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Andie/VA - Hi! Not much of a turn out! What grade do you teach?
lisa - I teach basic skills for math,reading, and writing...
lisa - how about you?
Andie/VA - I teach third grade.
lisa - I teach k-6.......
Andie/VA - We are having our 10th snow day. It is really tough!!
lisa - Oh wow!! Where are you from?
Andie/VA - I am in Virginia.
lisa - I guess your school will add it on at the end of the year.
lisa - Oh ok I am from Jersey
Andie/VA - Actually, I am hoping they will add on time each day rather than making it up at the end of the year.
lisa - Do you have any ideas for math or reading manipulatives I can use to make learning fun?
lisa - I like to do hands on activities.......it's hard to find stuff.
Andie/VA - Have you tried virtual manipulatives? There are some great sites. What are you trying to do specifically?
lisa - I would like manipulatives for general math or reading activities for primary level........I don't have computers in the classroom...
lisa - maybe there is something you have tried that i can buy at a teacher's store......
Andie/VA - I use whatever I can get my hands on, actually! Have you used playing cards, making your own Yahtzee game?
lisa - I have a lot of board games......but in order to introduce basic facts I don't know what would be helpful and not boring for my students...
Andie/VA - Do you use the Hundreds Chart at all?
lisa - no, how do I use it?
lisa - actually what is it?
Andie/VA - It is a 10 by 10 chart that has the numbers 1-100 on it. It is great for teaching everything because the kids can use it for counting, to search for patterns, I used it for teaching money, addition, subtraction, multiplication
lisa - oh wow, does each student get a copy or do you have one big chart?
lisa - sorry this is only my 2nd year teaching...I am always looking for new ideas to use.
amy - i am student teaching now, and my students were so bored with hands-on manipulatives! HELP!
lisa - they were bored?
Andie/VA - I have both. In fact my kids have numerous charts for coloring patterns, and using to count
amy - yes, i had hands-on manipulatives for my lessons and i was just wondering what type of things you use that excite the kids
lisa - oh neat idea....I guess i can get it at the teacher's store right?
amy - btw, what grades do you all teach?
lisa - That's exactly what I am looking for Amy
amy - so, i guess i'm not alone? haha
Andie/VA - Lisa, have you ever used any of Marilyn Burns' ideas?
lisa - I pull out kids for math and reading k-6 who need extra help!
lisa - OH no what is that Andy?
lisa - I mean who is she?
Ros - what do you all teach?
Andie/VA - http://www.abcteach.com/Math/hundchart.htm
amy - i am student teaching right now and trying to get any expert advice!
lisa - oh thank you andy.....does this Burn have a website?
Andie/VA - I teach third
amy - do you do alot of math activities with literature, lisa?
Ros - amy - im doing my first masters BD ED practicum right now in a self-contained elementary E/BD classroom
lisa - You mean as a theme?
amy - that sounds challenging!
Andie/VA - Marinlyn Burns has some books. She really focuses on thinking about math.
lisa - oh cool....
lisa - Ros what is E/BD
Ros - i say the same about mainstream teaching...could never do it
amy - yes, lisa....i just used this great book connecting math and literature and really loved how you can combine the two together alot
Ros - lisa - emotionally disturbed/behavior disordered
amy - i guess that's why we are all in our special place where we are called to teach
lisa - Oh know Amy I don't use the two together.
Andie/VA - Here is a website for an activity using a hundreds chart: http://www.teachercreated.com/lessons/010323pm.shtml also did you get the other one that I just posted?
Ros - amy - "different strokes for different folks" lol
lisa - Ros- I work with students who need extra help in math and reading...some have LD's
amy - i see......teaching math can be more fun than i ever thought...
lisa - Thanks Andy I put them both under my favorites....
Ros - lisa - sounds really cool...these kiddos really need that extra support
lisa - I am actually looking for hands on activities too!
