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Tammy - How long how you taught 4th? This is my first year. I just moved up from kindergarten.
Susan/4 - I have been teaching 4th for six years. I moved up from kindergarten too.
Tammy - Wow, two new comers. How is your year going so far?
Susan/4 - I'm the one who suggested this. I missed it the last 2 Sundays.
Susan/4 - I have 21 students but our school is really struggling to keep teachers. I have great students.
Tammy - I think this is great that 4th grade teachers have a place that they can get together.
Tammy - I have 11. I am in a private school. I tried public last year, but I was miserable. THe year is going great.
Susan/4 - Fourth grade teachers face so much pressure. The age and development of the students is great. I love this age.
ginadawn - I have been teaching 12 years- this is my first at 4th
ginadawn - I've been teaching special ed-6th grade up until now.
teachgordon24 - i am a fourth grade teacher in new jersey
Tammy - We just finished struggling through subject and predicates and place value up to 1000.
teachgordon24 - have been teaching 4th grade for almost 12 years
Susan/4 - We are starting that next week, tammy.
ginadawn - I'm excited except for the state tests pushed on us.
Susan/4 - How long has every one been in school. We've been in school 5 days
Tammy - We just finished our third week.
ginadawn - What state is everyone from? I'm in NY
ginadawn - We start on Tues. Kids come on Wed.
Tammy - We use the stanford. Any idea where I can get information on that test. This will be my first time giving standerdized test.
ginadawn - We just give state tests- they are very hard.
teachgordon24 - i teach in nj i start tuesday and the kids start thursday
Tammy - sounds familiar teach. DId you get my last question?
teachgordon24 - not sure what was it?
Susan - We don't do those tests. We do FCAT, tests designed by our state.
Tammy - Since I am in private, we don't do the state test, yet. We are using the Stanford, which I know nothing about.
ginadawn - We have a test for language arts, then the state math test and a state science test.
teachgordon24 - sounds like our state tests called the ESPA'S
Tammy - I want to go ahead and start trying to prepare them and me.
ginadawn - Does anyone do any positve reinforcements for the whole class?
teachgordon24 - when do you take those tests tammy?
Susan - Yes, I do!
ginadawn - What do you do Susan? I'm looking for ideas. :)
Susan - I learned this from a chat. If they are good, they get Hall star points.
Jen - Hello. Did I see a question about Stanford testing?
Tammy - I don't know when we will be taking the test-except for some time in the spring.
ginadawn - What are Hall star points?
Susan - You know the song Hey you're a all star. get your get on. If I give the class a compliment they get one point. If another teacher does they get 2 points.e
teachgordon24 - i keep a behavior book if the student is bad he/she gets their name in the book and if they are in it more than 3 times they lose special marking period awards
Susan - When they get 20 H'all star points, they earn a treat.
teachgordon24 - they also have to stay after 5min. for each time they get in my book
Jen - Sorry, I got the whiteout! We gave Stanford the last two years. There are some really good support materials available. Of course now, I can't remember the publisher.
teachgordon24 - it seems to work rather well
Susan - That sounds good Gordon, but how do you keep them after. After what?
teachgordon24 - have to get my daughter out of the tub will be back in a minute
teachgordon24 - after school
Tammy - I use a form of the common sense plan. Everyone starts with $5 at the start of the day. At the end of the week, they can go to the treasure test-if they have $17 or more dollars. WE only go to school M-Th.
Susan - We can't do that. We are a rural school. They have to load buses.
Tammy - If I give you my e-mail, can you send me the information?
Susan - What do you do on Friday, Tammy?
Jen - What state are you from Susan? We also are in a rural school, but we have after school detention.
Tammy - Jen, How long have you been teaching 4th?
ginadawn - okay- I think I'm caught up now
Tammy - I will be teaching piano and tutoring.
Jen - Tammy, this is my 3rd year. And you?
ginadawn - We are in a rural school. We have detention everyday.
Jen - Tammy, I used to teach violin.
