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They're all unique-celebrate growth!

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LISTEN! And teach them how to have a conversation!

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Listen to my interview with Jeff Frieden (transcript):
Sponsored by Peergrade and Microsoft Teams for Education

In our dreamiest of teacher dreams, some of us might imagine days when our students spontaneously erupt into complex, nuanced conversations about the things they're learning in our classes. If we borrow the language of the Common Core, they would "engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade-level topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly."

Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? And maybe the "teacher-led" kind is possible, because we could structure and guide it, but that doesn't give students much ownership of their learning. In groups? That might be a bit harder to accomplish. And one-on-one? Well, how do you even manage that?

Jeff Frieden, a high school English teacher in southern California, wondered the same thing. Wanting a less teacher-centered class, he was looking for ways to get students talking to each other about the content. He'd tried all kinds of techniques- think-pair-share, appointment clocks, groups of four-but none of them gave him the results he was looking for.

When he tried to get the whole class talking in mixer-style activities, they would "poke holes in those systems," he said. "They just kind of work their way around it to end up talking to their friends, and it becomes more social than content-centered interaction." Meanwhile, he also discovered that many of his students, who had gone to school together for years, didn't know each other's names.

Then one morning, just a few minutes before class started, he came up with something new on the fly: A simple system for getting every student in the room to talk with every other student, a way of tracking conversations over time so that students had a reason to reach out to people they never interacted with, and have more meaningful, content-based discussions with each other. Since he started using this method, Jeff says his classroom just feels different. Students are taking more academic risks, diving deeper into the content, and actually getting to know each other.

The Strategy

Here is the Ongoing Conversations system Frieden uses to get his students talking:

Each student is given a conversation tracker, a chart where they keep track of the conversations they've had with other students in the class.

Students are to have conversations with a minimum number of other students (set by the teacher-about 75 percent of the class) over a predetermined period of time (say, 2 to 3 weeks). These conversations can be structured, based on topic prompts supplied by the teacher.

On their tracker, students record the name of the person they talked to, the date of their conversation, and a one-line summary of what they talked about.

Once a pair of students has had a conversation, they may not return to each other until after they have reached the minimum number of unique conversations set by the teacher.

The image below shows one version of a conversation tracker, where Frieden's students were discussing a novel they'd read.

Currently, Frieden scaffolds the conversations by supplying topics for each round of conversation; students are not left to come up with ideas on their own. He projects these topics one at a time on Google Slides: "It might be something as simple as, Explain one thing that really confused you from the chapter to your partner. " Sometimes he'll recycle a topic by having students switch partners, then summarize the conversation they just had with their last partner.

The Benefits

On the first day Frieden tried Ongoing Conversations, "It went surprisingly well," he says. "I was actually shocked by how well it was going. And it was more content-centered talking, too; it wasn't just about their social lives. They were really responding to the prompts that I was giving them and talking about the book."

Now that he's using the strategy on a regular basis, he's found that it delivers several benefits:

More Students Engaged

Before switching to this method, Frieden believes far fewer students were actually participating in his class.

"For years, I was seeing what I wanted to see with student interactions," he says. Although his class discussions felt lively, "I might have like a third of my class really interacting." Moving to Ongoing Conversations gave more students an opportunity to really participate in discussions.

Simple, Actionable Formative Assessment

When he uses Ongoing Conversations, Frieden says, "My check for understanding is by walking around. The other day my sophomores were talking about Animal Farm, and I had asked a question about Clover, and there were way too many of them saying, 'Clover? Who's Clover? I don't know who Clover is.' And so I just went, 'Okay. Time out.' And then we talked about that character and her relevance in the story."

As a formative assessment method, Ongoing Conversations offers two advantages: It lets teachers take immediate action-like in the scenario above-and it gives them less work to take home. "I don't need to do exit tickets, I don't need to do quizzes," Frieden says, "I collect less work, but students do more."

Works with Other Strategies

This method can be blended with other discussion and instructional strategies. For example, if Frieden is having students do a philosophical chairs discussion, he might have them turn and talk with someone on their side of the room, then record that interaction on their conversation tracker.

