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jeanne/ece/tx - H-e-ll-o!
Homerun04 - Hello all
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Homerun! How are you this evening?
Homerun04 - Fine thank you....and U?
jeanne/ece/tx - Doing pretty well ... kind of headachey ... but pretty good, thanks! :-0
jeanne/ece/tx - oops!
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Carol -- welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
jeanne/ece/tx - What do we want to talk about this evening? Kathleen mentioned possibly winter holidays and cultural sensitivity ...
Carol/pre K/WI - Just found out that our site has develop a list of materials for Math and Science What are some of your favorites
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Paulie ... welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
jeanne/ece/tx - List of materials for math and science? what age groups are included? what types of materials?
jeanne/ece/tx - I would say magnetic numerals, magnetic shapes, shapes & numerals for overhead projectors
Carol/pre K/WI - 3-5 yr olds head start at this point have very little
jeanne/ece/tx - I like keeping simple things like beans, milk jug lids, lots of different bottle lids (plastic) --- pull tops, flat lids, screw on lids, etc.
Carol/pre K/WI - We have been told to budget about $500.
jeanne/ece/tx - music -- to practice counting, patterns, following instructions -- science can talk about sound vibrations, watch "sound" on computer screen, feel on speaker base ...
Paulie - I like teddy bear counters
jeanne/ece/tx - DAWN dish soap, baking soda, baking powder, vinegar, cooking oil, salt, clear plastic containers (marked for volume), balance, scale
Paulie - and rubber stams so they can make patterns
jeanne/ece/tx - Carol, is this the type of list you're looking for?
Paulie - I like pattern blocks
jeanne/ece/tx - clear contact paper is nice, so kiddos can put "found collections" directly onto the sticky side and mount on paper to save
jeanne/ece/tx - calendar and related tools
Carol/pre K/WI - Yes, i'm just trying to see what types of materials others like or use often
Paulie - sounds neat idea meeha
jeanne/ece/tx - Carol, remember that this page will be available at htttp://www.teachers.net/archive in a day or two!
jeanne/ece/tx - markers, crayons, colored pencils, colored chalk, pasta -- variety of shapes, paper
Carol/pre K/WI - I knew if I asked here I would get some good ideas
Paulie - short and tall disposable cups that are clear for planting and watering thru a cord system from bottom glass to top
jeanne/ece/tx - food colors are a good item to have on-hand -- as is rubbing alcohol
jeanne/ece/tx - buttons, string & yarn, a variety of measuring tools -- cups, spoons, rulers, tapes, etc.
Paulie - also SEEDS for planting in garden and you might use disposable food handler gloves to start the seeds for your garden
Paulie - mayeb a garden box
Carol/pre K/WI - You are giving great ideas
jeanne/ece/tx - 'evening, Sabrina! welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
Paulie - maybe a garden box, black dirt and tools for a little garden outside your classroom
Paulie - abrina
jeanne/ece/tx - cotton balls, cotton swabs, popsicle sticks, magnets
Carol/pre K/WI - Hi Sabrina
Paulie - I meant . . . hi Sabrina
jeanne/ece/tx - magnifying lenses -- concave and convex! possibly a small microscope ... they make a couple now that young children can use! binoculars
Carol/pre K/WI - How do you store your materials
Paulie - a watering can
jeanne/ece/tx - Sabrina -- we're sharing ideas for materials for a math and science center with Carol.
jeanne/ece/tx - plastic shoe boxed, crates, shelves
Paulie - digital camera
jeanne/ece/tx - Carol, some good pictoral reference books -- at least access to! -- is a necessity, too!
jeanne/ece/tx - also use "zipper bags" a lot.
Paulie - measuring cups and funnels and measuring spoons
Paulie - I think I said ziplock bags earlier. . .
jeanne/ece/tx - plastic or waterproof aprons, straws, clear (tygon) tubing, "water wheels", empty containers
Paulie - rocks
Paulie - and fossils
Paulie - shells
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Barbie! welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
Barbie/K/WI - looks like science is the topic tonight?
Paulie - big soft dice
Carol/pre K/WI - thanks for the ideas alot of the same things I had already thought of
Paulie - we can talk about Chritmas and holidays if u choose
Barbie/K/WI - no, science is ok
Paulie - we can talk about Chritmas and holidays if u choose
Carol/pre K/WI - Hi Barbie, we were just helping me out the ideas for math and science
Paulie - Carol flashlight and colored cellophane paper
Carol/pre K/WI - I have enough ideas so we can move on to another topic
Paulie - to show them that different colors piut together make others
jeanne/ece/tx - HI joyce! welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
jeanne/ece/tx - hi sfrgrl! welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
joyce - I teach an elementary science lab. I'm glad your are talking about science this evening.
jeanne/ece/tx - Carol, a hot-plate and pans to use with it will be helpful, too
Carol/pre K/WI - joyce, look for material ideas for 3-5 yr olds
joyce - Can anyone give me ideas for a family science night?
Barbie/K/WI - we had one last year, K wasn't involved though
jeanne/ece/tx - Hmmm ... family science night ... hadn't thought of doing that!
Paulie - so what kind of arts and crafts are u doing for Dec holidays?
Carol/pre K/WI - joyce hands on activities and for how many
jeanne/ece/tx - what kind of budget do you have, joyce?
joyce - This is my first time to this site. I am from Mobile, Alabama in the US
jeanne/ece/tx - Paulie -- snowflakes, snowmen, gingerbread people ...
jeanne/ece/tx - joyce, welcome to teachers.net, the friendliest site on the web!
