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Teachers, how many times have you been scrolling on social media and fallen into the trap of reading crazy comments under a recent TikTok or IG pic and you're just sitting there like...
You know the juicy arguments that are flourishing in threads?
The tea.
I know you know what I’m talking about, y’all.
Then how about this one— how many times are some of those comments out of this world, idiotic, and just a bunch of crap?
Like zero evidence to back it up.
Couldn’t find an evidence based or research backed article to support these social media comments to save their life.
Now the kids aren’t the only ones guilty of this— full blown grown ups and old folks are doing the same thing.
If there is one thing we all need to consecutively make an effort to improve on— ensuring students can think critically, dissect information, evaluate opinions, and then create a logically formed response that rejects or supports an opposing opinion.
And y’all, that ain’t nothing more than a fancy definition for saying that we need students to be able to clap back with facts and poise!
This new resource I've created called "I'm Just Here for the Comments" does just that.
And best yet, it's presented in a language students speak—comments in the social media threads. And you know there's no better way to keep students engaged and boost work completion than by assigning work they enjoy completing.
Social media is relevant to the kiddos-- and if they ever ask when they'll use "clapping back" in real life, well, I'm sure you can easily think of some real world examples for them when presenting an opposing view or responding to nonsense has been necessary!
Presented with a social media comment, students will then navigate to links that you specifically have chosen for them to read and analyze. Their final task will be to compose a clap back (or respond to that comment) with straight facts, using their opinion and evidence from the links you’ve provided.
This is a sure way to show students that it’s okay to not agree, but you need to support your ideas and opinions with textual evidence.
This can be used with all subjects and can be spun to work for fiction and nonfiction alike. This will allow students the opportunity to compose research and factual evidence as well as explore ideas that are created on their own.
And if you're thinking... "But I don't teach ELA, Ty!"
I hate to be the one to tell y'all, but, gone are the times that it is only the responsibility of English teachers to implement reading and writing into their classes. You can truly merge this assignment to be used with any content, subject, topic with low productivity on your end.
The idea behind the initial post you are creating is to find something that is false or misleading, then provide the reading that shows them the truth and allows them to process the information to come back with a well written passage that challenges the initial post you made. Remember, you can help guide their thinking by providing links, chapters, pdf, video, or other resources.
I've made an example here that you will find inside of the purchase. I have also added in 3 audio recording that explain to teachers step-by-step what is expected of students and how to insert their info.
Below, you can find an example which was inspired by a recent TikTok video from @cortezmadeco asking why so many of her sixth grade students thought blood was blue. I too was taught the same thing and come to find so had hundreds of other TikTokers. Both of our comment sections were filled with argument and debate-- but most of them just opinions and ideas. The video I stitched from her is below!
If you checked out the comments, you'd see, nothing in the comments of her original video or mine (for the most part) were backed up with actual evidence. Just a bunch of name calling, finger point, or "me too" comments.
So, if you'r a math teacher and this week you all are studying two step equations-- how could you apply this to your classroom? I'm not even a "math person" and will just throw these together on a whim.
Students often ask, "When will I use this in real life?" For your initial comment, you would use this...
"I will never use two step equations in real life!"
Your article or website to insert would be giving students information and examples showing when indeed, two step equations will be used in real life. They they will read those entries and use the information to compose a "clap back" providing their new found insight on when they will use this information in real life.
So many ways this can be incorporated into your classroom no matter what content you're working on.
If you want to check out this new resource, just click here!
Hugs, Love, and Lots of Kisses.
Cheers,
Ty Tiger | Kinda Sorta Teacher