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MENTOR CHAT - Mentors, please log on with Mentor/ before your name (or M/ if the entire word mentor doesn't fit).
MENTOR CHAT - New teachers, please log on with your grade level listed following your name as in Jill/2 for Jill teaching grade 2.
Kathleen/Moderator - Hi! Thank you, Mentors, for donating your time for this worthwhile event!
Mentor/Grace/IL - Hi Kat, finally got this to look OK
Kathleen/Moderator - Bobbi Fisher, it's good to see you back here at Teachers.Net
Kathleen/Moderator - Bill Page, are you out there?
Bill Page - Yes! Hello Kathleen, I'm Here
Kathleen/Moderator - Hi Bill!
Bobbi - my pleasure. I'm curiousto know what has been the most rewarding experience for teachers during the first week of school
Kathleen/Moderator - Welcome to Teachers.Net Mentors Online! New teachers are invited to log on at the top of the hour to interact with veteran, mentor teachers. We suggest you include your grade level with your name in this format Name/2 if you are Mr. or Ms. Name currently teaching grade 2. That will enable mentors to target advice to your specific grade level.
Kathleen/Moderator - Anyone here have a rewarding first week experience to share while we wait for new teachers to log on?
Kathleen/Moderator - Hi Hal Portner! We're assembled, ready for some new teachers to arrive.
Bobbi - New teacher? I think that each year we are all new teachers in some way
Kathleen/Moderator - New teachers, don't be shy! You'll find friendly and helpful advice, and YOU can remain anonymous if you wish.
Kathleen/Moderator - Bobbi, so true!
Kathleen/Moderator - Hi Mentor Wizzlewolf! Thank you for returning for tonight's session.
Mentor wizzle - Howdy!
Hal - Greetings, wizzle!
Bobbi - Wizzle, what do you do/teach?
MENTOR CHAT - Mentor Bobbi Fisher is a veteran of 25 years in the classroom, author of 5 books for educators, and a popular presenter. Her books include: Inside the Classroom: Teaching Kindergarten and First Grade; Thinking and Learning Together: Curriculum and Community in a Primary Classroom; Joyful Learning in Kindergarten; Perspectives on Shared Reading: Planning and Practice; and The Teacher Book - Finding Personal and Professional Balance.
Mentor wizzle - I teach art to severely emotionally disturbed K-12.
MENTOR CHAT - Mentor Grace Haskins/IL is a retired first grade teacher, author of The Spel-Lang Tree, a set of two teachers manuals for teaching spelling and language at the primary level and frequent contributor/mentor on Teachers.Net forums.
Bobbi - I'm particularly interested in way that new teachers are balancing their personal and professional lives at the begining of the school year.
MENTOR CHAT - Mentor Bill Page is a teacher and teacher trainer who has taught courses at 86 different universities and has presented Staff Development Programs, seminars and conferences to more than 100,000 teachers, at more than 2000 school districts, throughout the U.S. and Canada. He writes (monthly) articles for the Teachers.Net Gazette.
Bobbi - Wizzle, important work. Art is important for all.
MENTOR CHAT - Mentor Sheree "wizzlewolf" Rensel is a veteran of 21 years teaching experience, a National Board Certified Teacher (Early Adolescence-Young Adult Art) presently serving as a teacher in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ms. Rensel holds a BFA, MFA, and has one year completed toward a Ph.D. in Educational Technology. She is currently Florida certified in Art K-12, Special Ed. (Emotional Handicaps) K-12.
Mentor wizzle - You mean teachers are supposed to have a personal life?? I didn't know that....LOL
Hal - While we wait for new teachers to arrive - any of you planning to be in Boston in December for the NSDC?
MENTOR CHAT - Mental Hal Portner is a former K-12 teacher & administrator, author of Mentoring New Teachers, Training Mentors Is Not Enough, and Being Mentored. New teachers will post questions and concerns, and a mentor/s will post responses in open chat format.
Bobbi - Yes, but so hard to have a personal life, especially at the start of the year.
Kathleen/Moderator - Well, I wonder if all the new teachers are busy with lesson planning tonight...
Mentor wizzle - Bobbi, I think my teaching is less art and more behavior modification with my SED kids. However, I love every minute of it.
Kathleen/Moderator - Hal, an outside chance. Very outside, but perhaps. Are you presenting?
Bobbi - Hal, I live near Boston. What is the NSdn?
Hal - Yes, Kathleen - 2 sessions. NSDC (National Staff Development Conference)
Bobbi - I wonder if all teaching is about affect, and that in your case the art is the medium tothe messag.
Kathleen/Moderator - MENTEES needed!
Mentor Grace/IL - I think perhaps this is an early time frame for teachers in the west.
Bobbi - while we're waiting. kathleen, are you still teaching kindergarten?
Hal - Yes, Bobby. And much of the affect's effect is the quality of what goes on between teacher and student in the classroom.
Mentor wizzle - Oh yes Bobbi, that is it exactly!
Bobbi - It's all personal, Hal, but how do you test that?
Kathleen/Moderator - Bobbi, no I retired early this summer. Was about to be transferred from half time K to full time grade 6. So, I resigned and retired.