Tammy - 1st. Taught kindergarten for 3 years. YOu and Teach are the only ones with experience in this grade.
Susan - Has anyone got any great ideas for this year?
Tammy - Any advice for the year?
ginadawn - Right now, I've just finished planning for the first day :)
teachgordon24 - gina what do you do for the first day?
Jen - 4th is Great!!! I do lots of hands-on science, and art projects.
teachgordon24 - i don't do many art projects not enough time in the day
ginadawn - Well, I'm starting with an intro game when I take attendance for the first time.
Jen - I work them cross-curricular. It works great.
teachgordon24 - sounds neat
ginadawn - When i call their name, I ask them a question about themselves and then they can ask me something about me.
teachgordon24 - neat game
teachgordon24 - i am doing a thing on the game show survivor
Susan - Does anyone do four block reading or six trait writing?
ginadawn - I am plan to give a tour of the room/ go over procedures/ have them write a letter to me
ginadawn - How will that work teach?
Jen - Another neat game is to have students write 4 things about themselves, 3 are true. The class has to guess which are true. It's neat for teacher to do too.
teachgordon24 - they have to write down five things that they will need in order to be the best survivor in my room this year
ginadawn - Susan- i've been reading about it- but don't know enough yet to implement it.
Susan - We are doing the survivor theme too?
teachgordon24 - i like that jen
ginadawn - neat ideas
ginadawn - How are you doing the survivor theme Susan?
Jen - I have done some pretty unusual things, it stumps them every time. A good way to get acquainted.
teachgordon24 - thanks for that idea jen i wrote it down and will try to use it the first 2 days
ginadawn - I'm also doing a game where they get a "bingo" card with a characteristic in each box, such as "has a brother"
Susan - We showed the students pictures of survivors and talked about it. Then we had them write about what they thought it would take to be a fourth grade survivor.
ginadawn - and they have to find someone who fits that trait and they initial in the box.
Jen - It's good to break the ice. You're welcome teach!
Jen - Gina I like your bingo card idea. Great!
ginadawn - How is everyone doing reading?
teachgordon24 - susan how long have you been in school so far this year
ginadawn - I've got most ideas off various websites.
ginadawn - Does it work well Teach? I haven't tried it yet.
Tammy1 - Who was it that said they had given the Stanford?
Jen - Tammy, it was me.
Jen - The stanford is very difficult.
teachgordon24 - i do guided reading and then my students get in cooperative groups for comprehension i also incorporate monthly book reports and theme books
Tammy1 - I lost mine too Susan. Haven't had that happen before. It just went blank.
Susan - We also gave the students a bag and told them to put one thing in it they would take if they were stranded on a desert island. That was their homework.
ginadawn - Oh- I like that idea susan.
ginadawn - What book are you starting with Teach?
Debby - I'm from NJ and getting ready to start on Wed.
Susan - Now we have made a list of what it would take for them to survive fourth grade. They have to complete it by the end of the year. Our students have to pass the Florida reading test or they fail fourth grade.
teachgordon24 - i usually start with a boxcar children book the case of the missing necklace
ginadawn - Is it a rough test Susan? Ny is moving to that- except they aren't failing them if they don't pass. The school gets negative marks though
Jen - Susan do you test in the Fall?
Tammy1 - I started with The Indian and the Cupboard. We are also going to watch the movie and compare/contrast.
ginadawn - I think I'm starting with "The Best School Year Ever"
teachgordon24 - i think every state is going to those tests now
Susan - Our test is awful. We have to give 2 reading test and one writing test. We test in February and March.
teachgordon24 - good idea
MK in IN - I read the fourth grade rats
teachgordon24 - we don't test until may
ginadawn - I want to do books by genre- starting with humor.
Tammy1 - I am going to do Number the Stars next by Lois Lowry. Then I will do a mini-unit on the holocaust and Anne Frank.
ginadawn - we test language arts in early Feb. and then science/math in May
Susan - We get a school grade. Right now, our school has a C because we missed the score by 1 point.
