Join a Mailring at the
Teacher Mailring Center
http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
Fir-Grade - what grade do you teach
akaivyleaf - I used to teach 1st-5th grade, language arts
akaivyleaf - J are you here?
akaivyleaf - I take it you teach 1st grade
Fir-Grade - yes
Fir-Grade - good guess =)
akaivyleaf - Where are you from? I'm in Georgia
Fir-Grade - i'm from IL
akaivyleaf - I'm originally from Illinois... Wow
Fir-Grade - so will you be teaching this coming school year
Fir-Grade - where at in IL?
akaivyleaf - East St. Louis
akaivyleaf - Ever heard of it?
Fir-Grade - really??...Belleville here
akaivyleaf - Ooh. . . Wow, really close to home.
Fir-Grade - yeah..i don't see that too often on here
akaivyleaf - I frequented Alton, Belleville, Collinsville, East Alton, etc...
akaivyleaf - Hi Teaching is fun...
Fir-Grade - hi teachingisfun
Fir-Grade - did you ever teach in Illinois
teachingisfun - hello, this is my first time in a chatroom
Fir-Grade - welcome =)
teachingisfun - I teach second grade in Ohio
akaivyleaf - No not really. . . Student teach when I was in college but that was in the western part of the state...
akaivyleaf - Welcome to a chatroom..
Fir-Grade - oh
teachingisfun - do you find a lot of great ideas during your chats?
Fir-Grade - sometimes i do
akaivyleaf - We can talk about ideas. . . Sometimes I get great tips and I don't mind sharing tips either.
Fir-Grade - i have also found thge message board to be a source of ideas, too
teachingisfun - are there any big projects the two of yo are planning this summer?
teachingisfun - I love the chatboard - alot of great ideas are there - I love the MOOSE notebooks
akaivyleaf - BRB
Fir-Grade - as for as my students, yes. I mean the summer is when i contact and try to arrange my Guest Readers
teachingisfun - where do you teach?
Fir-Grade - IL
teachingisfun - how long have you taught?
Fir-Grade - two years
akaivyleaf - I want to set up e-mail pen-pals for a school I am working with...
akaivyleaf - I guess that would be my big project...
Fir-Grade - how about you?
teachingisfun - I just signed up to work with a school in Australia
akaivyleaf - really- Australia. That would be interesting.
akaivyleaf - My main concern with e-mail pen pals and e-mail in general is how do I monitor it all?
Fir-Grade - you'll be teaching in Australia?? when do you leave?
teachingisfun - My big project for the summer is to change my files into binders, create the MOOSE notebooks, and decide if I want to get rid of my teacher desk
akaivyleaf - MOOSE notebook. . . I am not familiar...
teachingisfun - I'm sorry - I meant to pen pal with a school in Australia
charter - Hi! Seems like my summer is almost over
4kids - Is there anyone here with any great ideas to start off the new year?
Fir-Grade - oh..we did penpals this past school year and the kids and the parents loved it!
Pat - I agree - 4kids - I'm looping this year and my kids have seen what I normally do
teachingisfun - akaivyleaf - MOOSE notebooks are currently being discussed on the chatboard. It is a way to get your students more organized with the papers and information that is sent home.
Fir-Grade - most of the kids are continuing to write this summer. It's exciting for them.
nancy_drew - Fir-Grade... that sounds great! I would love to do that this year
akaivyleaf - Fir-Grade. . . Were they e-mail pen-pals? or Letter Pen-Pals
4kids - I am a new teacher and I need first days ideas
Pat - Does MOOSE stand for something
Fir-Grade - they were letter pen pals
charter - I might have some of the same kids from last year as I had a K-1 but will have just 1st.
akaivyleaf - 4kids. . . First Day Ideas for what grade?
teachingisfun - Management of Organizational skills Everyday
Fir-Grade - i agree charter..seems like the summer is almost over
nancy_drew - 4kids, welcome to a wonderful career... give me a min to think of what works best for me. I've been teaching for 15 years
4kids - I am new to this also.
akaivyleaf - I will have to look at the message board, to read up on that...
nancy_drew - are any of you preschool teachers working in public schools?
teachingisfun - For the first few days of school - i model procedures for everything. I bought a kush ball and the student throw it back and forth to each other listing things about themselves.
4kids - fourth grade
teachingisfun - For the first few days of school - i model procedures for everything. I bought a kush ball and the student throw it back and forth to each other listing things about themselves.
charter - I have a problem with my 1st graders not bringing there folders back each day.