Ros - with me, its a been there done that situation
lisa - What age group Ros?
lisa - Andie how long have you been teaching?
amy - what websites, as far as lesson plan ideas, do you like to use the most?
Ros - lisa - k-6, but im gonna want to teach 6-12 e/bd...im looking at options like day treatment schools in the districts and day treatment schools in hospitalized settings...not sure yet\
Andie/ VA - THis is my 6th year.
lisa - oh I see...
Ros - i like hospitalized setting more, but ya get paid much less
Andie/ VA - Have you ever heard of the Investigations series? I just started using it this year and love it!
lisa - andiie--no what is that?
Ros - KC here... where are ya from, lisa?
lisa - Jersey........
Andie/ VA - It is a series of books by grade level that teach the math concept before the algorithm. My kids have been very successful this year
Ros - dads family is from providence
lisa - Andie---really? does your school provide you with this series? It is probably expensive if i were to get it on my own.
Andie/ VA - A great resource for all subjects is a search engine that is just for lessons. http://www.marcopolosearch.org/mpsearch/basic_search.asp
Ros - if you guys are talking about reading series, SOAR is awesome!
lisa - Ros--yeah that's far from me.
Ros - for elem at least
lisa - I am putting everything you give under my favorites!! hee,hee
lisa - What is Soar?
lisa - Can I find this Soar and Investigations in a teacher's store?
Andie/ VA - Yes, my district has a few sets, because I am interested in it I get to use one.
Andie/ VA - http://www.terc.edu/investigations/curr/html/curr-map.html this is for investigations
Andie/ VA - By SOAR do you mean SOAR to Success?
Ros - when you order the complete series, it comes with an in depth detailed manual with all lesson plans laid out for the students with originals of ws's that coincide...im not sure about getting it in stores, prett sure you have to order
lisa - oh...ok
lisa - they both sound good
Ros - andie - yeah
Andie/ VA - They use that at my school and I have seen great improvement in my kids who have used the program.
Ros - if you want to give me your e-mail, i can find out tomorrow the ordering info
Andie/ VA - It is an intervention program put out by Houghton Mifflin I believe... here is the websitehttp://www.eduplace.com/intervention/soar/
Ros - andie - soar?
Ros - oh, cool...yeah, its a great series for intervention
Andie/ VA - Yes, I am sorry I should have been specific. The reading specialist uses it with the kids who are reading only slightly below grade level to improve their skills.
lisa - OOh yeah thats' what I can use...
lisa - your talking about Soars now right Andie?
Andie/ VA - Yes
Ros - andie - we have a 6th gr bd kiddo that is pulled out one hour a day by the LD specialist to work on soar reading...what significant improvement i have seen!!!
lisa - andie do you like Investigations better?
Andie/ VA - Investigations is math
lisa - oops!! sorry
Ros - Soar is at a 4th gr level
Ros - andie - does investigations go up through hs level for math?
Ros - or even ms?
Andie/ VA - Truthfully, I have no idea. I just know that I LOVE it for my third graders because it makes them think! Imagine that.. thinking in school!!
Ros - yeah, thats the truth...we have a 9 yr old with childhood schizphrenia that makes you want to scream sometimes when trying to get him to do anything
Andie/ VA - Ros, It takes a special person to teach children but to have the patience to teach a child with problems like you have mentioned takes an exceptional person.
Ros - you'll be trying to teach him, and in the meanwhile, the little twirp is having his delusions of grandeur...lol
lisa - Are there any other techniques to make learning to read fun?
Ros - thankyou andie...much appreciated
Andie/ VA - WOW! Itaught at a group home and it nearly broke my heart
amy - hey guys - i was just in the kitchen...but, as far as learning to read and making it fun, my kids are loving comics ,,,,i use comics for alot of reading/writing opportunities
Ros - andie - i cant lie in that it gets very frustrating and sad at times, but they are the only ones i have the ability to teach
Andie/ VA - I always get my kids involved in reading by showing them my love for it. I have my special stash of books that I slowly bring out at the beginning of the year. BY the time I let them get their hands on them they are practically fighting over tehm!
amy - what grade do you teach ros?
