#RuralEdChat is a chat that focuses on the needs of the rural educator. This chat has been revised by Tammy Neil (@MathNeil), John Martin (@edventures) and Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz).
Welcome to the chat everyone! Keep taking a moment to introduce yourself and your connection to rural education. We get people of all stripes! We'll get started with Q1 in a moment. Remember to keep adding #RuralEdChat to your tweets so we can all benefit from your insights!
For all of our new chatters - I'll be asking occasional questions with Q1, Q2, etc to help guide the chat. Look for those, or go off on a side chat if a reply chain comes up that interests you! #RuralEdChat
Kicking off tonight's topic of Admiration and Appreciation:
Q1: Think about a person in your EDU environment that you admire. What about them is admirable? #RuralEdChat
A1: I admire my advisor. She has helped me in more ways than just trying to make sure I take the right courses at the right time. I cannot tell you how many times I have sat in her office crying, as she talked me through my struggles. I appreciate her so much! #RuralEdChat
I admire our AP. She is firm, fair and consistent with the kids and the staff. A total straight shooter. I studied PR too long to do that 😂 #RuralEdChat
Huggins from Lake County in Northern California. I teach 2nd grade in a TK-6 school. I am the school newspaper advisor & the tech teacher. I'm the secretary of our union. I'm a new-teacher-induction mentor. I'm on the English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC). #RuralEdChat
A1: I work with a teacher who has uncompromisingly high standards for her students. She is the first to seek to collaborate and problem solve, and trusts my judgement when it comes to our kids. She’s a quiet leader in our Jr./Sr. HS #RuralEdChat
A1: The person I admire most in education works tirelessly to assure students are cared for without hesitation. This person has always put students first no matter what the situation. This person has a love for students that all ed pro's should should strive to have.
#ruraledchat advisors and mentor teachers can make or break experiences. Finding your positive peeps is so important, it sounds like you’re already there!!
You're such a love. That's a nice turn of phrase for this moment. Thank you. Much appreciated. Hey, wait! I appreciate you! We're totally topical! #RuralEdChat#Serendipity
What I admire most about him is his "bring it on" attitude. He knows how to strike a balance and when to say no, but above it all, he doesn't hesitate to take on new challenges and the unknown #RuralEdChat
A1: I admire all of my former colleagues in K-12 ed that tirelessly work on the front lines and will never give up on students. They inspired me when I walked alongside them, they inspire me now. #RuralEdChat
A1. I have a fellow student and a mother in some of my EDU classes. I admire her because she is a mom of two boys and still comes to school. #RuralEdChat
She definitely does! I tell her all the time how much I appreciate her because I think it is important to hear that the things you do matter to someone. I put together a Christmas basket for her to show her my appreciation, as well. #RuralEdChat
Q2: Absolutely, this person has been a father figure to me for many years I have often told him I want to be just like him, however he tells me no, but to be better. #ruraledchat
A2: she does now! @vanessahysell you’re the educator I admire from my previous tweet! I learn so much from you and admire your craft and practice #ruraledchat
I am always bragging on my admin. And I tell them how much I appreciate them. I worry I sound like I’m kissing up. But I’ve been places where admin haven’t been helpful #ruraledchat
A1b: Additionallly, there has been an educator at every level of my journey that inspired me along the way - from kindergarten to college - to career! #RuralEdChat
A2: She definitely does! I tell her all the time how much I appreciate her because I think it is important to hear that the things you do matter to someone. I put together a Christmas basket for her to show her my appreciation, as well. #RuralEdChat
A2. I think he does somewhat. We have the occasional impromptu compliment fest, which I know is good, but sometimes I worry the sincere depth of my appreciation isn't communicated. His work is why our HS has computer science classes, and offered it first ever AP. #RuralEdChat
A1: @jbauerkelly springs to mind. She was a California Teacher of the Year & she teaches Science & I've become a total Scientist groupie. Also, she has that Matt McKee-esque indomitable positivity. And she's an adult. And she is a dog breeder which is a HUGE plus. #RuralEdChat
A3a: It's a two fold answer for me. First, I love to over hear students teaching each other things I've shared. I also love it when they ask for help. Shows they appreciate what I can bring them. #RuralEdChat
A3: The little things make me feel appreciated. When I am visiting/observing/cadet teaching in other educators' classrooms and I hear things like: "thank you Miss Delaney" and "will you be my teacher when I'm in high school?" definitely makes me feel appreciated. #RuralEdChat
A3: when my colleagues come to me for help or with questions that I never considered myself an expert at or even particularly good at. It’s flattering and humbling when people trust you enough to ask for help and it furthers our collective interests #RuralEdChat
A3: Students completing assignments w/out being prompted. This to me shows a sign of respect. In most cases, if a student respects you, he/she trusts you, and if he/she trusts you, they appreciate the efforts. Also, thank you cards, and teacher of the year letters.#ruraledchat
What does that look and/or feel like to you? Notes of appreciation? A shout-out at staff meetings? I’m a Center-of-attention person, but not everyone is, and school leaders should keep that in mind. #ruraledchat
A2: We speak glowingly of each other to each other. She's actually tried to recruit me over to her campus (MMS/MHS). We've gone to Science conferences together & syner-bonded & shared bevvies. She pushed me up a hill to a bar. I think she knows of my affection. #RuralEdChat
Sometimes it’s admin vs teachers and the kids play us like divorced parents, tattling trying to get someone in trouble. Have the teachers’ backs. Show a unified front in public. #ruraledchat
Conveniently, this is Q4: Specifically, how does your school/district admin show appreciation for teachers? This can be day-to-day or bigger celebrations. Is that what teachers want? #RuralEdChat
What does that look and/or feel like to you? Notes of appreciation? A shout-out at staff meetings? I’m a Center-of-attention person, but not everyone is, and school leaders should keep that in mind. #ruraledchat
A4: our admin are great about small notes of gratitude or email shout outs. They’re all also deliberate about cultivating relationships which means these practices never feel forced #RuralEdChat
The high school I went to has a "Teacher Appreciation Week" where the administration goes around during first hour and give teachers things such as donuts, coffee, snacks, etc. for the entire week. #RuralEdChat
A4: The high school I went to has a "Teacher Appreciation Week" where the administration goes around during first hour and give teachers things such as donuts, coffee, snacks, etc. for the entire week. #RuralEdChat
A4: Listening and support top my list. When admin seek my advice and listen to what I say, I know I am appreciated. Much more than a lunchbox with the school logo (which I'd also love, but for different reasons.) #RuralEdChat
Okay! I'm so excited. I know this. dh = dear husband Seriously, that gave me an actual small jolt of joy from a feeling of mastery. :-) #ruraledchat I try 2 hang on2 these moments because they remind me 2 think of how my students feel & that they should also enjoy these moments.