Barbie/K/WI - I gotta go to bed, I can't even stay focused! You all have a good night and I'll be back next week, more awake I hope!
Paulie - WA here
jeanne/ece/tx - 'nite, Barbie -- take care ... ahve a tgreat week!
Carol/pre K/WI - Evergreen trees
joyce - jeanne, I am not limited in budget at this time. Do you have ideas?
Carol/pre K/WI - Paulie use a lot of cookie cutter and make prints
joyce - Carol, we always have a great turnout. There were probably be 100 people.
Paulie - have u checked out the AIMS site online?
Carol/pre K/WI - joyce what about making flubber or silly putty
Paulie - have u checked out the AIMS site online?
joyce - Paulie, AIMS does have great ideas. I just wondered if anyone had ever done one and how it was set up.
jeanne/ece/tx - joyce -- milk kaliedoscopes?
Just Me/Mi - What are we talking about tonight?
JO - are we talking Christmas or science now
joyce - jeanne, how can I find out more about the milk kaliedoscope?
Paulie - we did a science night at my school each teacher that volunteered set up a table and had hands on thing to do
Paulie - we did a science night at my school each teacher that volunteered set up a table and had hands on thing to do
jeanne/ece/tx - joyce ... you use whole milk at room temperature ... drops of food color added to the sides, then gently add DAWN dish soap ... the soap emulsifies the fat in the milk and causes the milk to move, mixing colors or forming pretty cool patterns on top.
joyce - I would like your thoughts on my having kindergarten visit my lab for 1 hour blocks of time. Is that too long, do you think?
Carol/pre K/WI - joyce, www.SteveSpanglerScience.com has alot of science ideas and the materials to support it and the cost is reasonable
jeanne/ece/tx - When I did it with one group of students we also used heavy cream, buttermilk, skim milk ... to compare different actions
Paulie - if hands on stuff to do, hr is not too long
jeanne/ece/tx - I would think 30 minutes would be the longest in your lab ... even that might be a stretch!
Paulie - half hr u just get started and have to leave. . .
Carol/pre K/WI - need to go roommate needs to use the phone I'll be back if I can
joyce - I have had K every week since the beginnning of school once a week for one hour. Sometimes it is quite a challenge to keep them involved. The class is always hands on. I am wondering if next year I should do 30-45 minutes instead.
Paulie - bye Carol
jeanne/ece/tx - joyce -- I would be thinking of the shorter time ... maybe two short (30 minute) sessions a week instead of one long session ...
jeanne/ece/tx - hi Peg -- welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
joyce - Jeanne, I am going to try your milk activity.
jeanne/ece/tx - OR ... you might consider doing a pre-teach in the Kinder classroom ... then move to the lab for the hands-on
jeanne/ece/tx - joyce -- it is fun!
jeanne/ece/tx - how about color refraction using prisms and a variety of light sources for your family science night?
joyce - jeanne, I had not thought of that 2-part idea.
jeanne/ece/tx - the change in setting would help keep attention, especially if directions are really clear and precise ... and kiddos attend!
joyce - I can really see how far these Ks have come since Aug. We are now studying weather and learning how to read a thermometer. Now at least they can hold the thermometer correctly. They are recognizing their 10s for the most part on the scale.
jeanne/ece/tx - joyce -- you might have materials available to "make musical instruments" ... boards of different sizes, a variety of different widths of rubberbands, empty bottles, combs & wax-paper for "kazoos", --- can have information on "sound-waves", how air acts in different settings ...
jeanne/ece/tx - joyce -- this is SO cool .... good teaching!
joyce - Great ideas I had not thought of.
jeanne/ece/tx - stethoscopes and juice/milk/water to swallow ... listen as it goes down
jeanne/ece/tx - or listen to heart (count beats) "at rest" ... then 1 minute of "exercise" and listen again?
jeanne/ece/tx - find a dietitian or nutritionist to do some heart-healthy eating science project -- maybe demonstrating how differently the body handles/processes fats and carbohydrates
joyce - jeanne, you are a wealth of ideas!
jeanne/ece/tx - JustMe -- how are you doing? You're very quiet tonite!
jeanne/ece/tx - joyce -- give me some rope and watch me go!(thanks)
Addie/mo - hi everyone
Just Me/Mi - I'm ok. Been lost in the snow. 12 inches of it!
jeanne/ece/tx - Addie! how are you this evening?
jeanne/ece/tx - LOL! How warm are you keeping, anyhow?
jeanne/ece/tx - Did you all have school last Wednesday?
joyce - I have never been to this site. I live in Alabama. Where are the rest of you?
Just Me/Mi - 've been listening to all of your great ideas. I'll be copying them down from the archives.
Addie/mo - doing great. it hasnt started snowing here yet, just yucky rain.
Addie/mo - no, we were out
jeanne/ece/tx - Joyce -- I work with a special needs preschool class near Dallas, TX.
Addie/mo - hi paulie
joyce - We had a 1:00 dismissal to make up for a day lost because of the threat of a hurricane earlier in the year.
Addie/mo - we are supposed to get 6-8 inches of the white stuff
jeanne/ece/tx - Addie -- when?!!!
Paulie - send me some of your snow Just Me
Just Me/Mi - We haven't missed a day. The snowplows go by often to keep the roads open.
joyce - Jeanne, I have family in Farmers Branch and Flower Mound. Is that near you at all?
