Welcome everyone!!!

So excited to see everyone here!

hi from Saudi Arabia

Would love to hear where everyone is logging in from - location and what your role is in education :)

Hi AJ! Thanks for letting me know about this. :-)

Hi so excited to be here, Ontario Canada

Hi! From Bourbonnais IL

hello from Ottawa, Canada]

North Atlanta High School - Atlanta, GA

Greetings from Sanford, N. C. I am an AIG Specialist.

Good morning from California!

Halifax, VA - Halifax County Middle School

Excited to join from Toronto, Canada!

Good afternoon from Abu Dhabi :)

Hello This is Mrs. Plaisimond-Cruz from Orange NJ

I teach Middle School Language Arts and Humanities in an American school- Saudi Arabia

Cloudcroft, NM 9,000 feet above stress level

Good morning from Kingwood, Texas!

Good morning from Irving, Texas

Eastern NC....moving forward daily

Good morning!!!!

Hi Kimberly!

Seguin, TX Middle School GT Science teacher/dept. lead

Yes - everything will be shared!

Yes, slides and recordings will be shared with you in the live webinars, and everyone who registers will also get them!

D.E.A.R. :)

Such a great point…it’s just learning!

YAY! ADHD!

Mine is cooking!

Yes, Jaimarie and Andi, mine is cooking and using spices!

I try to implement in my media center as a Zero period before school b/c I haven't figured out how to get buy-in from teachers and Admins to give up ANY instructional time.

I’ve been baking…and learning how to take care of a baby! That is a HUGE Genius Hour project for me :)

Unfortunately, the culture of compliance is even seen in Grade 3

I love the “traveling via food” idea!

That's exciting, Ranada!

Sorry, Caroline! I was calling you by your surname! Oops!

IB program has a project in 10th grade called Middle Years Programme Personal Project where they do something they choose, and like you're saying, the kids are lost when they have choice

Please use #GHVS2020 if you are sharing your learning on Twitter!

Nick, I’m with you - that was hard to start.

I think the hardest part, though, is that the system is against it. Sometimes Genius Hour becomes an after thought. AJ has referred to it as Genius Curriculum. That's my goal!

Getting started was definitely hard!

And I think the ones who don't know are the ones who need it more than the 80-90% do.

I'm here to learn about it, because I'm an elementary/senior public (gr. K-8) library media specialist looking to increase use/buy-in of our library learning commons and its resources. I thought this might be something for a lunch-time activity that is more than just "playing Minecraft"

@Denise Krebs, that's the problem at my school too. Would love to explore "genius Curriculum."

My hardest in 7/ 8 gifted group is the follow through since I don’t see them everyday. They don’t see the value since it is not a core class.

Lori, I think it is so true of many of our schools.

Yes. Are you familiar with MYP and IB?

Just vaguely, Lori. I have never been in a school like this. My experiences have been much more traditional.

I so agree AJ. Kids are almost afraid of choice. They are so use to being told what to do and learn.

"I don't know, somebody Google it" is a normal thing in my library media center. :-)

We've conditioned them to understand that there is a right and a wrong answer. When we deal in ambiguity they sometimes panic and freeze. They are afraid that they will get it "wrong".

Sarah - that is exactly how I feel and what I see.

I like the idea of wonder walls in primary grades and exploring the wonders together to kick off Genius Hour/Passion Projects.

Yes, Joy. We did a big number project one time in KG based on the interests of some of our students. It became a whole group project.

What is the name of your mentor again?

Very curious and passionate at that 3-6 grade age. They seem to get more self conscious at middle school age. Making your class a safe place for ANY idea or passion helps.

Tina Seelig

@Nancy - Tina Selig (might not be spelling it right)

Someone asked about the hashtag for today. We are using #vghs2020 but please also use the hashtag #geniushour so that others can see it too!

@tseelig on Twitter

Absolutely, Gallit!

And check out the hashtag #geniushour on a regular basis…so many good things being shared!

That is awesome Mary!

Thank you Lori.

#geniushour is my FAVORITE hashtag. I learn so much from that family!

Thank you for calling it an emergency! People don't realize all that our teachers are doing in this time

Yes, Ashley! It is emergency learning!

What an opportunity we have right now to encourage those authentic connections!

My daughter is obsessed with weather. She's been able to attend "weather school" with a local meteorologist because of this situation. She's learning by choice. She's making weather charts and tracking data. None of this is related to school. Kids WANT to learn and WANT to know things

Very cool opportunity, Ashley!

Jennifer, I have had kids work on editing video during class….so they filmed the cooking at home and then put together a video or cooking show at school.

Jeanette, I love your question. I think this is a great time figure that out. We can definitely continue that conversation using the hashtag as we share how our learners are benefitting from the experience and making connections that can only be made as they explore their passions.

My 8 years old daughter loves to create miniature

AGREED!

tinyurl.com/ghlivebinder

that is the link to Joy’s live binder of resources!

http://tinyurl.com/GHlivebinder

Can you all list your twitter names?

@hughtheteacher follow him!!

#GHVS2020 and #geniushour

@mcnairan3

I just want my poor burnt out high school babies to find a love for learning again

what do you do with students who keep wanting to change topics?

Media specialists/librarians have maker spaces to help get ki8ds trying something new

This need to be accountable for every hour in the classroom inhibits many of us. Accountable mainly to ourselves. The need to have a definite answer to the question: So what have I done/achieved in the last hour?

That’s exactly what I was going to share! Different for everyone!

SO worth it!

Staying connected is so key!!! We all love twitter for this. Join the #geniushour chat on the first Thursday of each month too! Info on www.geniushour.org

Yes! Another tip: I wouldn’t start at the beginning of the school year. Get to know your kids first and establish community then get going…

I think most are all grade levels. Don will focus on secondary.

In the Q&A Ally asked about assessment. I focus on lots of formative assessment. We don’t grade GH, but give the kids feedback during the process. Lots of focus on self-assessment too.

GH rubric available on www.geniushour.org

Yes, Andi's is at ten.

Thank you! This has been awesome.

@ajjuliani

Thank you!!!!

@mrsdkrebs

@gallit_z