Jen - I have to jump around in the math book to cover the skills before the early test in the Spring.
ginadawn - We did that in sixth grade Tammy.
teachgordon24 - sounds great tammy i have that book as well
Tammy1 - I am in private school.
teachgordon24 - do you have a basal reader tammy
Susan - I'm using the Kid who ran for President book? I thought that would go along with Soc. Studies and the election. It's funny.
Tammy1 - I don't have a clue what will be on the Stanford for 4th.
teachgordon24 - i have to follow the basal reader pretty much
ginadawn - I want to tie in my literature with soc. studies when I can. We do American Revolution/history of NY/immigration and pioneers/civil war
ginadawn - we were doing whole language- everyone does their own 'thing" now
teachgordon24 - but i can supplement with theme books
teachgordon24 - ginadawn do you have a basal reader?
Susan - I have a basal, along with trade books and independent reading books. I use all these at the same time.
Tammy1 - Yes. We use the Macmillan series. The book for 4th is Sketches.
Jen - Tammy, better know some basic geometry.
ginadawn - No- we only use trade books for reading.
teachgordon24 - you have what i have susan
Tammy1 - Our headmaster does not care what we use as long as the kids are learning and the skills are being taught.
MK in IN - I try to bring in many guest speakers about the state and the civil war and wwII
Susan - You need to hear Patricia Cunningham on Four blocks. Students need all these types of books.
Jen - MK guest speakers work great, the kids really like that.
MK in IN - I also learn something too
teachgordon24 - like the guest speaker idea
teachgordon24 - you all have some great ideas for not being in fourth grade very long
Susan - I do a three ring reading circus. When I have students in my group reading the basal, one group is reading library books and taking AR tests, the other is buddy reading with a trade book. It works great.
Tammy1 - We are going to be starting a unit on the Olympics. I hope to have them meet a past olympian who is a newscaster in Charleston, SC.
Jen - We do the CA gold rush. My has a mine site, comes in and demonstrates mining methods. Makes an impression on the kids.
teachgordon24 - wow sounds great
Jen - Sorry, my son has the mine.
Tammy1 - Well, how about ideas from you Gordon. What advice can you give all of the new 4th grade teachers?
MK in IN - what else are you doing for the Olympics Tammy
Jen - Anyone doing anything spectacular for the elections?
teachgordon24 - well make sure you have great parent communication and make sure you stress procedures and your policies carefully
Tammy1 - We have a couple of places in the state that do the mining.
ginadawn - anyone doing government? we're starting with that unit- and i'm not that excited about it.
ginadawn - and any ideas for Open House/Parent night?
Jen - The mining is really limited in CA now - too expensive to get it out.
MK in IN - I am trying to get in a person who is running in the elections and we are going to do a report on a president and write a paragraph about if I was president
Tammy1 - I am going to make a board with the different olympic symbols. I am also going to have them predict the number of medals for the US. We will keep track every day.
teachgordon24 - also i do a take home folder every week with work so parents can keep up on their child's progress the folder and any u papers must be signed and brought back on monday
Susan - I try to do fun things, our state testing put such a damper on fourth grade. We have to eleviate some of the pressure. I take my students to a FSU football game if they read so many books and earn so many point in Accelerated REader! My whole room is centered around a football them.
ginadawn - I was going to do a paragraph like that too Mk.
ginadawn - teach-I'm doing that. Calling it "Friday Folder".
Tammy1 - I am also thinking about putting up a special fact every day.
teachgordon24 - i love fsu i am a big seminoles fan
Susan - I do the same thing Gordon, also I send home a weekly newletter and computer grade report .
teachgordon24 - i also do assignment pad checks each day and if they receive a stamp everyday they receive a treat on friday
Jen - Susan, are you in CA?
teachgordon24 - i call them take home folders
Tammy1 - I also do the homework/daily folder. I send home a newsletter and test papers on Monday. They have to come back signed on Tuesday. I send them on Monday because we are out on Friday.
ginadawn - I'm having my kids bring an assignment pad-
Susan - Look for number 54, Gordon. He works with my students by challenging them to read. He is the starting center this year. My students don't believe I know him right now. I'm in Florida Jen!