Kathleen/Moderator - Bobbi, no I retired early this summer. Was about to be transferred from half time K to full time grade 6. So, I resigned and retired.
Hal - Like you said, the media is the message -
Kathleen/Moderator - Oh, that really didn't need to be repeated!
Bobbi - I don't blame you. New opportunities will evolve.
Kathleen/Moderator - I've been unhappy with the teach-to-the-test trend, regardless of what is best for the children.
Kathleen/Moderator - I've been unhappy with the teach-to-the-test trend, regardless of what is best for the children.
Bobbi - I'm very interested in play and am wondering if it is being pushed out of the curriculum.
Kathleen/Moderator - Going to cancel that Live Update, it's messing me up!
Beth - Hi everyone.
Hal - Hello, Beth. Tell us about yourself.
Kathleen/Moderator - Hi Beth, welcome to Mentors Online! Are you a new teacher?
Mentor wizzle - That is really a big issue here in Florida. THE TEST.......!
Beth - New teacher! first grade - first year
Mentor Grace/IL - Hi Beth and Mira
Kathleen/Moderator - Bobbi, I have my Teachers.Net job and another writing/editing job. So I'm very busy!
mira - Are we waiting for something or can I ask a question?
Mentor Grace/IL - Beth, I was a first grade teacher
Beth - I have questions, too!
Mentor wizzle - ASK ASK ASK!
Kathleen/Moderator - mira, PLEASE ask a question! Welcome!
Bobbi - Good for you. What's your greatest joy so far?
Hal - Welcome, Brann
Kathleen/Moderator - Beth, how is it going in first grade? What is the biggest challenge?
mira - How can I stop all the talking?
Brann - thank you
Kathleen/Moderator - Hi Winnie, welcome to Mentors Online! tell us about the joys and challenges of teaching.
mira - I'm going insane.
Beth - I love first grade. Always thought I'd be in 2 or 3, but LOVE first!
Kathleen/Moderator - Hi Brann! Welcome!!
Kathleen/Moderator - mira, what grade/age?
Brann - thanks Kathleen
Beth - My biggest challenge is transitions!
Kathleen/Moderator - Mentors, grab the topic that most fits your area of expertise...
Beth - Transitions to specials are easy, it is between subjects that take time and are chatty times
Mentor Grace/IL - Beth, what was your question?
Kathleen/Moderator - I can hear the mentors typing their responses...
Beth - HELP!!!!!!
Kathleen/Moderator - Beth is asking about how to manage transitions. mira needs help with chatty students.
Mentor wizzle - Mira, What strategies have you tried up until now?
Bobbi - Beth, ttranstions are a challenge. I found that singing was a way to ease everyone along.
Kathleen/Moderator - mira, what grade level do you teach?
Mentor Grace/IL - What seems to be the problem -- materials management in transitions, moving from one topic to another?
MENTOR CHAT - mira, are you here?
Mentor Grace/IL - Beth, how is your classroom set up?
Beth - Transition trouble for me is that it takes alot of time for the students to get their book, pencil out and they are super chatty during this. So, am I expecting too much for them to move quickly? They are 1st graders
MENTOR CHAT - Brann are you here to ask questions, or to mentor?
Brann - I would like to mentor
Beth - My room has traditional rows, calendar.carpet area, computer station, library, reading area
Kathleen/Moderator - Thanks, Brann. Just post when you see a question you feel comfortable addressing.
Mentor Grace/IL - Beth, I think it takes time for children to learn routines. I think letting them know your expectations will help.
mira - I'm having trouble with this chat room. My computer doesn't like it.
Kathleen/Moderator - mira, what grade do you teach?
Mentor wizzle - Beth, if I have a class that has transition problems, I take time to "talk" them through it. I explain the behavior that is not satisfactory and explain my expectations. Even if we have to have a moment of silence at the door before we go, they all have to agree that they will try to improve. If they still have problems, I have even gone so far as to take period to "practice" transitions. That usually always works.
Kathleen/Moderator - I think we lost Bobbi?
Magoo-Mentor - I'm VERY sorry to be so late---unavoidably detained at school today...
Kathleen/Moderator - Hi Magoo, thanks for returning for another session. Go find us some new teachers, okay?
Magoo-Mentor - (It's 5:20 where I am) (I keep forgetting about time zones)
Beth - I thought it was practice more
Bobbi - chatty children. One day I put a rap on and the kids dance and talked themselves to exhaustion. Then I was amazed at how quiet the were for silent reading.
Kathleen/Moderator - Young children need to practice procedures and routines. Could you back up Beth and go over the routines, even role play them, to help the kids know what you expect?
Bill Page - Mira, perhaps you should ease up a little on the concern for talking. The transitions are an excellent time for it. How would you like to be with friends for hours and not be able to talk to them. Plus, kids remember 75% of what THEY say and 95% of what they TEACH. They need to be taught about the skills of talking and its appropriateness and they need to have activities that make taling useful.
Magoo-Mentor - New Teachers.....hmmmm.....some would be at the corner bar, but most are probably home with their feet up.......
