#kyedchat Archive
#KyEdChat is a weekly and Kentucky-specific conversation about all things education, from the nuts and bolts of curriculum and instruction, to the challenges of leadership and the politics of accountability. #KyEdChat draws educators from throughout Kentucky and beyond, engaging in a fast and lively hour of discussion, thoughtful questions and candid responses.
Thursday May 12, 2016
Welcome to . Pls share your name, where you're from, and summer vacation plans!
Like normal... will be in a Q/A format. Mark responses w/ A1...2...etc
Don't forget to include the hashtag so everyone can follow along.
Tonight's Topic: The End (of the school year) IS NEAR!
Katie from southern Indiana and I plan on going to Reno to see my friend! She doesn't know it yet!!!
Hello everyone! Glad to help out tonight! Adam Watson, Digital Learning Coordinator with Shelby County. Plans: Canada!
Greetings, Katie! Definitely don't tag your friend in this tweet, then!
Sheryl - second grade teacher in - teaching summer school then getting married and honeymooning!
Wow! That's awesome! Congrats!
Hi! Leanna from Lexington- no vacation plans
A busy summer! Also, getting a third masters, writing a novel....LOL
I did finish my doctorate! :)
I might finally get around to building that life size Millenium Falcon. Oh, I will get my level 1 and 2 for Google.
Jamie from Hardin County... heading to in Colorado...
Dee in Frankfort, KY. No vacation plans... Yet.
Perfect time to rest, relax, and get ready for next year!
Hey there, Jamie! I will not make it to ISTE this year. Maybe next!
My brain feels so free- lol
Felica- HS librarian in Fayette Co. Celebrating 25th anniversary w/ husband in Mexico... our first trip together out of U.S.
Q1: What are ways you are experimenting, playing, or risk taking this last month of school?
Also looking forward to LOTS of PD opportunities. :)))))
A1: I got a new job; does that count? And planning is an undertaking!
A1: I'm looking at a bunch of adaptive learning platforms. Love sandbox demo modes. Loooooooove them.
A1: we are going to be exploring, playing, and letting loose...
A1 - Finished w/ all of EOY assessments, so we are reviewing w/ games, dipping our 2nd grade toes into 3rd grade content.
We're planning our 1st day! worked to create an interactive wall with balloons-it will be fun! Free to attend
A1: With KPREP being the focus of these past couple of days, I'm trying to bring a bit more fun into my classroom in between.
Heyyyyyyyy y'all!!! A: risk is my middle name. Learning Wordpress!!!!
Heeeeyyyy Brooke. What's in your summer plans?
I thought Lincoln was your middle name?
You should come play with us...
Q2 coming up in one minute!
A1: Put in to do an Ignite session to rep KY at SAP convening. It got accepted. Now I have to cram!
babyyyyyy! Huge growth area for me! Pumped!
don't have to ask me twice ! When?!
Here is the link to register to come to Scratch Day on May 14th in Lex! Designed for parents and kids! https://t.co/rYcDNwJYbv
Q2: Thinking ahead to summer: how are you going to replenish and reinvigorate your educational well?
A1b... is coming to visit my classroom...
A2: the Brit (my hubby) knows me so well. Sent me a list of 45 free online course you can finish in less than a year!
A2: Attending lots of training
A2 - I will be teaching a new grade & content next year, at a new school. Ready for the fresh start.
45 courses! No pressure! Also....
A2: summer refresher. and tons of PD with the best of Hardin county!!
A2: PD!!! Digging more in to this fun as well!
Moves are hard. Find hallway friends, focus on students, deep breaths, smile often.
A2 - I've always been great at hands-on, interactive lessons. Would like to move that more to technology-based learning.
I'll be at some s in June, then a two-week Maine Vacay with the fam in July!
Question three coming up!
is this for you school district?
A2: IFL https://t.co/DHmEwXH4RW in June. KASL, ISTE & Guided Inquiry Institute in July. LOTS of reading & even more playing!
