The #2PencilChat is a weekly conversation about educational technology. As we enter a more student-centered age, let's talk about using all the tools in our toolboxes to be innovative and dynamic teachers.
Welcome to the #2PencilChat! Tonight we’re talking about how to stay ahead of the stack, and keep your head above water. Introduce yourself, and say hey!
Hey #2PencilChat! Sean in St. Augustine here. I teach 5th grade ELA in Palm Coast, FL. I missed you over the last two weeks! Also, full disclosure, this topic came to me totally organically.
John from Mexico City where I run an international American school. Currently in #Charleston where the @SAISnews annual conference has just ended. #2PencilChat
I have been trying to make a list each day before school / during prep / after school & go from that so I don't miss anything!! #2pencilchat Google Tasks is awesome! It's right on my email so I see it every time I check
A1: I use the Getting Things Done method. I write down EVERY actionable task. Externalize my mind. And then prioritize tasks based on urgency, my own stamina, and time available. I also use the pomodoro technique! #2pencilchat
A1 I've found that preplanning helps - don't assign anything that you don't want to grade. Also: Prioritize, and write down the things you wanna get done. #2PencilChat
A1: not my strength, but I start by identifying what time of day I am best able to get what tasks completed and try to stick to that schedule. #2PencilChat
A1: I would say there is probably no other book I've ever read that has helped my organization and thus my teaching as much as #GTD (Getting Things Done). It's THAT important and good. #2pencilchat
A1: While I’m a dean, I currently am down an 8th grade ELA teacher... I make a list and priorities of what must be done first and what can wait. Prioritizing and setting limits are what keep me going and help me with balance! #2PencilChat
I also heard what you SAY to a child is more important than what you write. I stopped writing back to Ss in their Writer’s Notebook. They don’t read it anyways. #2pencilchat
Self grading has a lot of potential. In the past, I've had principals warn us (as a staff) not to have students or parents grade for confidentiality reasons... #2PencilChat
A2: It hasn't been a fail but something I'm working on is grading my Fundations (phonics) units earlier so I can see the students who need extra help or potential intervention before we move onto the next unit! #2PencilChat
A2 I remember once, years ago, when I had a giant milk crate full of work to sort through (from moooonths...) I realized how much understanding of my students I was missing. On the upside, I needed docs for a portfolio, and they were all in the stack... #2PencilChat
A1: I have three classes, which triples the grading load I have. So I try to only grade work that is meaningful. Work that I know that the students really had to think about and apply their knowledge, not just filling in a bubble or a blank. #2PencilChat
A1: While I’m a dean, I currently am down an 8th grade ELA teacher... I make a list and priorities of what must be done first and what can wait. Prioritizing and setting limits are what keep me going and help me with balance! #2PencilChat
A3: Planning. I try to backwards plan, but also leave enough room for inquiry and student choice/voice. It's hard to do all these simultaneously! #2PencilChat
I love having @planbook on my computers. I do most of my planning at school but if a great idea comes to me at home I can change it right then. #2pencilchat
A3
It's mostly just grading for me. I just hate it so. When I'm planning best, it's creating opportunities for students to show their growth in a more organic way. #2PencilChat
A3: Grading tests are the worst. Four pages per student, with 70 students is daunting. I tried using our iPads to test but surprisingly they prefer paper (and the scores agreed). I'm beginning to wonder if a parent volunteer might be handy... #2PencilChat
A1 3 second rule for incoming mail, email. Look at it. Within 3 seconds if it is not important it goes to the Trash. A friend taught me this rule. #2PencilChat
A3) Trouble spots for me: family events, weddings, busy weekends when there is no time. Also PD days, can admin just give us one day to breathe, collabo-grade & explore things that we REALLY want to do? #2PencilChat
Today we were talking about continents and I held out the globe to show the difference between CT and Australia. You should have seen their faces. #2pencilchat Don’t think they realized how far away you are.
#2pencilchat A3: Great Q friend!! When I procrastinate by researching new instructional ideas , PD webinars, reading educ books, etc. and don’t take care of the mundane but necessary tasks THEN I’m in my trouble zone! I love to do the other stuff!!
