Dondi - Hello, kwilliams.
kwilliams - Hi
Dondi - Are you working on certification?
kwilliams - Yes, I'm a "newbie"!
Dondi - I am retaking entries.
Dondi - Hi, guys!
Alyson - new here also...and quite overwhelmed!!
kwilliams - Me too!
Miss B - I'm retaking Entry one
Dondi - I have been mulling the following idea about S.S and arts entry. What about quilting and friendship.
DebbieVA - Alyson,ditto!
Alyson - I haven't even started writing for entries 1-3 & am getting nervous
Donna - I have started entry 1 but not even a video for 3 or 4
Alyson - I think friendship is a great unit...thougth about using that one
Dondi - You just have to take it one at a time. Fix a schedule on which one your going to work on when and stick to it.
Alyson - don - did you write or tape first? or both?
kwilliams - I have done entry 2 and 4, but still feel behind.
DebbieVA - Does anyone know if accepting people's differences is a social skill?
Alyson - oh yah...huge
Dondi - I did both Alyson.
Miss B - Dondi-what entry are you redoing?
DebbieVA - Great!
Alyson - don - when you wrote...did you go by the questions (only)
Janie - I'm a bit overwhelmed! Have done entry 4 only
Dondi - I am redoing all 4 entries. I wanted to make sure I get it this time and not have to retake AGAIN.
Alyson - due in april
Kelly M - Hi Jan - how are you today?
Alyson - I sound like I am giving birth LOL
Dondi - I answered the questions and always tied in a few phrases from the standards.
Miss B - I only missed it by 3 points, so I'm just redoing entry one.
Alyson - kelly - you are cert right?
JanKWV - Hi Kelly... I'm feeling desperate... you remember that feeling! I have to mail my box in... 2 weeks!
kwilliams - Does anyone have suggestions for choosing students for Entry 1?
Donna - Debbie, I would thimk friendship would go with People, Places and Environment. I found the 10 thematic strand in SS somewhere on the net
Kelly M - Alyson - yes.
Kelly M - Hi Adrienne - welcome!
Kelly M - Hi dusty - wow...we're filling up again today!
dustyFL - FLORIDA here looking to mentor
AdrienneHC - hello everybody
DebbieVA - For entry 3, I picked 'change' as the big idea and seasonal change from summer to fall as the theme. I used our schools garden as a focus of my objectives. Does sound on target?
Donna - For entry 1 I am tracking 4 students and will chose the 2 I found the most to write about
Alyson - kelly - I am trying to get started with writing for SS-Art. Do you thing it is a good strategy to answer the questions the way they are presented? Or do you "just" need to answer them in your write-up?
Miss B - kwilliams- I chose a boy with a speech problem, and good parent support for one.
AdrienneHC - anybody feeling like about inquiry
Dondi - I have to go guys so much to write. Best wishes to all.
Kelly M - Hi Becky - how are you today?
JanKWV - Dusty.. do you read email entries by any chance?
kwilliams - I have a lot of sped students and am having difficulty choosing.
AdrienneHC - I have questions about magnet lesson
Alyson - dusty...can you help me try to start writing? Any organizational (getting started ) tips?
DebbieVA - Donna, thanks
Becky - Hi, Kelly, I'm fine. Enjoy my new certification!
Miss B - I got off the archives that we should chose st. with good parent support.
Kelly M - Alyson - I would do whichever seems to flow for you. I personally answered them in order...I felt it 'kept me honest'...I also thought that it made it easier for the assessor...
Janie - For entry 1 is it best just to submit writing samples?
Kelly M - Debbie - what science concept are you teaching?
Becky - I chose a high and a low. The low was LD.
ginger - miss B, it makes it easier to work with a parent, but it's not absolutely necessary
Kelly M - Hi Jen, Liz, and teach2 - join the crowd!
Alyson - THAT would help my brain & thought process focused. ,,I guess what I am asking is, isthat acceptable? Expected?
