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 going to talk about keeping things running*! Say hey, and introduce yourself!
*and by that, I mean taking a metaphor and dragging it out too long!
Hey #2PencilChat.. I’m urbie, an #oldpa instructional designer from m chandler, arizona. Keep in the old motor runnin is easy when my 2 yo granddaughter is near. I support clinician PD.
A1 What keeps me running: the kids, my rockstar colleagues, conversations with my brilliant co-author about the synthesis of teaching and #RFT. #2PencilChat
A1: Coffee for starters but also knowing that I have so much to cover and remember each day. My joy comes from building relationships with Ss and encouraging the future. Also one more thing: Humor. #2pencilchat
A1) My gasoline is certain people.
I find the relationships I have at work determines my output. It might be kids, it might be certain staff but I need that "click" to power me up. #2PencilChat
Literally: coffee. Lots & lots.
Figuratively: umpiring. Be better than yesterday. Be clearer on the calls. Tighten up the mechanics. Read the plays more cleanly. Refresh and go deeper with the rules & their interpretation.
Same applies to teaching.
#2pencilchat
A1: My gasoline that brings me energy is the ability to work with a group of individuals in it to win it 💪🏼 I'm inspired by positive energy #2PencilChat
https://t.co/vZZXTphnLx gasoline is the staffroom coffee engagement each morning.Positivity starts in the staff room and filters downwards and outwards #2pencilchat
#2PencilChat A1 Anticipation fuels me.. 90 #octane of no-knock learning with fantastic people.. and the occasionally weird stuff I see along the journey. #chickapig???
Q2
Keeping your oil changed keeps your engine running smoothly, and prevents it from overheating or seizing up. What does that for you in your teaching?
#2PencilChat
https://t.co/MsWhiUKKq4 I finish my teaching career can I recommend teaching from the heart and not from the book or to the test.Quality teaching leads to lifelong learning #2pencilchat
Q2
Keeping your oil changed keeps your engine running smoothly, and prevents it from overheating or seizing up. What does that for you in your teaching?
#2PencilChat
A1: Physically, Sleep, exercise, and caffeine. In that order 😂
Psychologically, it's all about collaborating and problem solving. I seek out problems that need solutions. #2PencilChat
Good conversation.
Something more than fenceline "how's the weather talk". Something that ambles from topic to topic, but dallies on each to really flesh out some new thinking and perspective.
#2pencilchat
Q2
Keeping your oil changed keeps your engine running smoothly, and prevents it from overheating or seizing up. What does that for you in your teaching?
#2PencilChat
Hey #2pencilchat peeps! Kate from Wichita, KS here, 9--12 virtual/blended science teacher. Will be on and off due to watching my 1 & 2-yr old boys tonight!
Hi everyone, I'm Chris. Former submarine nuclear operator, turned power plant instructor, turned electronics engineer. Looking forward to the chat! #2pencilchat
A2: anytime I feel I'm "overheating" I have very informal convo with kids! About home, likes, dislikes..etc.. it reminds me of my Why and how extremely fortunate I am to have such awesome students! #2PencilChat
A2 What helps things go smoothly for me: calendar alerts. I’m sometimes too much in my head or working on too many projects to remember where I need to be! #2PencilChat
A2: I relate this to self care. I'm not really good at taking time for me yet since I'm so excited to do things for my students, but I know I need to start taking time for myself so I can avoid "overheating" and ultimately engine failure! #2PencilChat
Q2
Keeping your oil changed keeps your engine running smoothly, and prevents it from overheating or seizing up. What does that for you in your teaching?
#2PencilChat
A2. Just checked analytics on https://t.co/S5pzTtgW6A website that is organized to share resources with educators - it just exceeded 5,000 views = all of those hours spent trying to help others is succeeding. Warms my heart. #2Pencilchat
#2PencilChat A2 A lot of the learning I produce, to the uninitiated observer, looks like lecture, sit-and-get. But to the target audience it’s edge-of-your-seat stuff. Keeping up with educators of different stripes keeps me informed with emerging #edtech..
