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LisaL - Hi Shelly. What do you teach and have you started yet?
LisaL - Hi Connie. What do you teach?
Connie - I teach kindergarten
Connie - What do you teach?
LisaL - Same. I am on my last day of vacation and then I fly home tomorrow. Teachers start next week but I will be training new teachers on Thursday.
LisaL - I have taught first grade for four years and now I am switching to Kindergarten.
LisaL - where do you teach?
Connie - I'm a new teacher also. I have new teacher inservice on Friday. I teach in SD
Beth - Hi! First time here.
LisaL - Are you excited? Have you gotten to work in your room at all?
Connie - Hi Beth. What do you teach?
Beth - 1st, first year, too!
Connie - I've been in my room a bunch. I am very nervous. I am worrying about planning.
LisaL - Beth, first grade is great. They are so excited to learn. Plus in our school it is their first desk so they are really excited about that.
Connie - Where do you teach Beth?
Beth - Any ideas about your class? I got my student lsit today.
LisaL - Connie, is there another K. teacher that you can plan with? THat would help alot.
Beth - I am in Wisconsin, inner city school. 18 kids
LisaL - No idea about my class. We will have to split the kids up when we start working.
Connie - I've got my list last week. 25 in the morning, 26 in the afternoon. I am the only K teacher.
LisaL - 18 is nice. Last year I ended the year with 29 kids.
Beth - Lisa and Connie, where do you teach?
LisaL - Sorry Connie. You should read the kindergarten chatboard. It has some good ideas.
LisaL - I teach in Waldorf Maryland.
LisaL - Connie, what are you planning to do on the first day.
Joye - Hi! I teach second grade
Connie - I've been there. I teach in SD. I have my basic ideas. Just full of self doubt, No one to be there to read over my shoulder and give me the ok.
LisaL - Hi Joye. What do you teach?
Connie - Hi Joye.
Beth - I am most nervous about discipline/mgt.
Beth - Connie, I agree!
Connie - I have small groups for 3 days. I am going to do bubbles, bubble painting, that type thing.
Joye - I teach in IL
LisaL - Management is the most important thing because you can't teach if they are out of control. My biggest suggestion is to set clear limits and be consistent. My first year I said "I'm going to tell you one more time.
Beth - Joye, chicago area or downstate?
LisaL - " or "This is your last warning." about a million times
Connie - Beth, I think the best thing about k is that they want to behave. Usually a little incouragement works. But, I agree, be consistent.
Joye - Central IL
Beth - Joye, I went to grad school at Western. My sister lived in Decatur for 4 years
LisaL - That is nice that you get them in small groups. I wish we had that.
Joye - I am about an hour from Decatur. Where do you teach, Beth?
Beth - Re. discipline, my school has schoolwide assertive discipline. I like that everyone uses the same
Beth - I am in Wisconin now
Connie - Yeah, nine or so at first twice a day. I think it will help me ease into. I feel comfortable with that. It's after that that worries me. Do any of you do building blocks or guided reading?
Joye - It is nice when there are some school wide rules that everyone follows.
Joye - I just went to a guided reading workshop this summer. I really liked a lot about it.
Beth - I did guided reading during St. teaching. My school uses Direct Instruction
Joye - Did you like guided reading?
LisaL - Last year we had a school wide discipline plan but we did not set up our expectations so someone in one class might get in trouble for calling out but in another class that is fine. It was annoying.
Connie - What is Direct Instruction?
LisaL - I will be using a mixture of building blocks and guided reading.
Joye - Have a great year! Goodby!
LisaL - I have taught four blocks with the fountas and pinnell guided reading in first grade and I loved it.
Beth - It is a teacher scripted reading program. VERY structured.
Beth - I wish we had 4 blocks
Connie - LisaL, I will have 3 other adults in my room during guided reading the title people. Suggestions about what I should do with them?
LisaL - Guided reading is good because you meet the needs of all the different levels in your classroom.
LisaL - Are they supposed to teach a reading group or work with the other kids? Also, are they certified teachers or assistants?
Connie - I love 4 blocks. I've just worked with 1-3 graders the last 3 years and am having a hard time seeing it in kindergarten. They will do what I tell them, I guess, work with small groups, they are all certified.
Beth - I hate to go, but I have 2 toddlers that need to go to bed! Have a wonderful year!
Connie - Bye Beth.
LisaL - That is pretty cool. I think that you could split your class into four groups and each teacher could meet with a group at the same time. In the beginning of the year I would spend time on letter and sounds activities and shared reading.
Connie - Hi KT What do you teach
LisaL - Do you have small leveled books?
Connie - Not in my room, but they have some levels a and up in a joint book room.
LisaL - The other idea Connie, is that you could meet with each group to do reading instruction and have the other people meet with groups to work on skills or observe the kids at centers.
Connie - I want to do literacy centers at this time, I worry about the kids who won't be ready for reading.
LisaL - In my emergent reader guided reading groups I like to work on alphabet, one-to-one, and concepts about print. After we read we sometimes so word work on a white board or with magnetic letters. Sometimes I do cut-up sentence and then they illustrate it. I think I will also do individual and group interactive writing.
kitty - I sure would like to have 3 other adults in my room. Are they certified teachers?
LisaL - Even if kids aren't ready for reading they can work on pre-reading skills and you can expose them to alot of books.
Connie - Yeah, they are certified. I don't know how I lucked out.\
kitty - I teach 3rd graders.
Connie - Does anyone do predictable charts
LisaL - Connie, it is good that they are doing that because you have big classes and it will be nice to have them get extra attention. How long will those teachers be in the room with you?
kitty - I would use that time to divide the kids into ability groups. You could help your low readers and challenge top kids.
Connie - I have them for half an hour every day
LisaL - I have done predictable charts. The kids love them. I always do it in a pattern which brings math in and helps it to be easier to read.
Grace/IL - Hi all, I thought I'd choose a DIFFERENT color and it looks like I've invaded Connie's territory.
Connie - Kitty, that is the plan. I teach kinder and was worrying about what do do with my none readers.
Paulie - thought the thing was heterogeneous groups instead of homogeneous?
Connie - Do you do predictable charts with whole class or small groups?
LisaL - Heter/Homgeneous? Depends on your school or school system.
kitty - Read to your non-readers! Have them work on letter recognition/sounds....lots of things.
Paulie - o I thought it depended on the teacher
Connie - I've heard that you are suppose to do heter, but to me that defeats the purpose of guided reading meeting needs for each group
Paulie - but the kids learn from each other
LisaL - I did it with whole class in first grade. Sometimes if they were getting restless I would send them back to their seats to do something and I would record whoever was left from there. They were usually pretty good. I think the problem with small group is that then each kid won't see as many. Maybe you could split your class in half.