Mentor wizzle - I bought a "Yacker Tracker" for the fun of it this year. Now my kids are TOO QUIET! They are so afraid the silly alarm is going to go off!
Kathleen/Moderator - The transcript of this chat will be archived.
Bobbi - I also question why we want/expect first graders to be very quiet waiting in line.
Kathleen/Moderator - You wouldn't want a classroom that is too quiet...
mira - The talking is loud enough to be heard in other classrooms. Students complain they can't hear me.
Magoo-Mentor - What in the world is a "Yacker Tracker" ???
Beth - I don't mind talking, it is just once the transition is over - and the subject needs to be started, that some are not ready to go.
MENTOR CHAT - mira, I missed what grade this is
mira - 8th
Bobbi - A great strategy to get the noise level down, is for the teacher to whisper.
Brann/mentor - Beth, do you use a signal to gain their attention?
MENTOR CHAT - 8th grade, Bill?
Hal Portner - I'm back! My computer zonked out.
Bill Page - Sometimes we are so concerned with control that we try to restrict natural and even desirable behavior.
Mentor Grace/IL - Beth, you'll always find a few who are laggers in getting ready. Sometimes just standing quietly until everyone is ready is a signal that they are holding up the class.
Beth - Another Question... We eat at 11:05-11:50. School goes until 3:15. The kids are zoned and dead tired by 2pm. I do snack in the afternoon, specials are in the afternoon as well as a 1st grade language block (90 min,) and either science or social studies.
mira - The problem is that many of the kids don't want to learn - have given up - don't care about consequences.
Kathleen/Moderator - Welcome back, Hal.
Magoo-Mentor - Bobbi, that is a very good idea...once I stood smack in the middle of the room and said, quietly, 'If you can hear me, go get a Tootsie Roll"..........it was very interesting to see who had been listening......"HEY, how come SHE got candy and I didn't???" Well, had they been quieter.....
mira - I'm not kidding, kids are shouting
Bill Page - Yes, my specialty and first love is middle school and jr high "troublemakers."
Kathleen/Moderator - mira, do you have Harry Wong's book, The First Days of School? It might be VERY helpful as you try to set up procedures, routines, expectations.
Beth - Brann - my signal is "freeze". That means pencils down, hands on shoulders and eyes on me. The kids are GREAT at this. They have even started to do it at announcement time!
Mentor Grace/IL - Beth, does your language block include reading? IMHO, reading should be in the morning when children are fresh.
Beth - Sorry, I have 2 questions going on!
Magoo-Mentor - mira, I think you are right there.....so many kids today aren't 'afraid' of anything, let alone any sort of consequence......it's hard to make the mule go when they don't like carrots......
Mentor Grace/IL - Mira, what grade level do you teach?
Kathleen/Moderator - Beth, you could try a period of some sort of movement, exercise to wake them up, re-energize.
Bobbi - Interesting to watch when the kids are quiet and listening. When we read a good story is one time.
Mentor wizzle - Mira, speaking of Tootsie Rolls, if your kids don't care about consequences, do they care about reinforcements????
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, welcome to Mentors Online! Are you a new teacher? How are things going for you?
rachel - we had indoor recess today. it was awful! 6.5 hours with no breaks. what do you have your kids do for indoor recess?
Beth - Grace - Reading (DI) is in the am and Language (mcGraw Hill, writing, spelling and handwriting) are in the afternoon.
Kathleen/Moderator - mira teaches 8th grade.
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, what grade?
rachel - it's my first year of fifth grade. i'm overwhelmed, but now that it's 4 weeks into it I'm starting to be less overwhelmed.
MENTOR CHAT - New teachers, please log on with your grade level listed following your name as in Jill/2 for Jill teaching grade 2.
Kathleen/Moderator - jenna, welcome! What grade do you teach, and how is it going?
rachel - 5th grade
Mentor Grace/IL - Beth, what program do you use for DI? Eek! That acronym has two definitions. I'm thinking of direct instruction.
Kathleen/Moderator - Is classroom management the biggest challenge for all of you?
Brann/mentor - If they know that and use it, what if giving htem a warning tht they have 15 second to be ready. At the 15 sec mark say freeze....then in a low voice, say that if they are stll getting materials out that they need to be silent so they don't miss the instruction.
Magoo-Mentor - Indoor Recess....our kids have puzzles, legos, they love to play Heads Up 7 Up (this is elem., obviously)
Bobbi - Rachel, do you have any big books for your fifth graders? Mondo Publications has a lot of good fiction ones.
Beth/1 - Yes, it is Direct Instruction. I know, I know!
Kathleen/Moderator - For indoor recess the kids need freedom, choices, activity
Hal Portner - rachel. understandable as a new teacher to feel overwhelmed at times. Unfortunately, I know some 'old' teachers who are underwhelmed!
rachel - my thing is, there's 5 students who cause 95% of the discipline challenges. i lack the desks to seat them away from everyone else (actually we have tables). i thing they aren't always able to stay quiet when they'er supposed to.
Beth/1 - Brann, I like that you need to be silent if you are not ready. I will try that
rachel - big books for indoor recess? they'd probably like those
Magoo-Mentor - When I lived in Iowa, one winter was so cold the kids had to stay in for all recesses for 2 full weeks........we were having races in the hall, 'bowling', etc.
