The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
The biggest challenge is thinking that all schools face the same biggest challenge and acting accordingly. We need responsive, individualized approaches to issues- not one-size-fits-all approaches. #bfc530
Being reluctant to truly do what is best for ALL students (from admin, teachers, aides, parents, etc.). We must focus the attention towards what is best for the students. #bfc530
The biggest challenge is thinking that all schools face the same biggest challenge and acting accordingly. We need responsive, individualized approaches to issues- not one-size-fits-all approaches. #bfc530
Biggest challenge for schools ... the false narrative being produced by people who only look at test scores. Sure, let’s broadcast to all that your school is an F because that instills pride and makes kids happy to wake up in the morning to go to school (sarcasm) #bfc530
Agree. It can go to clssrm to clssrm, teacher to teacher too. We all have different population in our clssrm & we each bring unique skills to the table to educate those students. Funny in a profession that celebrates diversity that we always hear of cookie cutter mandates #bfc530
Good morning, all! Ben here from Western NC! The biggest challenge for schools today (IMO) is the institutional inertia to not change the fundamental structure from what they looked like yesterday...or last year...or 50 years ago... https://t.co/ZONxRL5Pwl. #bfc530
I believe we are short on people power. We could use more trained and experienced staff members to lessen the load on individual teachers. This work is amazing, but not sustainable for everyone! #bfc530
I’ll add to the array of great answers!! The challenge of balancing what parents (& some T) think is right cos it’s how it’s been done, vs what we know is a better practice/Pedagogy. Embracing how times have changed & what we know NOW & doing what’s right for kids #bfc530
Biggest challenge....schools always chasing the latest and greatest leaving the tried and true in the dust rather than taking time to reflect and consider the effects to all areas of a child's education and the impact on the school #bfc530
Gifted classes and magnet schools are not
Representing the demographics of the general pop. Recruitment and admission are biased for Ss of diversity. Retention is difficult. a #BFC530
Here is one that will burn some ... biggest challenge facing schools ... that a secret handshake or dancing on desks is all you need to make school a happy place. #bfc530
It’s challenging to be the place where so many disparate needs and functions are being handled. It’s hard for staff to remain energized. Its hard for students to deal with dysfunction in their lives and in our world. #bfc530
One of the challenges I believe our schools face today is trying to ensure that we all share kindness and gratitude on a regular basis. Life can change for the better with simple acts of kindness and gratitude! #bfc530#30daysofgratitude#gratefuledu#KindnessMatters
Bringing trades back into the curriculum for students who need and want them. We have let them be managed by fraternities of the community. This leaves Ss out who neeed them and struggle to plug into them. #BFC530
It’s also a challenge to try to shift into modern, research based Ed ideas (ie- from letter grades to proficiency based assessments) because “it’s always been this way.” #bfc530
Biggest problem in education? The shifting and dodging of responsibility. Parents, teachers, administrators, students, and politicians often have a propensity to claim problems are someone else's job. We ALL have an obligation to to do EVERYTHING we can for kids. #BFC530
I think one of the biggest challenges schools face is a lack of true growth. Too often the things we are measuring don’t really amount to much in the end. #BFC530
It’s challenging to be the place where so many disparate needs and functions are being handled. It’s hard for staff to remain energized. Its hard for students to deal with dysfunction in their lives and in our world. #bfc530
It is not physically possible to do in one day ... I do the best that I can to engage with every student every single day but that just does not happen #bfc530
It’s that dichotomy of what we now know is best with the fact that those ‘in charge’ of us know only what they had (& were comfortable with) in school. It’s like Ts who want all kids to be like he/she was in school. Those who loved school need to nurture those who don’t #BFC530
Putting kids first in all things, ensuring excellence in every encounter, putting kindness, safety and inclusivity at the center of every educational endeavor 😊 👍 #bfc530
Indeed, Dennis! We have to change from the current narrow definition of "success" to one that is more relevant in a global, innovation economy. #bfc530
Budget 💵 imagine all the field trips, books & resources, consumables, manipulatives, technology etc you would purchase to support your students' learning if you knew budget was no issue. #bfc530
True! I have several friends, including my brother in law, who were not academic, and instead learned a trade they were interested in high school and were able to take those skills and have jobs they have enjoyed for over 3 decades #bfc530
The biggest challenge? Only looking at test scores as a way to measure success. Sure, it’s the easiest way to get a snapshot, but scores don’t tell a schools whole story. Come visit or volunteer. Talk to the kids & teachers. Experience a day. #bfc530
