Monte Syrie
@montesyrie.bsky.social
370 followers 200 following 750 posts
Do. Reflect. Do Better. HS ELA Teacher. Author, "better: A Teacher's Journey." Posts are my own. http://letschangeeducation.com http://project180thebook.com
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montesyrie.bsky.social
“Exceeds Standard.”

Seems one of those “good ideas” we have without really having any idea of why we’re really doing it.

At its “least worst,” it reveals the folly of age grouping.

At its “most worst,” it perpetuates subjective gatekeeping.

We can do better.
#Project180
Reposted by Monte Syrie
mmewagstaff.bsky.social
Love this so much! ⬇️
montesyrie.bsky.social
“I am not assessing your work to grade you. I am assessing your work to help you. I am simply joining you in your learning, so together we can build better.”

I used to think teaching was assigning and grading the work.

Now I believe it is framing and supporting the work.
montesyrie.bsky.social
The hEARt of listening.
#Project180
@edutopia
montesyrie.bsky.social
How I frame help in my room. #Project180
montesyrie.bsky.social
Still only better.
#Project180
#T2T
Reposted by Monte Syrie
teacher2teacher.bsky.social
If you're better than you were, you're doing amazing, says T @montesyrie.bsky.social
"I am a better teacher. Not better than you, him, her, them – not better than anyone. I am just better than I was. Good and great suggest and end; I am more interested in my next better around the bend. I just keep chasing better." —Teacher Monte Syrie
Reposted by Monte Syrie
arbay38.bsky.social
Smiles and Frowns @montesyrie.bsky.social
edutopia.org
Teachers know it, and research supports it: Simple words of greetings and encouragement can dramatically improve classroom dynamics. 👋

#EduSky #ClassroomManagement
Did You Know?
Simple words of greetings and encouragement can dramatically improve classroom dynamics.

A 2018 study found that welcoming students at the door increased academic engagement by 20 percentage points and reduced classroom disruptions by 9 percentage points. Likewise, a 2017 study concluded that prosocial activities like morning meetings can reduce disruptions by up to 75 percent.

Sources: Cook et al., 2018; Cook et al., 2019
Reposted by Monte Syrie
Reposted by Monte Syrie
montesyrie.bsky.social
I am back. Took a 5 month social media “sabbatical.” Heartened to know someone missed me. Thank you. Happy Sunday. 🙂
Reposted by Monte Syrie
teacher2teacher.bsky.social
Here's how T @montesyrie.bsky.social is showing Ss that he sees them as the experts on their own learning:
Screenshot of a letter titled "Support Cycle Template." In it, the teacher invites the student to identify reasons for not completing a task yet and offers additional support for the task.
montesyrie.bsky.social
Yes, I am back from a 5 month social-media “sabbatical.” Glad someone cares. Happy Sunday. 🙂
Reposted by Monte Syrie
therealbk.bsky.social
Syrie’s posting again! Yay!
montesyrie.bsky.social
“I teach ___________.”

If what you teach is the excuse for why you can’t invest in intentional, consistent connection building in your classroom, try who you teach.

“I teach kids.”

Now you’ve the reason, not an excuse.

What matters.

Who matters more.

Who’s our purpose.
montesyrie.bsky.social
Thank you. Glad you find some value in them. Happy Sunday. 🙂
montesyrie.bsky.social
“I am not assessing your work to grade you. I am assessing your work to help you. I am simply joining you in your learning, so together we can build better.”

I used to think teaching was assigning and grading the work.

Now I believe it is framing and supporting the work.
montesyrie.bsky.social
“I teach ___________.”

If what you teach is the excuse for why you can’t invest in intentional, consistent connection building in your classroom, try who you teach.

“I teach kids.”

Now you’ve the reason, not an excuse.

What matters.

Who matters more.

Who’s our purpose.
montesyrie.bsky.social
Good.
Standards-Based Grading (SBG)

Better.
Standards-Based Learning (SBL)

While better for grading and learning than traditional, SBG and SBL still fall short of changing the grading paradigm.

Why?

“Standard.”

Even better.
Growth-Based.

We can do better.
#Project180
montesyrie.bsky.social
Are they learning?

Yes. No. Maybe.

Maybe…if they’re reflecting.

For they’re the ones who know better than any.

Learners know (their) learning.

Are they reflecting?

Then, yes, they’re likely learning.

Reflection as a matter of course in all courses.

We can do better.
montesyrie.bsky.social
Maybe it’s their job to motivate us.

I am most motivated, it seems, when kids ask me for help.

It’s like a switch.

Like it’s my reason for being in the room.

So, I tell my kids, “Activate me. Motivate me. Ask me for help. It’s why I am here.”

Help.

Where learning and teaching begin.
🙋‍♀️🙋🙂
montesyrie.bsky.social
Psst.

That rubric.

It’s an approximate guide for learning.

Not a sacred gospel for grading.

When in doubt, trust your judgment.

After all, you’ve known for a long time that learning doesn’t fit neatly into little boxes, no matter how many times we tweak the language.
montesyrie.bsky.social
I write them in pencil.

I write my kids’ scores in pencil in my grade book.

And, then, I invite them to make me use my eraser.

Learning is a pencil not a pen.
#Project180
montesyrie.bsky.social
“May I have your attention.”

Once upon a classroom, my voice was the most important.

Now my ears are the most important.

Seems the more I listen, the more they speak.

I give them my attention instead.
#PayAttention
#Project180