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, I recommend Harry Wong's book the First Days of School to help you get a handle on those situations with the few kids who disrupt.
Bill Page - Mira, two suggestions: A class meeting/discussion about the behavior and purpose. If most of the kids are not involved, they welcome distraction; but if a majority are involved they can help with the ones who are shouting.
rachel - i student taugh in iowa. now I'm in New Mexico
Beth/1 - be right back - phone call
rachel - i read Harry Wong three times
rachel - I"m not sure how Harry Wong would help me specifically
Bobbi - I can't imagine any other profession where one audlt and 20-30 other people are "forced to be in the same room for six plus hours. Indoor recess makes that a reality.
Mentor wizzle - Rachel, why don't you put those 5 kids at one table and move the table away from those who want to learn.
Magoo-Mentor - I think kids today are not learning how to sit down and be quiet BEFORE they start school. They are used to tv/video games, etc, where they don't have to sit 'still' OR be quiet, and that carries over into the classroom.
rachel - wizzle, wouldn't those 5 kids be doomed? but actually i think they would get even louder and disrupt even more if they were all together, no?
Bill Page - Secondly, small group activity and pair share can narrow the real problem students down to three or four who can be in YOUR group.
Bobbi - What about doing a visit to another room. Have the fourth graders show the first graders around their room--read together--build with those math manipulatives. It gets the kids to a different room,at least.
Kathleen/Moderator - Jenna, post that question to the room
Magoo-Mentor - rachel, I've lived in Iowa City and Ames......did my Peace Corps training in Albuquerque
Brann/mentor - A trick that I use Beth is that I use "SPECIAL" words for the day. It is a vocabulary word. Then sometime during the day, I use this word in a sentence and the first person that silently raises their hand (If it is DI) or tells me (maybe in groups) What the word was and how I used it gets a ticket (or whatever reinforcemnet you use). Once the word is done, I tell them the next word.
Mentor Grace/IL - Magoo, I think you're right on the settling down issue.
mira - Bill, please explain. What will meeting decide? "Quiet kids" tell others to shut up - no effect. I don't know what I'm trying to accomplish with the meeting.
rachel - if the 3-4 problem students were in my group, would i ever be able to go see the work of the other 22 kids?
Brann/mentor - ok...is that about as clear as mud?
rachel - i'm in albuquerque! went to college in grinnell, IA.
Kathleen/Moderator - Bobbi, is that for indoor recess, visiting another room? sounds like a good idea.
Jenna/4 - I'm sorry, Kathleen....what question? Did I miss something?
Mentor wizzle - Well, it depends on your personality and style. I would do that. I would ignore them and give the others Oodles of positive attention. You might be surprised. Some of those who misbehave might want to become a learner to gain your attention. That has happened with many of my kids.
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, does every member of the small group have a specific job/responsibility to perform?
Kathleen/Moderator - Jenna, did you private message a question to me a minute ago?
rachel - do you ever get to the point as a teacher where you can teach entire lessons with no one ever off task or chatting witha neighbor?
Jenna/4 - Can you explain "Oodles of Positive attention"? what does that look like?
Magoo-Mentor - Grace, that's the main reason hubby and I don't go to movies anymore...too noisy...
Jenna/4 - Kathleen....no, and if I did, it was not intentional....sorry!!
Bobbi - Indoor recess or sometime during the day. The point is to have a change of venue.
rachel - kathleen, i haven't been that organized yet. but they HAVE to sit at tables of 4 (we don't have desks)
Kathleen/Moderator - It was a small j jenna
rachel - how quiet should they be when they're, say, writing stories?
Jenna/4 - lol, Kathleen!
Mentor wizzle - Oh my yes, all the time. With time, if you are consistent and establish a clear, concise expectation of how and what should happen in your class, the kids will respond.
Magoo-Mentor - I sometimes give 'lessons' in being quiet and sitting down, etc. so the kids will know what I"M talking about there. I honestly don't think a lot of them really UNDERSTAND what we mean with those words.
Bill Page - The meeting is to discuss the reasons for being there, the need for order and procedures and the natural consequenses of not learning. I recommend a tight circle and the teacher limited to questions.
Jenna/4 - oops....sorry
Bobbi - Rachel, I wonder if it's realistic to expect everyone to be on task at the same time. I figure if I have most of the kids with me, that's not bad.
Kathleen/Moderator - Bill, can you refer rachel to one of your articles online for help with that?
Jenna/4 - I often talk about what it means to "Listen".....eye contact, hands free,
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, do you have a mentor assigned to you at school?
rachel - the only time all my kids are quiet is if I make them all write the same thing at the same time or for 5-minute periods of SSR
rachel - I have a mentor but it is a casual relationship
Mentor wizzle - Oodles of positive attention means going around the room and catch every kid who is on task doing something right and remarking on it. I give all the learners compliments and personal attention even if it is just a quick "GREAT JOB!".
