Emotions and relating to other humans is reflected in a subtle way on this week's top education tweets. Teachers are telling kids and each other that they matter. Teachers are talking about making their own music in their classroom. Thanksgiving-themed lesson plans are being shared while many educators gear up for Hour of Code in December (may the force and Minecraft be with you). Meanwhile, I'm upgrading my Makerspace and ditching my old projector and Interactive White Board.
I've got my 10 year blog-a-versary coming up the first week of December. Wow! So, this week, I'm thankful for you. This Thanksgiving week ten years a go, I was reading and re-reading David Warlick‘s book on blogging. You all teach me so much.
Do kids know they are special? Do they know they matter? Do you know your impact as a teacher if you stop to tell them that they do? Please take time this season to celebrate the strengths in the kids you teach. You matter, teacher. You make a difference. Please get out there and share that message with the kids you teach. Speak it. Tell it. Write it. Show it!
Top 10 Education Tweets of the Week: week ending November 21, 2015
1. You Matter is spreading
Yes #choose2matter and #youmatter are such important words for kids! @AngelaMaiers https://t.co/8r5MxHJrTJ
— Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) November 19, 2015
2. Top Blog Posts for Teachers
Top Blog Posts for Teachers Thisย Week https://t.co/SD7DDodhAJ pic.twitter.com/yzl3xUvR0S
— Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) November 15, 2015
3. Sylvia Duckworth Adds a Sketchnote to “Why to Keep Going Even When It's Hard”
The awful happenings in France had many people sharing and clicking on this post. In an effort to encourage more people, Sylvia Duckworth sketchnoted the quotes that spoke to her. Please make your music, teachers!
Sketchnote by @sylviaduckworth for Why Teachers Need to Keep Going Even When It's Hard https://t.co/BjwkbUlwZD pic.twitter.com/bWKYAhjWd5
— Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) November 18, 2015
4. Hour of Code includes Minecraft-inspired programming!
Minecraft and Star Wars themed programming is part of Hour of Code this year.
YES! Kids can program MINECRAFT for hour of code– Minecraft meets Hour of Code https://t.co/N9LolbAvMy #stem
— Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) November 16, 2015
5. 5 Ways to Teach Gratitude in Your Classroom was Updated this week
This popular post needed an update. You can teach gratitude.
5 Ways to Teach Gratitude in your Classroom https://t.co/rAnn1Y8JFo
— Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) November 15, 2015
6. Nancy White talks openly about students as curators
In this show, Nancy White discusses something intriguing: the use of an “army of retired educators” to comment on student work. I'm curious how we could use such a method more often. She also talks about a project that didn't work as well. The difference? Audience. When you're blogging or doing work online, the first 10 days are vitally important as students should engage with audience. Nancy's open reflection has reinforced what many of us have seen.
NEW! Project-Based Learning: Teaching Students to Be Great Curators https://t.co/wmimUv8qVY with @NancyW #edchat
— Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) November 20, 2015
7. My Makerspace gets and Upgrade with an inFocus JTouch! Cool!
My husband is an engineer and put this together for me! We are drawing on it, working on it, an doing incredible work together! I got questions and people clicked to look closer!
Installing my Infocus touch screen Jboard soooooo pumped #makerspace in my classroom just got more awesome! pic.twitter.com/DD3f6gfCjE
— Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) November 16, 2015
8. So many of us are jealous of this amazing classroom!
Jennifer Gonzalez, Cult of Pedagogy, found this incredible classroom. Lots of us are wishing and hoping for classrooms that look and feel more like this one.
AWESOME find @cultofpedagogy ! Classroom Eye Candy: A Flexible-Seating Paradise https://t.co/1HIX6lFqG5 pic.twitter.com/F4O6CfaODH
— Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) November 20, 2015
9. Many of us are thankful to be on Thanksgiving break!
Friday afternoon, lots of us were breathing a sigh of relief. While some US teachers still have two more days next week.
Very glad to be on thanksgiving break. No words, just thankfulness. Tiring week. How about you?
— Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) November 20, 2015
10. Top Education Tweets of the Week for Last Week
Tweeting and non-tweeting educators are telling me they're enjoying the top tweets based on Twitter analytics. As I often say in these updates, “clickthroughs” matter. Some of these have hundreds of people cicking on them. You can't necessarily tell by retweets what engages educators!
I challenge you to take the time to set up your Twitter analytics and look at the last month, three months or even year. If you don't know how to embed tweets or anything else, ask in the comments and I'll get some instructions up here.
NEW! Top Education Tweets of the Week https://t.co/oFcSiLHypQ
— Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) November 15, 2015
[callout]Happy Thanksgiving! I'm so thankful that you take the time to share and learn online. I appreciate those of you who take time to read my blog. As I help feed 50 something people this week, I'll be thinking of so many of you taking time with your families this week. Savor the moment, put down your cell phone, and enjoy the laughter and smiles. There will always be a new gadget but each family member is unique and precious. Be thankful for what matters. People matter most. [/callout]
Never miss an episode
Get the 10-minute Teacher Show delivered to your inbox.
Thank you for subscribing to the 10 Minute Teacher! Now, check your email and confirm to get this podcast delivered to you every weekday. Check out our past episodes at www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast