A chat that offers middle school teachers a chance to have a collaborative discussion about a different topic each week. Our topics change from week to week, ranging from Common Core State Standards to Character Education. During the chat, participants exchanges ideas and resources. The chat group ranges in size each week from 10 to 50+ participants. Discussion can be general talking about instructional style or process to specific. Recently members of the chat group help each other create lessons.
How do you keep kids educated on culture while helping them maintain a respectful attitude of different cultures they may find in their school? #mschat#culture
Hi everyone! I'm Christie, a 7/8 math teacher in suburban Chicago and current chair of the board for @AMLE . I'm a little tardy joining but I am glad to be with you all tonight! #mschat
A1 (part 2): I think you can assess the health by listening for laughter, looking for smiles, and feeling a sense of positive energy and warmth. #mschat
The culture of your school is really the selling point of it & it's what make your Ss want to be there. As far as assessing the health of it, I think by evaluating the happiness of parents, Ss, and staff. A positive welcoming and diverse culture means a healthy school #mschat
A1: Culrure is important because it’s the identity of our school, what we value, & how each of us fit. We’ve assessed using various surveys & focus groups. #mschat
A1: my school culture is called School Wide Positive Behavior, which rewards students for going above & beyond classroom expectations. Those who are caught w/ acts of kindness are given a ticket to join the Principals’ corner where they are recognized for their behavior #mschat
Culture in your school is most important. It’s the identity that parents, students, and other community members build their understanding of the school around. #mschat
A1 It’s important because it tells people who we are collectively and it is the heart beat of our school. We monitor or assess it through our conversations with others and observing the actions around us. And you can always just ask #mschat
A1: School culture creates the tone. When it’s right, good things happen. When it’s not, staff and students will not achieve to their full potential. #mschat
A1: pt 2. Having a positive school environment creates goals of having a welcoming environment for all students where they can feel safe in school and be themselves. #mschat
The culture of an organization is its personality-embedded values and beliefs. It's what drives the "why". Assessments exist to formerly assess culture, but asking stakeholders what values, beliefs, artifacts & heroes associated with the school is a way to get a glimpse. #mschat
A1b it isn’t uncommon for me to just ask staff, students and parents. If you have built solid relationships built on trust you will receive honest answers and feedback. Give people voice and choice in what is going on in your school #mschat
As a vice principal I make it my responsibility to take constant inventory of my school culture by checking in with students, staff, families and community members. #mschat
A2: each day administration puts a few tickets a day in random teacher’s mailboxes, that way each grade level and team get chances to hand out tickets to their students. It is at random so everyone has a pretty equal chance to receive on #mschat
A2: We give our ROARS raffle tickets when students display empathy or other positive behaviors. This includes all students but I am not sure if we have another example (and it makes me think that we probably should! :) ). #mschat
A3 This year we have been working on a new mission, vision and core values and we have asked students, teachers and parents to participate in the process. Model kindness and mindfulness, be genuine and listen to others #mschat
Hey! I’m late
A1: Your School culture is important because it defines the level of comfortability the individuals in your building have. A1b: what do interactions look like: Ts to Ts, Ts to Ss, Admin to Ts and Ss. The way ppl interact speaks volumes about the building
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A2 #mschat Our new district wide "playbook" communicates a message of One Community. Branding helps this initiative. Everyone has a voice because everyone is a Riverside Beaver.
A2: Promoting positive culture is our admins first priority - all get heard when nominated students of the month, field trips, initiatives, expectations, etc. Students and staff all get a voice and respect is fluid.
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A3: If kids do not feel safe, wanted, & that they belong at school, they are not likely to truly learn. We must ensure a culture of safety and belonging first. #mschat
A3 It’s kind of like preparing for the weather rain can be beautiful but if you stand in it on a cold day in and are wearing the appropriate clothing you end up uncomfortable and likely sick. But if you are prepared you can take in the joy in even the worst conditions #mschat
The brain won’t work if the heart is hurt. You have to feel supported and valued by your school culture in order to reach your maximum potential in your building. #mschat
A3: In a healthy school culture, everyone looks out for each other, which allows people to relax and be themselves. People care & collaborate, reducing the burden for all. #mschat
A3: Because of a large focus on relationships w/ students, I feel we have a pretty good read on when things are off with them. We check in on them ourselves, refer them to a counselor, or we're able to help them through their small group that they're assigned for 3 years #mschat
A3 The school culture supports the health and wellness of those within it by making it a safe place for staff and students by making everyone feel welcomed and valued. #mschat
A2: SWAG Brags. Our Ts can nominate Ss that display part of our PBIS initiative: Safety first, Work together, Accept responsibility, Guide me. The Ss can do the same for Ts. I also like that all adults in the building can nominate other adults. The recognition...#mschat
A3: a healthy culture will make middle schoolers feel comfortable in their own skin, while exploring new interests and identities. If students do not feel safe and protected by teachers, counselors, or admin then we may risk shutting them down unintentionally. #mschat
A3 #mschat A sense of belonging is necessary for a healthy culture.Our SEL program helps students know that they are a valued member of the school.Tiers of supports are available 4 specific help This reduces transition anxiety&the identity crisis associated w/ young adolescence.