Magoo-Mentor - Oh, another thing I do is, I have my trusty (but cheap) cd/tape player in the room, and I play music all day.....very low, not annoying, and I turn it off now and then. Those NorthSound tapes/cds are great--very 'nature-y', very soothing.........they keep ME calmer anyway!!
Kathleen/Moderator - quiet might not be a realistic goal, it's difficult to know without being able to observe
Jenna/4 - Thx M wizzle
mira - Bill, I appreciate the advice, but I think that would end up in a fight in my classroom. Kids are always on the edge of violence.
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, is the mentor someone you respect?
rachel - i wonder if i should be doing more things we're they're not SUPPOSED to be quiet, maybe it isn't natural
Bobbi - Magoo, I like the idea of claming music.
rachel - my mentor is great!
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, that is good insight!
Mentor Grace/IL - rachel, sometimes when students are restless and noisy, you HAVE to have them all doing the same thing at the same time. Dictate and have them write. If older students do this long enough, they'll consider other alternatives in behavior.
Hal Portner - rachel. Take the responsibility of asking your mentor to observe your class and then discuss the situation over a cup of coffee.
Brann/mentor - If you have a CD burner.....I can let you know how to make them for yourself!
Magoo-Mentor - Bobbi, I have turned kids on to the beauty of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, etc. also....Gershwin, show tunes.....once taught an entire 4th grade how to jitterbug!
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, if your mentor is great, then make that relationship serve you better. The difficulties you describe are common for new teachers. I experienced the same problems and questions with my first 5-6 kids. Could have used a mentor!
Bill Page - Yes, Kathleen, my lenghty article (17 pages) in the Aug 02 Gazette, Making 2002-2003 the Best Year Ever covers 26 topics from motivation to self discipline.
rachel - kathleen, how'd you solve the problems?
Jenna/4 - ok....can anyone help me with this situation....I have a girl (4th grade) who is an only child and pretty much gets her way at home. This does not help in the classroom....during lesson time she is talking to others, playing with her necklace around her neck, manipulating her pencil....YOU NAME IT.....everything besides paying attention. I've conferenced with her and she realizes what she does, but she still continues these behaviors. Any suggestions?
Kathleen/Moderator - Good advice, Hal, make that mentor work for you!
Bobbi - Sometimes too much discussion about behavior makes it worse. Our best disciple is an interesting program.
Beth/1 - I'm back!
Mentor wizzle - Another option which takes GREAT bravery is to set up a video camera on yourself and then watch it after school. You might not be doing what you think you are doing to gain control in your class. You will be surprised if you watch yourself on video. You will catch a lot of "boo boos".
rachel - jenna, i have kids like that, but they're all boys. some kids seem to need to have something in their hands all the time.
Bobbi - Don Holdaway once told me that if kids get restless during shared reading, up the ante and read more stories. Get them involved physicall in acting out the story, etc.
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, I backed up and started all over establishing procedures, practicing routines. But I also learned a lot about what is realistic to expect from kids.
Brann/mentor - rachel...I am notorious for having an active classroom.....lots of talking, interacting, on task communication...but that is my learning style....sometimes i think that we forget that we ourselves have a learning style and need to look at is it us that can't focus or is it the kids. Does that make any sense?
Mentor Grace/IL - Jenna, you might want to read Mel Levine's A Mind at a Time. He deals with attention factors.
Jenna/4 - I wouldn't mind her manipulating objects if she were paying attention....BUT she's not!
Jenna/4 - OK, thanks Grace....will write that title down!
rachel - people say "be interesting" but if your kids are out of control you can't trust them to use science equipment, share supplies, work in groups, etc.
Mentor wizzle - Bobbi, I totally agree. I rarely have behavior problems because I tell the kids we just don't have time for problems, we have to get our project done!
rachel - kathleen, what do you think is realistic?
Bobbi - I, too, recommend A Mind at a Time
Jenna/4 - Grace....what kind of advice would Mel Levine give me in this situation?
Kathleen/Moderator - busy noise is realistic much of the time
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, but that is a very subjective thing, your kids may very well be too loud
Magoo-Mentor - I agree, Kathleen--there is 'learning noise' and there is 'noisy noise'
Bobbi - I found that the more I involved the kids in the curriculum planning, the more engaged they were.
Kathleen/Moderator - Reposting for Jenna/4: I have a girl (4th grade) who is an only child and pretty much gets her way at home. This does not help in the classroom....during lesson time she is talking to others, playing with her necklace around her neck, manipulating her pencil....YOU NAME IT.....everything besides paying attention. I've conferenced with her and she realizes what she does, but she still continues these behaviors. Any suggestions?
Magoo-Mentor - rachel, did you get my PM??
rachel - i have 2 computers in the classroom. any advice on how to best, and most equitably, use them?
rachel - what is a PM?
Kathleen/Moderator - 8th grade is VERY challenging for sure. You need to establish a good working relationship with a good mentor.
Jenna/4 - Rachel<rivate message>
Mentor wizzle - I would give her a job like teachers assistant or student mentor. That way she would have to pay attention to help others.
Kathleen/Moderator - Jenna, maybe the manipulative (necklace) is a good way for her to channel some hyperactivity?