Depends on the day 😉. Nah, I don’t mean it, but I do know if I’m not having any fun, the Ss probably aren’t either. And I need to love them. All. #bfc530
Biggest problem in education? The shifting and dodging of responsibility. Parents, teachers, administrators, students, and politicians often have a propensity to claim problems are someone else's job. We ALL have an obligation to to do EVERYTHING we can for kids. #BFC530
Just met the founders of @PGeducator recently. They are doing some great work in the Charlotte area in this regard...much more is needed! #bfc530https://t.co/LszlpdwztV
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I guess it depends on the school. The most tragic in my opinion is the frequency of undiagnosed mental illness in poor urban areas. These kids arent getting the help they need because the families dont have the skills or money to deal with it. Wrap around services . . . #bfc530
. . . are there, but go underutilized because of fear of being stigmatized, losing income, or having to choose between a child's mental health and putting food on the table. I empathize, that's a hard decision. #bfc530
Hiring and retaining effective teachers and admin. We need to make schools a place teachers want to run into not leave when frustration, disappointment and low pay overwhelm them! #bfc530
Shutting out the stereotypes that music and media have created that Ss are victmized by and use deny the greatness in themselves or each other. #BFC530
#BFC530 lack of support for teachers, particularly new teachers. I’m a veteran teacher (13) years but I only feel like I learned how to teach 3 years ago when I did National board certification. It has reinvigorated me but every teacher should have great support/PD
I struggle with the idea that we must be perfect or even consistently excellent in order to be effective and good. Yes, strive always to improve, but your humanity is as important as anything else. Connect authentically. #bfc530
So, money 😆. I came up with this phrase that I am now embracing (&!will probably blog about), teachers are government employees with an expectation and attitude of entrepreneurism. Ambition, desire to better ourselves, countless hours of work...but civil servants. #bfc530
So underrepresented and not celebrated in schools. I push those programs for Ss that need a reason to keep going (yes, it happens even in middle school) #bfc530
I cover a ton of content in my history class, but to me the most important item learned in my class is Can the kid express their opinion in a coherent and fact based manner? That is just 1/122 of my standards but it is covered in each of the 181 days #bfc530
It’s also a challenge to try to shift into modern, research based Ed ideas (ie- from letter grades to proficiency based assessments) because “it’s always been this way.” #bfc530
Have a terrific Thursday friends, be mindful of your impact, make positivity your goal, and student centered classrooms the norm 😊 👍 #bfc530 Teaching is a work of ❤️
Indeed! When I talk to employers like I did recently in Silicon Valley, they are interested in people who know how to think critically, solve messy problems, communicate, collaborate, etc. THAT has to become a priority while also addressing fundamental content literacy. #bfc530
We have to meet the needs of the whole child ... and it takes time! The trouble is we are bogged down filling in paperwork and checking boxes that mean very little to the child in front of us. #bfc530
For me, small informal PD like edcamps and twitter chats like #bfc530 turn my gears for improving my craft than a speaker. I like the interaction of thought (Even if I don't say a word, I get to see what others think) that is often lost in a large group setting. #bfc530
We have to tell our own story thorough word of mouth, social media, etc. We have to take control and teach our children how to think critically and solve problems. We need to #SparkEmpathy and help students develop coping skills and self esteem. #bfc530
Dr. Maggie Mamen spoke last year during our PD day and she specifically said that in the last 10 years alone, she has seen a major increase in child aggression in elementary schools!! Major challenge and the ripple effect is affecting other teachers and students as well #bfc530
No sarcasm ... it is a straight forward comment ... the handshake/dance is just a single element NOT the solution ... there is a ton of work that goes on beyond that handshake, only the handshake and dance make the news #bfc530
Education’s biggest challenge is all educators acknowledging the part we play in discrepancies related to academic, suspension, & graduation data. We need to ask, “How is my thinking contributing to discrepancies in subgroup data?” Address biasness. Ensure equity for all. #bfc530
Our calling is challenging. As we teach, we determine student needs & advocate for their learning through processes & systems. Students spend at least 7 hours a day at school. It’s hard, but we need to partner with families & the community for students. It’s heart-work. #bfc530
Support. When we don’t feel supported (admin, Ts, Ss), we can develop behaviors that make our school toxic. Whether it’s admin support from the govt, T support from admin, S support from T, we all have to develop ways to overcome those behaviors. Toxicity is contagious. #bfc530
The biggest challenge schools face today is the same challenge schools faced yesterday. Curating brains and making each student the best version of themselves.
Also, "this is the way even always done it mentality" getting in the way of the former. #bfc530
