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sb - anyone have any good ideas for Sept. 11 activites-first grade, we're required to do something...
Paulie - I ahve posted a nice flag to color on both K and primary boards and also on the main teacher board
Paulie - You can have a moment of silence, do the pledge together, illustrate the words (phrases) for a class book
KTeacher - are you doing activities for Kindergarten?
Addie/mo - i would definitely stick to patriotism or heros to "do a 9-11 activity".
Carol/pre K - sb- how close to the tradgy is your school. To me that will detewrmine what type of activity
Paulie - You could plant a flower bed that will coem up in red white and blue flowers in the spring and maybe purchase a stone with 9.11 rememberance on it
sb - we are in FL
Paulie - If the kids are a little older than K they could write down why THEY are a hero
KTeacher - I feel that my students don't really know or understand what is going on, and I hate to open up a can of worms.
Christine - Sorry but I'm going to post this again just for any more ideas, Does anybody have any ideas of what to do with a first grader who doesn't want to be in school and cries, destroys things, and runs out of the room. She was new today and was sent home after 20 minutes. And mom yelled so much that I just asked her to leave.
Paulie - I disagree Carol . . . I am in WA and I have thsoe same feelings for friends and relatives
Addie/mo - at my school i instructed the teachers that we will do our pledge and patriotic song at our morning assembly as always and they are to proceed with a "normal" day. i asked them to be ready to talk to kids about 9-11 if they bring it up and to limit 9-11 activities to patriotism and/or heroes if they really want to do something
Darcy/PK - Christine, was the mother yelling at you or the child?
Christine - I agree with being carefull for 9/11. I don't think my first graders understand nor do I really want them to. I think it has really stressed everyone out and I don't want them worried. I'd just talk about American and our freedom.
Addie/mo - from what i have read, children really do not have the need to "memorialize" things like adults and also, they dont understand that when they see these events televised and retelevised that they are the same thing. they think it is happening over and over
Christine - The mother was yelling at the child.
Paulie - Christine, what about making her be in charge of something neat that all the kids would like to do?
sb - my school district is requiring everyone to say the pledge at noon and do some kind of remembrace activity-I agree my students don't understand, but...you know how some counties can be
KTeacher - Christine - have mother leave child at office and leave the building. When child calms down, have principal take her to class.
Christine - The problem is she won't talk to me or follow even the smallest of directions. I gave her a stuffed animal to hold. She took it then threw it away.
Paulie - sb a moment of silence is always in good taste and understandable by little ones
Addie/mo - what did this child do last year in kindergarten? do you have a counselor that can take the child out for a while, calm her down and then try to return her to the class. and, yes, mom should leave if she is acting that like that.
Darcy/PK - Has the child ever been to school?
Paulie - sb I posted a neat flag to color on primary and k boards check that out for your activity
sb - thanks for the advice Paulie-the class book might work out well. I'm in a math, science, and technology school so taking digital pictures of students doing the pledge and writing about it might make a nice class book
Carol/pre K - The younger the children are the more difficult it will be to provide a meaningful experience activity for them if they are not directly connected somehow no matter where in the country they live.
Christine - Well she is brand new to my class. I don't have any background on her. I did hear all the kids are really difficult (she has 2 brothers in the school). We do have a social worker. Maybe I'll talk to her about coming in for a little bit.
Paulie - sb that soudns lieka wonderful idea
Darcy/PK - For tommorrow, my class is making a paper chain flag.
KTeacher - Does the child have any friends, or would any children be willing to "take care" of her
Paulie - sb they can also take a song like america the beautiful and illustrate each line for a book
Christine - Tomorrow I actually have to be out for Jury duty so I'm worried about it, but I'm hoping she'll be ok.
sb - darcy are you just using red, white, and blue paper and linking them all together to make a flag-sounds neat-I love creative ideas
Addie/mo - possibly the social worker could come in and support and coach her for a while. this is not normal behavior, so if nothing else, at least the social worker can observe her. it makes me wonder what is going on in the family if all the kids are having problems
Darcy/PK - Let me make sure I am getting this straight, you want to know what qualifications your sons teachers have?