MK in IN - I do Friday folders and I am now starting to put a paper in for homework that will be an F because it was not turned in
ginadawn - do you write the homework at the end of the day or after each class?
Debby - I do the folder on Monday's every week...
Jen - FSU in CA means Fresno State University, where I went to school.
teachgordon24 - after each class and my students must write it down then and there
Susan - I give all the homework to my students at the beginning of the week. They have till Thursday to turn it in. My parents love this!
ginadawn - that's what I was going to do. I'll review the hw at the end of the day.
teachgordon24 - that is a good idea too susan
Tammy1 - Have you seen the Mailbox Superbook? They have a form for parent communication to send home with papers.
Debby - write the homework as it's give, but copied at end of day and signed by me
Jen - Susan, do you spot check the homework during the week to see if its being done?
Susan - No, Jen FSU is Florida State University! 1999 National Champions!
MK in IN - I write the homework after I finish each subject and the student that have problems have to write it down on a homework tracker
teachgordon24 - i also believe in having lots of humor in the classroom
Jen - Different school!
Tammy1 - I put the homework up doing the day. I initial it at the end of the day to make sure that they have written it down.
Susan - No, Jen. My students know that it has to be in by Thursday. I tie it with what we are working on. They all turn it in.
teachgordon24 - i love to laugh with my students
teachgordon24 - GO NOLES!!!!
ginadawn - so do I teach.
Jen - Laughing is the essence of life!!!!! LOLOLOL
Tammy1 - I check off homework everyday. We have had one day where everyone remembered everything. I let them watch some of The Indian in the Cupboard movie.
ginadawn - I requested my son's teacher becuase I knew she loved to laugh with her kids.
MK in IN - if we can not laugh with them then we better get out
Susan - Are you a parent Jen? Think about how hard it is for you to get everything done a t night. I have 3 kids. My son plays football. Some nights homework is hard to fit in but we do.
teachgordon24 - i also give my students time in class to work on assignments this way if they are having a problem i can help them right then and there
ginadawn - He's in 6th grade and would have an ulcer if he didn't have a teacher that appreciated a good joke. :)
Tammy1 - Jen, Did you get my im earlier?
ginadawn - I' ve always give 5 minutes to start hw. just in case their are questions about directions/ etc.
Jen - I got more than one, Tammy, which one?
teachgordon24 - that is about what i give too
Susan - I love to laugh with my students. I love doing things with them no other teacher does or ever will do.
teachgordon24 - i am also starting a writer's notebook this year
teachgordon24 - a little more involved then a journal
ginadawn - how will that work teach?
Susan - What is a writer's notebook gordon?
teachgordon24 - i took my class rollerskating last year susan i had a blast
ginadawn - what kinds of things do you do Susan?
Jen - Yes, Susan, I have two sons. Grown though.
Tammy1 - About the information on Stanford. If I give you my e-mail, can you send me some information on it. I need to know how to find resources.
ginadawn - When I team taught sixth grade, we had a popcorn business in our classroom to teach economics. Kids loved it.
MK in IN - I had an end of the year picnic and kick ball party the students that showed up loved it 50% showed up
Tammy1 - I am thinking about having a back to school party at my house. I have a huge yard in the country. The parents are in support of it. Now we just have to find a weekend.
Susan - Take them to a football game with 84,000 people. I took my last years class to the last home game of the Noles. That was so much fun. Some of my parents had never experienced that before.
ginadawn - We've taken the kids bowling
teachgordon24 - i learned it at a workshop a writer's notebook is where they write down anything they feel , overheard conversations, observations, etc. then they pick out one of those items that they have written and revise it to become a personal narrative
ginadawn - and to a Chinese restaurant before too.