AdrienneHC - I wante dto know if I give the students bags of different things to test iwth theirmagnets andthenrotate around the room and ask questions am I beginning to get them to inquire
AdrienneHC - What do you guys think?
Miss B - thanks, ginger. I'll keep that in mind on choosing the second one.
ginger - janie, it's good to choose different writing venues if possible, so you have more to talk about
DebbieVA - Kelly, my objectives are five senses, seasonal change and processes of living things
Kelly M - Alyson - open a document for each entry. Type in all the questions. Then just start answering them ....some of them you just answer right from what you know about your classroom. That way you will have SOMETHING down. No blank page to stair at. In the end you can take the questions out if you need the room (most people NEED the room!)
Kelly M - Hi trina and jen- glad you're here!
Janie - Thanks Ginger.
ginger - kelly, i love that idea. i need to get started again, and that is just the ticket!
jen - hi, everyone!! I am a newbie!!
Donna - I also found the best way to start is to just start typing-then rewrite,rewrit and rewrite some more
Alyson - TY kelly, that helps a bunch!...opening a MS Works window now
DebbieVA - Alyson, I am doing the same thing Kelly suggested and it is so helpful
Kelly M - Hi susan! Welcome!
ginger - hi, jen, welcome to this crazy world!
Kelly M - jen - you've got lots of company!
ginger - wow, this room is busy today!
Becky - Kelly M. That's what I did. It really helped me to stay on track.
Alyson - I ma too scattered not to have an organization...I would ramble for days before I even got to analyzation
trina - This is my first time here and I am a banker looking for some encouragement. I don't know enough to offer much advice
Liz - Hi- I am new too and nervous about the whole process.
dustyFL - FLORIDA here looking to mentor
Donna - Ginger, that is because all us newbies are starting to panic!
ginger - is this the jen i just sent an email to about how to get here?
Miss B - I feel the same as you trina!
Becca - Hi everyone I have been sitting in an empty meeting room wondering where everyone in!
Donna - Dusty, where in FL
trina - Miss B what are you retaking?
JanKWV - Dusty.. if you're looking to mentor.... I need some HELP
Alyson - my next question is about the video - is it ok if the video does NOT show a teacher giving explicit instruction...rather just monitoring & facilitating groups? (SS-Art)
Miss B - trina, I'm redoing entry one.
susan - I'm looking for suggestions for the AC center
AdrienneHC - magnets magnets magnets
Kelly M - trina - that's not true! You completed the process...so you have LOTS of good advice for the newbies!
Miss B - dusty, is it okay to send our entries to different people to read?
ginger - hey, donna, if you start to look at this as a 3 year process, it will take some of the stress of being perfect off of you. Do your best and see what you need to work on!
Kelly M - Hi Becca, Natalie, and Kim! Wow...look at all these folks! I love it!
Becca - dustyFL...I love someone to look over my ss if you willing.
dustyFL - Jan, did you get my private message?
teach2 - Dusty, I could use some help
Janie - How original do your lessons have to be?
Becky - Don't be nervous! Read the standards. You will see that you do all those things in your classroom. It's much easier after that.
Donna - Thanks Ginger, that is very hard for me to do
JanKWV - yes.. how do i answer it?
Kelly M - Alyson - I think that's great - you don't need to do explicit instruction! Be the guide on the side!
Natalie - I am a banker redoing my science entry. Any other science bankers?
dustyFL - Becca, where are you?
DebbieVA - Alyson, I too am a rambler, but have found it to be less stressful to have some words on the paper
ginger - yes, allyson, your role as a facilitator is fine
susan - if I know the standards inside and out, will I be ok?
dustyFL - Donna, Palm Beach County
AdrienneHC - Can someone please help meeeeeeeeeee pleeaas?
JanKWV - how do you answer private messages?
trina - Thanks Kelly...miss B I am redoing 2 maybe we can support each other.
dustyFL - Miss B, yes it is
ginger - what do you need adrienne?
Kelly M - susan - knowing the standards is a must .... but you can't stop there! You have to provide evidence (clearly and consistently and convincingly!) that you meet them!