Addie/mo - it was nice to be out on the day before thanksgiving because i had to host at my house and that gave me more time to be ready
Addie/mo - tonight and tomorrow
Paulie - this is not working again tonight too slwo for me night all maybe next week it will work better
Addie/mo - so far it isnt happening though
jeanne/ece/tx - I'm in Arlington ... not too far from either ... but "far enough" -- probably take 45 to 75 minutes to get to either place -- depending on traffic
jeanne/ece/tx - 'nite Paulie, sorry .....
Addie/mo - i am in branson, mo
jeanne/ece/tx - rain is supposed to stop here this evening (been raining all day)
Just Me/Mi - I'm in Michigan at the bottom of the thumb.
joyce - Oh, no, Mobile gets the Dallas weather a day or two later. That means I take my lab activities to the classrooms. Not always easy to do.
Addie/mo - our tech coordinator and middle school principal are going to michigan on thursday to see some sort of a program where they are using handheld computers in the classroom
jeanne/ece/tx - Joyce -- I can imagine that will be a challenge!
joyce - Is your area involved in balanced literacy?
joyce - Is your area involved in balanced literacy?
Just Me/Mi - Where will they be in MI?
Addie/mo - yes, we are in the missouri reading initiative which is a three year training program on balanced literacy. we use the fountas and pinnell method
Addie/mo - i wish i could remember...i just know michigan is where they are going
joyce - That is the same as in Mobile. The K-3 teachers are in their second year. 4th-5th grade will go full fledged next year.
joyce - That is the same as in Mobile. The K-3 teachers are in their second year. 4th-5th grade will go full fledged next year.
jeanne/ece/tx - joyce ... here it is "whatever it takes" to get them reading and writing! "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" and lots of other intitatives in place .....
joyce - absolutely!
Addie/mo - we are in the third year of the initiative here. next year the challenge will be keeping it up and training any new people when our support is over
Addie/mo - NCLB is big in missouri too! but nobody seems to totally understand all of the ramifications
joyce - Is anyone involved in grant writing? How do you come up with your ideas for a grant?
Just Me/Mi - I went to a meeting last week and got another notebook of information on Michigan's literacy program - MLPP.
joyce - Where are you from, cajunlady?
cajunlady - Louisiana
Just Me/Mi - I've been to 8 out of 10 modules of training.
jeanne/ece/tx - Addie ... until people (the people who write these initiatives) understand and account for the differences in children's learning styles and abilities it will be really difficult for anything like NCLB to work! ... seems we might also need to get some teachers out of the thinking that we can always do the same teaching to get good learning ... just because it works one year doesn't mean it will work the next!
Addie/mo - i have written grants before, but the program in missouri that funded them is no longer available. i think you have to start with an idea that is fairly innovative and then look at what it would take to make it work. then you have to find a grant that you would meet the guidelines of
joyce - I have lived in DeRidder and Abbeville. Are you near either?
cajunlady - We are doing K-3 Initiative
cajunlady - no
jeanne/ece/tx - hi, cajunlady -- welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
cajunlady - South of New Orleans
jeanne/ece/tx - my dad is down in Homa (sp?) right now!
jeanne/ece/tx - hi smagee -- welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
joyce - I'm from Mobile
Addie/mo - totally, jeanne. one thing that NCLB says is that parents can choose a different school in the same district if their school is low performing. what they failed to take into account is that in many districts there is just one of each school! those people cannot even take advantage of the option and it is no incentive for the schools if they are the only one in the district to improve.
Addie/mo - there are lots of things that dont apply to rural schools at all!
cajunlady - we are having the same problems here Very hard to meet performance goal
joyce - Addie, the same thing is happening here. In many cases, all of the schools in the area are poor if one is.
Addie/mo - then, when you look at the fact that individual children are different and wont all be at the same place at the same time, it is impossible
cajunlady - I teach in a rural school
jeanne/ece/tx - The campus I teach at is "exemplary" ... one thing I see is that all children are expected to perform! Tutoring begins on day two of the school year ... but children who struggle are often the "behavior problems" for teachers ... rather than offering smaller remedial classes at the levels these kiddos need they just keep pushing ahead. I think the one thing that is truly missing is the multi-sensory approach to literacy ... and the TIME that many of our kiddos need to get it!
Addie/mo - i would say that typically you would find that the low performing schools are in poor areas
cajunlady - no diversity
Addie/mo - we have little diversity at our school either
jeanne/ece/tx - 'evening, heather
cajunlady - most o our children lack experience and background
Addie/mo - so what actually happens to the kids who struggle...does the extra tutoring help, or are they just sinking in the high expectations
heather - hello!
cajunlady - we offer free tutoring to our children after school
Just Me/Mi - I worry that too much emphasis is placed on test scores, teaching to the test and not taking the needs of the children into account. No time for "fun".
joyce - I teach in a magnet school that stresses high academics. The children do not have to take a test to get in. It is strictly by computer lottery. They had to have passed the previous year. Many people, some teachers included, think that because we stress high academics the children do not need to experience the multi-sensory approach to anything. They teach and keep going. There is little done to remediate anyone. If they fail to maintain a C in all areas, they are retained.
joyce - I teach in a magnet school that stresses high academics. The children do not have to take a test to get in. It is strictly by computer lottery. They had to have passed the previous year. Many people, some teachers included, think that because we stress high academics the children do not need to experience the multi-sensory approach to anything. They teach and keep going. There is little done to remediate anyone. If they fail to maintain a C in all areas, they are retained.
heather - yep, no fun! We are discouraged from doing art!!
jeanne/ece/tx - Addie ... it depends on the child ... the tutoring goes on all year, but I get the impression (mind you, I am preschool and special needs -- not "general ed") -- those kids are tutored on what the rest of the children are learning and still haven't mastered the base knowledge -- it frustrates me beyond words!
smagee/k/tx - Art? What is art? I wouldn't have time to do it even if I wanted to.