Connie - Do any of you do assessment in the beginning of the year to assess levels?
kitty - cunningham and hall really believe in heter. groups...
Paulie - soudns liek a good plan to me
Connie - Yeah, I worry about having 26 kinders sitting still through the entire predictable chart.
Paulie - but they sit thru predictable stories
Paulie - not a chart
Grace/IL - Gina, at what grade level?
gina - i am a new teacher looking for great sites that other teachers uses
Paulie - use they chime in when they understand the predictable words
gina - either kindergaden or 1st grade
kitty - www. drjean.org is great and she has links to other sites too
LisaL - We give a beginning of the year assessment that includes alphabet recognition, concepts about print, rhyming, and hearing sounds in dictated sentence.
Paulie - I typed why not a chat but it did not all appear
Connie - I've never done predictable charts. I am just starting, I am just am trying to think it all through.
Connie - Hi Shirley
tammy - Hi everyone!!! this may sound stupid but is this chat discussing kindergarten or what?
Paulie - I always did shape and color recognition and also writing their name and writing numbers
Paulie - hi Shirley
LisaL - Gina, look at the kindergarten chatboard because it has links to some sites sometimes.
Shirley - Has anyone used Marvin Marshall's discipline plan?
Connie - Gina, there are a lot of kinder teachers with their classrooms online.
LisaL - no shirley, sorry
Connie - Hi Tammy
Paulie - tammy whatever grade level u teach u discuss It is for K-2 I think K-Primary
gina - i did that already
Paulie - well I hope to use his plan now I like it
Shirley - I plan to use it this year.
Shirley - I plan to use it this year.
Paulie - Gina post on the K board that you need sites again
Grace/IL - Gina, exactly what are you looking for in the websites?
Paulie - what gr are u Shirley?
gina - like already made up lesson plans
Shirley - 1st
Paulie - go to teahers net lesson plans for that
gina - i did i am looking for like unit themes for each month
Paulie - oic Shirley How do u plan to introduce marshall's plan to your students (model )
Grace/IL - Gina, no one can make your lesson plans for you in first grade. You have to determine your year end goals and work from there.
LisaL - Gina, sometimes I just choose a search engine and search for my grade and different websites come up.
Shirley - Try Kinderkorner.com
Paulie - gina lots of K teacher s at the K chatboard ahve listed their sites I bet they would again some of the teachers there list other teacher sites on their site too
Grace/IL - Gina, unit themes are fine but the components have to address your overall goals.
LisaL - try www.kinderfriends. com (I think that's what it is)
Connie - I think that is the hardest part, Determining your end goals and working from there. I've got my standards and my teacher's editions,b ut find it hard to put it down
Shirley - I have gotten loads of ideas off the mailring.
Paulie - gina also you can work with others at your school at the same gr level
gina - thats what i am looking for
Connie - Gina, get Mailbox it has great ideas that are usuable.
Paulie - you can sorta plan which standards to follow for what quarter but it has to be a broad plan
gina - where can i find unit themes
Grace/IL - Gina, are you a new teacher?
Connie - How far in advance to you plan. I know my themes and general ideas but I don't know how far ahead to right it down.
LisaL - Do you guys give homework in Kindergarten?
Paulie - type in unit themes in a search engine
Paulie - unfortunately princ make everyoen give homework
LisaL - I don't plan too far in advance because then I can't base things on what the kids need. They might get something faster or I might need to spend more time on it.
Paulie - You can't know Connie because it might take longer with one theme esp if the kids are enjoying it and u extend it
Connie - Gina, search for kindergarten lessons and you should come up with tons of teachers sites. If you can't find any email me I've got tons bookmarked. conniegetty@yahoo.com
LisaL - I would say you should plan for two weeks but be flexible if you need to add or delete anything.
tammy - Goodnight all thanks for all the info!!!
Connie - I don't plan on giving homework
LisaL - I am also going to sketch out the materials that I have and when I want to put them out in my centers so that I won't forget about them
Connie - What kind of center activities do yall do?
Grace/IL - Gina, where are you? Is this your first year teaching first grade?
PS its Paulie - http://www.myschoolonline.com/site/0,1876,9508-195559-8-6239,00.html
LisaL - I am going to have dramatic play (starting as housekeeping but then change it), writing, reading, big books, listening, blocks, puppets, science, discovery table(rice, sand, etc.),, art, puzzles, games, computer
PS its Paulie - this is one K site i ahve
PS its Paulie - http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/2468.html
gina - here i am
Connie - I want to do literacy centers during guided reading and free choice center time for the "play" centers
PS its Paulie - here is another
Connie - Any one else do two different center times?
LisaL - I am excited because right now I am on vacation in lake tahoe and I have found lots of different pinecones that I am going to put in my science center. I will have them compare them and try to identify them using a key that I got at the museum.
Connie - Cool idea LisaL
PS its Paulie - http://www.kinderthemes.com/ and another
LisaL - I don't think that I will have time for 2 different center times. I want to have a math centers time so I will do that instead.
PS its Paulie - gosh if gina keeps leaving she isn't getting the three sites I posted guess I will stop
Connie - Will you have a math time for instruction or just centers.
gina - do you guys know abc teach
Grace/IL - Gina, I've been trying to determine if this is your first year in first grade.
Connie - I'm sure she took the ones you gave her Paulie
LisaL - I am going to do my math lesson at the end of each day and then in the morning they can explore with the same materials we used the day before or another math center.
gina - i keep on getting cut off
LisaL - I like the idea of math centers when they walk in because it is not an activity that will need to be finished by late comers.
gina - yes it is connie
Connie - Gina, abc teach is great
gina - do you know they give you ideas every month right?
Connie - Gina, will you do centers?
gina - i might
Grace/IL - Gina, then first of all you will need to assess your students to discover their alphabet knowledge, number knowledge, etc. Only when you know where your students already are will you be able to start teaching them.
Grace/IL - I wouldn't worry about themes or centers until I knew what I had to teach.
gina - connie you know abcteach i am looking for sites like that. it gives you all month by month stuff
Connie - Anyone do DRA testing?
Connie - Hi Brendan
Connie - What do you teach Ping, d Brendan
Connie - HI sasha, what do you teach
PS its Paulie - explain DRA testing
PS its Paulie - gina I posted three sites that had themes
LisaL - I made lists of foods with labels to hang up in the housekeeping area so they can read and write them.
gina - i know for sure that each month is a new theme
Connie - Its assessment for guided reading levels it stands for developmental reading assessment
sasha - connie, i do DRA
LisaL - Later in the year I plan to have a woodworking center. I need to build it first and I want the kids to be ready.
Connie - Ping, what do you teach
PS its Paulie - oic thanks heard the name never used
Connie - Sasha what do you teach
ping - i teach biology
sasha - I teach K-1-2
LisaL - Ping, this is an early childhood chat.
