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newbie - First job - 6th grade language arts
Alli - congrats! this is my second year
newbie - Anything you wish you'd have known on day one?
Alli - YES -- all that I learned my first year : )
Alli - Seriously, be prepared for a year of constant learning
1st - newbie-I'd say ASK questions, don't believe that the veteran teachers will come to you with info.
newbie - I'm so scared about the discipline
Alli - Read and talk to as many people as possible
1st - newbie-decide on your
Alli - Discipline was a big issue for me too.
Alli - Assertive Discipline, Setting Limits in the Classroom, Positive Discipline . . . these were all good reads for me and helpful
newbie - I've subbed - I'm considered about the kids who don't stop once they get their "mark" - how do you 'win' that situation
Alli - Be on top of it from the beginning - I was too easy on some things at first
newbie - Thanks, Alli - I'll check out those books ASAP!
1st - and be consistent with your choices on class mngmt and discipline, etc.
Alli - Also, a supportive principal helps : )
newbie - I do have that!
Alli - 1st is right, consistency really is a key
Jen~First - this year will be my first full year teaching first
Jen~First - I am excited!!!
Alli - First grade is a great age - my husband teaches the little ones in 1st
1st - Alli-Yes, I enjoy first grade. They keep you busy. Everyday is new.
Jen~First - what do you do the first week of school
Alli - First week --- lots of procedures practice and modeling, initial assessments
Jen~First - alli do you teach in thematic units
Alli - Newbie, I did have a 3/4 combo class last year
newbie - How'd you like that?
Pete - We have kids rolling in late so I don't do too much.
1st - Jen-during the first week we work on learning the daily routines (bathroom, drinks,etc)..we also assess to learn where each student is at..
Alli - Combo class was tough -- I prefer a straight grade
apples - First is a very demanding but rewarding job.
newbie - I had a friend whose daughter was in a combo class and thought she flunked
Alli - Jen - I've done a few thematic units, mainly to go with our history and science
Jen~First - that's how I am thinking of planning mine and intergratingt the other subjects
1st - Is anyone planning on doing a Flat Stanley theme??
Jen~First - just wondering in first what units are usually taught
Alli - My husband usually has a Flat Stanley for his class - Stan even came to our wedding
newbie - My daughter absolutely LOVED Flat Stanley
Alli - Units really vary by district and state, it seems
newbie - did he go on the honeymoon?
Jen~First - what is a flat stanley
Alli - Yes, actually he did! We've got pics with him in New Orleans
newbie - Book about a boy who gets hit by a bulletin board so his parents mail him on vacation
apples - First graders usually begin with phonics and sight words before we begin to read.
newbie - then the kids send to places and people take pictures and tell of his adventures
Alli - The one my husband sends is first grade life size, folds up into an envelope
newbie - great geography lesson
1st - Have you ever sent Stanley to another class?
newbie - One class even got Stanley with Robin Williams
Alli - I don't think he did, but next year may try
Alli - Anybody here use Spalding phonics, Saxon math, GEMS science, or MacMillan social studies?
apples - Do you use Flat Stanley to introduce community workers to your class.
Alli - Apples, that's a great idea - Stanley could visit different jobs
newbie - Pete, did you tell us what grade you taught?
apples - Do any of you have much experience with web page design?
newbie - What subject?
Pete - French & Social Studies
Deb ms/IA - Hey roomies! Any advice for first year GATE teacher!
newbie - No, apples, but I was going to try Teachersvision.com - it looks like it might be pretty easy - just fill out a form
Alli - I've done a little bit apples - fun once you get the hang of it
newbie - Yeah, I keep teasing her that the topiary might come to life - hee hee
apples - How many students do you usually have in a class?
JB - Hi Alli. Did I see another 5th grade teacher ?
Lula - Hey, is anybody here involved in the GLOBE project?
Deb ms/IA - What's GLOBE?
Lula - Oh, yeah, I'm fifth grade?
Alli - I do 4th grade, and will have 20-25 students
Deb ms/IA - 6 sections of 18 to 20
newbie - We have 25 in 6th grade - but I'll have 3 separate classes, so I'll have 75 kids! And Texas has the lovely TAAS test - YUCK!
newbie - I'll be responsible for 1/2 the 6th grade's lang. arts. grades!