A2: I always looked for ways to get out of the classroom. Everyone's excitement goes way up when they're moving around and sitting in chairs staring at a screen. #2PencilChat
Q2
Keeping your oil changed keeps your engine running smoothly, and prevents it from overheating or seizing up. What does that for you in your teaching?
#2PencilChat
A2. I'm Italian; and, my work environment can make me overheat & want to explore. So, deep breathing works for me. Also, having the flexibility to switch things up when things aren't going well. Oh, and praying for Ss to have court & be released. #2PencilChat
A2 I stepped back from F/T & now do a variety of jobs connected with education. I visit schools, work with Ts & Ss, run workshops, teach at uni & study - LOVE it! #stillteaching Everyday is different - #2PencilChat
Q2
Keeping your oil changed keeps your engine running smoothly, and prevents it from overheating or seizing up. What does that for you in your teaching?
#2PencilChat
I love that on my team, everyone leaving will remind each other to not stay too late. It's easy to let the time go, and then have no time left at home. #2PencilChat
Q3
A good set of tires gives you traction daily, and helps you to steer in hazardous conditions. What helps your teaching to have traction and to steer through hazards?
#2PencilChat
Q3
A good set of tires gives you traction daily, and helps you to steer in hazardous conditions. What helps your teaching to have traction and to steer through hazards?
#2PencilChat
A3: RELATIONSHIPS!!! Teaching without relationships is teaching.. teaching with relationships is LEARNING! They will never care how much you know until they know how much you care! #2PencilChat
A3 Good routines help my students to be confident to know what they're supposed to be doing. Good relationships keep the students working with me happily. When you've got those two things in place, you can get through so much! #2PencilChat
A3: I give my teaching traction by relating our science content to real-life. Today we discussed that communicating what we know helps our knowledge to grow! And avoiding hazards is all about having solid procedures for everything! #2PencilChat
Q3
A good set of tires gives you traction daily, and helps you to steer in hazardous conditions. What helps your teaching to have traction and to steer through hazards?
#2PencilChat
The 15 minute drive to and from school. On the way there, it sets my head with a clear focus for the day, Then it clears it on the way home so I can be mentally available to the family.
focus.purge.focus.purge.focus...
#2pencilchat
Q3
A good set of tires gives you traction daily, and helps you to steer in hazardous conditions. What helps your teaching to have traction and to steer through hazards?
#2PencilChat
Right now I'm working on doing collaborative projects with #STEM and #STEAM educators that are doing projects with nuclear power and electronics.
Kinda bring that real world experience to the classroom now. If you know anyone, let me know 😉#2Pencilchat
A3: Twitter Chats, Consulting with Veteran teachers, learning from students what works and trying to be prepared for anything as well as prepared to teach each day. Tires for my feet are usually @vans or @chippewah_boots#2pencilchat
A3. Having a revolving door of Ss & no real beginning or ending, I found daily and weekly routines help me & the Ss grounded. Also, actually listening to what the Ss are saying & using that to make connections & keep all of us grounded to something. #2PencilChat
I love to show my kids videos of science happening in real-life! Yesterday we watched the launch of the space probe headed to the sun. They loved it! #2PencilChat
Relevance is huge. In adult ed, if the Ss didn't see the relevance, you lost all credibility. They were quick to give you the hook.
Child Ss may not necessarily tell you that you've lost them, but it'll be obvious. #2Pencilchat
#2PencilChat A3 PD that helps make my learning visible, encourages reflection, sharing perspectives with others helps me find things I might not notice on my own.. #traction .. oh yeah, the pix & #dronephotography help me remember later, easier to share ideas.
Q4
A clean, well taken care of interior does a lot to make your journey more pleasant. How do you provide a pleasant ride in your classroom or education space?
#2PencilChat
I remember having my nose pressed up against the screen on a cabin window to see a tiny black and white tv when the first men walked on the moon. You're creating Kodak moment memories! #2PencilChat
A3: I leaned on my Ss a lot. I always asked for their feedback and incorporated it. They even helped mold the curriculum.
I found that the more control I gave them, the easier my job was and the better they learned. #2PencilChat
Q3
A good set of tires gives you traction daily, and helps you to steer in hazardous conditions. What helps your teaching to have traction and to steer through hazards?