Bobbi - Jenna, obviously this girl needs your help. For a start, if she is not bother anyone else, leave her be and teach the rest of the class. Then work slowly and individually with her.
Jenna/4 - OOPS>....How did that face get there?????????
rachel - oh, I don't know if I got your PM, would it look different?
Magoo-Mentor - Jenna....what about trying this--figure out the ONE thing this kid does that REALLY drives you up the wall. Then you could focus on that, instead of ALL of the stuff she does. Then, you could talk with her about this one thing, and see if she has any ideas about how to stop it, etc.
rachel - oh... now I see a private message!
rachel - how do i send one a PM?
Magoo-Mentor - rachel, yes, it would be in the skinny place where you type your messages.......
Brann/mentor - rachel, I use my computer for kids to publish writing....they cycle back through them on their own...they know that they are responsible for the material that would otherwise be doing. I have a few kids that are my high kids that are the "computer" techs...that way, if they need help , they get one of those students.....allows me to continue!
Kathleen/Moderator - Mentors, when you respond to a question, please post (first) the name of the person you're addressing the response to
Beth/1 - Sorry, be right back again!
Bobbi - I know how easy it is to single out a child, and then pretty soon the entire class knows that she/he's a problem. The community then breaks down.
Kathleen/Moderator - To send a private message, set the Send to: box to the name of the person you wish to send to
Jenna/4 - Magoo....I will try, although I have conferenced with her about this and we tried to figure out a solution.....
Jenna/4 - ry again
MENTOR CHAT - All new teachers who chat here during this week's Mentors Online sessions will be eligible TO ENTER a drawing for a copy of Educating Esme, Diary of a Teacher's First Year by Esme Codell. You must log on, then e-mail kathleen@teachers.net with FIRST YEAR in the subject line, provide your screen name, real name, and e-mail address. Deadline for entries, Friday at 9:30 pmE. You don't have to buy anything.
Magoo-Mentor - Jenna, you could get her a 'worry stone', or some play dough, just a dab of it, to keep her fingers busy........
Mentor Grace/IL - Levine doesn't really give advice. He deals with all the factors and cites case studies. One statement here, "Unconsciously . . . attention rapidly inspects all candidates for admission to the thinking brain, filters out and discards what it deems irrelevant, welcomes a chosen few stimuli into consciousness, and then invites the most timely and informative of these selections to penetrate deeply enought to be understood and/or remembered or else used right away." I typed that so fast I hope I didn't mess it up.
Jenna/4 - .....that's worth a try, Magoo....thanks!
Kathleen/Moderator - Private messages appear below the room screen
Bill Page - Jenna, for an individual with a specific problem, offer her a role as teaching assistant, or find a monitoring job for her, one that occupies her, takes her attention and gives her more acceptable attention.
Jenna/4 - so, Grace, Levine will offer no help for behaviors, just theory/pedagogy?
Magoo-Mentor - Jenna, how do you feel about bribery??
rachel - I think it's hard being a new teacher because you don't really know what you need procedures ABOUT until somethingd rives you nuts and eventually you figure it out
Brann/mentor - Jenna....a balloon filled with flour works well too. I have lots of those in my room
Kathleen/Moderator - Remember, the transcript of this chat will be archived, so if you're having difficulty reading the responses, you will have access to them in http://teachers.net/archive
Jenna/4 - Bill....the teacher assistant is a great idea, but what about the time when she should be paying attention to lessons?
rachel - brann, baloons for kids who just need them?
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, BINGO! That is too often the case, that is why new teachers need more support than they are often given
Bill Page - She would be the one calling on others or checking their work.
Magoo-Mentor - rachel, I tried again with the PM..........
rachel - kathleen, it's also hard because you create a procedure and try it a bit and it doesn't work too well so then you want to give up on it
Mentor Grace/IL - Jenna, not necessarily theory. I believe he writes from experience. Another quote, "Visual distractibility may even have some relationship to creativity." Maybe you have a real artiste on your hands.
Mentor wizzle - Jenna, if you give her a specific job BEFORE there is a problem, you are not singling her out for bad behavior. In fact, she may feel very special that you choose her to help out in a special way.
Jenna/4 - Bill...GREAT....Thanks for the tip!
Jenna/4 - Will try!
Bobbi - Rachel, your desciption fits Cambournes natural learning model. The best learning comes when we approximate, miscue, self-correct. Tough for a first year teacher, but the learning is deep.
Kathleen/Moderator - Teachers.Net Beginning Teachers Chatboard and mailring: http://teachers.net/mentors/beginning_teachers/ where many veteran teachers will respond to questions and you can interact with other new teachers
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, it's overwhelming, isn't it?
Brann/mentor - I have a box of them....if you don't know what they are I will explain....and at the beginning...I state that if they destroy, or use them inappropraitely, they lose the chance to use them again, and they will help the janitor for lunch to make up the time that it takes to clean up the mess. I find kids have them in their hands and I never see them....their "nervous" energy of sorts.
Kathleen/Moderator - Hal, isn't it discouraging how little help is available for these good people, just new to the profession??