I tried flipping my feedback - grading papers with Ss instead of on the weekend. This was life changing & I wish I'd discovered it 30 yrs ago. I can't recommend this enough. #2PencilChathttps://t.co/cNQ30RmjkE
A3 I have lots of trouble spots right now as I'm working out the kinks. I'm feeling out what works best for my organization, trying to keep timing of my blocks, keeping records of my students' progress, collaborating, etc. etc. balancing it all! #2PencilChat
but!!! just like my Littles I feel like I have come so far since August 27. lots of reflection, lots of work, and lots to continue to work on! #2PencilChat
Q4
What strategies do you have for thinning and/or purging a giant stack of obligations, grading, things you should’ve gotten done long ago? #2PencilChat
#2PencilChat What a topic. I hate to show you my home office desk-a cluttered mess! Carol ELA Consultant from @LongIslandNY. Did I tell you that I unveiled my summer gallery?https://t.co/z2HGhkU1V8. Ah, my computer desktop is cluttered w digitals-lovely reminders of summer.
A4 I try to stay really focused to my stuff done. I try to leave the fun stuff for home (planning Mystery Skype, reading middle grade books) etc #2pencilchat
Q4
What strategies do you have for thinning and/or purging a giant stack of obligations, grading, things you should’ve gotten done long ago? #2PencilChat
A4 - forcing myself to sit down and do it. Just like I teach my Littles, take breaks when I need it...Also reward myself when I'm done (with something as simply as a sweet treat!) #2PencilChat
Ugh.... I'm the same. I got rid of my desk this summer & tossed out the piles that were on it. Liberating. I'm trying to stay organized.... ##2pencilchat
In reply to
@cvarsalona, @MagicPantsJones, @LongIslandNY
Yes I completely agree. I collaborate with my team level partner / kindergarten teachers too but I also put my own spin on it for what works for me/my teaching philosophy & what is successful for my Littles!! #2PencilChat
Q4
What strategies do you have for thinning and/or purging a giant stack of obligations, grading, things you should’ve gotten done long ago? #2PencilChat
That's what I find so intriguing about this profession - every year, every day you can learn something new & improve yourself / teaching practices #2PencilChat
A4 I'm trying to realize that not everything needs to be graded. Some things are practice - I can walk around the room & just answer questions #2PencilChat
A4: So...I have this stack to my left on my desk. I try to go through it and process or throw out about once every 2 weeks. #2pencilchat It continues to grow though! I’m doing paperwork daily but some things can wait so the pile grows!
A4: I thin out past obligations by laser focusing on completing Three specific tasks per day until everything is caught up. It works pretty well :) #2PencilChat
We have a duck that quack exactly the same as the Penguin in the 1966 Batman. Once I heard the neighbours kids crying and then I heard that penguin laugh.... creepy #2PencilChat
In reply to
@kathyiwanicki, @MagicPantsJones, @RitaWirtz
That is the tough thing...it all seems important to the ones who need it but really most of it can wait.
#2PencilChat I have to remember I am on the students time and also have my own family time.
A5 Divide work into "practice" and "assessment" Only grade assessment & assess through conferences so that Ss really understand the feedback. #2PencilChat
I tell my Ts that if they're working too hard, maybe they're giving too many assignments. Ss can learn in other ways & one-on-one or small group conferences are often more effective than "homework" #2PencilChat
A5 A lot of the work they show partners/myself and turn it into their mailboxes. #2PencilChat
Grading is kind of like how I do laundry...If I do a load a day and put it away then I am not behind.
Harder to put this in action...lol
A2. Employee relations issues. Working with adults is both challenging and rewarding. These issues, sometimes not too serious can resolved amongst the team, tend to eat up a lot of my time, causing me to fall behind. #2PencilChat
A5: I used to let Ss exchange papers and grade each other’s(as long as it wasn’t a grade book grade.) I’ve also had students self-check and then go back to make corrections. #2PencilChat Helpful when you're feeling overwhelmed!
Q4
What strategies do you have for thinning and/or purging a giant stack of obligations, grading, things you should’ve gotten done long ago? #2PencilChat
A5) Learners can correct certain items (their own) or have classmates correct smthg like exit slips, I always look over them afterwards too #2PencilChat
This is a great strategy. And I think they probably learn more this way than when you do all the grading. Giving up control in grading & teaching Ss to self-assess is powerful.... plus it prepares them for life. #2PencilChat
A5: My Ss and I plan together so part of that planning is putting into place time set aside so they don’t become overwhelmed and we plan assessments ahead of time to avoid overload #2Pencilchat
