Leah Smith

I'm a special education teacher that recently moved back to California for a new adventure.

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

@kittylabrava @realDonaldTrump Lol love that you compared it to Covid testing 🤣

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

Educators are priceless.

Educators should be compensated appropriately for their expertise, experience, and time. #Red4Ed

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

Supporting @EaFargo from Modesto, California (former GFEA)

@NDUnited #KidsFirst #FEA #FargoEducationAssociation
#Red4Ed #NDU #United #StrengthInNumbers

[Kailey Restad 2nd Grade @KaileyRestad]

Student using pattern blocks to make shapes.
Me: What are you making???
Student: Progress

I lol’d and gave him a high five. That’s the type of answer I’m talkin’ ‘bout!!!

[chloe heydt @ChloeHeydt]

The difference between learning and memorizing is that learning is something you’ll take with you and use in your life in the future. Memorizing is just reciting and pounding out information that you’ll never actually take to heart. #GFedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

@KariMelland @RRactivities We should have more student lead chats! They were very purposeful and thoughtful with their questions. Thanks @RRactivities #gfedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

A6: Finishing my final project senior year which was a year-long project. I put in a ton of work on it. That project presentation determined if you graduated. I graduated with honors because I did so well. It was very gratifying and made me feel very proud. #gfedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

@KariMelland Agreed. My school was not an open campus. This opens up liability right?? Seems like a big Ss safety issue for them to be in and out like that. Seems great from a Ss perspective but a nightmare for Admin and Ts. #gfedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

@n8olson31 The outside services in our community are short staffed and not consistent due to mental health professionals moving in and out of the area. We need more people and consistency for our Ss in and out of school. Mental health used to only be treated outside of school. #gfedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

A5: I believe that school should be all year long (no long summer break) and the school day reduced by an hour or so. This would give Ts more planning time for more meaningful lessons. Regression/recoupment wouldn't be an issue. Ss would learn more. #gfedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

@justinjhawks We NEED more counselors so this can happen. Fingers crossed for more counselors. #gfedchat #mentalhealth

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

A4b: We need to have better plans for today's issues that protect Ts & Ss from Ss. There are BIG issues with behavior at ALL levels. An SRO at each school would be very helpful to mitigate the assaults. Our Ts and Ss have the right to feel safe at school. #gfedchat #realissues

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

A4: Honestly... No. I feel there is more that should be done to prepare for a variety of internal & external situations. I believe in preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. I do not believe we are prepared with back of plans if plan A or B fails. #gfedchat #preparedness

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

@san35090 @RRactivities Eeeek! Pass!! #stressful #scoreswouldgodown #gfedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

A3: NOPE! (grain of salt) They are great for comparing with measurable norms and providing quantifiable data. But anecdotal qualitative assessments provide Ts with more valuable info on Ss abilities. There is a time/place for standardized. Only a piece of the puzzle. #gfedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

A2: HW is necessary when it is assigned in a meaningful way. As Ss get older and are more independent, HW becomes a tool for teachers to be innovative with things like #flippedclassroom that is being done more at the college level. #gfedchat

[Joel Schleicher @joelschleicher]

A1a: I subscribe to this definition of learning by Seymour Sarason: "Productive learning is learning that engenders wanting to learn more” (long term) vs. memorizing (short term). #gfedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

A1b: Learning will benefit you more for your future. It is important to have an understanding of why things happened or how things work. eg., memorizing historical dates does not give you an understanding of why things happened and the choices that made history. #gfedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

A1a: Learning is for use long term and can be applied in a meaningful way. Memorization is for automaticity and fluency (like math facts) but in most cases is not as good as learning. Memorizing does not allow a person to understand how it works or deeper meaning. #gfedchat

[Leah Smith @Miss_Smith_2015]

Leah Smith SPED teacher at Discovery. Today was a good day because I get to join the final #gfedchat of the school year!