Ros - andie - thats great! sounds like you are a really committed educator!
lisa - ok thanks andie
lisa - ok thanks andie
Ros - amy - my practicum is with k-6, and when i am eligible for my bd provisional next fall, i'll be looking at 6-12 gr
Andie/ VA - I just like it!! Another thing I do is a book club and I tell them it is just like Oprah's book club. I select a book for the week and they have to read it and sign up to read it. They have to be prepared to discuss the book over lunch at the end of the week.
Andie/ VA - Also, Magic Tree House books have inspired many of my kids.
Ros - andie - my 4thy gr teacher did something very similar...one of the best teachers i have ever had
Andie/ VA - Amy, I missed what you teach.....
amy - at my school, we had a read-in day and kids bring their sleeping bags and pajamas, books, etc. to school and have "guests" - policemen, firefighters, doctors, etc. come read
Ros - its interesting when i think back...some of the best i ever had were in grade school... not enough credit is given to you guys
Andie/ VA - I can think of only 3 teachers who impacted me which I think is rather sad!!
amy - with my junior high student i tutored, i found that he enjoyed "reading" with recipes and cookbooks, etc.....his fluency increased so much, too, by the end
amy - btw, i am just student teaching, so I have ALOT to learn
Ros - andie - one of them is my former K teacher who i still tal to all the time...supposed to meet for lunch next week...shes an exceptional gal!
lisa - Andy do you do guided reading?
Andie/ VA - Ros, that is really great. I have not been able to keep up with my kids b/c my husband and I move all the time (former military now government)
Andie/ VA - Well, I would like to do guided reading but my district insists we use the text book they spent millions on so there is not much time for it. I believe in it whole heartedly.
Ros - i can understand...my best friend is a lt and father is a major general in the army...two very busy guys right now!
lisa - Really? I don't know how to do guided reading.
Andie/ VA - I had wonderful training when I lived in CA. I really think it works.
Ros - andie - wouldnt you consider SOAR guided reading?
lisa - How do you do guided reading? Does it make it interseting for the students?
Andie/ VA - I really don't know enough about the program I was trained years ago in it but can't remember. I do believe though that guided reading is more a philosophy rather than a program.
Ros - yeah, i can see that
Andie/ VA - I have used many of the strategies from the book Mosaic of Thought to teach reading. That is a must read for a primary teacher!
lisa - oh no way I heard of that book. I wasn't sure if I should buy it.
amy - for you who are teaching, is it really difficult to teach outside of the textbook with reading?
lisa - I heard reading reflex is really good too...
lisa - Reading Reflec is a book...
Andie/ VA - There are different beliefs on teaching guided reading. It depends which one you 'buy ' into. There is the Four Blocks method, the Fountas and Pinnel way and then many others!!
lisa - oh my!!
Andie/ VA - I also love the book On Solid Ground
lisa - Too many hee,hee
lisa - so you really liked that Mosaic book?
Andie/ VA - I love it. It teaches you how to help the kids build comprehension. The main strategy I use is making connections.
lisa - What is On Solid Ground about?
Andie/ VA - Where did Ros go?
lisa - I know he got off really fast
Andie/ VA - On Solid Ground is also about teaching reading. She gives you many good ideas on how to organize the classroom.
lisa - oh that sounds good too....
Andie/ VA - Where do you go to school?
amy - i'm in texas at a private university.....
lisa - I am in a public school in northern jersey
lisa - another question if you don't mind...
Andie/ VA - Amy, I did not see your question. It is very difficult, in my opinion, to teach using the text book because not all children read at grade level; some are below and some are above. It doesn't make sense to force a child to read a story simply b/c they are a third grader
amy - to whom - me or andie?
lisa - pocket charts...I hear they are really good to use...I nevered used them because I feel overwhelmed on how to use the charts...any ways how to use them?
