James Birkenbeul

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

Student emailed me thanking me for raising difficult topics for discussion and challenging her thinking in AP Lit #msdsafari #wormoftruth

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

Bringing fat worms of truth to the masses! #msdsafari

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap They do struggle at times and will say things like "i don't do anything" or "my life is boring," gotta show them it's not like that

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap Currently I'm doing the "personal" essay so I think that the kids are really finding a voice for the things they enjoy in life.

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap In terms of rapport with my Ss, I think having passions humanizes me. Connecting on a personal level is very important for me.

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap I'm a huge nerd, so I bring all my nerdy passions into the classroom. Sci-fi, fantasy, computers, games, etc

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap Hello

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap T-sizzle and I tap into students' natural curiosity to bring them enlightenment.

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap seeing what they do starts on first day. I give assignments early that show where they struggle and succeed. Writing/reading, etc

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap Agree with Cheryl, especially with struggling students. Let them "show what they can do" instead of demanding they do everything.

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

@ahstlap What Cheryl said, I try to let Ss, especially struggling ones, "show me what they can do" rather than telling them to do it all.

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap I try show them that they have some talent that they can grow in the area of English. A compliment on some task can go a long way.

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap The funniest thing that happened today was Andy Bauer telling me the poem we read, "sounded like a note on his refrigerator."

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap Hello

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

@ahstlap Hello

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

@tsmithmsdsc What's up Tsizz?

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

@hatten_von Are you a pirate yet?

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap Yarrr, I've got me classes that be creating fever charts for Hamlet. It be me best lesson plan of the year ye land lubbers.

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

#ahstlap Yarrrr matey! All hands on deck as we set sail for this twitter chat!

[James Birkenbeul @MamaBirdBirk]

Am I doing this right? I want to teach like a pirate! Arrrr matey!