I recently moderated the #KidsDeserveIt chat (September 12th), and if you have never participated in a chat that I’ve led, then let me explain my process. As a big fan of the Marvel Comics (now coming to life on the big screen), I pick the most recent one that I haven’t used in a chat at that time, create questions and theme for the chat based around quotes from the movie, and tie all of it into a big educational bow. The chat was so full of amazing resources, that I thought it would be great to feature the first question and its responses here for my weekly post. The question was a popular one among educators on Twitter this week, and it is definitely an important one for use to consider daily. If you missed it, it’s not too late to check things out. Just follow the hashtag on Twitter, make sure you select Latest, and then scroll down until you hit Wednesday’s chat questions and answers. Another way is to use Tweetdeck and use the columns to search #KidsDeserveIt Q1, #KidsDeserveIt A1, and so forth. If you just want to hit the highlights, then here we go with question one and some responses!
A1: Sometimes we tend to make things overly difficult or competitive, for whatever reason. But if we can help other Ts get better, why wouldn’t we? If we can get help from other Ts to be better, why wouldn’t we? Show vulnerability. Show caring. Build bridges. #KidsDeserveIt pic.twitter.com/RLgz51awXt
— Lᴀᴜʀᴀ Sᴛᴇɪɴʙʀɪɴᴋ (@SteinbrinkLaura) September 13, 2018
The following are just some of the many amazing answers given for question one of the #KidsDeserveIt chat:
A1 – First thing – EGO. Get rid of any ego you have and you’ll be able to connect and collaborate bigger, better and faster with your colleagues. It’s not about us, it’s about the kids! #KidsDeserveIt
— Adam Welcome (@mradamwelcome) September 13, 2018
Show our vulnerability! I got my team to start communicating (first step of collaborating) by sharing a lesson that I totally flopped on.
— Samara Spielberg (@sspielb) September 13, 2018
By admitting we’re not perfect we set each other up to be able to learn from each other in an equal setting pic.twitter.com/UfrfzyVc5N
— Carrie Nethery (@CarrieNethery) September 13, 2018
Q1A: must demonstrate caring to build rapport. Regular conversation around classes and students definitely but you have to be willing to talk about what goes on after the bell and build a working friendship for a truly positive collaboration. #KidsDeserveIt #LeadLAP
— Carrie Nethery (@CarrieNethery) September 13, 2018
A1 Be real. Don’t be perfect; show that I make mistakes. Reach across the divide and talk with others. Invite them to join in the work I’m doing – or compliment the work they’re talking and connect to it in real ways. #KidsDeserveIt
— Jennifer M Barnes (@JennMBarnes) September 13, 2018
A1 So many ways to connect now, Voxer #4OCFPLN Twitter, using tools like Slack or Padlet to communicate and share ideas, we have to keep building PLN and also share our stories and opps with others #kidsdeserveit
— Rachelle Dene Poth (@Rdene915) September 13, 2018
A1: We have to get over the comparisons, the competition, the isolation. We can learn from each other. We can teach each other. When we do better, the people around us are better because of it! #KidsDeserveIt
— Michele Kelly (@michelelkelly) September 13, 2018
A1 Listen, seek first to understand and then move forward collaboratively. In education, we should have the same end goal, what is best for kids! #kidsdeserveit
— Bryan Campbell (@bcampbell70) September 13, 2018
A1 It is important to reach out & create the bridges to allow for some collaboration to happen. You can’t sit back & expect things to happen. Approach with positivity, enthusiasm, authenticity & vulnerability. It is important to find friends to build experiences. #KidsDeserveIt https://t.co/IQmveZn5S5
— Roman Nowak (@NowakRo) September 13, 2018
A1: Be positive, accepting, and willing to share. Remember that everyone has their own way of doing things, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still be one if their cheerleaders. #KidsDeserveIt https://t.co/fL6yHgc4wq
— Ciji Thurman (@ciji_thurman) September 13, 2018
A1 Always Listen first. This is vital in getting to know the staff as people and educators. And use what you learn from them to make your class better, then tell them. We can always listen better.#KidsDeserveIt https://t.co/4ghdcbvSqO
— Alana Stanton (@StantonAlana) September 13, 2018
A1: Share our stories–Twitter, Voxer, blog, book studies, faculty meetings. Share, share, share! #KidsDeserveIt pic.twitter.com/dBcMoqvMzh
— Kris Jenkins (@PreK33) September 13, 2018
A1 – Put yourself out there. Not every person will take the lead. The vast majority of teachers want to improve. Provide support and practical ideas. Avoid telling people what to do, but encourage teamwork. #kidsdeserveit
— craig shapiro (@Shapiro_WTHS) September 13, 2018
A1: Bridges are formed with colleagues in and out of our district through: Twitter Chats, Off Campus PDs, book clubs, and EdCamps. Collaboration and transparency is the key. We need to share our ideas with each other! #KidsDeserveIt
— Steven Helmick (@stevenhelmick) September 13, 2018
A1: One of the best ways to enhance collaboration with colleagues inside/outside corporation is to just share images/videos of learning, it’s not what is the best, but what helps us to all grow #kidsdeserveit https://t.co/wQeJTNDksN
— andrew kauffman (@atkauffman) September 13, 2018
A1: Collaboration is so important. Assume positive intent, seek out conversation, and surround yourself with people smarter than you, and are better teachers than you. #kidsdeserveit
— Kaitie S. Smith (@misskaitiesmith) September 13, 2018
A1: Listening, inquiring about their family, show empathy. Truly care about them and not just what they can do as an educator. #KidsDeserveIt
— Megan Chriss (@megan_chriss) September 13, 2018
A1) great question and I’m working hard at removing barriers. I wish everyone could check their ego at the door and if they teach 30 years never teach the same year 30 times and get rid of “that’s how we always do it” mindset 👊🏻 #KidsDeserveIt
— Meghan Sheridan (@MeghanASheridan) September 13, 2018
So as I go about my week, this week and every week going forward, I will look for ways that I personally can build bridges with my staff (and students) instead of throwing up barriers. It is definitely something that we can’t just do once and call it done. We are humans, so this is an ongoing struggle. Join me. Build bridges with colleagues, parents, students, administrators. Once we get one bridge built, let’s study our surroundings and decide where the next one should go. My plan is to start with where I see the greatest need and go from there. Sometimes I believe there’s already a bridge between myself and a colleague or student, only to find out that it was a barrier instead. I will now be ever vigilant, watching for opportunities to knock down barriers and put up a bridge. Our relationships with other staff members does affect our students. Our ability to work with others, to learn, grow, and do is largely dependent upon our bridge building skills. Been a while since you picked up a metaphorical hammer? Now’s the time. Grab the hammer and any other tool you need to destroy the barriers and build those bridges because #KidsDeserveIt.
#RocknTheBoat 