JB - We're departmentalized and I'll do reading and spelling with about 100 students.
Lula - GLOBE is the Global science business to benefit the environment. You send temp.and soil temps and water, etc.. to a nat'l.data base. It's cool.
Alli - That is a big task, newbie.
Deb ms/IA - sounds interesting Lula
JD/MA - Would anyone be willing to email me their schedule of their day. I will probably starting my first year teaching this September and i am not sure what I should start with and as a schedule.
Lula - So, you're Texas, Newbie? Colo. has their CSAP tests, based on Texas's TAAS tests. Everybody in the upper ed in Colo. is from Texas.
newbie - Does everyone in CO hate it as much as everyone in TX?
JD/MA - I am not sure 2nd or third.
Lula - You bet we do. ALTHOUGH we are trying to see some good in it. Do you see any? Good in it, I mean. ha
JD/MA - thank you, I am so nervous because I have nothing to start with. I want to start preparing this summer.
Deb ms/IA - Jd - first advice is to join the elementary mailring here a t.net
Alli - JD, it took me hours to plan my first day last year : )
newbie - No, not really. TAAS scores translate into $$$, so principals push their teachers for their bonuses (teacher's don't get any); real estate agents push to have an exemplary school so they sell more houses, etc.
Alli - Yes, the mailrings are a godsend for new teachers!
newbie - JD, I'm with you, but there's no one to guide!
newbie - kids don't care whether they pass or not - they're becomming GREAT test takers, but I don't think they're any smarter!
JD/MA - Alli that is going to be me because it takes me a very long to do things anyways never mind that this is going to be my first year.
newbie - I signed up with several (4) mailrings and haven't received anything!
Deb ms/IA - JD - many schools have their schedules online if you do a seach on http://www.alltheweb.com maybe you'll find some?
Lula - Very interesting, newbie. We haven't got that far along with it, yet. I figure that it will help teachers within a school to be more standard, if that's good??
Alli - Hmm, newbie, are they through teachers.net? Normally those are pretty busy
newbie - My position is that if they'd take away the money and the ratings, it would be a good thing!
Lula - Hey, JD/MA , you mean you don't have a mentor?
Jody - i am switching from spec. ed to 3rd grade
JD/MA - thanks Deb I will have to check it out.
Alli - JD, be prepared to learn constantly this next year. I just finished my first year teaching.
newbie - Yes. I was on it before and couldn't handle the # of emails. I'm surprised
JD/MA - I don't think I will have a mentor
Lula - Newbie, gotcha. We ARE being graded now...I hate that!
JB - Jody, what grades did you teach in spec. ed?
Deb ms/IA - Most of those teacher bonus incentives lead to cheating and lots of wasted time testing don't they???
Jody - 4,5,6,7th grade deaf students
newbie - And you have no control over the pretest environment that the children come from
Jody - i wish they gave us incentive pay, i would like to be evaluated to get paid better
JD/MA - Alli what grade did you teach? How was it? Congratulations you finished your first year!!!
newbie - I don't know if that's the answer - who'd judge - but why should the principal get a bonus if the teacher brings his/her students to "Exemplary" status?
Alli - I started as 3rd, then was switched to a 3/4 combo midway through
newbie - I just don't like the monetary aspect of it all
Deb ms/IA - JD - relax and learn as you go! I switched from preschool to ms & hs last year. I was on the edge all year.
Alli - The first year is all consuming, but I really learned that I want to teach
newbie - Lula, what novels have you taught your classes?
Jody - how did you handle a split level class, i may have to do that this year?
newbie - As Charlie Brown would say, "Aaarrrggghhhh!"
Alli - Lots of independent work, writing, silent reading, and centers for those I wasn't meeting with
Deb ms/IA - Then there are those so consumed to have their class do well they teach to the test
Lula - Oh, speaking of novels...I do Harriet the Spy and My Brother Sam is Dead.