#2PencilChat
A4 If I'm in my classroom 1/3 of every day, then it needs to be someplace I'd hang out if I wasn't being paid. If I do that, then my kids are more likely to want to travel with me!
#2PencilChat
hahaha. I'm the tale of two teachers on this one. I need a clean, clutter-free place for my Ss to learn in.
Just don't look at, in, on, around, or under my desk. I've got lower standards for my workspace thant theirs :) #organizedchaos#yesI knowwhatsineachpile
#2pencilchat
Q4
A clean, well taken care of interior does a lot to make your journey more pleasant. How do you provide a pleasant ride in your classroom or education space?
#2PencilChat
A4 I’m required to have standard-issue furniture and am terrible at decorating, but my classroom space does have a U shape desk arrangement and lots of books. #2PencilChat
A4. Today, on Twitter, I have seen SO MANY amazing teachers post photos of their classrooms in anticipation for students arriving tomorrow. They are so excited for this new beginning. Kudos to all!! The spread happiness around like candy. #2PencilChat
A4. I keep a clean classroom with various interesting things on the walls. Also, I hold the Ss accountable for keeping the room neat. If they are caught tagging the furniture, they clean it. #2PencilChat
A4: My classroom is my home! Even though I teach 5th grade I want them to walk in my room and get excited. I utilize flexible seating and I'm working on getting some different lighting to use throughout my room. Also, organization is key! 🔑 #2PencilChat
A4: Asking Ss for their input on physical room as well as how the like to learn and work. I also have a goal this year to pick a few "tough" Ss and really try to mentor them. I have had a few Ss to come from other classes to "cool down" and I love being that room! #2pencilchat
Exactly! This is why I'm collaborating with educators to help bring real world science into their classrooms. Q & A sessions and project help with engineering based lessons. It's gonna be a blast! #2PencilChat
Q5
A good car stereo can help you push through the most boring of commutes and road trips. How do you use entertainment to keep your students - and yourself - engaged through the duller parts of your curriculum?
#2PencilChat
Funny, but the parts I like teaching least are usually the ones where I find myself allowing Ss to be their most creative selves. I give them the learning targets, and they give me the way they're going to do it. We just ride along together gathering what we need.
#2pencilchat
Q5
A good car stereo can help you push through the most boring of commutes and road trips. How do you use entertainment to keep your students - and yourself - engaged through the duller parts of your curriculum?
#2PencilChat
A5: My kiddos know I LOVE music, so today we watched a Flocabulary video to review "What is Science?" I also had my Ss give me suggestions for our classroom playlist. Here are some of my favorite suggestions. I've got some cool parents! 🎶 #2PencilChat
A5: Showing them my generation's pop culture, finding quality content on THEIR level (If I can't stand the speaker in a video, I skip it), lots of Dad Jokes. We were did a project on Early Civilization in the US. I told them about Kevin Bacon's rebellion (Beacon's) #2pencilchat
#2pencilchat Their project / product ideas are usually far more entertaining than what I would have offered, and they're much more interested in their learning.
#gettingoutoftheway
Chris, I would love to get involved with that! I believe we have a unit covering engineering this year. It would be really neat to talk with a real engineer! #2PencilChat
Giving Ss that autonomy goes a long way in keeping their engagement level high. My best classes were the ones where I introduced the topics and objectives and let them teach me #2PencilChat
A5. I'm sooooo lucky to have the career class. Every Monday & Friday we get to watch something related to careers in action. The kids Love it. Our new favorite is Ultimate Factories by the Discovery channel #2PencilChat
I love you SO MUCH, #2PencilChat Pals! Thank you for joining us on this trip!
I hope you and your students/teams have a great school year, and that your journey is a good one!
See ya next week!
Maybe if I try rapping the vids with the video they may get into it. This year is going to be all about it! I want to be even more engaged #2pencilchat
Just as the second coffee kicks in it's time to go :( - can't wait till next week! See you then- for now... Remember folks Wednesday is a great day - #2PencilChat
