All Star Edition of #oklaed #studentsask Chat

Here are my favorite responses to tonight’s chat questions, all in Twitter form. Since I had the chance to sit with three high school seniors while co-moderating the chat, their reactions are a factor in my choices. Drew Price, I think you were the fan favorite at my table at Starbucks.

Q1 How can schools balance the need for increased security measures with having a welcome climate for students and parents?

A1) Be transparent to students & parents about need for increased security measures #OklaEd

— Nathalie M Henderson, PhD (@DrNHenderson) October 26, 2015

A1) All #cpsreds sites are working on "curb appeal" Planting flowers, fixing sidewalks, trimming trees etc #oklaed

— Kevin Hime (@kevin_hime) October 26, 2015

A2: Maybe more of a college approach to class schedules is in order for high school? or at least 11th and 12th grade? #oklaed

— Drew Price (@drewprice11) October 26, 2015

Q2 What has your school or district done to make high school schedules align with research on teenage sleep patterns?

https://twitter.com/Teenservant/status/658450652759089152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/jlreed2011/status/658450736997494784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Q3 What should schools do to help students use technology more effectively and responsibly?

https://twitter.com/Teenservant/status/658452063500697601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

A3) Quit banning it from classrooms.Do you leave your phone/iPad behind when you go to staff meetings or PD? Use class for teaching. #OklaEd

— ChrisParadise (@ChrisParadise) October 26, 2015

https://twitter.com/MrsDSings/status/658453208289816577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Q4 How can schools give students more academic choices and autonomy?

A4: Allow more things to be student led. I posed a ? and a Ss gave such a brilliant answer that I let him come teach it. #oklaed

— Kimberly Blodgett (@Cabal_Educator) October 26, 2015

https://twitter.com/valariefarrow/status/658453389999800320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Q4b How can schools make electives as important as core classes?

https://twitter.com/valariefarrow/status/658453588059017216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/MrsDSings/status/658454239572725760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

A4B: @Teenservant, alot of electives ARE core classes, and we need to give them core status at our schools. #oklaed #music #arts #languages

— Kathy Dunn (@KathySDunn) October 26, 2015

Q5 Should high schools students be asked to select a major or area of academic emphasis?

@middelsupt A5 HS students should be allowed to follow their passions. To find their passions. Major in an academic area? Nah #oklaed.

— Claudia Swisher NBCT re-renewed. (@ClaudiaSwisher) October 26, 2015

A5 No, but schools should offer lots of courses to cultivate curious and creative students. #oklaed #alliteration

— Jason Stephenson (@teacherman82) October 26, 2015

A5: Allow Ss to follow their passions. But they only get one HS experience. Explore it all! #oklaed

— Meghan Loyd (@meghanloyd) October 26, 2015

Q6 What can we do to make teachers feel less rushed and less focused on testing?

A6 — It's a leap of faith…know the testing does not define our kids or our schools. Teaching and learning should. Takes courage. #oklaed

— Claudia Swisher NBCT re-renewed. (@ClaudiaSwisher) October 26, 2015

https://twitter.com/Teenservant/status/658456552953679872

https://twitter.com/_Patel18/status/658456674789949440

Q7 How can schools help students with testing anxiety?

A7: Students-you are not a piece of data. You have a heart, soul, and dreams. You are way more than a test. #oklaed

— Meghan Loyd (@meghanloyd) October 26, 2015

Q7 The same way a good coach does the same for players: normalize mistakes – and use assess to provide feedback not to rank and sort #oklaed

— Drew Price (@drewprice11) October 26, 2015

A7: Don't have school assemblies about state-mandated tests. #oklaed

— Jason Stephenson (@teacherman82) October 26, 2015

Q8 How can schools hold teachers and coaches accountable for the balance between homework, activities, and life in general?

A8) Homework is overrated! Progress monitor in class & minimize excess busy work! #oklaed

— Angela Wages (@awages1) October 26, 2015

Maybe if we didn't spend so much $ on testing, we could hire more teachers and lower class size, which gives more instruction time. #oklaed

— Jeanie Moore (@MrsMooreEnglish) October 26, 2015

A8) Great question As a former coach We sometimes forgot that we were doing may not have been the center of the universe #oklaed

— Kevin Hime (@kevin_hime) October 26, 2015

https://twitter.com/AmyBBednarz/status/658459184124424192

Q9 Should all students have a career path chosen by the end of high school?  

A9 No. HS should be a chance to explore options, but it should not be forced. #OklaEd

— Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed. 📚 📝 (@watersenglish) October 26, 2015

A9: Seriously, I can retire in 2 years and I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up! Too many possibilities! #oklaed

— Susan Stansberry (@susanstansberry) October 26, 2015

Q9b What should schools do to help students explore careers?  

A9b: I always thought that HS should do more college tours, more career days, more catering to the college preparedness. #oklaed

— Kimberly Blodgett (@Cabal_Educator) October 26, 2015

https://twitter.com/MarkofficerBA/status/658461506514763776

Q10 Should schools limit the number of AP classes students take at any one time? Why or why not?

@davjsav A10 I encourage kids to take AP classes in fields for which they have a passion. Not just take 'em 'cause they're AP. #oklaed 1/2

— Claudia Swisher NBCT re-renewed. (@ClaudiaSwisher) October 26, 2015

10A ask the students what they want, not what their parents want. The kids are taking the classes not the parents #oklaed

— David Savage (@davjsav) October 26, 2015

A10) It has happened on occasion where a student bit off more than they could chew…but….this idea intrigues me…. #oklaed

— Scott Haselwood, PhD (@TeachFromHere) October 26, 2015

If you want to review the entire chat, it’s up on Storify. Thanks to all who participated!