Christine - She'll know what she taught.
Darcy/PK - yes, sb. exactly what I'm doing.
KTeacher - There is a new book from Scholastic called America the Beautiful - it has great photos illustrating the song
Christine - Thanks, I will try to social worker.
Paulie - on the paper chain flag u can add yellow stars after it is constructed
Christine - I might ask the mom to bring the child in tomorrow after school so I can sit with her and talk. Maybe that will help her a little too.
Paulie - Is that the one by Neil Waldman?
Paulie - I jsut bought it today and it is fantastic
Darcy/PK - A colleague has one of those hold punches that makes stars.
KTeacher - Could you talk to her parent without the child being present - might help to fill in the blanks??
Addie/mo - christine that might help, so that the child can get used to the surroundings without the distraction of all the other kids
Paulie - my last school had a die cut that made stars
KTeacher - I'm not sure of the author
sb - thanks for the great ideas-this was my first time here-I look forward to sharing ideas-take care to all! bye
Darcy/PK - lucky ducky, paulie
Paulie - I posted about the 4 new kids' books I bought today
Addie/mo - that is a good idea k-teacher. maybe she could have some time with the child and mom and some time with just the mom. maybe the social worker could watch the child for a little bit so she and mom could talk privately
Paulie - one called new York's Bravest is a tall tale about a fireman of long ago in NY and how he is still with every fireman today It is dedicated to those Firefighters who lost their lives 9.11
Christine - I would definitely like that. The parent showed up at my door with child at 9am, and I was in the middle of a lesson so it was really very difficult. I didn't have time to talk to mom, and I had to have the kindergarten aide come into my room while I ran after the child when she ran out of my room.
Christine - Addie, that is a good idea.
Darcy/PK - don't you have to do parent-chilkd interviews before school starts, christine?
Christine - No, I don't meet the kids until the first day and this child just entered school today (we started 9 days ago).
Addie/mo - darcy, we never did, but it sounds like a good idea
Paulie - Darcy . . . I know . . . I was on my way to the library at the mall and this bookstore was beconning me in before i got to the library
Christine - Actually I've never heard of parent/child interviews. I have heard of the kids coming in for open house, but they don't do that in our district.
Darcy/PK - We have parents answer a questionnaire about the child's likes, dislikes, allergies, etc. We get to meet the kid and they get to "explore" the classroom while mom is there.
Paulie - beckoning
KTeacher - We don't either - the first time we see some children is at spring registration or fall registration
Paulie - wow Darcy that is a good idea
Addie/mo - i like a before school open house. my old school did formal meetings, my new school it was a come and go thing
Darcy/PK - We also have them sign a "walking" permission slip and emergency contact numbers.
Darcy/PK - thanks.
Christine - That is a good idea...not sure why we don't do something because about 70 percent of the kids are new to the school (we only have one k class housed at the school the rest are at a nearby school)>
Addie/mo - but open house or interviews wouldnt have solved this problem, since she was a late enrollee
Paulie - hi sue
Christine - What is a walking permission slip? Like you walk near the school.
KTeacher - We also have them fill out an info form - my favorite question is "Is there anything you would like the teacher to know?"
Christine - This is very true.
Darcy/PK - true Addie. But I do these interviews the whole first month of school because kids are always late arrivals.
Paulie - I had questionnaire liek that when I did home visits before school started
sue - hi darcy- I'm PK< too
Addie/mo - so you go ahead and schedule an interview even after school has started?
Christine - I think the best thing right now is for me to find a time to meet with mom and child together and seperately after school. It's too bad I'll be out tomorrow because I won't be able to discuss this idea.
Darcy/PK - lol - K teach. A couple slyling inquire about parenting skills. For ex. "What is your favorite time of day to spend with your child"
Darcy/PK - hi sue
sue - darcy- we do that at class visits, too
Christine - Thanks for the help.