Miss B - dusty, would you be willing to read entry one for me ?
JanKWV - dusty.. I'm confused.. couldl you email me? jan3@charter.net
AdrienneHC - I think you emailed before but I am still unsure about the magnet thing and whether it is inquiry do you remember
Kelly M - Adrienne - please restate your question...I'm sorry...the screen moves so fast that if we're typing we maybe miss a question!
susan - Kelly, is that for the assessment center or the portfolio?
ginger - hi, robbin
Kelly M - Hi Robbin - welcome!
JanKWV - I'm a desperate woman.. here...
ginger - yes, adrienne tell us what you need today
Donna - Adrienne, Iam only a newbie, but when I first did magnets, I did not feel it was "inquiry" enough. However, the kids generated ?? from the first time and we will test out objects a magnet can attract through. Maybe if you start otu with exploration, you kids will come up with something even better--child generated.
Kelly M - susan - is what for the AC or the portfolio?
Becca - Jamey is currently instally my new harddrive and I feel panicy aobut he "lack of access."
dustyFL - FLORIDA. My email is nbelementary@hotmail.com. I am a FL mentor only.
Robbin - Hi everyone
Alyson - I was going to include the song they have learned (incorpoating the SS theme, instruments, patterns, WORKING TOGETHER) would you recommend that or no?
Janie - Jan, I feel desperate too!
Kelly M - Jan - what are you desperate about?
ginger - jan what do you need? Why are you so desperate?
AdrienneHC - I am going to have the children work with bags and give them different types of magnets and have them investigate with the magnets to see what attracts and what doesn't. Is this inquiry and then I was going to circulate around the room to each team and ask questions. What do you think
dustyFL - Anyone in FL needing mentoring for NB, please write to me at my email
Becca - Jan-how did the science re-taping og?
trina - I did magnets too. I left them at a center for about 2 weeks before I did anything with them. My students had lots of questions and discoveries that they wanted to share.
Miss B - what's your email dusty?
Kelly M - Adrienne - I think that's exploratory....but they need to dig deeper than that for inquiry...
Janie - I just feel so overwhelmed!
susan - Kelly, the clear evidence of what I have done, is that for the portfolio and the assessment center?
Kelly M - Adrienne - have you read Cheryl's paper on inquiry in the files? I found that to be very helpful.
Becky - I have to go now. Just stopped by to see how things were going. Good luck, all!
dustyFL - nbelementary@hotmail.com
kwilliams - Is it best to have free exploration with science before inquiry (questions) can begin?
ginger - adrienne, is this activity based on a question or misconception that the kids expressed or is this a way of introducing the unit?
AdrienneHC - Thatis a good idea...I have centers in my room what did you put in the center beside magnets and things they do and do not attract.
Robbin - Adrienne, make sure you go over with the children all of the things you should not touch with a magnet. I always give them a no magnet sign and we put them on things like the computer, the VCR etc.
AdrienneHC - This is thenext lesson after introducing the unit
trina - Put in some surprises to they have to discuss why they stick to magnets.
Kelly M - susan - you give evidence in the portfolio. At the AC you just have to decide what to do with each situation.....
DebbieVA - Kelly, what files are you talking about
JanKWV - My science re-taping went great! What a blast we had with balls and ramps
ginger - janie, we all do at one time or another. It is a huge undertaking and you are not alone
Miss B - kwilliams, I let my kids free explore the day before I taped .
susan - Should I approach the situation like I have in the portfolio, writing as if it is in my classroom?
kwilliams - Did it help your students generate questions? I'm having trouble with mine.
Natalie - I am redoing my science entry on snow/ weather. I have similiar objectives and goals as my first paper. But, is it OK to have some of the same answers as last time in this paper?
ginger - ok, adrienne, then if they asked that kind of question, you might want to work in small groups rather than individual, and sit with a group to listen to their investigation. See if they can discover something or if they ask another question
Donna - If you free explore first, won't you get the questions from the kids that will direct their inquiry?
trina - I also had discovery bottles with different mediums such as sand, hair gel and water. They contained metal items and then the kids could see if they could move them with magnet wands
JanKWV - I wanted to free explore.. but I was afraid it would ruin the inquiry....
ginger - great, Jan
Miss B - kwillimas, it helped my kids get the Play out so during the taping there was lots of questions and learning.