Not Just for English Class

Ongoing Conversations is a strategy that can be used in any content area. Although Frieden initially structured these conversations around literature, he quickly realized they could be expanded beyond that. When he moved students into an inquiry-based research project, he continued using the conversation tracker, swapping out literature-based questions with prompts that centered on the research students were doing.

Grading and Assessment

Do these conversations get a grade? When Frieden first started using this system, he gave students a small amount of points for these conversations, and that would work in a points-based classroom. This year, however, he's been working toward a modified version of a gradeless classroom, where a student's course grade is determined by a conference in which the student must justify how well they've met the standards.

Frieden has found that knowing these conferences are coming is what generally keeps students motivated to give the Ongoing Conversations a good effort; they know Frieden is paying attention. "I'm watching," he says. "I'm going to hold you accountable to this, and eventually we're going to have a conversation. You're going to have to look me in the eye and say, 'This is what grade I deserve,' or 'Here, I can justify this grade.'"

Tips for Success

Don't "Free-Range" It

Frieden did not just hand students the charts and tell them to start talking: Even though they are in 12th grade, they needed a bit of structure for the strategy to be successful; younger students would need even more scaffolding. In addition to providing questions for discussion, talk with students ahead of time about behavior expectations, how to initiate conversations, how to ask follow-up questions, and even how to record the content on the tracker. You might even want to model a conversation fishbowl-style, with you as one of the participants, so students can see what a good quality conversation looks like ahead of time.

Frame the Discussion Through a Helping Lens

To relieve the anxiety students might feel about these conversations, Frieden launches the conversations by framing them through a lens of mutual support.

"I'm going to come clean that I'm a confused reader," he tells them. "Join the club. When I read something for the first time, it's always confusing, and I need help to understand it. So let's basically form this class-wide support group here for struggling readers, and as we go through this, let's talk about the things that are perplexing to us that we don't get, words we don't understand. Maybe we miss a detail that our partners or our friends figure out, so they can help us."

Setting this tone has helped student relax. "They kind of know, 'Oh, okay. We're just in here to kind of feel our way through this novel,'" Frieden says. "That's what I'm hoping."

The Value of Conversation

Giving students regular opportunities to engage in rich conversations is good for them in so many ways. "There's tremendous benefit in getting past some of the socially awkward stuff," Frieden points out. "And really just learning how to interact with another human being will actually enrich your academic life too."

Students are recognizing the benefits, too. "Even though they're struggling through the discomfort, they say that it's exposing them to ideas they wouldn't have considered had they just been asked to do it alone or respond on a worksheet," Frieden says. "I had one student who actually wrote a lengthy response saying, You know what? I don't know if I've changed my mind, but I just told myself, 'For the sake of this, I'm going to be open,' and it's actually changed the way I think about this issue. "

It was one of those rare moments when you know you're doing something right.

"My teacher nerd heart was singing that day." ♥

You can learn more from Jeff Frieden by following him on Twitter or visiting his website, Make them Master It, where he shares tons of great ideas and insights about teaching. You can read his original post about Ongoing Conversations here.

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Get Students Talking with Ongoing Conversations

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It's not just a fantasy: This simple system gets every student in your room to have rich conversations with every other student. About content. Really.

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See things from their point of view.

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All unique-embrace differences!

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Inspire change!

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Every kid needs a champion | Rita Pierson | TED

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Teach from the heart-remember purpose!

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How A Good Teacher Becomes Great The Characteristics Of A Highly Effective Learning Environment 25 Things Successful Teachers Do Differently How To Be A Mediocre Teacher What You Owe Your Students Ten Secrets To Surviving As A Teacher
contributed by Julie DuNeen, Sketch Note Via Janet Hamilton