A4 Teaching should be very collaborative. The schools should be an atmosphere where the teachers work together for the betterment of the students. #mschat
A4 if you have a culture built on a genuine trust and partnership collaboration almost takes place with out even thinking about it. Ideas flow freely and people experience more growth #mschat
A3: A culture defined by growth, support, and care ushers in connections that wouldn't be possible any other way. Supported studnets support students in ways we would never be able to.
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We promote collobration by having committees in our school. We have a lunch bunch committee, for teachers to focus on lunch room responsibilities and culture, a scheduling committee and the principals corner, to name a few. Any teacher can be apart of the collaboration. #mschat
A1: the reason in which I feel school culture is important is because it often times greatly affects a teachers professional experience as well as there students achievement #mschat
A4: Because the faculty atmosphere is so positive and almost like family, most feel free to reach out to other teachers to collaborate naturally. It's ever changing as teachers continually change their curriculum to meet the needs of the students. #mschat
A5 Students can positively impact the school simply by their attitude. Their attitude can be contagious and hopefully they have a positive attitude that impacts everyone around them. #mschat
A5: In many ways, they define what is and isn’t cool in their school. If they decide intolerance, unkindness, and elitism aren’t cool, more kids will feel welcome & that they belong. Kids will be safer & healthier. And likely more successful too. #mschat
A5 Ss can do this by being Honorable Upstanding Supportive Kind and Respectful and practicing mindfulness. They are the majority of the people in the school their actions will drive the machine often #mschat
A4: Our day with students ends at 2:50 but contracted hours are until 3:30. Our Ts are awesome about meeting together in pairs or by teams to discuss data or lesson plan. We understand what our end goal is and we work together to accomplish it. We are a village! #mschat
A5: Students should be able to sit in on some committee meetings in order to have student representation, be in the know of their own culture, and give perspective from the middle school age, as many of us are for removed from our intended audience! #mschat
A5 #mschat Our hs has a leadership class. These remarkable upperclassmen and women serve as mentors/advisors to our middle level students. Powerfully positive culture change!
A5: Letting students buy into the atmosphere is incredibly important. We try to help our 8th graders become leaders for the rest of the middle school, and have them help with being in charge of certain things to positively influence 6th and 7th. #mschat
A5: (pt2) They also get to decide on a lot of things around the school as well, which makes them feel even more responsible, and helps keep them accountable. #mschat
A5: Our Ss serve on the superintendent's advisory council to discuss student issues with the board of education and the super. They discuss the things they like, dislike, and what changes they want to see happen within our school. #mschat
Q7: Middle school students want to rebel against the culture "at Large" and discover themselves: How do we guide them to where they need to land? #mschat
We offer the opportunity to any student who wants to be a part of the committee. They meet as a student group with the other schools in the district. #mschat
A7: Lead by example. Promote the positive that we see in them and encourage them to be a strong, positive leader in the classroom, building, or district. Show them they are truly a valuable asset in your community. #mschat
A7: It starts with relationships.
When kids know we care, they tend to want to please.
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I continue to cherish the times when students have sought out our staff members to share their successes. This doesn’t happen without positive relationships.
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Q7: Middle school students want to rebel against the culture "at Large" and discover themselves: How do we guide them to where they need to land? #mschat
Q8: Middle school students are looking for guidance from those that are older than them that are not their parents. Through relationships with those kids you're able to help guide them and make them feel accepted, valued, loved, and that they belong #mschat
A7: Middle school students are looking for guidance from those that are older than them that are not their parents. Through relationships with those kids you're able to help guide them and make them feel accepted, valued, loved, and that they belong #mschat