Robbin - Also, if you can get cow magnets, they are really powerful and attract through a table. My kids always love this. I like the discovery bottles and will add that this week teaching magnets.
AdrienneHC - Ginger then are the questions that they then come up with what leads to the inquiry>?
dustyFL - Miss B, did you get my private message?
kwilliams - miss B- OK. I understand
trina - I felt that the free exploration gave them more questions and discussion among themselves on the video.
Kelly - Sorry about that...I lost my screen!
AdrienneHC - What are discovery bottles>
DebbieVA - Kelly, what files are you talking about?
AdrienneHC - I have one cow magnet
Alyson - I was going to include the song they have learned (incorpoating the SS theme, instruments, patterns, WORKING TOGETHER) would you recommend that or no?
Donna - Jan, I will be doing a unit on balls and ramps as well-have not started yet. Any "gems" you got from your lessons?
dustyFL - Who's from Florida
Kelly - Whoever asked about the files....are you on the EC_GEN mailring? Our files our on our website....
ginger - inquiry just means that the kids come up with the questions, you support their learning the answer. Your original idea can be inquiry, too, just as long as it is student directed and their understanding comes from what they wanted to know
teach2 - I'm from Florida
Miss B - dusty, i dont's know how to get your message, this is my first time here.
Donna - Dusty, I am in north FL, outside of Jax
trina - Discovery bottles are plastic bottles, such as pop or juice with different mediums in them. I have sink and float, seasonal, etc. I hot glue on the lid and also duct tape it so theere are no accidents.
Robbin - I am from FL. Northeast right outside of Jacksonville
Kelly - Alyson - is that for SS? Is that part of your arts? It has to be really a part of the learning for the ss concept...not just added in as fluff
Miss B - no, dusty, I'm in Okla
DebbieVA - Kelly I am not on the EC-GEN mailring. How do join?
Donna - Robbin, where are you?
trina - I also used different sized magnets to see if some were stronger than the others.
AdrienneHC - That sums it up in a nutshell I think that when so many people started asking questions about inquiry on the ring it just makes you stress but I think you made it simple
teach2 - trina, I really like your discovery bottles idea.
sue - hey ginger
teach2 - yes I can see the message dusty
dustyFL - ROBIN, I am a mentor to K-5
trina - You can usually find something to put in a bottle for every theme.
sue - so, is everyone stil talking about the science entry?
ginger - trina, would love to know more about the discovery bottles
DebbieVA - Kelly, my e-mail is debbiezanca@prodigy.net. I would appreciate infromation about the mailring. This moves way to fast to relay much info.
Robbin - I also had my families research what types of magnets are used daily and they came up with unloading cars at the port and the monorail at Disney World
Natalie - I am
Alyson - ginger - for example, a child gets others interested in why a plant dies...and they as "what a plant needs", they devise tests to challenge their thougths, etc...Is THAT close?
JanKWV - http://www.geocities.com/jankwv/Teachers.html
AdrienneHC - So I get it (maybe) when I introduce the lesson I am giving them the topic but as long as they generate questions that we as a class investigate and answer then we are doing inquiry!!!
ginger - sure, it is alyson
kwilliams - Can the science lesson on tape be carried over from another day? (My students asked questions about the topic, next day, experimented to find answers)?
JanKWV - that's my page for discovery bottles
ginger - it's just a hard thing to show on a video, i think
lkelly - geez - I keep getting kicked out! You can join our mailring by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EC_GEN/
Alyson - kelly - yes, for SS. It is a song about Chinese New year, we learned patters, worked together to keep a beat with Asian instuments, etc... not authentic enough?
