Thanks and Happy New Year! Miss the #aplitchat days of breaking down a poem on a Sunday night @susangbarber.bsky.social @briansztabnik.bsky.social @jorikrulder.bsky.social

Gearing Up for the AP English Exam: Key Considerations for Second Semester Success Essential tips for AP English teachers to ensure second semester success, focusing on skill reinforcement, exam prep, and fostering a love for reading and writing.

A new-ish blog post for AP English teachers (and really any teachers with exams and/or state assessments to think about) #aplit #aplang #aplitchat #aplangchat

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FREE Webinar this Thursday. Focusing on MCQ prep without purely test prep.
REGISTER AT: shorturl.at/WxVt6
#aplit #aplang #aplitchat #aplangchat #Engchat #elachat

Free Webinar: register & still get recording & materials if u can’t come.
Having been inspired by native teachers I have met in my work, I’m excited to do this session with the talented poet and teacher Ms. Asani Winfrey-Charles #aplit #aplitchat #ela #elachat #nasai #literature

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A3: (I am bad at numbering) And of course, there are times when direct instruction is necessary. But it's one tool in the arsenal. #aplitchat

A5: Things that provide hope: Reading Northanger Abbey with my students and they actually got it and mostly enjoyed it. Publishing an anthology of their poems. Listening to their discussions of Hanif Abdurraqib's poems. Reading their poetry blogs. Teaching with people I respect. and #aplitchat too!

I DO provide direct instruction -- a lot of it -- but not in the way the author thinks it should be. (My lectures are short videos, and then I work with kids one-on-one or small group to help reorient and answer questions.) "Direct instruction" to the whole room isn't direct at all. #aplitchat

A5: Despite the frustrations, I still see kids getting caught up in the ideas and the joy of working with the language. I love setting up projects where they work on a question in small groups, because they express themselves with more bravery and the discussions are delicious. #aplitchat

A5: There are so many resources to help teachers! Technology has made it easier than ever to connect and share. It can be overwhelming to sort through and figure out your own teacher voice, but if you want to improve, there are many people leaving breadcrumbs along successful paths. #aplitchat

If you ever feel like chatting about it, or anything else, you know where to find me :) #aplitchat

And if a student is taking multiple AP classes or dual enrollment classes, how much gets piled on them in total? Our kids have 7 classes a day. My own kid is taking 4 AP classes. We have worked out strategies to cope but it helps that Mom is a teacher. ;) #aplitchat

A5 while many teachers are using less DI, the increase in projects and group work has increased student engagement and participation. Students are learning from each other. #aplitchat

a dog is on a sled that says petcollective ALT: a dog is on a sled that says petcollective

So good to end my break chatting with you thoughtful and passionate educators! Thank you @briansztabnik.bsky.social for giving me the opportunity and I wish you all a smooth ride to the winter break #aplitchat

...this is most especially true for our kids with extra challenges (ELLs, ESE). Being able to work where they can get support and direction is a benefit. I spend a lot of time building a classroom where students can work in the ways that work best for them, but it's a balancing act! #aplitchat

In our case they turned it into a checklist with boxes to fill in. I’d love to do it right. #aplitchat

A5: we have a department that is working together to help learners do well with the curriculum we have designed for them, but with them in mind. This is the first year in many that it feels like a cohesive team working together. #aplitchat

PDSA is a part of the process, but there's more to it than that. The reason it often fails is that leaders, in a hurry to see results, often oversimplify and accelerate the process, short-circuiting the parts where teacher and other stakeholders' voices are brought in #aplitchat

A4 (I meant A4 before, ugh!) cont'd: Memorization... Good lord. I am 53 and remember having to memorize like TWO things in school. What is this, Little House on the Prairie? Will say I've gotten much better results with kids designing their own choral readings. (2/2) #aplitchat

A1. Projects are a valuable way to learn if they're designed appropriately. Homework has to compete with the increase in student work hours, athletics, etc. (and parents who want less homework). (1/2) #aplitchat

So true. Direct instruction has its place, especially for teaching introductory information about a topic, but research has also shown that students need different methods for learning critical thinking skills. #aplitchat

A4: having watched my own kids grow up through the system I see how teacher expectations varied from person to person, year to year and that is really difficult for some students. I think moving to more classroom based work and projects could help all students be more successful #aplitchat

Q5. This article provided negative generalizations that overlooked the work that great teachers are doing each day. Change the narrative and provide something specific that gives you hope.
#aplitchat

PDSA is a big push in our district right now. But like most top down initiatives it is mess. I've been at schools where it has worked though. #aplitchat

Improvement Science Handbook Empowering NYC educators to make progress on critical issues that stand in the way of student success.

Here's a pretty useful #improvementscience tool I learned about in a grant group I'm a part of: nycdoeishandbook.org
This process has seriously transformed the way we approach initiatives and any attempted change at our school. #aplitchat

LAst question coming in 5 minutes. Y'all have been great and I miss this dearly. #aplitchat

A4: PBL and less homework can enhance critical thinking, creativity, and engagement. The key is aligning teaching methods with desired skill outcomes for students. Which methods work best for the task that day? #aplitchat

A4. Projects can create self directed learning environments in which students fulfill their natural curiosity that can be squelched by direct instruction.
If students are engaged during class (45-60 minutes), how much more of their time should we expect to own outside of school?
#aplitchat

We (a group of teachers at my school) have been using #ImprovementScience to dig into the problems and so far, we've been able to eliminate most cell phone use in the classroom and we're now working on student focus. #aplitchat

Same. I had to come up with an extra assignment due tomorrow to allow one more chance at a learning target because three parents sent hot emails about my unfairness. I feel you! #aplitchat

My apologies #aplitchat friends, there seems to be a bit of a lag in my feed tonight.