If you ask a student what makes him or her successful in school, you probably won't hear about some fantastic new book or video lecture series. Most likely you will hear something like, "It was all Mr. Jones. He just never gave up on me."
25 Things Successful Teachers Do Differently 1. Successful teachers have clear objectives
What students take away from a successful education usually centers on a personal connection with a teacher who instilled passion and inspiration for their subject.
2. Successful teachers have a sense of purpose
It's difficult to measure success, and in the world of academia, educators are continually re-evaluating how to quantify learning-but the first and most important question to ask is: Are teachers reaching their students?
3. Successful teachers are able to live without immediate feedback
Here are 25 things successful educators do differently.
4. Successful teachers know when to listen to students and when to ignore them
How do you know if you are driving the right way when you are traveling somewhere new? You use the road signs and a map (although nowadays it might be Siri or a GPS). In the world of education, your objectives for your students act as road signs to your destination. Your plan is the map. Making a plan does not suggest a lack of creativity in your curriculum but rather, gives creativity a framework in which to flourish.
5. Successful teachers have a positive attitude
We can't all be blessed with 'epic' workdays all the time. Sometimes, life is just mundane and tedious. Teachers with a sense of purpose that are able to see the big picture can ride above the hard and boring days because their eye is on something further down the road.
6. Successful teachers expect their students to succeed
There is nothing worse than sweating over a lesson plan only to have your students walk out of class without so much as a smile or a, "Great job teach!" It's hard to give 100% and not see immediate results. Teachers who rely on that instant gratification will get burned out and disillusioned. Learning, relationships, and education are a messy endeavor, much like nurturing a garden. It takes time, and some dirt, to grow.
7. Successful teachers have a sense of humor
Right on the heels of the above tip is the concept of discernment with student feedback. A teacher who never listens to his/her students will ultimately fail. A teacher who always listens to his/her students will ultimately fail. It is no simple endeavor to know when to listen and adapt, and when to say, "No- we're going this way because I am the teacher and I see the long term picture."
8. Successful teachers use praise authentically
Negative energy zaps creativity and it makes a nice breeding ground for fear of failure. Good teachers have an upbeat mood, a sense of vitality and energy, and see past momentary setbacks to the end goal. Positivity breeds creativity.
9. Successful teachers know how to take risks
This concept is similar for parents as well. Students need someone to believe in them. They need a wiser and older person to put stock in their abilities. Set the bar high and then create an environment where it's okay to fail. This will motivate your students to keep trying until they reach the expectation you've set for them.
10. Successful teachers are consistent
Humor and wit make a lasting impression. It reduces stress and frustration and gives people a chance to look at their circumstances from another point of view. If you interviewed 1000 students about their favorite teacher, I'll bet 95% of them were hysterical.
11. Successful teachers are reflective
Students need encouragement but real encouragement. It does no good to praise their work when you know it is only 50% of what they are capable of. You don't want to create an environment where there is no praise or recognition; you want to create one where the praise that you offer is valuable BECAUSE you use it judiciously.
12. Successful teachers seek out mentors of their own
There is a wise saying that reads, "Those who go just a little bit too far are the ones who know just how far one can go." Risk-taking is a part of the successful formula. Your students need to see you try new things in the classroom and they will watch closely how you handle failure in your risk-taking. This is as important as what you are teaching.
13. Successful teachers communicate with parents
Consistency is not to be confused with "stuck." Consistency means that you do what you say you will do, you don't change your rules based on your mood, and your students can rely on you when they are in need. Teachers who are stuck in their outdated methods may boast consistency, when in fact it is cleverly-masked stubbornness.
14. Successful teachers enjoy their work
In order to avoid becoming the stuck and stubborn teacher, successful educators take time to reflect on their methods, their delivery, and the way they connect with their students. Reflection is necessary to uncover those weaknesses that can be strengthened with a bit of resolve and understanding.
15. Successful teachers adapt to student needs
Reflective teachers can easily get disheartened if they don't have someone a bit older and wiser offering support. You are never too old or wise for a mentor. Mentors can be that voice that says, "Yes your reflections are correct," or "No, you are off because...." and provide you with a different perspective.
16. Successful teachers welcome change in the classroom
Collaboration between parents and teachers is absolutely crucial to a student's success. Create an open path of communication so parents can come to you with concerns and you can do the same. When a teacher and parents present a united front, there is a lower chance that your student will fall through the cracks.
17. Successful teachers take time to explore new tools
It is easy to spot a teacher who loves their work. They seem to emanate contagious energy. Even if it on a subject like advanced calculus, the subject comes alive. If you don't love your work or your subject, it will come through in your teaching. Try to figure out why you feel so unmotivated and uninspired. It might have nothing to do with the subject, but your expectations. Adjust them a bit and you might find your love of teaching come flooding back.