AdrienneHC - I don't think you can do day to day because you have to stop the tape
ginger - kwilliams, just tape it all, and you'll find the inquiry that looks the best
trina - For example, if I am studying sink and float I fill a bottle with sinkers and floaters. The students understand the concept better with manipulatives
sue - adrienne- they have to be able to come up with the answers to their questions through interactions with the subject matter
diane - wow...look at all the familiar names
Alyson - THANK YOU ginger...I just might have it after all (barely, but it's a start!)
Becca - hey sue! how are you?
lkelly - Alyson - only you can decide that. Read carefully about how the arts need to be VERY integrated into the lesson....so that the art lesson could not stand without the SS one...and vice versa....
Robbin - Adrienne is right you can't stop the tape but you can mention further discussion in your write up.
kwilliams - Thanks Ginger.
AdrienneHC - I just added oyour page to my favorites it looks great
diane - i haven't been able to figure out big idea for magnets??? any ideas
sue - becca- fine! are you finished with lit now?
teach2 - trina, I really like your discovery bottles idea.
teach2 - I'm from Florida
kwilliams - I knew I couldn't stop the tape, but just wondering about connections.
teach2 - Dusty, I could use some help
AdrienneHC - Sue I can have themw ork in groups and generate questions and then we will work with the magnets to discover the answers
Alyson - right, I am challenging myself on that. It is a musical piece that is a part of an informan we are going to present to the school to teach about the holiday
Donna - teach2, where are you?
trina - Does the ss tape have to show the arts being completed or can it show the finished project and what you are doing with it.
AdrienneHC - I thought the big idea for magnets was physical science
sue - that's right adrienne!
AdrienneHC - sue are you talking about the big idea or the activity
diane - physical science though isn't a big idea...right???
ginger - right, diane
sue - big ideas are not the "themes" such as physical scince or biological
AdrienneHC - I am not sure
Miss B - Dusty, are your still on?
JanKWV - physcial science can fall under systems..... I think!
kwilliams - there are 5 big ideas, right?
diane - if i am not wrong there are about 5 big ideas listed?? am i correct??
AdrienneHC - so physical science is the theme and then I would think movement might be the big idea
kwilliams - Will states of matter fall under constancy, change, and measurement?
sue - adrienne- the activity
ginger - sorry, but i have to hang up. Thanks so much for being here today, everyone. Hang on! This is a great ride you are on!!
Donna - The Big Ideas start on page 59 in the getting Started section
trina - Is anyone working on entry 2
diane - i would say that sounds good for matter
sue - OK yall. The big idea can be different for the same topic depending on how you investigate it
sue - bye ginger- email me!!!
pg - I am working on entry 2
AdrienneHC - I worked on it and am now working on 1 and 3
kwilliams - With states of matter, I was referring to how to change one to another.
trina - Your topic can also fall into more than 1 big idea, right
AdrienneHC - Thanks sue I thought we were going to have a knock down drag out LOL
lkelly - Re Big Idea....remember that it all depends on how you teach it. One 'unit' (like magnets or something) might fit into several different big ideas depending on how you approach it....only you can actually decide that because only you are there and see what direction you take.
Donna - yes Trina, just starting to video
DebbieVA - is change considered a big idea
pg - When you write up entry 2 did you type in all of every question
trina - I need help with the video are you showing creating, discussing or displaying the arts on video
diane - well we are going to measure strength so it may fall into big idea that links measurement?
sue - trina- what do you have planned?
Miss B - What different artifacts did you use for entry one? anyone?
pg - we are discussing the art project we created and how it relates to ss
AdrienneHC - When I first started typing are typed in the whole thing then as I answered the questions I removed parts of the questions
dustyFL - Miss B, where are you from?
trina - I answered every question in the form of a direct statement by rewording the question
dustyFL -
Miss B - dusty, I'm from Oklahoma
Terri/K - pg, I typed questions in red just to be sure I answered them and then removed them when I finished.
Becca - miss B I have a science log, a jouranl entry a MLK responce page and a snow story story with web
AdrienneHC - I am going to use different types of writing...journal entry, letter, whole group reading work, responses to stories etc.
pg - The questions take up so much room they are like two whole pages
JanKWV - Good luck on.. gotta get back to typing.. box goes out in TWO weeks......