Addie/mo - it seems like the tutoring should go back to what it is the kids dont understand and build from there.
cajunlady - Art what's that
heather - i squeeze it in. It's just too important not to
joyce - Tutoring is currently being offered utilizing retired teacher "grandparents". Many higher level teachers do not feel they have the time to take advantage of the service.
smagee/k/tx - My kids think they are in heaven if they get to go to centers for more than 15 minutes!
heather - well, at least I know it's not only my school district that is like this
cajunlady - our curriculum is so heavy we don't have time to breath
jeanne/ece/tx - Addie, like everything else we see in education today, that would make sense ... and we can't do anything that would be in the best interest of the child ... or that wouldmake sense!
Addie/mo - we have "art class" 60 min per week in elem. some of the teachers integrate some art into other subjects
smagee/k/tx - I hear you cajunlady! Same here. If our principal finds one more "program", I'm going to scream!
joyce - We seemed to learn a lot in our day without every second being crammed full of things.
cajunlady - here too
cajunlady - if there is something out there we have tried it
Addie/mo - kids need some think time to assimilate what they are learning. they cant just go and go and go. there is a point of diminishing returns where work work work is going to cause kids to start doing worse
jeanne/ece/tx - children need opportunities to kind of process ... and assimilate ... new information. I kind of liken it to "rolling in the sand on the beach" ... if they can't work through it ... LOL Addie -- GMTA!
smagee/k/tx - I made a list of all the Christmas things that I want the kids to do, and I don't see anyway possible to get it all done in the next 13 days as well as do all the "program" stuff.
joyce - I have to close for this evening. I have really enjoyed talking with everyone. Thank you for the great ideas for science night. I hope I am on with you again.
Just Me/Mi - I feel that we are being pushed to build an elaborate building without taking the time to build a solid foundation. By the time I do what I'm required to do there is little time left for the things I know my students need to be successful.
cajunlady - plus we have to have all kinds of special projects for high expectations, building background and what ever else they think of
jeanne/ece/tx - Goodnight, joyce, please come back soon and often! Remember you can read the transcript of this meeting at http://www.teachers.net/archive in a day or two.
joyce - Thank you, jeanne
Addie/mo - just me, that is a good analogy for what is going on. it has to look good on the outside
jeanne/ece/tx - Just Me -- precisely!
jeanne/ece/tx - If we would give the children the time they need to firm up that foundation, I truly believe we would have far more literate ... and successful ... students!
joyce - h
Addie/mo - i think so, jeanne
cajunlady - You are definitely right about that jeanne
Susan - ok
jeanne/ece/tx - Addie -- what would happen if we took kinder back to what kinder was twenty years ago??? Let First Grade teachers teach children to read ... kinder is for experiencing school and "learning to be in school" ... socialization, language, taking care of self ...
jeanne/ece/tx - w/b Carol! hi, Susan! welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
Susan - here is a tough one --my daughter (High School Sr.) has always said she wanted to be a nurse
Addie/mo - jeanne, i think that the kids would proably behave better all throughout school for one thing, because the time would be spent to teach them to get along
Susan - hi everyone but, tonite she said she might want to be an ece teacher
Susan - I've always said as a Single Parent that I woudn't enourage her since she will need to be able to support herself
Addie/mo - hopefully they would have more problem solving skills and critical thinking skills
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan, from what I've read the "average person" will have at least seven "careers" in their working life (in this day in age) ... let her go for it!
Just Me/Mi - I've been around long enough to see the pendulum swing both ways. I wish we could somehow keep it in the middle with the best of both ways.
cajunlady - Our kindergarten teachers are forced to teach the children to read before they are ready
jeanne/ece/tx - I started out as a respiratory technician and now I'm an ECE teacher!
Susan - I teach PK and taught Kinder for 15 yrs
Addie/mo - just me, i think you are right. we need to find a happy medium
cajunlady - I teach 2nd 21 years
Susan - yes but, its easier to go into something else and then get your teaching certification right
Addie/mo - it is unusual now for people to stay in a single career and retire from it like people used to.
jeanne/ece/tx - Addie -- I think it would be "better", too, because those kiddos who struggle so now (and are "troubled students") would probably have a much greater chance of feeling successful as students!
Addie/mo - not necessarily. the teaching degree requires specialized classes and student teaching, which would be hard to do if you were in another career. sometimes you can have a different degree in high need areas and then work towards teaching
Just Me/Mi - I've been in K for 16 years but started out with 6th grade.
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan, at eighteen she may change her mind five times (or more) between now and when she gets to be a junior at university. Get her to work or volunteer in a ECE setting ... and at a hospital or nursing home ... explore some options!