Darcy/PK - yes Addie. Better late then never, right?
KTeacher - LOL
Paulie - hmmmm this board is not working Good one Darcy!
Christine - What about those walking permission slips?
Addie/mo - true, darcy
Darcy/PK - Can I just say, I hate home visits!!!
Addie/mo - why do you hate home visits (never did those either)
Paulie - you can say it but I foudn them useful
Christine - I've only had one home visit so far, and it really helped.
Darcy/PK - walking permission slips are p.slips the parents sign so that we have permission to take the child for walks around the neighborhood (ie leave school grounds).
Christine - Ok....my neighborhoods not really "safe" to go walking around in and nothing that would be educational.
KTeacher - I'm glad I stumbled onto this site. I will definitely be back - I found you while I was looking for info on building blocks for K
Christine - I wish there was.
Darcy/PK - because I work in an inner city and someplaces the people live are not very safe, or dirty. Several teachers have left with roaches crawling on their things.
Soon2BTeach - Hi..what is the discussion about?
Addie/mo - ohhhh, yuck!
Darcy/PK - glad to meet you kteacher
Darcy/PK - we are talking about dealing with cryers.
Paulie - anythign a PreK thru 2nd gr teacher wants to discuss . . .
Christine - I used to bring home roaches from my old school....talk about gross.
KTeacher - You too Darcy - I'm glad I don't have to do any home visits!!
Christine - Hmmm....how about the best way to teach beginning sounds.
Paulie - I always had great home visits been there for breakfast on saturday, evening meals, had peaches flown in from Georgia just for me for an afternoon visit lol
Soon2BTeach - Oh I am not a teacher yet, hint my name. Going to student teach this coming semester..I graduate in the Spring of 2003.
Christine - Wow Paulie, where do you teach?
Darcy/PK - Does anyone else work in an inner city?
Christine - Best of luch soon2b
KTeacher - Just to brag - LOL - like it has anything to do with me - this is my first year without anyone crying or sprinting
sue - darcy- where are you?
Christine - oops that is luck.
Christine - I work in an inner city.
Carol/pre K - When you know your surrounding you take as little as possible on a home visit. less of a chance to bring friends home
Paulie - use Building Blcoks methods with the kids' names for beginning sounds
Darcy/PK - what grade are you student teaching in?
Addie/mo - i think that letters and sounds should be taught in context. have you seen building blocks or four blocks?
sue - no- I teach public school pre-k low income area
Darcy/PK - heh heh, very true carol
Christine - Explain the building blocks method please.
Paulie - I did home visits in Los angeles now that is inner city!!!!!
Paulie - I would love to teach at your school addie so many won't let u do BB
Addie/mo - go K-teach! but, you better not brag too loudly or do a herky jump or anything, cause you never know who is moving in tomorrow! LOL
Darcy/PK - Philadelphia is too.
KrisTCNJ - Can anyone tell me where I can find information on the learning characteristics of high school seniors???
Carol/pre K - Hi Barbie where in WI are you?
sue - we are no longer allowed to do home visits because of the liability
Paulie - Christine therre is a site here that explains it and they refer you to the books too
Barbie/K/WI - Hi all
Darcy/PK - there are as many ways to teach beginning sounds as there are stars in the sky.
KTeacher - I am just beginning building blocks this year - I read an archived meeting about it- I'm looking for ideas and help. We've always done letter of the week, and we are now trying to do both! Yikes!! You're right Addie - I'll be careful!
Barbie/K/WI - Delavan area
Paulie - Kris nope . . . most of us are PreK thru 2nd gr teachers here
Christine - What site is that?
Carol/pre K - Not to far from Madison
Darcy/PK - I would go to "Ask Eric" for that, Kris.
Barbie/K/WI - nope...
Christine - check out google.com
Barbie/K/WI - Carol, does your preschool program have a curriculum that you have to follow?
Christine - What is the building blocks website?