Pat - I'm 2nd grade this year - but in public school
akaivyleaf - I had that problem with 5th graders Charter. . .
charter - I agree with teachingisfun. I usually spend several days on procedures, etc.
teachingisfun - Another idea i do is to have the students name three things that are untrue and one thing that is true about them and the class or partner has to guess which is the truth, The kids love this.
charter - I'm going to try MOOSE this year. It sounds good but am wondering if it is too bulky to fit in bookbags
akaivyleaf - I've done that teachingisfun. . . Great success and wonderful icebreaker for both you and the students.. .
nancy_drew - me too! teachingisfun... repetition, repetion, repetion! no matter what age they are
akaivyleaf - You participate too 4kids.
Fir-Grade - We let them work with partners and use Venn Diagrams to compare themselves to one another
teachingisfun - I find that I teach procedures because the more they do them the easier my day and transitions are.
teachingisfun - I love the venn diagram ide
nancy_drew - i agree teachingisfun!
Fir-Grade - they enjoy seeing how they are alike and different from their classmates
teachingisfun - charter - all you need is a 1" notebook. Wal-Mart has them for 69 cents.
4kids - I like the venn diagram idea
teachingisfun - what is anypone using as an opening theme for the year?
4kids - what is the MOOSE
charter - I also send home a book each night. My children keep a reading journal which they turn in each Friday
akaivyleaf - My classes have always been very vocal. I remember one year, we had a room song, like a school song that we worked on during the first week of school.
Fir-Grade - yeah..it works well..i create a list of things (ex: i have red hair, i have a dog, etc) makes it easier for my students.
teachingisfun - I'll be right back. I just went to a workshop that had a great class pledge that you would love.
Fir-Grade - charter-what do they put in their reading journal?
charter - Usually they start out by just drawing a picture of what they or their parents have read to them about the book. As the year goes on I have them write some sentences about the story. There is a reading log that goes with it that the parents fill out.
charter - We call it the Book-it program
teachingisfun - Sorry-I can't find the pledge right now.
akaivyleaf - I've used "Fall into Learning" as a theme
cloc - di you guys already talk about the moose notebooks?
IFly - anybody have any great ideas for an aviation/flight theme???
akaivyleaf - Briefly Cloc. . . Sounds very interesting.
Fir-Grade - sounds interesting. how about parent participation?
4kids - this is going to be an interesting year for me .... new teacher...new to 4Blocks....and new to inclusion classes(they have previously changed for different subjects)
cloc - is anyone planning on using them?
teachingisfun - I use a reading log also. The parents sign the title of the book, the number of minutes read, the genre (F, NF). I then keep the finished one, replace it, and place it in the student's portfolio. I use these for conferences. This is proof whether the parent is reading with the student or not.
Fir-Grade - 4kids-have you met any of the other teachers at your school?
Firelady - Anyone using SFA reading program?
nancy_drew - IFly, a teacher in my school had her class make a dictionary around the aviation theme. It is really cute and is kept in our library.
4kids - yes..they are SUPER
4kids - all were eager to help me..
Fir-Grade - that will definetlt help you =)
teachingisfun - are alot of you using the 4blocks or Fontas/Pinnell approach or both?
IFly - i like that idea...how bout any decoration for room ideas for the flight unit?
charter - I'm going to start with "all about me" unit. I'm going to wind it up with a clas made book.
4kids - this will be my first year with 4Blocks
teachingisfun - What is the SFA reading program?
IFly - we have self contained class...talking about switching...
4kids - charter What grade do you teach?
Firelady - It's Success For All, from Johns Hopkins
IFly - i teach 3rd
teachingisfun - our school just bought
charter - I taught kindergarten and last year k-1 but I've been told I will have just 1st this year, I hope!
Firelady - It's very stressful so far. Timed to the minute for 90 minutes.
cloc - sorry to bring this up again, but if you have or plan to use the moose folders, send a description to me ok? I really want to use it this year, but don't want to clog up the chat
4kids - my school has added a 4th grade...been switching until this year...now we are going to self contain
nancy_drew - IFLy.. that is the grade that did this dictionary. If you give me your email, I will talk with the teacher and get back with you about ideas
teachingisfun - alot of the 4blocks books for us - they are very helpful. I love the one that is geared for guided reading - it is EXCELLENT!
akaivyleaf - I am interested in learning more about MOOSE, just heard about it hear tonight. Care to shed more light on it?
meeha/ece/tx - IFly -- aviation decorations could include clouds, paper airplaned, balsa wood airplanes, hot air balloons, the 'zepplin' style flight vehicles, etc
IFly - oops...got booted.. cessangel@icqmail.com
Fir-Grade - i agree with aka
cloc - had anyone used the new Systematic sequential Phonics yet?