Connie - Biology, wow, I teach kindergarten
PS its Paulie - no it isn't
Connie - Sasha where do you teach
PS its Paulie - thought it was for K- primary
LisaL - K-primary is early childhood
PS its Paulie - not so early childhood is preschool
sasha - i teach in New Hampshire
sasha - you?
PS its Paulie - hi Mei Ling
ping - sorry...im learning using this net meeting
Brendan - sorry i had to leave now
Hat - HI Connie. LisaL-I just saw your idea about a woodworking center. Neat idea,
LisaL - I am not sure that I totally agree with you. My degree is in early childhood and I am certified from birth to grade 3.
Connie - Do you have students in k 1 and 2 Sasha
PS its Paulie - ping u are welcome
PS its Paulie - well the chatboards have preschool listed separately
Connie - I have my early childhood and it just certifies me for kinder and prekinder. My elementary certifies me for 1 and up.
sasha - yes, i teach in a very small school - only 4 kinders, so we multiage kinders, first and second
PS its Paulie - what kind of wood working center? we had FOSS kit about wood in K
Connie - Very interesting Sasha. How long have you been teaching like that
sasha - just 2 yrs
sasha - prior to that I taught straight K, then straight 1
Connie - What do you teach Hat
LisaL - This is called Ec-primary chat.
Hat - The Head Start at my site had a tree stump and they would let kid nail into it.
Hat - Kindergarten
sasha - I'm just on browsing for ideas for an "all about me" unit
LisaL - I am planning to have a wood working table where they can make things out of wood. I will have hammers, nails, screwdriver and screws and small scraps of wood.
sasha - LisaL, you may want to have safety goggles too
Hat - sasha-do you use building blocks?
sasha - sounds like fun!
PS its Paulie - Lisa they do this unsupervised?
sasha - yes, we have them out for free choice time
Connie - I am doing all about me but just the basics self portraits, phone, address, etc. I'm new to this so I do't think I've got anything you don't already have
LisaL - I plan to have safety goggles and aprons, I will also have glue in case someone doesn't want to hammer.
PS its Paulie - great I did not know they could use those kind of tools without direct supervision
LisaL - I will use building blocks in another part of the room
Hat - LisaL-I would like a wood working center. How do you plan to have the students safely use the hammer?
PS its Paulie - that soudns wonderful Lisa
Connie - I don't think I'm brave enough for a wood working center
sasha - yeah, it's a great unit to start off the year
PS its Paulie - where u gettign the wood? Home Depot give u scraps?
PS its Paulie - Lisa how long are your centers?
LisaL - I am going to do a lot of modeling and if things are even close to dangerous I will stop them and then reteach the safety rules. I think that I will only have one person at a time so that they can't hurt someone else.
Hat - not wood blocks, building blocks the program
Connie - I'm starting with a names unit for 4 days. Any great ideas for that
sasha - Connie, do you like DRA?
LisaL - There is a pretty small hammer at home depot and I will get nails with big heads so that they chances of hitting them will be greater. I have seen kids do it and I have read about it in many professional books.
sasha - Hat - lol- no!
PS its Paulie - well u can insert the names in little poems for someone elses
Connie - I liked the DRA. I worked with 1-3 with DRA's and guided reading last year. I am still trying to work out in my mind how it all looks in kinder
Hat - sasha-the reason I asked if you used Building Blocks is because they have fun name activities that can go very well with your "All about me" thene
LisaL - I am still working on the wood situation. One idea that I have set up is to get the leftovers from a karate place after they chop the wood with thier hands and feet because they just throw it away.
PS its Paulie - If I get the K job I am interviewing for, I will use BB liek all the rest of the K teachers who are all day
Hat - theme
sasha - I really like it for kinder, i find the stories too long for the older kids though
Connie - Paulie is the k job half time
PS its Paulie - good idea Lisa
Hat - OH, good idea, LIsaL!!!
Connie - Anyone half day kinder
PS its Paulie - no all day
sasha - i am, they come 8:00-11:30
Hat - I am the only teacher who uses BB at my school. Everyone sticks to what the district gives us.
PS its Paulie - I foudn it ahrd to fit eveything into half day K
LisaL - For all about me I am having each kid make a portrait of themself. Then when they are the special student of the day we are going to write one interactive writing sentence about them on a sentence strip that I will put on their picture and hang in the room.
PS its Paulie - hi Sharilea
sasha - Hat, I don't know what it is, I'll have to look into it
Connie - Sasha you did DRA with kinders?
sasha - yes, it's great!
Sharilea - hi
Connie - It is very hard to fit everything in half days, but I don't get to choose
Connie - Sasha when did you do the first DRA with the kinders
LisaL - I have half day. I will just have to keep the pace up.
sasha - It's SO hard to fit everything in to half days, you just have to realize you're not going to do eveyrthing you think you want to!
PS its Paulie - amen sasha
LisaL - 8-11:30 is long. Mine come from 9 - 11:40
sasha - Connie, I do the first assessment in late October
PS its Paulie - but u can learn to integrate subjects well in K if u have jsut a half day
Connie - Sasha, what level do most test at?
sasha - geez, i can't think of the levels off the top of my head...i know there are three very simple, predictible stories right at the beginning, and most read at the first or second one in october
LisaL - Most of our county's science and social studies themes are pretty basic and can be done in shared reading so I will not have to spend tons of time on them alone.
Connie - I just pick and choose with my science, social studies and health and intergrate those into the rest. There is just no one to do it all.
sasha - true, PS
Connie - Sorry to be so buggy, Sasha, I think that's great, they only tested our 1-3's not kinders. I'm just curious about that.
LisaL - Connie - when you go to the new teacher training you should see if there is a K teacher who would show you how they map out their year.
sasha - you're not buggy!
sasha - it's so helpful, we have portfolios not report cards, and the DRA info goes into the portfolio for the parents to see
Connie - Yeah, I've had some general help, but I really would like to see someone's plan just laid out. Maybe just as reinforcement.
PS its Paulie - no report cards?
sasha - we do running records right on the DRA stories so the parents can see just what their child read
sasha - no report cards till grade 5!
Connie - How many running records do you do
LisaL - I am so jealous about no report cards. Especially when I am going to be doing at least 50
PS its Paulie - the last school I taught at had huge report cards with all the state standards listed horrible
PS its Paulie - and they were 6 carbons thick
sasha - at least 3 a year, that's how many times the portfolio goes home...but more if i have time, they're so helpful
sasha - yuck! i'm lucky i guess
Connie - Our report cards for 1 and up are nuts, but the kinders are nothing, basically a checklist
PS its Paulie - I would like jsut portfolios Did someoone teach u what goes in their portfolios?
sasha - the portfolios are a TON of work too, they're very comprehensive and take forever, we do a pretty long narrative for each child for each trimester too
LisaL - I have to go eat dinner now. It has been nice chatting.
