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

We covered wildfires as a natural disaster before I left, too! I'm hoping the kids remembered some of what we talked about as they watched the coverage. #sunchat

010

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.

media.tenor.com

a person is riding a merry go round at a playground

Alt: a person is riding a merry go round at a playground

011

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

100

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

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

010

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

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

010

Susan Kotch @susankotch.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Love it, Carla! And kitty looks like she loves it too! Have a great break!

000

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

110

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

I'm feeling good, there are still lots of things I can't do yet, but getting stronger each day. #sunchat

110

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?

media.tenor.com

an elderly woman is using a walker to get around .

Alt: an elderly woman is using a walker to get around .

120

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!

100

Reposted by Susan Kotch

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.

1125

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!

110

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

010

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-...

131

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

When I see kids struggling to write full, complete sentences in a gen-ed class in 6th grade, and kids who are paragraphing, writing dialogue, full stories and full character development in the same gen-ed class, I have to wonder if the former should have been given more time to develop. #sunchat

010

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

Since our focus is writing this year, we differentiate in many ways. Students who need more assistance are given tools to help them, such as organizers, articles for citing (insteading of finding them on their own), and maybe even less paragraphs. Focus is on structure, not quantity. #sunchat

250

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

Totally agree with you on this, Carla! #sunchat

020

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

... but we dropped the ball on that. For instance, those kids we kept pushing forward due to social promotion instead of allowing them to re-do a grade because they didn't gain the foundation - bad move. This would remove the stigma of "staying back". Take the class you need to succeed. #sunchat

230

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

120

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

We are pushing 30+ kids in an ICR class, mix of special ed and gen ed, and it can get bogged down with all of the differentiating, grouping, etc. Teaching today is not easy, mostly due to the parameters put on the teachers due to funding. Not sure where this is going. #sunchat

120

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

You know my thoughts on this from twitter chats - we need to abolish "grade levels" and let the kids group naturally by ability, regardless of age. If they are in a lower grade, but are excelling, they should be moved forward. Removing the "grade" would allow this to happen. No barrier. #sunchat

120

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

I find that any more than 2 working together, and one of them is just sitting back and along for the ride. They don't quite know (or care to try) how to all contribute, and not all kids have the same work ethic or buy-in to the activity. Especially when for a grade. #sunchat

020

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

220

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

030

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

@mrspazltms.bsky.social So you know what I mean, and the noise of that walker on the tile floor wakes the whole house up! LOL. #sunchat

120

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

Me too, Carla! I'm used to being mobile. And daytime TV sucks! I've been crocheting and reading and taking laps in the kitchen and living room. #sunchat

media.tenor.com

an elderly woman is using a walker to get around .

Alt: an elderly woman is using a walker to get around .

140

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

Yes, I was up and sitting in a chair in a few hours. Using a walker now and getting around okay, but I'm not a back sleeper so my nights aren't restful. Hoping each day I'll get more mobile and find my sweet spot for sleeping once again. No pain, just tired. #sunchat

130

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

Hi Alison! Yes, this PA and NJ weather is depressing! Here at the shore, it's misty and foggy. The foghorns were going all last night from the Army Corps of Engineers beach replenish boats that are working in Ortley Beach, Seaside and Lavallette this week. We want sun! #sunchat

010

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

media.tenor.com

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

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

230

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!

052

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!

000

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

This will be next week's topic, Melissa! #sunchat

110

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

010

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

100

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

230

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

media.tenor.com

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

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

220

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

120

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

120

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

But better they learn now how to handle tools like glue guns before they get to the big stuff! That's how they learn. If we don't expose them, they don't learn. #sunchat

110

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

220

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

110

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

media.tenor.com

a man with a beard is sanding a piece of wood on a table

Alt: a man with a beard is sanding a piece of wood on a table

230

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

220

Reposted by Susan Kotch

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

131