Jen - We take our kids to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and a mission.
teachgordon24 - i also had an end of the year picnic at my house and a picnic at a park
teachgordon24 - i had an awesome class last year
Tammy1 - I use journals for writing and science.
Susan - I normally teach drop out prevention fourth grade. I do alot of grants and other things to get them involved in learning.
ginadawn - that sounds interesting teach. my sixth graders never seemed to like journals. It was like pulling teeth to get them to write (some of them)
teachgordon24 - last week one of my last year's students went miniature golfing with me we had a blast
MK in IN - susan can you tell me more about the prevention
Tammy1 - We are about an hour from any major city.
ginadawn - do any of you have inclusion students in your class and team with a special ed teacher?
teachgordon24 - it is something new this year gina i hope it works i am also keeping one myself so that they can see how it works
Tammy1 - Yes, please.
Jen - I both team, and have a Down Syndrome boy.
ginadawn - our town is very small, so a couple of my students are my son's friend's brothers, play baseball on my husband's teaam, etc.
Susan - This year I have a regular fourth grade. They are awesome too. They don't believe I will take them to a game. They look at me, like is this teacher for real or something!
teachgordon24 - do you pay for them or do they pay susan?
Susan - I have a ESL student. That's all. One teacher has the LD and Quest (high) students. I love this class. I have a community. High, middle and low.
teachgordon24 - i have that this year as well high, middle, and low
Susan - I pay for the tickets and bus. I wrote a grant and did some work with Clemson University to get the money. Last year, FSU donated the tickets.
teachgordon24 - with some basic skills students mixed in
ginadawn - We have three classes at each grade. Two of us have inclusion students.
Susan - Where do you teach gordon?
teachgordon24 - wow what a great thing susan
Tammy1 - I am trying to build up the confidence of the kids in reading right now.
ginadawn - I have 2 classified students because two moved. One is an elective mute.
teachgordon24 - i teach in new jersey
Jen - We have two classes of 4th. Very small this year. I only have 16 - its heaven!
MK in IN - I have had 28 students and 13 were special needs two years ago
ginadawn - I have 17- 9 girls and 8 boys.
Tammy1 - Most of them have never had basic phonics so I am working with that two. COnfidence is already starting to build.
teachgordon24 - sounds great jen we have two fourths and one 4-5 multiage class which is new this year
Tammy1 - I have 4 girls out of 11.
Susan - Wow, Jen, I feel in heaven with 21. The other 2 teachers have 19. I have 8 boys and 13 girls. A little off for a teacher who uses football for a theme.
teachgordon24 - i have 21 this year 11 girls and 10 boys
ginadawn - I will team with the special ed teacher. I'll also have the chapter one reading teacher with me to split up reading groups since I have 4 chpt.1 readrs
Jen - Basic phonics is iimportant. I teach that every day.
Susan - Tammy1, I would rather have fourth grade boys than girls. Girls want to get in clicks.
Jen - Tammy, your class sounds like mine. I have 5 girls out of 16.
ginadawn - I'm going to try to tie spelling in with phonics, which is what I always did with my special ed. students. What do you all do for spelling?
teachgordon24 - i love my boys more than the girls
Susan - My boys are wonderful. It's the girls who get the fights started.
ginadawn - I always have a few fave- both boys and girls.
Tammy1 - I am glad to see that someone else is teaching basic phonics too. I taught ABEKA kindergarten and I found out the differance in children that had it and did not have it.
Susan - Gordon, did you say what state you teach in.
teachgordon24 - yes susan i teach in NEW JERSEY
Jen - If they don't have the phonics, they don't read well, I think. Remember Whole language?
Susan - What team do you have you could use for a trip. I'm not familiar with New Jersey.
ginadawn - In sixth grade at least- the boys were always so physical- always hanging on each other, touching, hitting. The girls were usually quieter, better behaved.I'll see how 4th grade is. :)
Tammy1 - Mine have not really formed cliches. Girls and boys seem to do pretty much everything together.