PS its Paulie - narratives are better than 6 carbons fo state standards
Connie - Bye LisaL
sasha - they go through K-4th grade w/the child, then in 4th they take them home and it's all their work from the last 5 years
PS its Paulie - bye Lisa see u next week?
Connie - That's really neat Sasha
PS its Paulie - we sorta did that but only with a writing sample in their cumulative files
Rita - Hello all, I'm new
Connie - New to what Rita
sasha - oh, i thought you were swearing at the files!
PS its Paulie - no the program changed my three letter word
PS its Paulie - all teachers ssay the three letter word not cumulative
Connie - Rita, what do you teach
sasha - okey dokes bye all, gotta go search for some lessons!
sasha - nice chatting with you!
Connie - Good luck Sasha
PS its Paulie - bye sasha
Connie - When does everyone start school? I start Aug.21 with parents
PS its Paulie - soon as I get a job . . . the school I interviewed with ahs started and they have overload
PS its Paulie - but maybe I won't get that either sigh
Rita - I don't start til Sept. 12th
Connie - Oh, sending good thougths your way. I interviewed tons before I got this. I aided as reading tutor for 3 years first
Connie - What do you teach Rita
Rita - We have kindergarten
PS its Paulie - thansk I have taught I jsut moved and don't have a job yet
Connie - Me, too
Rita - lol don't know what hallened there
Rita - I got my first job labor day night don't give up!!
PS its Paulie - what is hallened?
Connie - Are you all day kinder Rita
PS its Paulie - the principal will call me back Tues
Rita - doing it again lolit's a funny way to write happened
Rita - yep
PS its Paulie - o hehehehehehe
PS its Paulie - I will be back with a new color
Rita - funny when I interviewed that's exactly what the principal said!
Connie - What did the principal say Rita
Rita - Sorry about the color thing
Paulie - no problem
Rita - I'll call you on Tues.
Paulie - jsut easier to read if each choses a different color
Connie - Oh, okay
Rita - Of course that was 25 years ago!!! LOL
Paulie - Rita and Connie u know each other offline?
Paulie - well he gave me a week he called today
Connie - I don't think so
Rita - no, I don't think so
Rita - I'm in Philly
Connie - I in SD
Paulie - o but still u call each other?
Connie - No, I've never spoken to Rita
Paulie - and yet you wil call ehr
Rita - no
Rita - I think you must be talking about another Rita
Paulie - boy I guess I am reading things that aren't here
Connie - I'm confused Paulie, we must have written something wrong
Paulie - I guess
Connie - IT happens to the best of us
Paulie - so what is evryoen doing onthe first day with the kids?
Connie - I am bubble painting.
Connie - You know We are bubbly about kindergarten
Rita - what how do you do that - bubble painting?
Paulie - what fun what will u do with the paintings? will u do with cups and blowing bubbles and blot or do it on big sheets hanging on fence/wall?
Rita - fun!!
Paulie - cute
Paulie - individual or group project?
Connie - Each child gets a white paper and will blow bubbles that I add color to onto the paper. I have a bulletin board ready for them.
Rita - We're locked into literacy so I'll be doing the "name" activities
Connie - I have small groups for the first three days, so only 9 or so at a time, indidual
Paulie - Will they blow on the paper or blot them
Rita - ahhh
Paulie - wow that is nice Connie
Connie - I am going to do my names activities once I get all of them there together.
Paulie - If I get the K job I will doname things too
Connie - THey will blow them
Connie - I've never done this before, but in theory
Paulie - oic we did that outdoors with large paper on fence and then put it on door
Connie - That sounds good, Was it very messy Paulie
Paulie - I liek when you get a cup of colored bubbles (straw needs a hole clipped in near the top so they don't swallow any -- and blow them overflowing cups and then blot paper onto it
Paulie - it can all be controlled
Rita - Wow I've never done any of those things. Sounds fun
Connie - They blot the paper onto the overflowing cups?
Paulie - when you blow in the cups some kid might suck instead of blow so u got to have that little slit in the top of the straw so it won't go in their mouth
Paulie - yes Connie makes beautiful papers
Paulie - change/trade colors and have several blots on their paper
Connie - I might do it that way, Sounds less messy
Paulie - we did it in an AIMS workshop
Connie - Thanks Paulie
Paulie - anytime happy to share
Rita - what's AIMS
Paulie - math and science
Paulie - ita what kind of bulletin board are u doing with kids?
Connie - What your favorite activity to do with your kids?
Rita - oh yeah, now I remember
Paulie - I love to write with them
Connie - Do you do journals in kinder
Rita - Don't quite know yet. I'll do Chicka Chicka and Star student but that's as far as I've gotten
Paulie - that's a plan Rita
Connie - Rita do you do Chicka every year
Paulie - I did that one year but if I get this class they will be in school two weeks already
Paulie - t will be different
Paulie - hehehehehehe
Connie - Paulie, is someone planning for the year with these kids already?
Paulie - three teachers they have 32 students already they need board approval to hire another teacher
Paulie - 32 for each of them
Paulie - can't get the new teacher without board meeting
Connie - So you will have someone there to get you going. I wish I had that
Connie - 32 is a lot of kinders
Paulie - no I will have kids from three classes
Paulie - and i will practically start over
Rita - Did you mean that there are 32 in each class
Paulie - that is why they need a 4th teacher
Paulie - yup
Connie - yuck, I don't think it would be easy to come into that situation
Paulie - but maybe I won't get the job
Paulie - no it won't but it is a brand new school
Rita - wow, we can have 34 but I have a Literacy Intern Teacher
Connie - Are they sure they will get approval
Paulie - and i ahve chatted with one of the teachers in fact she phoned me
Paulie - oh yes
Connie - The teacher calling you has to be a good sign
Paulie - they built 4 K rooms last year
Paulie - o they have the room
Connie - I bet they are great rooms
Paulie - hoep so keeping fingers, legs and anything else crossed
Paulie - yes I saw photos of them
Rita - that's a first step, are there teacher shortages there
Paulie - building boom
Rita - wow
Paulie - the prin wanted me to teach art for 4-8th and I said no
Connie - Our district is going in the opposite direction. We closed two elementarys 2 years ago.
Rita - I have a very little room with 30 plus kids and my intern
Paulie - I liek art but am not prepared and need a summer to plan for soemthing like that
Connie - Intern is that certified person
Rita - yeah, that's quite a span
Paulie - these are huge rooms with lots of storage in room and a teacher storage room between each two
Connie - Nice!!!
Paulie - student teacher huh?