Susan - also, I teach PK for a School Dist. but, we are housed at a the local HeadStart
Addie/mo - volunteering is an excellent idea... that way she can see what it is really like and not have some kind of an idealized version of the occupation
Susan - of course as the child of a teacher she has spent many days in my classroom
Susan - she is good with kids but, PK in our area of Texas are just not treated like Educators
Addie/mo - are you only concerned about the low pay in teaching? or do you have other concerns about the profession. it definitely isnt about money.
Just Me/Mi - I share your concern Susan. My son is studying to be an elementary teacher. I hope he can handle the stress.
Susan - the person over us at the HeadStart Campus was a Teachers asst at the school dist.
jeanne/ece/tx - what part of TX, Susan? I'm in Arlington ... PPCD ...
Susan - West Texas
jeanne/ece/tx - With teacher cert. she can teach Pre-K or PPCD ... or Kinder ... or 1 or 2 or 3 as an ECE teacher.
jeanne/ece/tx - Head Start, well, that is a "cat of a different color" ...even that varies from area to area!
cajunlady - what is ECE
Carol/pre K/WI - Volunteering in different places may enlighten her. I was a sophomore in college and was volunteering at a hospital; I changed my major because of my experiences
Susan - We have weekly staff meetings so we don't get our planning time usually
jeanne/ece/tx - ECE = early childhood education/educator
Just Me/Mi - My son is good with kids. He enjoys subbing but has decided NOT to be in Kindergarten. (Must be from listening to my "horror" stories!) lol
cajunlady - Is that Pre-k
Addie/mo - a girl i had in k, who is in her freshman year of college told me that she is in nursing school, but she still would rather be a kindergarten teacher. she doesnt like blood. i told her that she really needed to rethink her profession if she doesnt like the sight of blood!
Susan - the teachers and our assistants (hired by HS) are both called Teachers by HeadStart
jeanne/ece/tx - cajunlady, by definition I think it includes birth through age eight.
sue - hi yall- what's the topic?
sue - cajunlady- are you in La?
cajunlady - yes
Addie/mo - jeanne that is what ece cert in missouri is now. mine says prek-3 and then i have an elementary cert which is 1-8
sue - so am I cajunlady-- jefferson
Susan - we also have to eat breakfast, lunch and sign a paper saying that the teachers eat the same foods as the students
cajunlady - where's jefferson
sue - susan- where are you?
sue - oops burb of new orleans
cajunlady - South of New Orleans
Addie/mo - susan, that sounds ridiculous. i am such a picky eater, i would not be able to work there! that doesnt sound like legal work requirements. what if you were diabetic or something?
Susan - I just thought that maybe some of you might have some reasons why you would want your child to go into teaching
Susan - West Texas
sue - susn- only if they truly love it. I couldn't eat the same as the kids!
Susan - of course we know that most schools choose to work with HS because of the funds
Just Me/Mi - I'm proud that my son is going into teaching. Despite the things that irritate me about my job, I can't think of anything I'd rather do.
Addie/mo - i guess that if my child felt called to be a teacher and knew that it was his purpose in life, then i would encourage it. i would make sure he had a realistic picture of what he was getting into!
Susan - Addie you are so right, I absolutely do not like to eat their food
sue - addie- I truly beleive that's what is lacking. I see new teachers come to my school every year totally unprepared for the reality of dealing with our kids
Susan - besides eating with the kids, we only get to teach about 2 hrs a day
jeanne/ece/tx - back again!
Carol/pre K/WI - what a kind of food are they serving
Just Me/Mi - All of my children have spent time helping in my classroom since they were little. They see what I do at home to prepare. Each one has had summer jobs that involve working with kids.
Susan - today it was chili with lots and lots of beans
cajunlady - same thing here reality check
Susan - salad no dressing
Addie/mo - i dont think that new teachers often know what they are in for
Susan - pineapple
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan, I used to teach Head Start ... getting "good food" was SUCH a treat! (Rare, but a treat!)
Susan - and I do not eat beans anymore
Addie/mo - beans, beans, the musical fruit...
sue - addie- they don't. the first time one of the new student teachers was cursed out by one of the special ed kids off his meds, she freaked!
Susan - besides we can't do any discipline
Addie/mo - she probably had no clue that an elem kid would act that way
Susan - the new director said standing them in a thinking spot is against daycare rules
Carol/pre K/WI - I guess I'm lucky our meals are really good and having a bad meal is rare
cajunlady - Our principals all had to turn in their paddles to School Board
sue - addie- she didn't. she spent her entire life in private school until college.
jeanne/ece/tx - How could we, as educators, change to program for teacher preparation ... I know I felt totally inadequate when I first walked into a classroom! Seems to me student teachers (teacher wannabees) need a LOT less theory and a LOT, LOT more reality-training! The how-to's of the real classroom ... not someone's research lab, etc.
Addie/mo - so what consequences are there?
jeanne/ece/tx - hi, kdg teach! welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
Just Me/Mi - AMEN - jeanne!
cajunlady - none
sue - Yall, I am the liason between my school and the local university ( UNO) becuase we are a professional development school.
Susan - no consequences
cajunlady - and kids know it
Addie/mo - jeanne, i think they need to get out in the real world sooner...more observations at an earlier level in schooling, so they can see what it is really like
Just Me/Mi - College doesn't prepare new teachers for the real world.
Susan - I think your right Addie
sue - I told them get the teachers into the real trenches sooner. I did my EC practicum at a private school where the maids picked up the kids at noon in limos!