JD/MA - Deb that is great!!! How did you do it?
newbie - I want to teach Walk Two Moons, but I really don't know what to include - very little on the Net
Jody - In Ohio we have proficiency tests and that is the case now. Lots of teachers only teaching the test, kind of sad.
Deb ms/IA - I kept a day ahead of them most of the time! Hard to do teaching honors comp to high schoolers!
Lula - Hmmm...I love Walk Two Moons, but haven't used it yet. Have you checked the Scholastic sites for some info?
Jody - I am going to be working at a community school so I will have more flexibility on what to teach this year.
Deb ms/IA - ms was easier! you will charm your elementary kids!
Lula - Hey, Jody, what's a community school?
newbie - I found a site that showed their 'novel guides' that were like 6 pages long, should I just search under Scholastic?
Lula - I'd try Scholastic, newbie, I like them.
newbie - Has anyone used Holes as a unit?
Deb ms/IA - JD what has always worked for me is to sit down and kinda plan out the units for the year. But don't get so bogged down you can't be flexable
newbie - I love that book, too. Unfortunately its not on our acceptable list [YET!]
Deb ms/IA - I used holes as a lit circle book for my 8th graders!
Jody - a community school is a school that is runned by a private sector but still paid for by the state. They use their own philosophies and try to prove that the more flexibilty and moral character issues the better the test scores and intelligence will be.
Alli - My class loved HOles as a readaloud, but we didn't do a unit
newbie - I'll probably do that
newbie - Deb, what kind of activities did you do?
Jody - Also, the parents HAVE to be involved in the child's education or they can be put back to the regular public school.
Lula - In Colorado, we call those Alternate Schools.
Jody - Alternative Schools here are for bad kids, this school is not for bad kids.
Deb ms/IA - I followed Harvey Daniels philosophy and had one group of four read the book, respond and then do a book talk at the end
newbie - Do you have different groups reading different books?
newbie - They're called Charter schools here in TX
Lula - Have any of you heard of the bood, My name is Brain/Brian? It's a great book to talk with students about learning disabilities. I use it with a goose unit in the fall. I like it.
Jody - Yes, kind of like a charter school.
Deb ms/IA - yes, four or five groups reading different novels
newbie - What other novels do you read? Do they all end up reading all the books?
JD/MA - Allie how was your first year?
Jody - Newbie, how do the charter schools do in TX? Are they respectable?
newbie - In Arlington (which is where I am) it just finished its first year. A friend had her daughter in it - very unorganized, but good intentions
Alli - JD, my first year was challenging, but on the whole pretty good.
Deb ms/IA - HArry Potter, Birdie, Kill a Mockngbird, Outsiders, Anne Frank, Zlata
Jody - A great book to read with kids is "T.F. Benson and the Eye Spy Mystery" . The kids love it and great for prediction and inferencing.
Alli - We call them charter schools in Arizona too. I teach at one.
Jody - Is she going to keep her child in the Charter School again next year?
Deb ms/IA - Check out Harvey Daniles at amazon.com for his book. Easy to read and understand plus it has job charts
Deb ms/IA - It's Daniels ( I can spell)
Alli - Some here are really good, others not so good. I like the small school and more freedom to teach, less bureacracy.
newbie - No, too many other problems at home. Her daughter had special needs (emotional) and had bounced around public and private schools. Then tried charter school and she had to do Algebra (NOT pre-algebra) Spanish AND Latin. Too much for her brain to compute given all the other things going on in there
Alli - JD, when will you know what grade you'll have?
Jody - Do you like teaching at the Charter School?
newbie - Thanks Deb, I'll had that to my must haves
newbie - add!
Alli - Jody, I really do. I can concentrate on teaching, rather than meetings and committees.
Deb ms/IA - Gotta go and do research for gifted and talented stuff..got class next week! I go to AR class tomorrow!
JD/MA - I am not sure the system that I applied for is doing a pool with the teachers they have and then they hire teachers outside of the school system.
Jody - This will be the first year the school will be opened, I am very excitied to get away from the public school politics.
newbie - Well, gotta go - promised my daughter a movie. Thanks to everyone for your help! I was in a room today and we talked about a lady's broken vaccuum cleaner