Miss B - how do I pick up a private message? I see if down below, but can't figure out how to pick it up.
Terri/K - also did the same as trina, reworded questions in my first statement
trina - I was thinking of doing breads from around the world. We have studied diversity in school and our communities...thoght it was time to spread out to nations.
Alyson - dusty - so you're just mentoring for Fla ?
kwilliams - With entry 1, we need to show different types of genre. Correct?
sue - becca- just make sure the artifact for the MKL is not from something that you did for your ss entry
Donna - We had been discussing Russia. I then read The Crayon Box Thta Talked in relation to MLK Day. The kids drew circles (in groups of 3) then each child was given a different color craypas to color in the circles, The art form was taken from a Russial artist we had talked about. Would ths be a good entry for K?
AdrienneHC - kwilliams I would that has been the recomendation on the ring and in the files
pg - when you reworded the question did you put all of it in?
lkelly - pg - you're just typing them in to be reminders to you of everything you need to include. Most people have them totally erased by the time they are finished because they need the space!
Miss B - becca, I thought we only had to have 3 artifacts?
trina - basically yes
lkelly - With breads you have to make sure that you have a ss concept in mind that you are teaching......breads isn't enough for that....
pg - Thanks that makes me feel so much better!
sue - donna- how does it link to your state standards? how does it link to natl standards? what is your arts goal?
AdrienneHC - That what I was going to say too Sue
diane - can't waste valuable space with the ??/ address all the ?? the assessors know what the ??? are
Becca - Nope sound like they have a few months
Alyson - when writing up the SS entry, how much of the unit (activites, etc) do you need to include?
lkelly - Hi Chris - welcome!
trina - I thought about diversity with breads. Such as how we all eat the same thing but in different forms. Is this too weird/
lkelly - And hi Genie!
Genie - Finally.....I made it to the chat room!!!! YEAH
AdrienneHC - I worked on my SS entry and I did not see qa questions where it asked you to list the lessons that took place during the whole unit...Did I misread?
Chris,NC - Hi everyone...I made it!
AdrienneHC - Welcome Genie
pg - I've been told to bold them so assessors can find them quickly
Donna - National Standard was Global connections, state std -working cooperatively in groups, art goal-use of color, we discussed overlar and concentric circles. Make sense, sue?
Genie - Hi, Kelly....thanks for all you do here and w/ the yahoo webring. They have both been a great help!
AdrienneHC - Bold what pg
sue - adrienne-- reread!
trina - I think that it says something about how it fits into what was done and what will be taught.
Genie - Hi Adrienne
diane - if they are there, they will find them...it is their job
lkelly - trina - I think you have to really be careful with a subject like that. What important ss concept are you wanting the children to learn? Check your district - or the state - or the national SS concepts for your grade level. You need to be teaching something like that. Don't just teach something that sounds like fun! NBPTS wants to see you teaching what it is that you need to teach!
Alyson - so do you end up mentioning the other lessons included in the theme if they weren't on the tape?? I haven't started writing (as if ou can't tell) and I am trying to get the big picture
pg - Yes but don't you want to be as helpful as possible????????
sue - donna- what's the specific ss goal?
lkelly - Genie - that's what we're here for! Glad you're finding it to be helpful!
kwilliams - I was told not to rely on state standards, because sometimes they are not age appropriate. Correct?
trina - Kelly I think I knew that and had funplanning but needed someone to tell me to scrap it and go for some meat and potatoes. Thanks.
diane - i just answered each ?? referencing it somewhat when possible...they will locate the answes...you need the space
AdrienneHC - Alyson I beleive they aree trying to get a picture of the whole unit
Becca - I bolded the words overall goal arts skill etc...
sue - kwilliams- in my case our state standards pretty much mirrored the national ones
lkelly - kwilliams - that would be something you would need to decide. Actually, you could make a case for anything! If you are supposed to teach it, then nbpts wants to see you teach it and have you write it up about how you have approached it..........and why!