Firelady - Four Blocks sounds interesting.
charter - Does anyone use Saxton?
MACK/TX - HELLO EVERYONE
meeha/ece/tx - If you can get your hands on some, aerial maps and/or photos would be cool, too.
IFly - what about a cool reading corner for flight
teachingisfun - anyone who would like to know about moose notebooks please list your e-mail and I will forward information to you.
IFly - I have used Saxon Phonics and Saxon Math
IFly - hi Mack
nancy_drew - IFLy, I got your email. I will get something for you asap!
meeha/ece/tx - As a soc. stu./geography type class you might could get the kids to do a picture of their house or bedroom or backyard as it might look in a pic taken from an airplane
4kids - auntmarsh@yahoo.com
Firelady - We used Saxon phonics before SFA and we still use Saxon Math.
IFly - i have some maps and photos from where I fly...
charter - IFLY what do you think of Saxton. We are only going to use the math this year as none of us liked the phonics
Fir-Grade - Spiritas01@aol.com
teachingisfun - akaivyleaf - what is your e-mail and I will forward moose information to you
meeha/ece/tx - a couple of boxes with pillows in the bottoms, "seat belts" made of grosgrain ribbon, goggles ...
IFly - cool about the diagram of yard/house as from sky.
cloc - teaching is fun, i have the information, i need to know some "real" life experience with it.........
akaivyleaf - my e-mail is akaivyleaf@hotmail.com
Firelady - Math is good, but supplement with more hands on for lower grades. I teach first.
4kids - I like the Saxon meeting board for math...Did not like the phonics
meeha/ece/tx - Have those of you looking for MOOSE notebook information checked the archives here yet?
IFly - I am glad we are done with the phase in of the phonics...K-2 will continue it...i loved the math....
akaivyleaf - I haven't talked with anyone who liked Saxon phonics...
IFly - cool meeha
charter - They are talking about switching to Open Court
teachingisfun - I am just starting it this year - We send agenda books home each night with information taht the students write in them.
cloc - there's lots of information on the Primary chatboard, you just have to search way down the list
Firelady - Saxon phonics taught just that...phonics. No literature was supplied. but they did know those rules when they left first grade!
4kids - the kids can code the words but still can't read everyday text.
charter - Saxon phonics was so complicated and boring. Some of the pictures were not very good either
IFly - we do the agendas...they can be good, or not....depending upon your willingness and rules, and your parents..
teachingisfun - has anyone ever thought of getting rid of their desk and using the area for confernecing or centers?
cloc - i like Saxon Phonics! just not one whole hour of it...i modify it so that i spend 30 minutes and then I still the the Making Words block
akaivyleaf - I had a coworker that refused a desk. . .
meeha/ece/tx - although the terminology is now 'defunct', whole language -- which incorporated a combination of several methodologies -- was probably our best reading teacher! phonics works well for some kiddos, others need the sight words and realted exposures to be able to read!
Firelady - If you supplement Saxon Phonics it works just fine. The little books were a waste of time, though.
IFly - i only spent the new learning time and once a week to review some of the other areas....
charter - I'm going to try 4blocks this year. I've been doing a lot of reading about it and it sounds really good
teachingisfun - IFly - we have been doing the agendas for four years - the students who use them it is helpful but some won't - you're right - i use it as a communication tool with my parents
akaivyleaf - Even her students had tables. . .
4kids - supplementing Saxon phonics might work..good idea cloc
Mary\LA - A few of us wanted to... But we were told we couldn't
IFly - The Saxon math though really helped my students that couldn't add 1 1 at the beginning of the year when I taught at a previous school
meeha/ece/tx - I've not had a desk in four or five years. Since I had to get a desktop computer to do my "teacher" work on, I'll probably get one this year, it is getting too hard to work on the low tables!
teachingisfun - akaivyleaf - how did the desk situation work out - did they miss it?
Mary\LA - I'm sorry I am talking about our desk
teachingisfun - Mary - why couldn't you?
Firelady - We added good literature to Saxon phonics and it was fine.
Fir-Grade - hi luv2teach
4kids - I need to go..nice chatting with you folks..
akaivyleaf - No the children looked forward to her class. . She had cushions, pillows, beanbag chairs. Her room was colorful and cozy
meeha/ece/tx - hi, luv2
Mary\LA - They didn't have any room to put them
Fir-Grade - take care
teachingisfun - has anyone on the chat read the book Mosaic of Thought?
meeha/ece/tx - 'nite, 4kids
cloc - i think all programs have soem value, i trust my professional discretion and personal "passions" and then work with the programs i'm given value,
luv2teachpk - Hi, thanks for the greeting. This is my first time.