Rita - no, it's the district's way to "reduce class size"!!ha1
Paulie - so of course I want it but I don't know yet
Connie - I came in after a teacher retired and have two classrooms worth of stuff, shoved into 1 room
Paulie - I rent a extra room at hoem for all my teacher stuff
Rita - No these are people who have graduated in another major - some physics, math, pysch,business etc, and now are changing careers
Connie - Well, at least they gave you some help. Have you worked with this person before Rita
Paulie - oic a district intern
Paulie - are u in CA?
Rita - no PA
Paulie - I worked with one when I taught K in CA
Paulie - o right
Rita - Yes, luckily this is my second year with her. she's great but the year before wasn't so great
Paulie - why not?
Connie - I've seen some aides who are more work than they are help
Rita - different individual, just wanted something to do til she got a job in Paris
Connie - In our newspaper they talked about aides having to have 2 year degree certfied to aide Two univeristies are starting programs
Paulie - district interns are not aides they teach liek u do
Rita - Just too little space for all of us
Paulie - Connie that is cause of the President
Connie - OH!
Paulie - and his no child left behind teachers have to list their certification in newspaper and aides ahve to take courses if they don't have two years of college
Connie - So do district interns teach like team teach with you! I've never heard the term.
Rita - Our assistants leave so much to be desired, I had several who couldn't read!
Paulie - good grief how did they get hired?
Connie - Oh, that does sound right, Paulie
Rita - I think it's new to ALL of us
Rita - who knows!
Paulie - my district intern had the PM K class and I helped her she helped me in the morning the first yr Then the next year we switched around and I had PM class
Paulie - well the president is wrong can;t ahve test driven schools
Connie - That's neat Paulie. If you get someone good. But did you say if they have certification
Paulie - ds won't be ready for life with jsut taking tests
Rita - I'm facilitating staff development these next few days and the teachers are sometimes in need os so much help I NEVer would've hired them!
Paulie - mine was not certified was just working towards it
Paulie - had an AA in soemthign tho
Rita - Mine isn't either but she has the heart of a teacher. Unlike the one before her
Paulie - I taught at another school we had jsut two first grades I was one of them The other one was a beginning first yr college district intern and she jsut had an aide
Rita - These Literacy Interns are college grads in another area and now teach while they earn their masters in ed
Connie - Paulie, did you have to help the intern a lot
Paulie - I bought the cutest paper punches at walmart the other day oen is a maple leaf shape, one is a snowflake and the last is two feet shapes
Connie - Big paper punches?
Paulie - oh no she also took classes twice a week in Pm and had a mentor from the school district but YES we did work together and am sure I gave her many ideas
Rita - It's not like having a student teacher often these people have had NO exposure to a classroom in 30 years so it's a challenge
Paulie - the punchs are about the size of a dime
Paulie - and she gave me a few too
Rita - nice punches what will ya use em for
Connie - anybody else get buy anything great?
Paulie - decorating things and could cut out plastic and put in those bottles
Paulie - so they float
Connie - What do you teach milymo?
Rita - Hello I just bought a border that looks like the alphabet chart in my room. I might use it for games and such
Connie - any great center ideas?
milymo/oh - I will be teaching kinder and extended day kinder this year, after 3 years and 2nd and my very first year in half day kinder.
Mrs. Dain - I am new to K, been teaching 4th and above for 13 years.
Paulie - i was buying file folders and someone had "dumped the three punches in one pkg in the files section They came from crafts area really the cashier said
milymo/oh - I meant 3 years OF 2nd.
Rita - You will LOVe k
Connie - I am new teacher teaching kinder
Mrs. Dain - What do I really want to buy for the first weeks of school
Paulie - asprin?
Paulie - lol
Rita - amen!
Connie - half day or full day kinder MRs. dain
Mrs. Dain - That is on my list each year!
milymo/oh - I went in today and almost completed one of my bulletin boards.
Rita - Kudos!!!
Connie - What is your board milymo?
Paulie - great milymo
Rita - I can't even get in
Connie - When does school start Rita
milymo/oh - I did the "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Look who's new in our room!"
Connie - neat milymo
Rita - I'm making a palm tree around a pipe this year
milymo/oh - White back ground - made my own border - pink with orange polka dots.
Paulie - I think I would liek to have a theme I used before again: "Trees, Travela nd tales"
Rita - for the Ccicka Chicka board
Mrs. Dain - Cute
Paulie - why polka dots?
Mrs. Dain - What kind of theme does everyone start with
milymo/oh - I have two huge poles in my room that I could do that with!
Connie - I'm doing names first
Rita - I've got six pipes
Paulie - well if I use that theme of trees , travel and tales it woudl be appels
milymo/oh - Paulie - it is the border that the book uses around it's pages
Paulie - for the whole mo til Johnny appleseeds birthday
Rita - I really like that theme
Paulie - oic milymo I ahd forgotten
Rita - My thme is
Paulie - and sicne I lived in WA, I would start with the old apple tree in Vancouver here
Connie - I've got apples. I am going to have the kids do a self portrait on an apple they cut and write their name. I can assess cutting, drawing, name writing, tracing
Rita - my thme is simple getting to know you
Paulie - a visit to it and soem tales about WA before we moved on to places J appleseed traveled and after that it would take us into farm unit
Connie - The apples then go into my Kindergarten is a bushel of fun bushel bulletin board
Rita - you guys are amazing
milymo/oh - Are you using the song "Getting to Know You" from "The King and I"?
Paulie - I make believe we are on an airplane when we travel to new places and we have passports and suitcases too
Paulie - bushel of fun How cute
Connie - I thought I'd do the passports when I do holidays in December
Rita - yes I already laminated that chart
Paulie - so u have a ditto of apple for them or they draw it
milymo/oh - I love that song?
Paulie - well I travel aroudn the world to do things with trees
Connie - They trace an apple cutout I've got.
Rita - Paulie,do you have a digital camera?
Connie - DO you all sing a bunch with your kinders
Paulie - read tales{books} that take us to that part of the country where we see new kidns of trees
Paulie - jsut got one
Paulie - oh yes singing is important
Connie - I want a digital camera.
Rita - yes. yes.yes! Other teachers get tired of me LOL
Paulie - Connie is it pretty big cutout?
milymo/oh - I want to sing more than I did with my kinders before.
Connie - I hope I can find that singing part of me.
Connie - Its a decent size cutout.
Rita - You could put their pics on theri passports cute
Paulie - well there are tapes and records and CDs
Paulie - so about the size of 8 x 11 paper?
Connie - Oh, yes, I am a fan of technology. If I don't have to sing alone I might make it happen
Rita - My intern wasn't a singer, in fact, she'd opt out - she's a singer now
Connie - Yeah, about that size. Paulie
Paulie - yes we actually used pics on the passports I made up and the suitcases are jsut folded construction paper decorated with paper strip and handle attached and laminated
milymo/oh - I need reminders of small things - like needing nametags to learn their names since they won't be at their desks as much as 2nd graders.