Carol/pre K - I'm a Head Start teacher and we follow the High Scope curriculum
KrisTCNJ - thank you
Barbie/K/WI - My kindergarten group just aligned our curriculum to the standards and now it's the pre-k job to create a curriculum
KTeacher - I've not started the "names" yet. Any suggestions for how to begin?
Barbie/K/WI - ok, I see
Darcy/PK - I teach Head Start too.
Addie/mo - kteach, that is how i made my transition from letter of the week to more integrated teaching. one year i was doing both, but what i discovered was not to far into the year they knew a whole lot more than what they would have known from LOW. i was convinced and dropped LOW and never looked back
Darcy/PK - as in learning how to spell names, kteacher?
Carol/pre K - Darcy what do you think of the outcomes and preformance standards
Barbie/K/WI - KTeacher, I make a classroom book with the first letter of their names cut from the diecut and they fill in their name to complete the sentence _____ my name is _____. and use the die cut letter
KTeacher - My kids seem to be very low this year. we do the Brigance entrance test, and these are some of the lowest scores I have ever had.
Darcy/PK - we have benchmarks and standards and outcomes from the school district.
KTeacher - Darcy - no, from the building blocks program -
Darcy/PK - ahhh
Addie/mo - cute, barbie. do you read that book, a, my name is alice?
Barbie/K/WI - I always had but it looses their attention quick
KTeacher - Neat Barbie - that would be neat to have a picture of each child on their page.
Carol/pre K - Darcy so, they match pretty close. We had toi develop our own its been and still is along process
Darcy/PK - I have that book, Addie. Very cute.
Barbie/K/WI - I LOVE OUR DIGITAL CAMERA!
Paulie - Addie who is the author?
Addie/mo - i dont remember, but it has a gorilla on the front cover
KTeacher - I bought a digital video camera this summer, and I am still learning how to use it. It takes still pix, but I'm still trying to figure out the best software for the best pictures.
Paulie - Darcy do u know?
Barbie/K/WI - I don't remember the auther either
Carol/pre K - Barbie great idea I'm always looking for another way to use their names to teach letters.
Darcy/PK - I know I bought it from scholastic.
Paulie - u did not get software with it?
Addie/mo - i could look on amazon...brb
Paulie - I use iPhoto because I ahve a limited edition snow iMac
KTeacher - I know of one school that is teaching 2 letters per week, along with the BB, but I don't have enough time as it is, and I even have full day K
Barbie/K/WI - I have made name and picture cards with their pictures, nice for subs, nice for me when lining the kids up or whatever
KTeacher - Paulie - I did, but I'm still trying to figure it out too!!
Addie/mo - the author is jane bayer and it is illustrated by stephen kellogg
Paulie - 2 letters plus BB would mean at least three letters per week How wise is that?
Paulie - thanks addie
Addie/mo - you dont need to teach two letters per week with building blocks. that is overkill
Barbie/K/WI - I don't think I could do 2 letters a week, I just stopped the letter of the week this year
Darcy/PK - I think this is it: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0614291488/qid=1031708660/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_3/002-5482530-7912802?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
KTeacher - I can't imagine doing it like that, Paulie. I'm having a hard time fitting in one letter per week with BB, but I'm afraid I will leave something out!!
Paulie - no lie
Barbie/K/WI - Those of you that use building blocks how do you teach the letter formations effectively?
Paulie - KTeacher it si not my suggestion I was replying to someone else
KTeacher - gotcha
Paulie - during shared writing
Barbie/K/WI - with 20 kids and no aide it really is hard to make sure they are using the correct strokes when making the letters
Barbie/K/WI - parents don't help much at home either
KTeacher - I began with morning message, but even with 2 sentences, I find some kids are having a really hard time focusing. I guess that goes back to the low scores - I guess they are very immature
Paulie - maybe u could do shared writing on the overhead so u can face the class
Barbie/K/WI - ok
Paulie - why don't u get a part time aide?
