While I cannot claim the secret sauce here, I do just tend to pay attention to their attitudes/disposition over of time. I am strict/fun so students laugh and know my expectations. So when a student becomes more sullen, starts doodling more, and grades drop. These clue me in that something's wrong.
A5. Part of SEL shouldn't just be learning to recognize/regulate emotion but also how to respond to situations/conflicts around you. One thing I see all the time is "the Bystander Effect." We need to start building a community/culture against it, and instilling that in students. #SafeSchools
A4. I think the biggest challenges are 1.) spotting subtle bullying or exclusion and 2.) figuring out how to approach the situation without further isolating or embarrassing the affected student (because even our intervention-while necessary-has a social effect on the student in the future too).
I couldn't agree with this more, especially if it becomes a repeated behavior. I've had students who struggle with with SEL and sometimes need to be de-escalated before we even begin a lesson. After a certain point, I started planning that de-escalation time into that period's lesson plan.
A3. We have core values like "Straight Talk" and "One Team" accountability that extend to students. Our deans are phenomenal at handling students, mediating restorative conversations then reintegrating the students back into the classroom quickly. While not perfect, it is proactive. #TeacherEd
A2. Many joy events in our school that ensure parents, students, and teachers all stay connected academically and socially. Helps create a warm & safe environment. In the classroom, I lean on validation. No student contribution is unimportant. Acknowledge, redirect (if necessary) but never belittle.
A1. Ways to ensure a secure classroom environment is to have clearly established systems, routines, and expectations posted and modeled at all times. Seating: create "flow" with open pathways to progress monitor. SEL: root everything in accountability, even yourself. #SafeSchools
We live in a reality where this exists and it isn't going anywhere. I would actually argue its more important for us as teachers to be on the front lines learning to use it properly, help create the guidelines, and teach them to the next generation. Tech companies should involve us in this roll out.
I couldn't agree with this more. My whole thing about AI is (and this is going to be cringe): we already have models of how it could work in Halo (with MC & Cortana) or Mass Effect (Omni-Tools & VI). There is real potential for a compatible partnership that boosts both our productivity & intellect.
I asked lol. I brought them the suggestion of GoGuardian because we have many students who try to multi-task by playing games while they work on "hidden" tabs. We have a "straight talk" & "open doors" policy in our school that encourages us to challenge or give new ideas to our admin (within reason)
A5. As long as a family has done the work to connect to our school platform, digital suites like Clever & ParentSquare make parent-teacher contact easy. That being said, our school often uses Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and email to inform parents of events and important information. #EdTech
A4. A benefit is the immediate, actionable feedback we can get on student performance and easy access to the resources we need to target it. A challenge is to balance an overdependence on tools to accomplish our tasks (i.e. calculators for simple math, using AI to write & research for us). #EdTech
Outside school, I use reddit to connect with math teachers and steal their awesome ideas. This program was also integral in establishing a community of professional learners. Finally, digital tools (like AI) can also be useful as virtual assistants--as long as they're not doing the thinking for us.
A3. In school, our district holds grade team huddles every morning from 7:40 to 8:00 am. We use this time to check in on students of concern and upcoming deliverables. We also have frequent PDs, common preps for content teams, and now a data-analysis prep block (starting next year). #TeacherEd.
A2. Access & overload. Not every student has access to tech at home. Some are still not fluent in its proper classroom use. And by overload, I mean that we need to have tighter controls on what students can access from tech--including AI. We have to teach them digital responsibility and literacy.
A1. I use technology in two ways in my classroom. First, I use I-Ready and MAP data to intentionally group students and target their lagging skills but I also use those same tools (as well as IXL) to generate resources for those small groups in 5th and 6th Grade math responsive blocks. #TeacherEd
While I am a big proponent of the growth mindset in myself and my students, I do not think it is a cure-all for the education system or the learning process. It is an excellent cognitive framework to build comfort and making and correcting errors to increase independence and access to learning.
A5. Use the correct phrases and verbiage in the classroom. Celebrate their growth and praise their creativity in solving problems. If they use a classroom resource well, tell everyone--it might even get a few more students to use the resource and be successful too. #GrowthMindset