Jen - Or was that a CA thing?
ginadawn - We did whole lang. at our school Jen
Tammy1 - Do they shut us off at 9?
Jen - My kids get along great together. It's early yet, though.
Jen - Where are you Gina?
ginadawn - I like the idea- but feel kids need phonics too.
teachgordon24 - nothing really close maybe just something in pennsylvania
ginadawn - In western NY
Jen - It didn't do anyting for the kids, did it?
Susan - Mine do too. I don't have any real problems. What about Penn State? I love their coach.
teachgordon24 - or maybe rutgers university
teachgordon24 - i could but that is too far away for us
Jen - CA is always trying to re-invent the wheel.
ginadawn - I think their comprehension was better but their decoding skills were poor. And with writing, they had great ideas but no mechanics
Susan - That would be fun. Try it. I have a football reading board. For every AR point they earn they move 10 yards. When they get 20 points are two touchdowns, my students get a football to take with them to the game.r
ginadawn - I think that it did get teachers more focused on children's literature though instead of a basal, which is good.
Tammy1 - I had several parents already tell me that the 2nd grade teacher did not do any math with these kids. They also had never done cursive.
Jen - We have gone to a good combination of both. Great material.
teachgordon24 - sounds neat i do AR too but don't have any ideas how to get my students motivated with it
ginadawn - Cursive is required in 4th grade at our school
Jen - Cursive is still important! Kids still have to sign for a bank account.
teachgordon24 - cursive is here too
Susan - Cursive is optional at our school. they can print on the writing test. We just want them to pass the reading and writing test with a good score.
Jen - Are all of your 4th graders expected to know their multiplications by 4th?
Tammy1 - My kids panicked when I said that they had to write in cursive. I didn't know at the time that they had not had it. They have done really well with it.
ginadawn - They can print on the state test but we are supposed to require they do daily work/ etc. in cursive. (or else they'd never use it)
ginadawn - Yes, Jen.
teachgordon24 - will be right back have to use the bathroom
Susan - Gordon, make a football board. My students have taken AR tests for 2 days and already have 34 points.y
Tammy1 - We haven't even touched multiplication yet. We just struggled through place value to the 1000's and sub/pred.
Jen - How do you teach it Tammy?
ginadawn - I"m going to do mult. practice everyday either before or after math class.
Jen - A number of my students are stuck on the 3's!!!!! Gr-r-r-r-r-r-!!
Jen - 4th grade is the best. You will love it. The kids are still respectful, and not in puberty yet.
ginadawn - I'm glad to hear that. I'm excited to have my own class this year instead of teaming with another teacher.
Tammy1 - I had each child make a place mat up to the 1000's. I made paper base ten blocks for each student. The 5th-6th grade teachers are struggling with it too.
Jen - We just did place value and Subj'Pred this week. Another Gr-r-rr-r-r!!!
ginadawn - that is tough for older kids(subj/pred)
Jen - Subj/pred it a nightmare sometimes.
ginadawn - I don't look forward to the morning grind of getting myself and 3 kids off to school though
Shimbelshanks - I teach 4th and 5th grade and so thought I would check on this meeting
teachgordon24 - i have a student teacher with me as well until decemeber
Tammy - we have a 4 day week every week. Still haven't got used to it.
Jen - Shim does you school give a stipend for a split?
Shimbelshanks - That must be nice Tammy
ginadawn - that would be neat Tammy
Shimbelshanks - $900 a year
teachgordon24 - that sounds great tammy
Shimbelshanks - not really worth it
prairielady - Tammy, I work under a 4-day work week too.
ginadawn - Is your school year longer than Tammy/Prairie?
Tammy - Are you sure. They did that last year I thought.
Jen - Our school is generous, I guess. $3,000!
prairielady - We start at the end of August and end at the end of June. 4 days every week, no exceptions (except for tchr convention). and we work a half hour longer per day.
teachgordon24 - well goodbye all good luck this year it was a blast chatting
Tammy - No, we go an extra hour and we don't take all of the staff dev. and teacher workdays. It does give me a longer weekend so that I can go home and visit my family.
ginadawn - How about vacations? Do you get less say for Christmas time?