Paulie - thanks I might use that Connie great idea
Paulie - forgot the slotan cconnie tell me again
Connie - Sure. I'm tickled its a good idea. I haven't had any feedback on anything i've thought of yet.
Connie - Kindergarten is a bushel of fun
Rita - milymo, everything must be labeled. cubbies, jackets, bookbags,
Paulie - a good bunch or what?
Paulie - thanks
Connie - What do you make your name tags out of?
Paulie - did you make your own basket?
Rita - manila tag laminated with the really stiff stuff
Connie - I copied one on tag out of a clip art book
milymo/oh - Ugh! I forgot about cubbies. We have a coat room and the hooks are at 2nd grade height. I hope our custodian is able to lower the hooks.
Rita - sorry, I'm a bit tired of apples...too many years of them
Paulie - thanks
Connie - Do your name tage hang on something? I haven't made mine yet
Paulie - so they trace on red or green or yellow?
Rita - Yeah, I put mine on with the soft thicker yarn
milymo/oh - I will probably use the ellison machine to make my nametags and use yarn to put them on the students.
Connie - Well, I am working on that. If they trace on color, I'm worried the self portrait won't show, but i really would like color. I don't know, what do you think?
Paulie - did u make your bnasket for the bushel out of flat paper or 3 dimentiosal?
Paulie - so why can't u give them a little rectangle to draw on and glue to apple?
Connie - flat paper. I originally tried to weave paper, horrible when done. I chucked and started over with just the flat drawing. Maybe next time when I can think more about it.
Connie - Thanks Paulie, great idea, I was trying to work it out, but couldn't getit thanks
Paulie - oic
Paulie - thanks for sharing If I get this K class I am going to start with that
Paulie - u could trace on aan overhead sheet plastic a bushel basket and draw it enlarged to fil BB
Rita - I have no access to an ellison machine, I trace and cut my own. Paulie, I've made a three dimensional basket by stapling the sides to a bb
Connie - Yeah that's what I ended up doing. Paulie
Paulie - but then how do the apples fit into it You put a thingie behind them to make them stand out too?
Paulie - I forgot to ask about teacher things like ellison
Rita - you could
Connie - I could, at this point I was just thinking of stacking them on top, but that might work.
milymo/oh - Our library has ellison days, where they bring the ellison machine in and let people sign up for times to use it. They usually bring seasonal dies.
Connie - We've got an ellison
Paulie - I have weaved two strips that are glued in L shape and glued that to back of thigns to make them stand out
Connie - Like a pop up book kinda
Paulie - and could stuff the bottom of 3 d basket with tissue
Paulie - yes
Paulie - I would hate to ahve to sign up to use it I used it whenever I ahd a free moment
Paulie - before school, after, recess, lunch, lol
Connie - I agree, the ellison is used a lot at our school.
Rita - Lucky ellison machine users. I could go to the iu but it's about 45 min. away and they have all kinds of construction there. It costs $20 so I spend the whole day but I only go once a year
Paulie - I am going to do Buddy bags again too
milymo/oh - We have one at school too. I don't have to go to our public library for it!
Connie - buddy bags?
Paulie - and also have a K Journal bear that goes hoem with oen child each week end
Connie - explain journal
milymo/oh - You could put name tags on your list for your next visit!!
Paulie - Book Buddy bags that have books and activities to do I been makeing them for a couple years now I also collect backpacks with Pooh, alligators or whatever and make a pack from them
Rita - I used to have a bear buddy - I call my kids the Alpha Bears but I had to discontinue it - fleas and such - yuk!
milymo/oh - How do you do it all Paulie?
Connie - We made some of those to raffle off to raise money to buy books for our book room. Do you have a hard time getting them back?
Paulie - The kid takes the bear home. The bear has a msall back pack with a journal and pen in it. The kid does stuff with the bear all weekend The parent writes about the adventures and the kid signs it. Modnay we read the journal
milymo/oh - My big old bear was put away when lice was going around.
Paulie - I also ahve a garden every grade I ever taught
Connie - anyone do journaling at school with kinders
Paulie - well I give the bear away at the end of the year
Paulie - ave a drawing for it I keep the back apck and journal
Paulie - I do journals with K
Rita - I also realized how many illiterate parents the kids have - it got depressing - so many wouldn't write or the book came back disgustingly dirty
Connie - how do you do it
Connie - journals i mean
Paulie - I make the parents sign a form before the kdis can participate in Buddy Book packs
Rita - i do journals everyday
Paulie - I jsut take some paper that has no lines first of all and let the kids draw and write what they want to
Connie - any directions how much time do you give them
Paulie - n the next step is to ahve them tell u what they drew and you write it in yellow so they can trace it
Paulie - then they soudn out what they can or use "word wall" seasonal words
Paulie - then they write sentences at end of year
Paulie - t after they start writing on their own I use the paper that has space to draw at top and lines at bottom
milymo/oh - I may have to try the weekend backpack thing. I will probably get results similar to Rita's - no writing or real dirty.
Paulie - 20 min in a rotational group usually
Paulie - well make them sign a form first so they are responsible
Paulie - but that was journaling in half day K I don't know wht i will do if I get an all day K job
Rita - I do it a little differently. I do a mini lesson on writing then the kids think about the story they want to tell, draw a picture to show it and then try to write it. I sit with small groups of children and it takes about 30 min.
milymo/oh - Do you use building blocks Paulie? I forget.
Rita - every child writes every day
Paulie - I never make K children journal about a certain topic
milymo/oh - Anybody else use building blocks?
Paulie - I used BB somewhat in half day but it was hard In fulld ay I will if I get this job all the other K teahers use it
Connie - I was thinking of having journaling a center is that a bad idea. I'm only half days and worrying about time
Connie - I will using building blocks this year
milymo/oh - Why was it hard in full day, Paulie?
Rita - I might suggest what they might write about if it's connected to literature other than that it's their journal
Paulie - Rita, I woudl do that kind of writing with first gr
Paulie - was not ahrd in full day in full day u have the time in half day not time as so much to do
Paulie - journaling can be a center but you must model it in whole group meeting first
Rita - What can I say - we are moving along here they must be 5 by Sept. so they are a little older
milymo/oh - Oh, okay! Got it!
Paulie - that is good Rita
Paulie - so might work
Rita - You might try doing it every other day
Connie - oh yeah, i will model during morning meeting before we're ready for that. I will have 3 title people in my room during that time so i'm thinking they could help with journaling
Connie - during guided reading/literacy center time i mean
milymo/oh - Building Blocks seems to recommend starting journaling a bit later in the year. Am I correct about this? When do all of you start your journaling?