In reply to
@ADDEnglishTeach, @try_rebooting, @EdTechBham
A4: Our admin will provide breakfast or lunch, purchase a Christmas gift, but also recognizes a staff member every month with a plaque for his/her work. A mass email from the Superintendent with your name on it could be sent out as well. #ruraledchat
This past week I heard about how @BES_Admin had "room service" hangers for each teacher. Teachers placed orders, hung on door. He fulfilled their wishes. Great idea! Small things matter. #RuralEdChat
Funny you should mention this. Admin does stuff like this a lot, but we had something similar with the school board & it become a source of controversy/tension/confusion because of an interpretation that such things violated comp/bribery/propriety type rules. #RuralEdChat
On the other hand, our parent booster club does food & one big helpful item for the staff like an electric stapler or laminator each year. #RuralEdChat
Right? So complicated. To make matters worse, they decided since they were not allowed to give us anything of dollar value, they should do a really nice proclamation letter singing our praises instead...and then forgot to give it to us. #RuralEdChat
Now that is an awesome idea! Yes, I love food and coffee, but receiving something that will last, like a laminator or something, would make me so happy! These are things that I could use for a long time and would definitely be an awesome appreciation gift! #ruraledchat
A5: Had a conversation today with a group of students. We all admitted the beginning of the year was tough. We'be grown to love one another. Shared what changed was that we built a relationship. #RuralEdChat
Golden Horseshoes. Little slips of paper that R meant 2B fast "caught you doing something" great immediate reinforcers. Kids get 2use them as $ in a weekly prize store. Student of the Month assemblies. Sometimes kids just want you to make a little fuss in the moment. #RuralEdChat
A5: Either through social media, bulletin boards, or classroom shoutouts. For athletes who use social media, we put there name out there (with permission) for good grades I use a bulletin board, and often times express his/her awesomeness in front of the class. #ruraledchat
A5: In our classroom at the HS, Ss can switch out the papers/quizzes/projects that they're proud of and write a post-it explaining why. They're on the board for all to see. One student put up an old vocab quiz (31%) next to his most recent one (100%) to show growth #ruraledchat
(1 of 3) A5: Although, I am not yet a teacher, I have visited many classrooms and have found ways to show my appreciation for the students in the room. During my junior year of high school, I was a cadet teacher and fell in love with the third grade class I was in. #RuralEdChat
(2 of 3) A5: After being a part of their classroom for three months, it came to an end. I created little goodie bags for each student and wrote a personalized note to each and every one of them, highlighting a memory we had together. #RuralEdChat
(3 of 3) A5: I also always make sure to give the teacher who welcomed me into their classroom a card with a gift card or something in it because they are a big reason why I have progressed through the education program! #RuralEdChat
A5b: I also have blank note cards. I slip them to students with notes about what I see that others may miss. Quiet encouragement yields great returns. #RuralEdChat
A5: I've learned there's so much that goes on behind the scenes before anyone enters my classroom (K-12 or college), and I tell them I appreciate they are there. I don't always know what it took to get there. #RuralEdChat
I love both this concept and this specific example #RuralEdChat
I let me students to a lot of rework and resubmit, and I could probably steal this idea for my classroom. I want to help them build pride in working hard to improve.
Q6, and our last one for tonight: take advantage of our appreciative vibes tonight, and let me know what you want to brag about that you haven't had a chance to. Can be about anything #RuralEdChat
I love this. I love quiet encouragement. When I was younger, and even now, all I wanted was recognition from my teacher. When I got that recognition, it made me feel so much more motivated and good about myself. It was a real confidence booster. #RuralEdChat
It's helpful when you have less than 10 students in the room! Makes it a lot more sustainable. But I'm sure you could model how Ss can take ownership and keep their own work up to date..we usually remind our kids once a week or so #ruraledchat
Teachers: You don't appreciate us!
Board: We spent hours writing a special proclamation letter singing your praises.
Teachers: What letter?
Board: What? We made one.
Teachers: We never saw it.
Board: #RuralEdChat