Magoo-Mentor - Brann, where do you find decent balloons??? They are all so cheap these days......
rachel - kathleen, yest but i try to remember that i am better now than during student teaching and so I hope to keep improving...it's hard though, I feel like i barely have time to think and on weekends I don't WANT to think about school, I want to go out and dance
Mentor wizzle - Rachel, that is what it is all about even for experienced teachers. You try something and if it doesn't work you go to Plan B. With time, you start to realize which is the best plan for each situation.
Bobbi - Rachel, and others, I'd be happy to email with you. My email address is befjoyful@aol.com. I took the email from my book Joyful Learning in Kindergarten.
Mentor Grace/IL - Jenna, more - - "Quite a few children appear to have leaky auditory filters, so they encounter trouble screening out distracting sounds." Of course, distractibility goes beyond just auditory. She may have many other things that distract her.
Brann/mentor - Yes, I know I am not Hal, but this is my 9th year teaching, but my first year in this district (moved to new state) and first year in middle school (6th) had 8 years of 5th...I too am even overwhelmed
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, well for one thing, DO go out and dance, right, Bobbi? You need that!
Magoo-Mentor - rachel, boogie on, you gotta keep your sanity, you know!
Mentor Hal - Yes, Kathleen, but if you new teachers are proactive, you can seek out or creat opportunities for help. Most experienced teachers appreciate being asked!
Jenna/4 - Grace.....your quotes have been helpful!
Kathleen/Moderator - Here's the url for the article Bill referred too, please try to read it http://teachers.net/gazette/AUG02/page3.html
rachel - it's hard because most of the other teachers around, except maybe other first year teachers, do all these great things (theater, art projects, etc.) and i can't handle that yet...maybe next semester
Christine - Hi, I have a problem that I need help with.
rachel - hi christine
Bobbi - Rachel and everyone, yes, take time for yourself. Figure out what YOU need to do to nurture your self.
Kathleen/Moderator - Hi Christine! Please ask, we're here to help
Brann/mentor - I get the latex ones at a store called zurchers. I suirt a little bit of that juice that helps the helium to stay inside and I funnel in some flour then tie them. I have kids that will accidently tear them and are QUICK to show me as to not be held accountable for an "accident!"
Magoo-Mentor - hi, Christine!!!!!!!!!
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, all those things took many years for those teachers to build the repetoire
Mentor wizzle - Rachel, don't worry. Give yourself the luxury of time. All those other things will come soon enough. Take it little by little.
Jenna/4 - What time does this chat end?
Magoo-Mentor - Brann, I have also used those 'fidgit' things that you can get thru mail order catalogs.
Mentor Grace/IL - Jenna, "Children themselves do better at controlling their own distractibility when they know what it is and when it's occurring." Perhaps you could confer with her privately and discuss this. I'm sitting here with Levine's bok in my lap. LOL
MENTOR CHAT - I recommend Hal Portner's new book, Being Mentored (Corwin Press) to help you make the most of your mentor.
rachel - do you all have ESL kids? I'm working on the endorsement but it's still difficult to know how to work for them. some of them are so low, I can't grade them on the same standards or they'd flunk everything, yet they know a remarkable amount of English considering they're so new to the US
Jenna/4 - LOL Grace, I thought you may have memorized those quotes!!!
Kathleen/Moderator - It ends in about 2 mintues! But there will be other sessions on Wed., Thurs, Fri
Mentor wizzle - Rachel, also remember you are laying the foundation of your teaching career. You want to get all those basics down really good so all the additional stuff can stand on your foundation.
Magoo-Mentor - I have worked with a few ESL kids, one on one......I'm a professional sub, so don't have my own classroom. I've worked with kids from Bosnia, Mexico, Peru, China.......just wish I could do more of that, I love it!
Brann/mentor - yep, I personally use them. I am as ADD as they come. I still take medication to help curb it, but my organization skills have had to be learned and constantly reingrained! I 9 out of 10 times have the ball, or clay or something in my hand to fiddle with.
Bill Page - I didn't see Christine's question.
Jenna/4 - Thanks for everyone's help, and I will see if I can get my hands on Levine's book!
Christine - I teach first grade. Today I got a new student who did not want to come into the room. She was screaming and hanging on her mom. Mom was bringing her in and yelling at her all the way (I'm in the inner city). I told mom to just leave and we knew where to contact her if we needed. Well within 20 minutes we had to call mom and send the child home. She refused to sit. She was destroying things, threw down a chair, and was pushing the easel. They decided they'll try again tomorrow, but I'm not sure it'll get better. How can I make it easier?
Mentor wizzle - WOW Kathleen, this hour went fast@
rachel - all the mentors here are great! how nice of you all to donate your time!
Kathleen/Moderator - Christine?
Kathleen/Moderator - These mentors are terrific people!
Kathleen/Moderator - Always available: Teachers.Net Beginning Teachers Chatboard and mailring: http://teachers.net/mentors/beginning_teachers/
rachel - christine, maybe the mom can sit in the back of the room for a day while the kid particpates in the calssroom so the kid sees it isn't so scary?