Paulie - If u face the class maybe they won't misbehave or think they can get away with idle mischielf
Barbie/K/WI - our district won't hire any more aides and keep the ones we have just under so many hours so they don't have to pay insurance
Paulie - I heard of a teacher using stuffed animals for the letters that kids names don't start with
KTeacher - I have a state aide for 1hour and 45 minutes a week - she only cuts, colors, and files things for me.
Paulie - that is sad
Barbie/K/WI - I am going to try and get parents to come in or a college student
KTeacher - I like the overhead idea - the kids always think it is sooooo cool!!
Barbie/K/WI - they do like the overhead!
Paulie - well usign the overhead is good sometimes anyway no matter how good they are Using a different media helps direct them
KTeacher - My problem with parent volunteers is that the ones who want to come and help have children who are horrible when their parent is around!
Barbie/K/WI - true
Darcy/PK - too true!
Paulie - Kteacher the parent should not be allowed to jsut help their child
KTeacher - How do you all deal with clingy children - especially when the parent doesn't insist that the child stay with the group.
Addie/mo - i did choose one letter that we focused on in our literacy centers (and reviewed others). it was whatever letter we were matching in our big book. we also went over that letter's sound in one of our mini lessons following shared reading, but this was review for most of the kids because they had already learned the letters through the integrated method
Carol/pre K - True but if they're consistant about coming in the child usually gets used to it.
Darcy/PK - that's what happens every field trip, paulie. Parents come and only want to take their own kid.
Barbie/K/WI - ok, cute idea I am going to try tomorrow, take a grahm cracker with white frosting, put a dab of blue frosting in the corner with white chocolat chips and lay red licorice down and we will have an American flag!
Addie/mo - the overhead is more effective than the board for that reason. i was really glad when i decided to try it
Paulie - tell them they can do that on the weekends before they sign up to go let them know u will give them their child and three others
Darcy/PK - scary, barbie. sugars them up. lol
Barbie/K/WI - my kids only come for about 2 1/2 hours
Paulie - good messy fun barbie
Carol/pre K - make it right before they go home
KTeacher - Put it in a ziploc and they can take it home!
Addie/mo - i never used to let parent volunteers start until several weeks into school. then i was always firm with them to let them know that if their child was having difficulties during their visits, i would have to ask them to stop
Barbie/K/WI - someone had a school bus on their web site made from grahm crackers, we did that yesterday and was very cute!
Addie/mo - i never acutally had to ask anyone not to come, though
Paulie - amen addie same with me
KTeacher - I told parents who asked that it would be later in the fall, and it also depends on how the class is doing with their separation from home as a whole.
sue - how in the world do 1/2 K teachers fit everything in?
Addie/mo - there was one child i talked to privately one time about the behavior i expected and how he had to act that way even if mom was there to help. i explained to the child that if he was causing a problem then having his mom come was really not helping our class. he straightened up and i didnt have to talk to mom
Paulie - hi sue
sue - oops 1/2 day
Paulie - plan plan plan
KTeacher - good idea addie
Darcy/PK - can I tell you how many times I've ended up with more kids cause the parents don't want to bother with another kid when they go into a store? I understand that they don't want to spend money on other kids, but when they ditch their kids, it's not cool.
Paulie - sometiems the science is part of the reading lesson
Barbie/K/WI - you don't and I feel that my kids wouldn't compare to half of yours at the end of the year
sue - I'm just amazed- we've had full day K in my aread for the last 20 years
Paulie - the International dance for the whole school program becomes recess or PE time
Barbie/K/WI - I think Building Blocks will really help me this year
Barbie/K/WI - we feel that we just cram, cram, cram
Paulie - into another store Darcy? when?
KTeacher - We will always have full day K , and we are the only county around that does.
Darcy/PK - during farm trips, zoo trips.