Fir-Grade - your welcome!
charter - I supplemented Saxon phonics also with other literature, etc. It got to the point where myself and the other teachers were only doing Saxon about twice a week. We are going to keep the math though. I like it.
Mary\LA - I haven't but I heard it is highly recommended
Fir-Grade - I take it you teach Pre-K
teachingisfun - I must have spent 4 hours last night reading the posts on the chatboard - very helpful information.
akaivyleaf - She taught reading so it was an atmosphere that lent itself to reading.
MACK/TX - luv2teachpk this is my first time also
IFly - arrggghhh...ieep getting booted ???
meeha/ece/tx - luv2, i work with special needs preschoolers in north central texas. glad you're here, welcome to teachers.net, the friendliest site on the web!
Firelady - My first time, too.
luv2teachpk - Thanks meeha! I love my job!!
teachingisfun - Mary - the book has totally changed my focus on how I will teach reading workshop this year. it was life-changing and an interesting read. I got great mini-lesson ideas from it.
akaivyleaf - Welcome luv2teachpk and Firelady
cloc - our school had really focused on Lang. Arts, the math sort of sunk, then we finally piloted Saxon Math all over the county, we've officially adopted it k-5, i personally like it because it frees me to really focus my planning time on the 4 blocks
nancy_drew - Hey, meecha! I am working with special needs preschoolers too, here in hawaii
Mary\LA - I going to have to order it
luv2teachpk - I will be having a class full of early 3's this year, with very low ability levels. I am spending a lot of time on e-bay finding young stuff!
teachingisfun - I got it from Heinemann. they have the best books.
teachingisfun - mary - what grade level do you teach?
Firelady - Our district implemented Saxon math K-12. It was too much at first. Lots of gaps in upper grades to overcome.
Mary\LA - thanks
Fir-Grade - what kind of stuff are you looking for?
Mary\LA - Thanks Kindergarten
teachingisfun - Is anyone using the Investigations math series?
nancy_drew - I'm so excited for you. I have taught all ages of preschoolers thru 1st they are a lot of fun
luv2teachpk - Oh, board books, shape activities, lots of manipulatives that I don't have to worry about mouthing. That kind of stuff. I just check there every few days to see what they have.
cloc - anyone on a year round calendar?
Mary\LA - Does anyone know where I can purchas a big book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom I have search everywhere
akaivyleaf - A number of private schools that I work with are on year round systems Cloc
teachingisfun - Try harvest books
meeha/ece/tx - Mary -- have you checked with SCHOLASTIC?
teachingisfun - I've got to go
nancy_drew - my school isn't cloc, but the schools in our district are all on different schedules... some year round, some modified, and some traditional
cloc - mary, you'll be so upset, just bought one for 3 dollars at a book outlet!
Mary\LA - Yes, they said to check back in Sept or Oct.
meeha/ece/tx - akai -- no year-round here.
meeha/ece/tx - 'nite, fun
cloc - aka, i think we'll be going to it next school year,, ugh!
Mary\LA - Youre right I am upset lol
akaivyleaf - Bye teachingisfun
Mary\LA - What book outlet maybe we have one
akaivyleaf - How will it be set up Cloc...
cloc - it's the ones that they have at the Tanger Outlets
akaivyleaf - Some have 9 weeks in, 3 weeks off
luv2teachpk - It is the best and the worst! Know what I mean? Great when the child goes way beyond expectations, worse when they leave your classroom and there has been little change.
akaivyleaf - Some have 10 and 2
cloc - i am pretty sure it will be 45 on, 10 days off
Mary\LA - We have a tanger outlet mall you know where i will be tomorrow thanks
akaivyleaf - It takes some getting used to by the parents too...
meeha/ece/tx - luv2 -- next week i'm meeting one of my parents at a big testing center, she's having her son rested privately to see if we can better understand what he is and isn't doing!
cloc - to me, if they can back it uo with research i say let's try it, but i have not found much research to support it at all
luv2teachpk - How do you feel about that?
