iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

No #sunchat today, folks. Hope you are all doing well! Enjoy your Sunday!

Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Oh well, Paz. Looks like you can get Will to the playground early this morning before those winds kick in! We can put #sunchat on the back burner for a few weeks and try to revive again in the future.

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a person is riding a merry go round at a playground

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Just me, Paz. Wow, that is some wild photo! We drove the parkway yesterday through the area and saw the smoldering areas and all the damage. So sad, but a miracle that no one was hurt or homes damaged. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Good morning, #sunchat! Anyone wishing to chat this morning?

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

We're trying this one again - hope to see you tomorrow morning on #sunchat! 9am eastern

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Looks like we are the only two chickens today, Paz! Should we call it and re-do after the holiday next week? #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Good morning, #sunchat chatters! I'm two-weeks post-op knee replacement, and hoping to graduate from a walker to cane later this week! How are you all doing today?

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an elderly woman is using a walker to get around .

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Happy Sunday! It's time for another #sunchat! We'll be going "old school" with those tried and true strategies, tips and tricks you just don't want to give up! See you at 9am eastern!

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Edutopia @edutopia.org · 12/04/2025

“Like many teachers, I sometimes notice my unease growing as I read a piece of student work. Word by word my suspicion builds, and then all at once I understand. This is an AI–generated text and not something my student actually wrote. Now what do I do?” Read more from @jen.litandtech.com 👇 #EduSky

edut.to

When Students Use AI in Ways They Shouldn’t

Here are some ways teachers can respond when students don’t follow classroom guidelines for using AI.

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Tomorrow is Sunday! That means it's time for another #sunchat! We'll be going "old school" with those tried and true strategies, tips and tricks you just don't want to give up! See you at 9am eastern!

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Great chat today! It's always so fun to learn from you all! See you next week! #sunchat

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Reposted by Susan Kotch

Carla Meyrink @carlameyrink.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

This is where self-paced learning journeys are incredibly helpfull. Ss who are able to work independently work on their own or in groups, freeing the teacher up to work with Ss who need extra help. In this blog post Ss talk about why they love it. #sunchat teachingexperiment.com/2022/04/how-...

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Totally agree with you on this, Carla! #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

...and Middle School which is comprised of grades 6,7,8 would be a great time to begin the practice of removing the "grade" and allowing kids to be placed in classes that would truly meet them where they are. I was hoping that Covid would have allowed for some changes... #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Let's talk about class make-up. Honors kids are together in class as they move at a different pace. Advanced or AP classes have higher level learning. The rest are clumped together with levels from A-Z. Should gen-ed classes be leveled as well by ability? Why or why not? #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Oh no! We were thrown a loop. They added in two snow days, and at the last minute added in a day off June 20 for Juneteenth! So we go half days June 18, June 19, off the 20th, then return for Monday and Tuesday half days. We get out June 24!!! So late! #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Good morning! Here I am, recovering from knee replacement surgery this week, getting ready to chat with my fine education friends here on Bluesky! #sunchat

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a man is squatting down in front of a building that says parking

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

See you shortly on #sunchat! We'll talk about the best way to group students in class. Do we mix up the levels? Do we keep like-levels together? What is today's thinking? See you at 9am eastern! We can't wait to hear your opinions!

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Tomorrow is Sunday, and that must mean it's time for #sunchat! We'll talk about the best way to group students in class. Do we mix up the levels? Do we keep like-levels together? What is today's thinking? See you at 9am eastern tomorrow!

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

I remember taking a "creative writing" class, and then a photography class in high school (dark room and all!) and I was hooked - ended up going to school for a journalism degree because I finally found a love for writing outside of essays and reading responses. It's all it takes! #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

They'd need more teachers. That costs money. Think about what time/effort it would take to set that up. We have such a wide range of learning styles and levels in one classroom - I can't imagine being able to differentiate in that way and be able to support all (high and low) effectively. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

This is what I was hoping would have come out of the COVID shut-down. Districts had the chance to re-imagine school, but nothing changed. It was an opportunity to change the way kids learn, and we flubbed it. I'd love to know what held back districts (the states?) from doing it. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

I saw on the news two women (certified teachers) left to open their own one-room schoolhouse. Kids spend the morning in regular subjects, and the afternoon working the farm, growing veggies, taking care of animals, building things... learning while doing. So cool! #sunchat

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a cartoon of a classroom with a bulletin board that says " eat healthy " on it