A2: If you are looking for free PD we have several in Lexington- one is KY Scratch meetup on May 21st https://t.co/J5s12fRduy
Will definitely do! Thanks!
A2. Change my lesson planning. Have to do something different to expect different results. Keeps us from going insane!
Always look forward to Summer Refresher. I'll be there, too!
A2: PD!!! Plus organizing all my existing materials... Things got a bit disheveled in the craziness of this semester!
I change my lesson plans every year. Keeps me fresh and stops me from getting bored.
We are challenging our educators to find ways to "Move to the R" on the SAMR Model this summer
Jay, great to see you online! Folks, his district is worth a visit. I've been. Fantastic place.
Soon... I didn't realize was happening tonight until and clued me in ;)
Also, since new school, not sure what resources are available to me yet. Will let you know! Thanks!
Q3: How will digital tools help you wrap up, assess and reflect on this past school year?
may 25 with kids ... I can be there pretty much any time - I walk to work :)
A3: Our digital leadership notebooks.
I have spent the day with PD coordinator and director of fed prgms using GAFE to streamline the mounds of paperwork!
A3 I have 4th graders working on iMovie documentaries to share and reflect on they have done
A3.1 I will spend some time blogging as a reflection/wrap up at the end of the year
Does taking time to clean up you inbox count as reflection using digital tools?
Awesome! Will these go public on a Youtube channel?
A3: We also have a Passion Project Fair for the school and families...
We've been creating maps/layers in and Google Earth of all of the events we studied in Social Studies this year.
A3: . Here is how we are going to have educators self assess with an iste stds/samr hybrid rubric https://t.co/DyoUlUszJY
I'll put them in a public playlist:) I reviewed a few today that were awesome!
A3 Google classroom gives me a good overview of what students have created. Just the thumbnails of documents are telling.
A3 We use Google docs to compile grade level data. I see lots of people blogging. Have never gotten into it, but would LOVE to!
A3: Using Google Sheets to track my reading log for next year's book recommendations & Drive for OPGES evidence collection.
I know. I have spurts too. I had so many spots that I was sticking stuff. Trying to streamline
I think I need to write shorter posts...mine are always so long because I wait until the end of a project
Q4: Plan the perfect summer PD. What would it look, smell, taste, sound, feel like?
A3: First lass to turn in their writing folders with no writing in them... just a bit.ly!
A3: First class to turn in their writing folders with no pieces in them... just a bit.ly!
this is something I need to learn more about - I can see a ton of potential for learning opportunity
I think that was my Hang up too. Consistency is what I'm working on - and functionality. Want it to be easy to use
How does that work for you guys? I really am wanting to do something like this
A4: I second that... we need an training.
A4: Mimes silently massage me as John Williams conducts Star Wars music. I eat coconut cake. All during Google Hangout w/ Donnie.
A4 The perfect summer PD would be teacher-led, interactive, collaborative and, most important, there'd be free food.
For the record, hacked my account on the last answer.
A4 sunny with big puffy white clouds, lavendar, ice cream, laughter, no humidity! https://t.co/qaCvCQq7v8
Q4: Plan the perfect summer PD. What would it look, smell, taste, sound, feel like?
I have no idea how it will go... I will give insight afterwards! :)
I think maybe think of it as hub to archive your ideas and resources. Build it and they will come ;)
Yeah, I left out tastes on my answer. For sure brass band in background.
blog it! I love your blog:)
Conference Cruise- on a ship somewhere tropical with innovative sessions and fun island excursions using digital tools
Q4: Providing 6 hrs of PD to staff in Aug w/ wonderful colleague Admittedly, a little stressed. Needs 2 b ENGAGING
A4: Lots of teacher talk time, cross-discipline and grade level, comfy clothes, ice cream and chocolate!
is a new venture that I want to host a few of in Kentucky this summer.
oh I feel your pain - mine is coming up at the end of May
Q4: We have house parties. Get six educators & we will send a tech specialist to ur house with food for 2 hrs of sandbox learning
. Tell them about the Duck races! :-)
A4: open minds- ideas- leaning in- clean Cotton glade plug in and playlist in background
4.1 the perfect PD is filled with take-aways and time to actually think about and work on the ideas presented
PD is anywhere great conversations are helping teachers connect and grow! Great idea
You said ice cream - I'm there! Are we doing this in Louisville or Frankfort? :)
YIKES! Yours will be great! Relieved have a little time to plan. :)
heading out to work on National Boards stuff... thanks
Anyone need WeDo2 or EV3 training? We have a free PD on June 8th. If interested message me for the link to register
Q5: What advice would you give to a new teacher planning for next year? What should they do this summer?