Andie/ VA - I use them for word study sorts
amy - i am having the hardest time trying to find activities that are on everyone's capability level but interesting and challenging enough, yet motivating! teaching to the textbook is a challenge for me!
amy - pocket charts are a good idea.....i should use them more
Andie/ VA - Hi Kerry
lisa - I understand amy...me too!
Andie/ VA - Why don't you teach a topic and modify the assignment as necessary
amy - esp. as a student teacher, i am just overwhelmed at trying to meet everyone's diff. levels at the same time!
Andie/ VA - Kerry, what do you teach?
Kerry - What does your cooperating teacher suggest?
Kerry - I teach Kindergarten inclusion
Andie/ VA - Amy, what are you student teaching?
amy - well, i have tried diff. things, but they just dont seem excited about anything! i want to teach K, Kerry.
amy - i am student teaching with 1st and move to K in two weeks
amy - lisa, w/ the pocket charts, what else do you use it for?
Andie/ VA - Have you tried centers to free you up to teach small groups?
lisa - Are there any good books on how to present basic math facts?
Andie/ VA - Lisa, are you talking addition and subtraction?
amy - im trying to teach a unit on centimeters Monday, so if you know about ideas with that...hahaha....
lisa - yeah, and mulitiplication, division...
amy - i havent tried centers because i am afraid this group would get too rowdy
Kerry - Amy--I use pocket charts in lots of my centers
lisa - I don't use pocket charts I would love to but I don't know exactly how.
Kerry - With the right structure, most children flourish in centers
Andie/ VA - www.multiplication.com is great for teaching multiplication
amy - i feel so bad about doing math worksheets all the time - i want to do FUN homework for the kids.
lisa - I will have to check it out Andie..
Andie/ VA - My math homework is seldom fun but sometimes I send home games for them to play at home. I teach it in class then send home the instructions and supplies.
amy - i have heard of sending home a lunchbox for the week with various math games, and that sounded really neat
Kerry - I send home a Math Bag filled with activities instead of traditional math homework. It was a lot of work on the outset but it was worth it!
Andie/ VA - I also have done math bags. I bought bags at Michaels and decorated them Each bag contains a book that relates to math, an activity and a journal to write about the experience.
Andie/ VA - How do you organize yours, Kerry?
amy - what kind of activities are in the math bag? that sounds neat
Kerry - I have five bags for each math chapter I teach (10 altogether) They go home on a Friday and come back the next Friday.
Andie/ VA - Kerry, How many kids do you have? I have to go even though I don't have school tomorrow again because of the snow..... I still want to get to bed!!!
Kerry - There are card games, measuring tapes, dice, button sorts and file folder games. I also include a parent journal for feedback and suggestions
lisa - thanks for your help andie...bye
Kerry - I have 22 kids
amy - i love that idea, kerry! i might have to use that with my next assignment
amy - sounds like alot of work - i do parent newsletters and i could send these games along with the newsletters each week
Kerry - It really is a lot of work and expense at the beginning but it is worth it!
amy - i am having a problem with making things exciting for them - even hands-on manipulatives don't "excite" them...they are "bored"
lisa - I am always looking for hands on activities for math and reading too!!!
Kerry - In first grade?
amy - yes...maybe this is just a difficult class, though, or me, either one!
Kerry - Sounds difficult, what does your cooperating teacher think?
amy - she has said it is a difficult crew, too....
lisa - well I am going to bed...thanks for all your help!!! bye
Kerry - YOu said 2 more weeks, right?
amy - w/ 1st grade and then on to K!!!
Kerry - I hate to say it but maybe you should just follow her lead from now on and try new things when you have more time
amy - yeah.....but, i fell like it is almost too late...this next week being the last and all....
Kerry - I'm sorry to leave you but I really have to go to bed too! Good luck in K--I'm sure you'll love it!
amy - but, what kind of things are most effective in your classroom? centers, you say?