Classrooms are like an ever-evolving dynamic organism. Depending on the day, the attendance roster, and the phase of the moon, you might have to change up your plans or your schedule to accommodate your students. As they grow and change, your methods might have to as well. If your goal is to promote a curriculum or method, it will feel like a personal insult when you have to modify it. Make connecting with your student your goal and you'll have no trouble changing it up as time moves on.

This relates to the above tip, but in a slightly different way. Have you ever been so bored with your house or your bedroom, only to rearrange it and have it feel like a new room? Change ignites the brain with excitement and adventure. Change your classroom to keep your students on their toes. Simple changes like rearranging desks and routines can breathe new life in the middle of a long year.
19. Successful teachers are comfortable with the unknown
With the advance of technology, there are fresh new resources and tools that can add great functionality to your classroom and curriculum. There is no doubt that the students you are teaching (far younger than you) probably already use technologies you haven't tapped into yet. Don't be afraid to push for technology in the classroom. It is often an underfunded area but in this current world and climate, your students will be growing up in a world where technology is everywhere. Give them a headstart and use technology in your classroom.
20. Successful teachers are not threatened by parent advocacy
18. Successful teachers give their students emotional suppor t
21. Successful teachers bring fun into the classroom
There are days when your students will need your emotional support more than a piece of information. Connecting to your students on an emotional level makes it more likely that they will listen to your counsel and take your advice to heart. Students need mentors as much as they need teachers.
22. Successful teachers teach holistically
It's difficult to teach in an environment where you don't know the future of your classroom budget, the involvement of your student's parents, or the outcome of all your hard work. On a more philosophical level, educators who teach the higher grades are tasked with teaching students principles that have a lot of unknowns (i.e. physics). How comfortable are you with not having all the answers? Good teachers are able to function without everything tied up neatly in a bow.
23. Successful teachers never stop learning
Unfortunately, parents and teachers are sometimes threatened by one another. A teacher who is insecure will see parent advocacy as a threat. While there are plenty of over-involved helicopter parents waiting to point out a teacher's mistakes, most parents just want what's best for their child. Successful educators are confident in their abilities and not threatened when parents want to get into the classroom and make their opinions known. Good teachers also know they don't have to follow what the parent recommends!
24. Successful teachers break out of the box
Don't be too serious. Some days, 'fun' should be the goal. When students feel and see your humanness, it builds a foundation of trust and respect. Fun and educational aren't mutually exclusive either. Using humor can make even the most mundane topic more interesting.
25. Successful teachers are masters of their subject
Learning does not happen in a vacuum. Depression, anxiety, and mental stress have a severe impact on the educational process. It's crucial that educators (and the educational model) take the whole person into account. You can have the funniest and most innovative lesson on algebra, but if your student has just been told his parents are getting a divorce, you will not reach him.
This is a cross-post from opencolleges.edu.au; image attribution Janet Hamilton from Anthony Wayne Schools; 30 Habits Of Highly Effective Teachers;
Good teachers find time in their schedules to learn themselves. Not only does it help bolster your knowledge in a certain subject matter, it also puts you in the position of a student. This gives you a perspective about the learning process that you can easily forget when you're always in teaching mode.

It may be a self-made box. "Oh I could never do that," you say to yourself. Perhaps you promised you'd never become the teacher who would let students grade each other (maybe you had a bad experience as a kid). Sometimes the biggest obstacle to growth is us. Have you built a box around your teaching methods? Good teachers know when it's time to break out of it.

Good teachers need to know their craft. In addition to the methodology of 'teaching,' you need to master your subject area. Learn, learn, and never stop learning. Successful educators stay curious.

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25 Things Successful Teachers Do Differently

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How A Good Teacher Becomes Great The Characteristics Of A Highly Effective Learning Environment 25 Things Successful Teachers Do Differently How To Be A Mediocre Teacher What You Owe Your Students Ten Secrets To Surviving As A Teacher contributed by Julie DuNeen, Sketch Note Via Janet Hamilton If you ask a student what makes him or her successful in school, you probably won't hear about some fantastic new book or video lecture series.