Susan - student teachers need more time in a classroom
sue - LOL! somehow that did not prepare me for dealing with the hooker moms
Addie/mo - we have a discipline system in our school. there is no corporal punishment allowed, but the kids miss recess or other privileges, sit in an area away from the group or go to a neighboring class, parents are contacted. for serious things they can be in or out of school suspended
cajunlady - are a drunk dad
jeanne/ece/tx - I think the last year or two should be in a REAL public school ... teaching in a classroom ... not with a mentor teacher in the room, but available ... some classes after the school day ... time to reflect and to share and to brainstorm ...
Just Me/Mi - Actually, it would be good for policy makers to spend time in the "trenches" too. It was a real eye opener for out Title I teacher when she was assigned to come to Kdg. last year!
Susan - this year they hired a new director and they advertised for someone that had taught 3 yrs and had ece classes
fforgiven - Hello
Susan - but, they hired someone that had been a Child Welfare Caseworker
jeanne/ece/tx - 'evening, forgiven -- welcome to tonite's early childhood chat!
sue - on another note- does anyone have a tactful way of telling a parent they are babying their child, too much?
fforgiven - I was just hired as a substitute Grand Rapids Public Schools.
Susan - Sue I would tell the parent that we needed to work on Independence
cajunlady - sue- what age child
fforgiven - I really don't know what I'm doing, or what to expect
jeanne/ece/tx - sue, I've had parents come in carrying the child's backpack well into January, I finally just kind of say ... "You know, one of our goals for ___ is that he be able to carry his own backpack into the room and put it away. Can you encourage him to try it by himself tomorrow, please?" -- they generally do!
Addie/mo - i even use logical consequences like kids cleaning up a mess they have made or scrubbing black marks off the floor if they are scuffing the floor intentionally or they have to pick up rocks if they are throwing them
fforgiven - help 8)
Susan - sue I had a parent that carried in the 4 yr old and the 2 yr old walked
Kim/TX - I teach Special Ed.....3-5 yr olds have alot of problems with babying
Addie/mo - i would also go along the lines of explaining to the parent that it is a goal for the child to do thus and so to increase his/her independence
fforgiven - I see the topic is early childhood, so to keep with it I'll say that I signed up to do all grades including preschool
jeanne/ece/tx - Kim -- where in TX? I teach PPCD in Arlington!
Kim/TX - El Paso jeanne
sue - cajun- 4, does not effectively feed himself, can't zip pants, will not put on own jacket, unzip backpack etc
jeanne/ece/tx - Nice to meet you, Kim!
Kim/TX - you too!!!
Susan - sue I had a 4 yr old that couldnt put on his own coat
Kim/TX - sounds like all my kiddosbut we are working on getting there!
Susan - and instead of fastening and unfastening his pants he wiggles and twists them up and down lol
Carol/pre K/WI - goodnight, having hard time stayi ng focused Have A GOOD REST OF THE WEEK
Addie/mo - susan that sounds like more work!
Kim/TX - it is hard because my room opens directly outside and we come and go alot so it's alot of putting coats on and taking them off!!! ugh!!!
jeanne/ece/tx - 'nite, Carol, take canre!
Susan - my asst and I told him he needed to put his own coat on and only if he couldn't get it on before we left the class did we help him
jeanne/ece/tx - Sue -- is that a child who needs to be referred for special services?
Kim/TX - we hold the jackets upside down and have kids put in arms and then flip it themselves back over their head works pretty good!!
Just Me/Mi - I address the child - Praise him/her for being "big" and encourage them to show their parents that they can do things for themselves.
Susan - Addie it really did , you should have seen him but, he is a chubby little one and so most of his pants have some elastic in them
sue - she does everything and will send notes asking me to please make sure this and please make sure that
cajunlady - we had a four year old at our school go to the restroom and take off all his clothes then couldn't get dress so picked up all his clothes and went back to class bare butt
Kim/TX - same here Just Me
jeanne/ece/tx - 'evening, TotTeacher!
Kim/TX - LOL cajunlady!!!!
Susan - if they have a coat on with a hood and a zipper we would put the hood on for them and then they can figure out which arm goes where
TotTeacher4012 - hi all!!
Addie/mo - lol cajunlady!
Kim/TX - Hi tot
Susan - lol me too cajun only he went into the classroom connecting to ours
sue - jeanne- no, he just doesn't do for himself
cajunlady - you never know what to expect with 4 year olds
TotTeacher4012 - I agree with Addie LOL
Kim/TX - I had one parent today pick up her son and notice how well he behaved with us....she asked to come and observe what we are doing
sue - they are truly a funny group at that age
Addie/mo - that was neat, kim!
Kim/TX - yes it was! looking forward to it....he is autistic and this is his first year in school
sue - good job kim
TotTeacher4012 - gosh sounds tough
jeanne/ece/tx - Sue, I've told parents that I understand that it takes longer for "junior" to dress himself, to feed himself, to pick up his own toys, etc, ... but his "job" right now is learning to do these things -- please help him by _____, _____, and _____. Suggest parents start with just ONE child-independent task and build from there!
sue - yall on an totally un ed related topis-- My hubby got to meet the President today!!!!
sue - jeanne- she carried him into the class for his class visit!!!
Addie/mo - how exciting, sue! was the president in LA or did your hubby go to DC
Kim/TX - good Jeanne and I always throw in the "it'll make it easier on you in the long run" lol
Susan - thats great sue
TotTeacher4012 - good idea
Just Me/Mi - Wow, Sue, tell us about it.
sue - there's a hot senate race in our state and he had to do a photo shoot. now we have a picture of him with the Pres!