Paulie - sure soudns liek a plan to me I think kids should "write" every day
Connie - I haven't decided when to start
Rita - Our school district has been taken over by the state so every child must be assessed and move forward -- even k!! it's the most difficult work I've ever done
Paulie - also ahve writing the room with a clipboard
Paulie - well I am strting right way
Connie - i agree there will be other chances to write.
Connie - write the room will be another center.
milymo/oh - I was thinking of starting journaling out similar to Paulie (I like the tracing idea!) and then moving towards how Rita does it towards the end of the year.
Paulie - sounds liek a plan
Rita - Well, great chattin' Gotta go teachin' the teachers tomorrow
Connie - I would love to do it like rita, but i don't think i have the time
Connie - bye rita
Rita - bye,
Paulie - but don't do the yellow word tracing too long if u r using BB cause they will start out sounding many names (letters beginning ones) right fromday one
Connie - i've never seen bb do the kids really catch on to letters that great with the name activities like in the month to month
Paulie - yes because you use phonemic awareness poems with it
Paulie - and it transfers
Connie - phonemic awareness poems?
milymo/oh - I did Writer's Workshop everyday in 2nd grade. 10 min mini lesson, 15 min to write, 5 to share. Some days it was a little longer.
Connie - Hi JennJenn
Paulie - you can do that in 2nd gr
Paulie - hi jennJenn
milymo/oh - I need my Month by Month Book!!!
milymo/oh - Don't know where it is with all the things that have been coming in.
Connie - I've got the month by month, I want the building blocks books I want to see that info
Missy - i need some ideas for a 5th grade math bulletin board any ideas please help time is running out and i need help bad
Connie - Missy we are early childhood people
Missy - hi
Paulie - hi Missy what will u start with in there?
milymo/oh - I got that one first Connie.
Connie - JennJenn what do you teach
Paulie - I taught 4th gr one year
JennJenn - I majored in el ed and just got hired for an ec position
JennJenn - i just graduated and im scared!!
Missy - @#$%
Connie - I've read guided reading though
Connie - what is ec? Jennjene
JennJenn - early childhood
Missy - i need some ideas for a 5th grade math bulletin board any ideas please help time is running out and i need help bad
Paulie - Missy u said a bad word
Connie - oh, makes sense. what age group
Paulie - Missy what are u teaching n math first?
JennJenn - its preschool at a catholic school
Connie - I student taught preschool. fun
JennJenn - I'm also the "special" teacher...library, gym...
Connie - I'm sorry missy I don't have experience with 5th
JennJenn - this wasnt the ideal position but i am willing to try
JennJenn - When I student taught fifth grade I made a bulletin board that could be changed daily
Connie - oh, gym I was a reading tutor for 3 years after I graduated before I got this kinder position. hang in there. hard work pays off
Paulie - Shapes are our business?
JennJenn - I made a lock and lamenated a bunch of keys, on each key was a math problem
Paulie - We'e the best -- any ANGLE you look at it!
milymo/oh - At least you don't have to sub JennJenn!
JennJenn - yes, i am happy about that
Connie - I hated subbing
JennJenn - but its a part time position and at a catholic school, so i am not making much
milymo/oh - I didn't mind it, but I LOVE having my own classroom.
Paulie - we're
JennJenn - which is okay since its experience
Connie - experience and making contacts will help
Paulie - Fractals are our name
JennJenn - how do you ever survive the first year?
milymo/oh - Maybe they will let you sub the other half day if they need someone.
Connie - I'll tell you when I have. This is my first year. i'm freaking out slightly
JennJenn - Me too
Paulie - Connie u will do fine
Deblm - Hi all.
milymo/oh - My first year was so much better than my student teaching experience!
Paulie - keep coming here, post on the chatboards and ask for help
JennJenn - Hi Deblm
Connie - thanks Paulie
milymo/oh - Oops! Baby's up!
Connie - What do you deblm?
JennJenn - I will, it's good to talk to others in the same situation, or with more experience
Paulie - {{{{{Connie}}}}}}
Paulie - hi JustMe this is not the Just me from MI is it?
Just Me - Yes it is
Deblm - I have taught kindergarten for the past 10 or 11 years. It's easy to lose track.
Paulie - what happed to the MI Happy Anniversary
Just Me - Anniversary is almost over Husband wants to read before bed so he said go chat for awhile
JennJenn - when will all of you be on here to chat again?
Paulie - good for him
Connie - Deblm, half or full day kinder
milymo/oh - JennJenn and Connie - my biggest help my first couple years were other teachers. I worked with some really great people.
Paulie - next wek for this chat and tomorrow for the discipline one with Dr marshall
Connie - Do you all chat a lot. This is only my 2nd
Deblm - We do 2 full days and 1 half day for each of the 2 classes we have.
Connie - am learning lots though
Paulie - I come to BB chat and this oen and Marshall's discipline one
Connie - interesting
Deblm - Does anyone teach all day every day kindergarten? I think I'd like that better.
Paulie - and I post on the boards
Just Me - I like to come to this one. Everyone has great ideas to share.
Connie - i went to one bb chat
Connie - love the boards
Connie - i'm just half day kinder
Paulie - Jsut Me the principal called me today wanted me to have a 4-8th gr art class I aid no I will wait for the K class
Paulie - He will call me again next Tues morning
Connie - jennjenn, have you started planning for the year
JennJenn - I actually just found out I'm hired tonight
Paulie - congrats jennJenn
JennJenn - How long have you known about your job Connie?
Just Me - The chatboards are full of good ideas too
JennJenn - Thanks
Just Me - school year
Connie - oh, the amazement hasn't worn off. I walked around in a daze when i found out.
Connie - i got my job in june, late june
JennJenn - That's the way I feel, like this isn't for real
JennJenn - Do you feel ready to start?
milymo/oh - I have to go and get my babe back to bed. Hopefully I can get back here next week!
milymo/oh - Goodnight everyone!
Connie - i totally understand. i still walk in my room in amazement. my names not on the door yet, maybe it will feel real then I keep wondering when they are going to take it back
JennJenn - See you next week milymo
Connie - goodnight milymo
Paulie - hmmm my chat is not posting
Connie - hi lis/1
Just Me - Good for you Paulie. I hope you hear soon about the K class
Lis/1 - hi everyone!
JennJenn - Hi Lis
Connie - what do you do lis/1
Paulie - me too Just Me
Lis/1 - hi everyone!
Lis/1 - Today was my first day with the kids! It went pretty smoothly all in all.
JennJenn - Well, ladies, it's almost midnight here, so I will look for you next week
Connie - bye jenn/jenn
Connie - what grade lis?
Lis/1 - goodnight JennJenn
Lis/1 - first, Connie
Connie - oh, how many kids
Just Me - Congrats Lis. I go back next week for meetings - Kids come on August 26. I went to my room yesterday. They haven't even STARTED to clean it yet! I'm bummed.