Brann/mentor - I have SET...kids that are coming out of ESL.... I can help with some of your questions
Kathleen/Moderator - Beginning Teachers Toolbox: http://www.inspiringteachers.com
Bobbi - Rachel, I bet you're doing many wonderful things in your classroom. Good teacher are often hard on themselves. I suggest that every night you make a list of five wonderful things that happened in your classroom that day. Don't make a negative list.
Kathleen/Moderator - National Association of Beginning Teachers http://www.beginningteachers.org/
Magoo-Mentor - rachel, 'donate' ??? I thought Kathleen was flying us all to DisneyWorld at the end of this week!?!
Bill Page - Remember: Dance like noone is watching; love like you've never been hurt; and work like you don't need the money!
Brann/mentor - anyone please always feel free to email me.... brann@netnevada.net I will share whatever knowledge and recourses that I can.
rachel - how do you assess/grade ESL kids?
Christine - Mind you I spoke to her, showed her how close her brother was (just down the hall in fourth grade), The principal sat with her, the security guard spoke with her, and sending her home was a last resort after she had walked out of my room three times.
Kathleen/Moderator - In two minutes this room will host the Early childhood-K-Primary teachers' chat
rachel - bill-- that's funny!
Kathleen/Moderator - Perhaps Mentors who are offering to e-mail would post their addresses at http://teachers.net/mentors/beginning_teachers/
Mentor Grace/IL - Christine, I'm not sure I'd want that mom in my classroom. If Mom and child are both screamers, the situation would be worse.
rachel - i'm glad i came to this chat. it was my first one but I'll try to make more.
Mentor Grace/IL - Oh, are we oing to Disney World? What fun!
Mentor wizzle - Christine, sounds like ALL of my kids. When she comes in tomorrow, try to get down on her level and really make eye contact. Talk to her softly and ask her questions to find out what she is thinking. You might get clues as to how to handle your next move.
Brann/mentor - rachel I grade on content rather than sentence structure....but i have them for content areas.
Christine - Grace that is exactly what I'm thinking. I thought about having mom stay but she was more disrupting than the child.
Kathleen/Moderator - rachel, please come back, and watch for other mentor chats after this week, we need to do more of this
Brann/mentor - Disney World!!!! WOOO HOOOOOO Thanks Kat!!!!!
rachel - have fun everyone! thanks for the positive thoughts!
Bill Page - I spend a lot of time staring at my computer monitor and welcome messages. billpage@bellsouth.net!
Kathleen/Moderator - Christine, find out what activity or materials in the classroom are most enticing to her and use that as a carrot
Kathleen/Moderator - LOL Bill!
Kathleen/Moderator - I can't believe that was an hour...
Brann/mentor - Now Bill....I bet I challenge you in the amount of time spent in front of a screen!! LOL
Mentor wizzle - Christine, watch her body language too. See if you notice her looking at anything in the room. You never know, that toy or book at the back of the room might be the very thing that will help you to get her to want to be there.
jenna - Thank you all, I have just been reading all of your valuable input. I will check this site again, thanks!
Beth/1 - I'm back. I need to turn my phone off. I am so bummed it is so late!
Kathleen/Moderator - new teachers of grades pre-k through 2 are welcome to stay on for the next chat for those grade levels.
Mentor Hal - Bye, all see ya later!
Mentor Grace/IL - Once we really got started, time just flew. Guess I'll hang around a while for the primary chat.
Kathleen/Moderator - good luck, jenna!
Magoo-Mentor - Well, if our hour is up, then I guess I'd better go feed that man I live with........
Brann/mentor - Well again brann@netnevada.net It was nice to talk to all of you...I am headed to dinner with my parents for my dad's 51st birthday! Night
bobbi fisher - I messed up but am back to say goodbye. Email me at befjoyful@aol.com
Kathleen/Moderator - Beth/1 come on Wed., Thurs., and Fri!
Kathleen/Moderator - Thanks, Brann!! happy Birthday to your YOUNG dad!
Brann/mentor - Addie!!!!!!!!!!!!
Magoo-Mentor - I'm enjoying this, Kathleen, thanks for includine me!
Kathleen/Moderator - Now it's time for the ec-primary chat
Brann/mentor - I have to go, but GREAT to see you
Addie/mo - hi brann! i was supposed to be here earlier, but something came up
Brann/mentor - he is old to me!
bobbi fisher - thanks for all your work, Kathleen.
Beth/1 - I'll be there!
Mentor Grace/IL - My email is gsh@mc.net. I'm always willing to chat.
Kathleen/Moderator - Thank YOU mentors! It turned out that we began to help a few new teachers!
Beth/1 - I think I'll stick around for a few minutes sor the primary chat
Brann/mentor - you and your "boys" doing well?
Mentor wizzle - OK, bye everyone!! Thanks for the chat!!
Kathleen/Moderator - Brann! he's younger than I, so be careful! LOL
Kathleen/Moderator - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, MENTORS!!!!
bobbi fisher - have to go. would be happy to come again.
Kathleen/Moderator - Bobbi, please do. I'll be in touch with other opportunities
Magoo-Mentor - TTFN, peeps.......see you tomorrow!
Brann/mentor - night all
Kathleen/Moderator - Bye Brann! Thanks again