Shimbelshanks - They expect us to do twice the work with little compensation
prairielady - I love the 4-day too.
Belinda - has anyone worked on the national boards
Jen - WOW! a 4-day work week. Cool!
prairielady - We will have 17 days at christmas and 10 at easter.
ginadawn - our school day is 8:00-2:30. Teachers have to stay until 3:15
Jen - I would imagine a split would be very difficult. I feel for you.
prairielady - And approximately 1 EDO a month to make up for the extra half hour per day.
Shimbelshanks - Does anyone else in here teach fourth or fifth grde?
ginadawn - Wow, I don't see how you fit the time in. I'd love 4 days. Your vacations are longer then our's. And we go until the end of June.
Tammy - We still have the same time I am pretty sure. 2 weeks.
ginadawn - I'm teaching 4th
Shimbelshanks - It really isn't too bad but I require a LOT of structure to do it
Belinda - I am a 5th grade teacher In GA
Shimbelshanks - It is like working with two smaller groups
Shimbelshanks - 14 kids a group small
Shimbelshanks - if you call 14 kids a group small
ginadawn - How do you it shimbel? Are they all in your room? Do you switch for 1/2 the day?
Shimbelshanks - that would not be a good split
ginadawn - I have 17 in my class
Belinda - Has anyone worked on the National Boards?
Shimbelshanks - I have 26 kids in a small hot room
Shimbelshanks - Math is from 9-10
Jen - What's National Boards, Belinda?
ginadawn - Ugh- that does not sound good.
Shimbelshanks - I teach 4th grade math from 9-9:30
prairielady - Shim---this k/1 group I have has 29 kids in all. 1 with CP, ! 50% hearing loss. 1 SEVERE nut allergy. And several with language disabilities. What am I going to do?
Shimbelshanks - 5th grade math is 9:30-10
Belinda - I'm getting ready to begin the process
Shimbelshanks - pray a lot
Shimbelshanks - seriously though, you do the best you can
Shimbelshanks - enter time
Belinda - We go through this long process and then you are cretified in all the states.
Shimbelshanks - Use a lot of center time
prairielady - I guess. But I hate to have the 1's go to 2 without being good readers and mathematicians.
Susan - Is it hard for you to do four blocks?
prairielady - Do you like it? I've read a bit, and it seems extremely structured.
Shimbelshanks - Have good learning centers where a group can work while you work with another group
Tammy - I am having to go back and teach some of the easy sight words. My kids have no self confidence at all. It has gotten better this week. Hopfully, this will help.
Susan - It's not . I heard Patricia Cunningham speak 2 weeks ago. You just need certain things to make it work.
Jen - What is the National Belinda, is it an exam?
Susan - Tammy, do you use a word wall?
Belinda - There is a 5,000 plus raise for completing the process, it's up to each state how well they pay.
Shimbelshanks - With a K/1 split, you could even get the some of the Kindergarteners ahead for the next year
Shimbelshanks - specially with reading
prairielady - THat's kind of what I'm hoping, so I'll see how it goes.
Tammy - They each have a portable word wall. This past week, I had them saying, spelling and clapping te words. WE also wrote them and put them in sentences.
Belinda - Jen, it's a year long process, that ends with an exam.
prairielady - At least I have a wonderful assistant to help.
Shimbelshanks - Belinda not all states have any say in the pay. Quite often it is up to the districts
Susan - I do that too. My students though are really ahead of what I am use too.
Susan - prairielady, do you do a three ring reading circus?
Shimbelshanks - Prairie lady, have you assistant work with one group while you focus on reading with another at some time fo the day
Belinda - When you go back to school ask your principal about it
Susan - You don't need an asssistant if you do that?
prairielady - What's a 3-ring reading circus?