Addie/mo - how cool!
Susan - did you tell him next time to tell him to call you about education
Kim/TX - anyone going to the DEC conference this weekend in San Diego??
jeanne/ece/tx - how exciting, sue!
TotTeacher4012 - bye all i cannot keep up with this group i think lol
jeanne/ece/tx - Kim -- no tengo dinero!
Kim/TX - bye tot!
jeanne/ece/tx - 'nite, TotTeacher -- thanks for stopping b y!
Kim/TX - Jeanne...my district is paying my way!!! woo hoo leave tomorrow afternoon!
sue - it was great!
sue - susan- I wish
jeanne/ece/tx - Kim -- my district won't pay for me to drive 45 miles up the highway to the EC Convention at the University of North Texas -- won't even pay for the sub!!!!!
Just Me/Mi - bye Tot, come again.
Kim/TX -
cajunlady - Pay for something extra lol
Susan - jeanee I understand that my Principal said she would send the PK teachers to workshops
Susan - and years ago our old princ sent all the K teachers to the DLM Workshop in Dallas with PK funds
Kim/TX - Jeanne...how many kids do you have? I have 4 total with only one of them all day!!
cajunlady - our School District won't
sue - kim- I wish!
Susan - but, now we don't get any funds, we were even cut short on school supply funds
Kim/TX - Argh! Susan! sounds like my old principal spent all the sped money on other stuff!
cajunlady - I had to take sick days to go to NBPT workshops
jeanne/ece/tx - (((Well, in all fairness, this year our district is in a pretty tight financial bind ... we were fortunate to get a 1% pay-raise (superintendent got his 15%, of course!) ... and the district bought a 1.7 million dollar building! Now our health ins. goes WAY, WAY, WAY up this year
Susan - yes Kim they are redoing one of the elem building and we know where they get the funds
Susan - so jeanne are you on the State Insurance
Addie/mo - L8r, all!
sue - night adddie
Susan - our school said that our local insurance was better
cajunlady - we have ins. $600 deductible and nothing ever covered
Susan - it pays 50 percent up to 3000
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan -- not offered here! State gave us x dollars/mo to buy -- my ins. costs me MORE for the new year that EVER before
Kim/TX - we aren't on the state insurance in my part of TX yet but my district covers all the cost of the one we do have
sue - well, I need to go make links for our chain
jeanne/ece/tx - 'nite, Sue ... take care.
Susan - thats great kim any openings lol
jeanne/ece/tx - 'nite, Addie.
Kim/TX - plenty in special ed Susan!!!
Susan - gnite sue
Susan - the problem is my degree is actually in Home EC ED
sue - night all
Just Me/Mi - Wait, Sue, I have a question. Are you doing other holidays besides Christmas?
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan -- same here!
Kim/TX - they'd take you and let you challenge exam Susan! they are that desparate!
sue - just- I usually read Toby Belfer for Hannukah. But, won't be in the classroom after next week.
Addie/mo - yay! thanks! email me and let me know what is going on. i need to make up my mind on whether to do the mardi gras party for second quarter or third quarter.....if it is second quarter i need to get some stuff ordered. that will be late january.
Susan - sad isnt it Texas Teacher shortage but, we dont have to treat the teachers any better and maybe we can take more stuff away from them
Kim/TX - I got certified via alternative program my BS is business management
sue - I accepted a central office position last week
Kim/TX - well Susan they say there is not a certified teacher shortage it's just that those certified aren't willing to work as teachers anymore
Just Me/Mi - I've been trying to remember to get empty milk cartons from the cafeteria to make driedels but I keep forgetting. My kids are all really into Santa.
sue - night again
Susan - and do we blame them lol
Kim/TX - nope
jeanne/ece/tx - JM -- going to do Kwanzaa, as well?
Kim/TX - heard a funny bumper sticker yesterday..."No child left behind, and no teacher left standing"
cajunlady - lol Kim
Susan - I like that one kim
Susan - do the assts at your school have to get an associates degree
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan -- not here ... just h.s. diploma -- but I've heard they're going to be requiring assoc. deg -- wonder who they'll find to work for $6/hr with any college!
Just Me/Mi - We've been told that if we plan on doing Christmas we must include other holidays. Of course we are not being provided with any materials, books, ideas, etc On top of that my school is 98% white with no concept of anything else.
Susan - I guess thats their way of keeping from hiring any new assts.
cajunlady - We are doing a Christmas around the world program with all white students Pre-k to second grade
jeanne/ece/tx - JM -- I use the "Happy Holidays, Love Barney" cd with my kiddos ... it has a really cute song called "Twinkle Time" -- about the lights relating to: Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas ... the Driedel song ... a couple of other Hanukkah songs ... lots of "winter" songs ... kiddos really enjoy it, too!
Just Me/Mi - I have one book on Kwanzza but have never met anyone who celebrates Kwanzaa to get a better understanding of it.
Kim/TX - they just started requiring associates degrees this year old assts have 4 years to complete it or lose their jobs
jeanne/ece/tx - JM -- I"ve never met anyone who celebrates it ... we've made the mats (weave red*black*green paper, decorate with crayons) and read a book about being a family and what we have to share with people in our community.