Addie/mo - parents who are helping on field trips need to understand that it is like a job. i think you need to be upfront with them. also, i usually dont assign myself a group, i act as an overseer/troubleshooter
Paulie - o I tell my parents that no kdis go to buy anything
Paulie - uy them all a souviner pencil and that is it no kid goes to store
sue - we had a guidelines form all parents must sign before going on a field trip
Barbie/K/WI - we have pushed for all day and are loosing kids to the districts around us that have it but it is the same old story, no money
Darcy/PK - I did that during our last trip Addie. Then I heard that parents were bad mouthing me about not having a group.
Paulie - not having a group??????
Addie/mo - i have never had the parents upset or maybe they didnt notice
Barbie/K/WI - good idea Addie
Darcy/PK - good idea, sue. Make a list of "Rules"
Paulie - If they aren't helping with the kids why can they go?
sue - darcy- don't worry about it. I work harder trying to make sure all the kids are accounted for than they do!
Barbie/K/WI - then if you need to take an unruly child you can?!
KTeacher - I explain before we leave that I am there if any chaperone has trouble or a child who misbehaves - even their own - I will take that child.
Darcy/PK - yes.
sue - darcy- learned the hard way. parent broke a rule and was smoking out of my vision. got reported to the school board!
Darcy/PK - yikes, sue.
KTeacher - Did school board take action?
Paulie - I don't think parents should go if they are not helping
sue - k teacher- call the principal who chewed me out for not controlling my parents
sue - called, sorry can't think or type right tonight
KTeacher - How about the parents (and parents friends, aunts, cousins...) who think they can sneak in without paying. This always happens to us at the zoo. think
sue - I have an iron fast ryule. All monies are due a week before the field trips. The number cannot be changed.
KTeacher - What were you supposed to do, Yank the cigarette out of their mouth?
Darcy/PK - i have a story - didn't happen to me, but in my district. Four or five classes went to the zoo. A parent was assigned there child and two others. At the trips end, the teacher did a head count and saw that this group was missing. The bus had to leave and the teacher had to let it go. After hours, the teacher gets a call from the principal saying that the group was found. The parent had taken all three kids to the school on a public transit bus without telling anyone. yikes.
KTeacher - We always ask for money early - the others just try to sneak in the gate.
Barbie/K/WI - oh my goodness!
Paulie - good grief
KTeacher - How scary!!
sue - K- close!
Barbie/K/WI - ok, I have to admit my parents have always been well behaved on trips!
Paulie - nothign the matter with public transit but the kids did not have permission to ride it
Darcy/PK - lol - Kteacher. I heard of a group whose bus was pulled over by the cops on their way from the zoo cause some parents had stolen a lot of things. ugh.
KTeacher - LOL
sue - half of my program is parent education.. you'd be surprised what they think is acceptable
Darcy/PK - no, their was a yellow bus waiting. The parent got bored and left early with kids that weren't his own. Amounts to kidnapping.
KTeacher - on that note guys, I'm going to have to go. Thanks for the info and the laughs - I'll have to repeat a few of these stories over lunch tomorrow!!
Barbie/K/WI - I'm heading to bed myself, take care everyone!
Darcy/PK - bye Kteacher
Paulie - gosh there is still a late chat tonight too
KTeacher - Hope to chat again soon. How often are you here?
sue - horror stories- attemped kidnap by non custodial parent, girlfriend and dad making out in front of soon to be ex wife on field trips.parent showing up with obscene lang on a t-shirt that was cut low and cropped to waist
Paulie - every Tues
sue - that's the reason for the guidelines
Paulie - sue how sad
KTeacher - Thanks again - Bye!!
Darcy/PK - yeah, I need to go too.
sue - paulie- hey it did get better though
Paulie - come back soon
Paulie - well it had to -- could not get any worse
sue - paulie- LOL! where my school is located you learn never to say that!
Paulie - and that is where?
sue - low income area suburb of new orleans- 98.7% free lunch
sue - night all
Paulie - I don't know if this is working
Paulie - it did not post my last sentence
Paulie - e sue
Paulie - bye I mean
Paulie - anyone left in here that did not forget to sign out?
Paulie - well I will go now too and come back for the late nite chat