Shimbelshanks - for 29 kids, you would want an assistant
prairielady - I've got a feeling it's going to be a circus. :)
Susan - I have one group reading with me in the basal, one group reading with partners (2) in a trade book. and one group reading library books they select and taking AR Test. I do this with 21 students. You just have to train them. It is easy!
Susan - You walk them through changing groups for the first 30 days, After that, they know they had better not mess with me at my group. I taught 3rd last year, fourth this year.
Susan - My third graders learned very quickly. I love it . No papers to grade and they are all reading. Isn't that what four block is all about?
Susan - Our first grade teachers do a similar process. Her students read alone while she works with other students.
Belinda - Its a year long process, when it is completed you are certified in all the states in the USA.
Tammy - I have 2 groups also. WHile I am working with my higher group, my other group is working individually.
Shimbelshanks - My fifth grade class kindergarten buddies last year both groups loved that
Shimbelshanks - Has anyone looked at gaggle.net for student emailing?
Tammy - I had thought about trying to find pen pals for mine to write to, but I don't know how hard it would be with a small class.
Shimbelshanks - Gaggle.net is an emailing program for teachers and their classes that filter emails to you if they are inappropriate
Tammy - Sounds interesting. I have 11. Small private school.
Shimbelshanks - This way they can learn how to email and send attachments but can not recieve or send inappropriate stuff
Tammy - We do not have the internet in our class.
Susan - That's right. What about a special education class. Would you like to pair with one of them? I have a teacher in my school who has 3rd, 4th and 5th. Would that work?,
Tammy - Had it last year in public. I really do miss it. I had it at home until lightening hit it. Now it has gone to the great computer heaven in the sky.
Tammy - Do you think they would be interested? If so, I can im my e-mail.
Shimbelshanks - What grade do you have Tammy
Susan - What grade do you teach?
Susan - Yes, Tammy, I think she would. She is wonderful.
v - I teach 4th, 5th, 6th grade english/social
Tammy - 4th
Susan - Oh, departmentalized.
Susan - Do you like that v?
Shimbelshanks - how many kids?
v - Yes, very much. 17 students
Shimbelshanks - tammy, how many students
Tammy - 11
Shimbelshanks - 17? can i come teach at your school?
Shimbelshanks - I have 12 4th graders
Susan - I like having my own class all day every day. We bond together.
Tammy - I would love to find someone for them to write across country and hopefully a big area. We are in a very rural area. Most of them have not been outside of this area.
v - I use to teach in a public with 27 or 30. Now I switch to privat. I am really enjoying the small group flexibility.
Susan - Do you have combination class shimbel?
Shimbelshanks - yes, 4th and 5th grade
Tammy - I am in private also v.
Susan - I would like to know how to get everything done in a 51/2 hour day. I don't seem to have time to fit everything in. I have to prepare my students for Florida reading and writing.
v - Actually, I really would love ideas to involve the newspaper everday into the classroom now that I have a small class.
Susan - V, you need to talk with my partner teacher. She is great with the newspaper. I can't seem to get excited about it.
Nalla - I forgot the steps of the scientific method, can someone help????
Shimbelshanks - I can help with that one Nalla
Shimbelshanks - 1. Ask a question
Shimbelshanks - 2. Form a hypothesis
Shimbelshanks - 3. test
Shimbelshanks - 4. Conclude your findings in comparison with your question and hypothesis
v - Donna Have I helped you out any?
donna - You have helped me out tons. The first day of activites was great. I'm e-mailing you back with some questions. Nalla - Yes, any ideas for the 1st days of school
donna - I was thinking of writing my students a letter about myself and having them write back to me. How does that sound?
v - Oh yes, An acroynm game with their names. Have them present it as they introduce themselves. Work on a Glyph and write a simple paper.
Shimbelshanks - I had my students do a friendship wall
donna - tell me more about the friendship wall
Shimbelshanks - I had a wall on paper that has different things about people, they then had to walk around the room and find people that had that description
Shimbelshanks - ie. first year at this school, youngest in my family, etc.
