Nikki Cobb-Struzynski

English/Reading teacher📚PA➡️VA💛🖤 she/her

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

Students get really excited to see the questions they wrote in the next Kahoot too - it increases student ownership as well as engagement and they also write the most hilarious distractor answers

[edutopia @edutopia]

Quiz the Next Class: @MsNcobb gets students to use @Kahoot to come up w/ questions to quiz the next class studying the same material.

This is backed by research: Generating good questions can deepen engagement and enhances retention (2020 study, University of Kassel).

9/12

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

The just “Pittsburgh” with no state attached is so yinzer of the NYT. I love it

[The New York Times @nytimes]

First-time home buyers around the U.S. are struggling to amass a down payment in this high-inflation economy. But there may be hope.

For those who work remotely or are open to relocating, a recent study can help find a new locale for buying on a budget. https://t.co/YtM06yHgvJ

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

@heymrsbond Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

@verebteaches Thanks Vereb! ☺️

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

More reflection:
-I knew a lot more about the topic than I could say in Spanish. The more detailed I got the more difficult the grammar, so I chose to intentionally keep it simple
-cognates helped A LOT
-I had 1-2 sentences starters I was comfortable with and stuck with them

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

My students have been working on research presentations, and we’re getting ready to present. Today, I surprised them by giving my own presentation, but in Spanish. They’re all prepping these presentations in their second language and I wanted them to see me take a risk too

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

What I learned:
-I was SO much more nervous to speak in Spanish and I’m English.
-Presenting to native speakers was also more nerve-wracking than presenting to other language learners
-it felt safe to make mistakes bc they were so gracious and willing to help my pronunciation

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

@jcavalierwrites 💜💜 they were so cute and helped me when I struggled with pronouncing 1944 (mil novecientos cuarenta y cuatro)

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

My group of students just finished reading A Long Walk to Water. They are all immigrants themselves, arriving between 2019 up to just 2 months ago. They were able to make so many connections with Salva’s journey and shared them in their Mind Mirrors

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

First week back we ease our way back into learning with our Top 10 lists. I share mine first and then students make and present their own of whatever category they choose. This years lists included pizza toppings, Marvel characters, body builders, & most popular: soccer players

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

The past two days we’ve opened class by playing https://t.co/3qPeZI3bbJ and it’s really a great language exercise. Gets kids thinking about synonyms and descriptive words

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

I deleted my school email app for break and it did *wonders* for my anxiety

I just begrudgingly redownloaded it but instead of a massive to-do list, I was met with an email from one of my former HS teachers wishing me well and suddenly going back doesn’t seem that terrible

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

Fav Xmas memory: the year my dad lost his job, my mom was upset on Christmas Eve that there weren’t many presents. My sister and I decided to wrap random items around the house to surprise my mom. We spent Xmas morning cackling as everyone opened rolls of toilet paper and bananas

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

@jkirk___ “But was it in a turgid state?” A question I have asked regularly in professional settings over the past month

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

I saw Wakanda Forever last night and then read this section today and it truly felt like just the perfectly paired texts

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

“Grief isn’t a competition. It’s not an identical pain that we all meet one day when death finds us. It’s a monster, personalized by our love and memories to devour us just so. Grief is suffering, tailored.” -Bloodmarked by @tracydeonn

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

IT’S HERE!

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

Student: *sees picture of teenage me* Miss, how old are you here?
Me: 16
Student: No. Wait. How old are you now?
Me: 33
Student: Dannnnng so that was like 25 years ago
Me: …

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

I’ve seen every episode of Murder She Wrote, probably twice. My grandma loved Angela Lansbury. So when I spent a year caring for her before she passed we watched it… a lot. Gma always told me who the murderer was before the end & watching together was the highlight of her day

[Nikki Cobb-Struzynski @MsNcobb]

“Why does everyone make fun of Janine’s clothes? I think she always looks cute!” -my mom

#AbbottElementary