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

#truth! We need DOGE! lol - someone is making a lot of money on that standardized testing, and in curriculum.... Do districts still spend money on outside PD programs? That money should be kept in-district! Imagine what teachers could do with that! #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

@carlameyrink.bsky.social , who teaches the offered programs every 6 weeks? Your regular teachers? Or do you bring people in? #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

If they offered more choices, the few classes available wouldn't be so crowded. But then again, our core content classes are overcrowded.... it all comes down to money, which most districts don't have. Hmmm....Shouldn't we be doing this the right way? #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

I wonder what certs are needed to teach elective classes? Are their home ec, or woodworking certs that can be obtained? Or photography? Or do they fall under a liberal arts umbrella? What other electives should be brought back to schools? #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

When my son was in high school a decade ago, his high school, though small, still offered wood shop. He was able to use tools he never would have been exposed to. He enjoyed it, and gave him an outlet and also provided good mental health breaks for him. We all need that. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

We wonder why kids are becoming complacent learners... Maybe the approach needs to be changed. We want kids to be excited to come to school - shouldn't we offer classes that show kids HOW to apply their ELA and Math skills in real-life situations? In electives? #sunchat

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Jerry Blumengarten @cybraryman1.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Electives give students an opportunity to explore their interests, build career and life skills. Soft Skills page www.cybraryman.com/softskills.h... Career Ed www.cybraryman.com/careers.html 4C’s + cybraryman.com/4cs.html #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Look into what high-ranking education programs in other countries offer their students. People want to know why we've fallen? I believe it's because we've taken away the exposure that kids needs to become well-rounded young people with skills and interests and creativity. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

I worry that we are missing the boat on what students need to be successful. When I was in HS in the late 70s and early 80s, I had choices of so many elective classes - journalism, home economics, photography, auto shop, wood shop... 1/2 #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Good morning, #sunchat crew! Hope you are all well this morning! Bring back home economics! Looking forward to us solving the issue of how to get districts to invest $ in programs that teach the WHOLE student in our schools!

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Join us for our edu-chat this morning at 9am eastern on #sunchat! We'll be talking about electives - where have they gone? How do we get them back? What skills will be needed for the future? How important are electives for kids?

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Join us for our edu-chat tomorrow morning at 9am eastern on #sunchat! We'll be talking about electives - where have they gone? How do we get them back? What skills will be needed for the future? How important are electives for kids?

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

OK, gotta go, folks! Thank you for the chat this morning! So many great ideas in my head now, as usual after this chat. Have a wonderful week! #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

I'm laughing because you think you are going to have for this while on MATERNITY LEAVE, Paz! You sure that new baby is going to feel the same way about this? LOL #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Yes, our class sizes are way too big this year (and probably next as well) to do much more than we are doing. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

I truly believe this is maturity level, Melissa. They haven't been exposed to what it means to take on that role and organize themselves, especially coming from the elementary level. If you teach it to them, they will (if we can get them to care about their education!) take it on. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Working with ICR kids (my classroom is mixed gen ed and sped kids), there is a huge range of skills and emotional/social behavior. We expose all of the kids to each other by doing group/teamwork and presentations. They end up working well together and finding the strengths within the group. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Yes! I also see they have no patience for anything requiring thought or working towards a solution. In writing, they might write something, but they won't re-read their essay and edit it. It's written, done, handed in, only to find it lacks punctuation, capitalization, complete thoughts. #sunchat

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Mrs. Paz @mrspazltms.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

I agree. Feels like we are rowing upstream in the opposite direction. I know we're during the summer. I usually sit down and look into the curriculum that I taught from the previous year and it gives me a little time to really think, but during the school year there is no time. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Melissa, the term "negotiation" on that chart makes me think about many kids don't know how to work together to an agreeable solution. When they don't know how to negotiate, it usually results in one of them coming to my desk to "tell" on the other. "They won't do what I'm asking!" lol. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

I also think that parents of young kids spend less time hanging out at the playground and letting kids learn to make friends, play with those they don't know, understand that playground "heirarchy" of taking turns on equipment. Such a social experiment we live in! #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

I think kids today who didn't get early play time in kindergarten to learn those collaboration skills have a hard time working together in groups. My 6ths are those kids who missed kinder and 1st grade due to Covid. It's noticeable. Need to reteach a lot of those skills. #sunchat

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Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

We love giving small collaborative activities in class where kids work together in small teams of 2 and 3. It's interesting to watch one take the lead to get the task completed. Also interesting to see which one runs over the others. Great time to step in and explain "collaboration". #sunchat

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