Just Me - bye JennJenn
Connie - yuck just me. I've lived in my room the last weeks. our kids come aug.21
Paulie - that is terrible Just Me
Lis/1 - 23 kids....oh yuck, Just Me...yeah they waited till the day before school started to clean my carpets and it stank so much in there like mold!
Deblm - What have they been doing all summer, Just Me?
Connie - well, i'm counting my blessings for my room it was cluttered from the other teachers but at least clean
Just Me - I have so many ideas I want to try. The whole building is a mess. They are putting in a new heating system so the ceiling is torn out in most of the rooms also.
Connie - what are you waiting to try
Deblm - Do you think they'll have it all done by Aug. 26th,Just Me?
Just Me - There was summer school in my room until the end of July. My already dirty carpet has a few more stains plus glitter all over.
Just Me - Somehow it always gets "done" even if it isn't clean. lol
Connie - where do you teach just me
Just Me - I bought a new bulletin board set - school bees "Bee kind, Be helpful, etc." I have been working on a new furniture arrangement, that kind of thing.
Connie - oh! I like that bee kind, etc. cute
Paulie - do u have hives for the bees hehehehehee
Just Me - I'm in the bottom of the Thumb in Michigan
Just Me - The whole room is my hive. "Mrs. B's hive - where something is always buzzin'
Connie - do you all have a room theme for the year
Deblm - I like that
Just Me - I have a teacher friend who's husband is a beekeeper. I going to sak him to come to talk to the class.
Connie - well, I better sign off. Good night
Just Me - ask not sak him! lol
Lis/1 - That sounds fun Just Me!
Deblm - Me too. Good Night.
Lis/1 - well speaking of sacks I guess I'd better hit the sack so I'm fresh and cheery tomorrow!
Just Me - What are you doing with your class, Lis
Paulie - lol Ilsot this page when i got two Ims
Paulie - u here Just Me?
Just Me - I'm here - did everyone else go? Where is Lis?
Just Me - My computer is working v-e-r-y slowly
Paulie - Lis aid she had to hit the sack
Paulie - said
Just Me - I didn't get to say good-bye. Tell me about your interview
Paulie - I did
Just Me - In an email?
Paulie - and this site is published in archives so don't want to get too personal here lol
Paulie - I thought so
Just Me - ok
Paulie - so what did u eat tonight at dinner for anniv dinner
Just Me - then to Barnes & Noble I got "Miss Bindergarten stays home from kindergarten and a John Jakes book - he writes great historical fiction
Paulie - stays home?
Paulie - nothing is posting
Just Me - I had scallops don't know why it didn't copy what I typed
Paulie - that was a good idea t go to book store
Paulie - o good then u had what u wanted
Paulie - It did that to me earlier
Paulie - you should get aol instant messenger it is a free downlaod online and then we could Im each other
Just Me - Miss Bindergarten is sick so a sub "Mr. Tusky" takes over. I'm going to read it to when I have to take off for my brother-in-laws surgery
Paulie - good plan
Paulie - I ahve a neat book I bought this past yr
Paulie - A Fine Fine School by Sharon Creech
Just Me - My kids have it. I will see about joining im
Just Me - Don't know it. What's it about?
Paulie - the principal walks aroudn the school looking at all the wonderful learning opportunities takinplace and say s it is a fine fine school and because it si he wants school on saturdays and then sundays and holidays and it gets so funny
Paulie - in the end they tell the principal that it is a fine school but there si not time to learn other things at home like teahing the dog tricks or reading to brother and stuff like that
Just Me - sounds like a funny book
Paulie - so finally they go back to M-F school week
Paulie - because those things need to learn too
Paulie - It is just adorable
Just Me - M-F is enough for me! hahahahaha
Paulie - he only adds part of the extended week at a time and lieks it so much he keeps adding school time
Paulie - lol
Paulie - o he even ahs school in the summer too
Paulie - and at night?
Paulie - but the little girl teahes him it si not good to be at their fine fine school all the time there are other places to elarn too
Paulie - I think it would be the perfect book to read for the K class if I get them after they have been in another classroom
Paulie - or three other classrooms I eman
Just Me - He sounds like our state board of ed School goes longer each year. I will look for it next time I'm in the book store.
Paulie - (hoep hope)
Just Me - HI, Michelle, what's new?
Paulie - I bought it last summer just before school started I did not dare go to bookstore or I would be penniless
Paulie - I love to buy books
Just Me - I agree, Paulie
Just Me - Bookstores and craft stores are my downfall.
Paulie - me too
Paulie - I bought this pak of three paper punches at walmart
Paulie - s in the row with tile folders but it was supposed to eb in crafts soem one left it I suppose
Paulie - is a maple leaf, a snowflake and two ft right and left
Paulie - so cute
Paulie - of course I ahd to buy it when i got to the cash reg she told me it was from crafts I should ahve gone abck there to see if there were other kidns lol
Just Me - They are so useful too
Paulie - I feel like I am talking to myself
Just Me - Hi Reva, what's new?
Paulie - I already cut a bunch of fall colored leaves with it They are about the size of a dime
reva - Hi--I haven't been in here for meeting time for a long time.
Paulie - and soem snowflakes and a few feet
Paulie - hate to tell u but the meeting is over lol
Paulie - t hang around
reva - I am going back to preschool this year.
Paulie - we jsut hang aroudn I meant
Paulie - from where?
reva - Oh well, there is some chat going on
reva - 2nd grade teaching assistant for 2 yrs.
Paulie - I was just kidding
Paulie - o wow
reva - I was lead teacher for 17yrs in preschool and then quit to move. Long story but I didn't move but my job waws already filled.
Just Me - Tell us about the preschool
Paulie - o wow she did not stay long
reva - In my years there we expanded from 3 4yr old classes to 4 and from 1 3yr old class to 2.
Just Me - Are you back at the same preschool?
reva - Now they have 3 3yr old classes
reva - yes same one
reva - Can't wait to start.
Just Me - Which class is yours?
reva - I will be an assistant but that is ok kfor now
reva - I will be helping with both age groups
Just Me - You will be very busy!
reva - It is a private PS held at a church but self supporting.
reva - Yes I just have to lose the words "We used to do it this way"
Paulie - lol
reva - I have so much stuff saved on the computer I can't wait to be able to use it again.
reva - I am in INdiana, where are you all from???
Just Me - Another night owl, I'm in Michigan
Paulie - WA state now
reva - We do not start until after labor day
Just Me - We start August 21 - kids come August 26 I'm in AM and PM kdg
Just Me - I'd love to stay and talk but I'm getting sleepy. My computer is moving slower than me. Bye till next time.
reva - OK bye Just Me
Paulie - nite Just me
Paulie - I am going too been her e almost 4 hours