Mary\LA - Anyone doing national boards
akaivyleaf - I don't see what it will save. . . Cloc. I have mixed feelings about it...
akaivyleaf - I want to Mary. . . I might start after I finish school once and for all/.
cloc - hey, i'll share my best "project" that i found this summer, then let me hear some of your.... anone heard about the PVC phones? they are great! I already have my class set
Mary\LA - I am thinking about it
cloc - mary, i am, we just had a chat about it
Mary\LA - Yes, they really help my low readers hear the sounds. And the students love them
Mary\LA - I am sorry I was alittle late
meeha/ece/tx - cloc -- i've read about them ... hoping to make a set or two for the coming year! (Thanks for reminding me!)
akaivyleaf - PVC Phones? Explain...
cloc - oh, i thought those things just came out, oh well, i'm looking forward to them
MACK/TX - pres. @a juvinile det.ctr this fall pk-5 math
cloc - i found the actual name, thet are called personal reading devices, it's a plastic handheld phone that's made out of plumbing pipes
Mary\LA - I went to a reading conference Reading Recovery in the fall of last year. that is where i bought them
cloc - the kids can whisper into them and they can hear themselves read or hear individual sounds, REALLY cool
cloc - mary, how much were they?
akaivyleaf - They sound really neat. . . Were they expensive?
cloc - i bought the two pieces for about $2
Mary\LA - I want say $3.50??
cloc - mary were yours made especially for the conference?
Mary\LA - You can make them real easy home depot has the materials
luv2teachpk - HOw old is he?
Mary\LA - A vendor was selling them
luv2teachpk - another cool thing to use is a plastic dryer vent. You need towatch the wire coming out of the plastic though. Keep it taped really tight. If you make it long enough one child can listen to another and guess who is talking to him/her.
cloc - interesting idea luv2teach! thanks
luv2teachpk - So you will have him again next year?
Mary\LA - ditto
MACK/TX - meecha did youunderstand im not teaching pk at the facility
cloc - aka, are you planning a trip to middle ga soon?
meeha/ece/tx - Mack -- yes, thanks for the explanation! (I get confused easily!)
akaivyleaf - I'm headed to Hilton Head next Friday and Tybee the following Wednesday...
cloc - if ever in Jones county, look me up, i'm at mattie wells elementary
meeha/ece/tx - Well, I need to log off -- finish up some work for university and get to bed. (sorry for the stutter!)
MACK/TX - it is going to be a big change for me next year
luv2teachpk - I need to go, My hubby needs the computer. I would like to keep in touch with you, if you want: cmarrs@marshall.k12.il.us. Bye..hope you get some answers!
MACK/TX - bye meecha thankyou
akaivyleaf - I'll do that Cloc. . . If you're ever in the Atlanta area, call me, we'll get together...
sukiRR - do you know what's happened to the reading Recovery meetings?
meeha/ece/tx - 'nite, Mack, hope to see you again soon -- you, too , luv2!
luv2teachpk - I need to go. Too many family members, too few computers!! Enjoyed the chat!
sukiRR - will they start up again?
Mary\LA - got to go I have enjoyed it
cloc - aka, i spent awhile making a power point presentation for open house. it's so cute and informative
akaivyleaf - How did it come out? Lots of animation?
cloc - bye luv2 teach, bye mary
akaivyleaf - Bye luv2teach
cloc - well, lots of grahics, i'm not done yet....
teachingis fun - did you find power point overwhelming - or is it pretty easy to use?
sukiRR - clocdo you use Hyperstudio?
cloc - but it looks good enough that other teachers are ooohing ,, hee,hee
cloc - i used the regular power point on office
cloc - i had very little troubl
cloc - i still can't type, sorry
sukiRR - maryla before you go
akaivyleaf - Add a few animations and sound effects and they'll be singing your praises.
teachingis fun - did you figure it out yourself? Does it work like Hyperstudio?
cloc - what do you mean animations, just the way the slides change?
sukiRR - do you know what happened to the bimonthly Reading Recovery meetings?
akaivyleaf - Animations, the way slides come in, the way objects on the slides come in
cloc - teaching is fun, to be honest i took a class on it, but my husband installed the newest version and i had a bit more trouble figuring out things, but they work the same, i'm not familiar with hyperstudio
cloc - aka, that's coming next, had to get the basics down
akaivyleaf - I understand. . .. The way slides come in, is called transitions...
teachingis fun - I found a great site that had quite a few powerpoint presentations on it. It was a post on the chatboard.
cloc - i got a digital camera for x-mas and i'm still trying to use that, but i am making progress, yes transitions, that't the ticket!
akaivyleaf - Transitions are different from animations.
cloc - teaching, i saw some , too , but i thought i could do better, looked like it may have been like a college site, at least the one i saw...
akaivyleaf - Animations can include sounds. . . whole songs can play through presentations.
cloc - oh, i remeber that from my class, i will think positive and say that i definitely will include animation
akaivyleaf - The key to a wonderful presentation is to use varied animations and one transition throughout. . .
cloc - thanks, i'll remember that
cloc - well, goota go, thanks for the info, and have a good night all!
teachingis fun - gotta go
teachingis fun - have a good night
