Breanne Long

11th/12th ELA teacher. Former attorney, forever bookworm.

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A5: With older students, one challenge is balancing the demands of fair assessment practices (retest opportunities, focus on growth) with a well-functioning day to day classroom (students who engage in work before they fail) #AltRtEd #Growthmindset

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A4: Build action steps into rubrics (e.g. in #HSELA not just "Student inconsistently analyzes..." but also "Try going back to the text to find more specific evidence that allows for deeper character analysis") #AltRtEd #Growthmindset

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A3: It is important to me to acknowledge that the work they're doing often IS difficult (e.g., "this is a dense text") and marvel out loud at their insights despite the difficulty #AltRtEd #Growthmindset

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A1: Make success criteria obvious, provide opportunities for revision, reward growth, model mistake making and growth mindset yourself! #AltRtEd #Growthmindset

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A1: Students who "hate reading" or view themselves as "bad writers" present a challenge, but helping them find what they DO like reading and writing through choice/student-driven approaches is an opportunity for a shift in ELA ed #AltRtEd #Growthmindset

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A5: clear expectations, proportional and relevant consequences, creating escape hatches (encouraging my HS students to “take a lap” or get water when they need a minute), and always leading with empathy #altrted #sped

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A4: breaking down large assignments into small tasks, offering brain breaks #altrted #sped

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A3: active learning! My HS #ELA students love gamified strategies that get them out of their seats like escape rooms, question trails, socratic “smackdowns”… #altrted #sped

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A2: encouraging students to self monitor their progress towards IEP and other individual goals (usually done through monthly reflections or do nows after completion of large assignments) and individual conferencing #altrted #sped

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A1: Challenge: lack of classroom space and training in small group instruction
Opportunity: Same thing is an opportunity for me and all learners #altrted #sped

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute Today's chat affirmed the importance of using emerging issues as learning opportunities, even at the "expense" of content. It's hard to overstate the importance of sending socially aware/kind humans into the world, and making sure ALL our kids have the same access to education

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A5: Letting your students know that your door and ears are always open to them. For students without a strong network of support, this goes a long way. In addition to giving them space to open up, you can then determine whether to refer to guidance, admin, etc. #standuptobullying

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A4: Safety is a prerequisite to learning, so HIB presents a significant roadblock to any learning objectives. However, proactively addressing the factors that lead to HIB is an opportunity for social emotional growth in our students #standuptobullying #AltRtEd

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A3: I work in a relatively small district, and communicating with colleagues about emerging issues among students or troubling behavioral patterns helps create a safer environment across our classrooms #standuptobullying #AltRtEd

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A2: modeling prosocial behavior and consistent implementation of rules and consequences #standuptobullying #AltRtEd

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A1: Using literature as a vehicle to teach empathy, incorporating self-reflection, collaboration and SEL into lessons, and respect for each other as our #1 class norm #AltRteEd #StandUpToBullying

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute Breanne Long, HS English

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@KabbaniGSE provide instruction in multiple ways (written, orally, repeated, etc.)

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A5: Communication is easier with tech. Parents have access to gradebook and I have easy access to parents through email. I see the opportunity for sharing authentic student work product with families (and beyond) through tech, though I'm not there yet! #AltRtEd #EdTech

[Breanne Long @BreanneLong17]

@RutgersAltRoute A4: Benefits include more resources and opportunities for collaboration with like-minded teachers outside of our districts. Challenges include keeping students on task when tech offers easy distractions #AltRtEd #EdTech