is part of my job. To help them learn how to prioritize. I started the year teaching Ss how to make reading a priority in their life. And how to look at their weekly schedule and prioritize things. #6thchat
A7 during studio time I prioritize tasks and give a time estimate for each task. Time management and task prioritization are such essential skills in life. #6thchat
A8)My commitment to preserving the "space" in my days and weeks is more confirmed as I think about the need to have "thinking" time. I don't need to fill every minute. #6thchat
A8 I started reading #theonething by Gary K & Jay P. going back to A7 and the discussion over rocks and stones it really puts a different perspective on what we should let consume the majority of our time #6thchat
If you can read the book I posted Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, you will find so many helpful tips on this. I am not done with the book but am amazed at how much I am taking away from it. #6thchat@GregoryMcKeown
Q7: I love informal assessments. I gave my students different sizes of squares and asked them to prove the Pythagorean Theorem. It promoted creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. One they found the connection they were able to explain it. #TeachSC
#6thchat We would love to hear about the books you are reading during "Book Tasting" on Saturday, February 3rd at 9:00 AM EST during #BookCampPD chat. Please join us! @teresagross625