Susan - u know whats funny is they don't have to have an associates at HeadStart unless they are the Teacher in the class (their teachers just need to be working on an Associates )but, the teachers and assts still make much more than our School Dist. assts.
Kim/TX - the Head Start teachers here make peanuts and for all that work they do??? NO way!
Kim/TX - they will soon have a shortage of assistants because they can get paid more working elsewhere with that degree
Susan - the HS hired teachers (with an associates degree) bring home more than 1000 a month
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan, the Head Start funding is SO different than schools ... pay from one district or area to the next really varies -- in MI I made 1/2 of the public school salary as a HS teacher (with a BS and cert.)! Here Head Start teachers make what I make in the public school!
Susan - they do have one HS teacher with a degree but, no certification yet and she said she makes about what our new teachers make
jeanne/ece/tx - Kim, it does from time-to-time!
Kim/TX - Head Start teachers have to jump through so many hoops! so much documentation and observation
jeanne/ece/tx - Kim -- we have a lot, too! I've got more documentation going on this year than EVER before! ... and it seems to get worse every year! (more involved, anyhow!)
Kim/TX - do you have to do your own ARD packets jeanne?
Susan - Kim we do too even though we're hired by the school dist
Susan - but, we don't have to fill out the weekly report telling what we do every day, hour by hour
Susan - we're doing the cor observation but, it really doesnt tell me what they've learned
jeanne/ece/tx - Kim -- yes ... my paperwork is all my own!
Kim/TX - I don't have to do mine anymore Susan with my new district, the diagnosticians do them for us!! big relief
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan, that was always my concern with the COR -- I want to know if the child knows colors and shapes, can copy shapes, can follow directions -- 1, 2, or 3 step, identifies letters or numerals, has print concepts down, etc -- COR doesn't tell me ANY of that! Gives me precious little info on the child's social skills and communication skills, too.
Susan - brrrrr
Susan - its getting cold in west tx
Kim/TX - what is COR?
jeanne/ece/tx - cold here, too, Susan! Brrrrr!!!!!
Susan - thank you jeanne thats exactly what I thought
jeanne/ece/tx - Kim -- Child Observation Record ... a part of the High Scope program
Susan - Kim you wouldnt believe it
Susan - you have to follow the kids around and document in 6 dift areas
Susan - we arent even doing High Scope
jeanne/ece/tx - Supposedly looks at six different areas of child development, but the assessment statements you are allowed to use are so unclear and vague that they really don't say much.
Susan - so now we have to be trained so next yr we can do High Scope
Kim/TX - we don't use High Scope
jeanne/ece/tx - High Scope, in and of itself, isn't a bad program ... I employ the "plan*do*review" component in my classroom.
Susan - and then we have to go through a book for each child and score them according to what we observed them doing
jeanne/ece/tx - it is a very child-centered program, I just didn't like the observation tool they put in our hand.
Kim/TX - hmmm sdoesn't sound so bad I was just wishing I had some way to document more progress of my kids
Susan - I don't think High Scope is all bad but, I don't know that they can meet all of the TEKS/TAKS etc with it
Susan - I had to go over these Kim with the parents for parent conferences this year
Kim/TX - what do you use for testing and goal writing?
Susan - and most of the parents said so what are you teaching them
Susan - no testing , no goal writing
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan, in the Head Start/Pre-K setting you just have "guidelines" ... not TAKS ... High Scope could be used to meet the guidelines -- probably even the TAKS in Kinder ... just modifies from time to time.
Susan - we did actually do the Brigance this fall but, we wont do it in the spring this year
Kim/TX - you aren't sped Susan?
jeanne/ece/tx - what benefit is expected from pre-testing with no post-testing, Susan?
Kim/TX - we use Brigance for testing and the Max C program for writing IEP's
Susan - our principal wants us to cover all of those areas
Kim/TX - I prefer the Class program for goal writing myself
jeanne/ece/tx - We use CLASS for IEPs in my program, as well ... am not familiar with MaxC
Kim/TX - well I need to get going....working half day tomorrow and I need to pack for my trip!!!
Susan - she told us ( fun part of having 2 bosses) that our job is to cover the TAKS for PK
Kim/TX - been a pleasure chatting with you ladies
Susan - you too have fun Kim
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan -- it is just "guidelines" ... do you ahve a copy?
Just Me/Mi - It's getting late here, I'm tired and getting cold too, The windchill makes it below zero outside. Thanks for the interesting discussions. Bye 'til next time.
jeanne/ece/tx - KIM -- enjoy your conference! Be safe and come back to join us soon!
Susan - yes but, she also gave us this year a dift
Kim/TX - will do I frequent the open chat room often
Kim/TX - night!
Susan - set and a friend of mine teaches PK in Carrollton and its the same thing as their TAKS
Susan - they tested our kids this year in Kinder and the school administration wanted to know what PK was doing
jeanne/ece/tx - WEll, I'll check the TEA website -- if there is a Pre-K TAKS, then I'll need to be addressing it some more in the future!
Susan - why our kids scored so low
jeanne/ece/tx - 'nite JM ... take care ... hope all goes well for the coming week!
jeanne/ece/tx - Hmmm ... wouldn't have anything to do with the poverty and apathy they experience in their home-lives, would it, SUsan?
jeanne/ece/tx - Susan, I'm going to call it a night, too. Take care and Blessings! hope to see you next Tuesday evening!
Susan - probably, of course we only actually teach 1 1/2 hrs lol
Susan - gnite you too