I've heard that advice somewhere before... ;)
Q5: Become familiar with your curriculum- it all starts there
Mike, just in time! Hang with us for the last quarter!
A5: Relax. Breath. Buy a Keurig. Stay away from school supply stores.
A5: Spend time with your standards & the grade before & after... Play with room layout for student centered learning. Just play!
A5 Get familiar with the content. If you know content, you can spend time getting to know students & planning good lessons.
A5 They should for sure create Twitter account, join , and go to
A5: Reflect & Refine! If they've not found a PLC, make connections BEFORE August and set aside time to meet/chat regularly.
A5. Get to know your librarian - they can steer you in plenty of right directions;)
Intentionally bring your own creativity into your instruction; you don't have to be tied to canned activities in a textbook.
Oh no. I love school supply stores. School supplies are my favorite.
A5: Set your mind to do all the things the "old" folks in the building say can't be done. Speak up. Move the goal line. Be awesome
Coming up with Q6! Man, you guys and gals are on fire tonight! Woohoo!
A5: read- not just children's literature but professional literature, too (and maybe some home/garden stuff and Make Magazine)
This tweet, this tweet https://t.co/dfXbqxFuE7
A5. Get to know your librarian - they can steer you in plenty of right directions;)
Have fun and build relationships with kids. That's what they will really remember ❤️
Q6: Ts, what can admin do to make the end of the year go smoothly? Admin, feel free to share your plans!
A5.1 Be proud to be a learner and share your learning with your students
. or just ditch the entire curriculum after Fall Break. Get a new one. It works :)
Take time to play! It's good for everyone!
A5: Be present. Have fun & don't take yourself too serious. Especially now.
A5: Get on the PD committee. And the Budget committee. And SBDM. Position yourself to make REAL change.
A6 Give time to complete daunting EOY assessments & time to spend bonding with our kiddos before we send them off for the summer.
A6: Encourage Ts to continue challenging students through the final day. KEEP kids learning.
A6 Is it just me or does anyone else get emotional thinking about the end of the year? I don't wanna give my kids up!
had my favorite end of year activity, hang 20 balloons for the last 20 days, each had an activity to do, pop at random.
Dipping into the next year's content in fun way is what we've been doing... showing kids they are ready!
I like to think of it as just a long weekend.
A6 I think more about we can do as Ts to help admin at this crazy time of year. Flexibility is key.
One end of the year activity- have kids create a class digital story of their year with you, using pictures you've taken all year
Good point, sir. We really are all in this together.
Agreed - everyone just needs to pitch in and help hold down the ford https://t.co/6QjC9zILlx
A6 I think more about we can do as Ts to help admin at this crazy time of year. Flexibility is key.
A6: Protect classroom time as we prep for finals, encourage teacher & student work ethic through the end of the year
Q8: The end of the year is always stressful. How do you cope?
That's a great idea. It's never too early to get kids excited about the upcoming year.
Q8a: ...outside of the obvious, grown-up, solutions. :-)
A8 Reflect on where we started & how far we've come. The growth & relationships we've built show beautiful transformation.
I use the planned stress model- I don't have time to stress about that today, so I'll just plan to stress about that tomorrow
A8: Look at it as a celebration of growth. Learning doesn't end with a test. Also, eating 's chocolate.
relax over the summer. You earned it. Then power back up. Don't burn out.
A8: Focus on the positives! Laugh as much as possible.
A8 Perspective is key. Easier every year I think. Already looking forward to August.