Alyson - for SS-Art would it be good to show them participating in the cuminating art activity? And (hopefully) they would be using what they learned (character ed, friendship)
Becca - I also bolded access, fairness etc as I did not have a seperate section
diane - describe what you are doing in the rest of the unit but don't go into major detail as you won't have enough space to fit it in
Terri/K - speaking of space, I am struggling with that with the literacy entry
Donna - Sue, there is a specific state std about interdeoendence and cooperation in the classroom. We were discussing Russia since I have a child adopted from Russia who the kids did not like very well. I was trying toi help with her acceptance from the other kids
Genie - For SS, is something as broad as either friendship or equality work? I teach K
Alyson - Ad - right...but does it require that I mention, explain, give rational & analysis for each activity?
kwilliams - kelly, thanks for clearing that up for me. I've been real worried about that. My mentor told me only to focus on age appropriateness!
lkelly - trina - LOL....I really didn't mean to tell you to scrap it....but just really plan carefully so that it connects to a true ss goal that you are supposed to be teaching! If not, then YES! Scrap it!
sue - donna-so your social studies goal is actually learning about different cultures and acceptance?
AdrienneHC - Alyson I don't think so you just have to give rational and analysis for theoneon the tape
Donna - yes,sue thank you for putting it in words for me!
AdrienneHC - Genie I did friendship and developing and appreciation for diversity
trina - I am struggling with maps in ss now. I should really plan around that concept. Any art ideas?
diane - when you need extra space...check diff. fonts that are acceptable..i liked garamon and eliminate many words...it willstill make sense
lkelly - kwilliams....I really think most anything can be taught at most any grade level....it's the depth that you pursue - and how you approach it - what your goals are - those are the decisions you make to make it meaningful for your children WHATEVER their age!
Alyson - Genie - I am just a beginner here, but I am doing frienship/character ed qualities. Because my kids need to re-visit that area & deepen their understanding of our social curriculum. Kelly, can you speak to that??
Alyson - good to hear kelly...
AdrienneHC - Trina can the students make maps out of clay I don't know the age of your kids
diane - have them create a map of their neighborhood or school
lkelly - be careful with the fonts - check your directions - you can only use the specified ones! Hi Brenda!
sue - donna- that makes it more concise and it seems more appropriate to me for K kids rather than global perspectives and interdependence!
trina - I teach an at risk first grade.
Terri/K - thanks diane, I know I am too "wordy"
kwilliams - Got lots to do! Thanks for all the information. Bye.
Alyson - I might have them make a map of their house, or of their neighborhood? I teach K though
trina - Can I tie making maps in with a specific art standard..I just got the art standards Thurs and haven't had a chance to go through them yet.
pg - I'd better get back to typing. Thanks everyone for your help. You have cleared things up for me!
Chris,NC - alyson, could they make a map and use it in the block center during their center play?
trina - Would I have to video making the maps or could I video them sharing their maps to each othe.
diane - terri...leave it long and when you are finished for the FIRST TIME, start deleting and you will be surprised..garamond was acceptable last yr. and i gained a few extra lines that way
Genie - I am tying my SS to MLK...because they were fascinated by him. The whole unit revolves around how do Dr. King's dreams for the world relate to our classroom. Our art is a choral reading of a paraphrase of Dr. King's I have a dream speech using the kid's dreams for the world.
sue - it's the arts standards not just art. You all probably do a lot more arts activities than you recognize
Donna - I found some great ideas/lessons on maps from Core Knowledge. One called A Place fir Meand What on Earth is a Map? a Globe?
AdrienneHC - In my video I felt it was more improtant for the assessors to see discussion rather than the creation of the project
Terri/K - am using garamond and it is acceptable for this year.
lkelly - trina - I would videotape EVERYTHING! You just never know when you get a great 14-15 minutes! Tapes are cheap! Just set that thing up on a tripod and go!
lkelly - Thanks Terri - I wasn't sure what was on the'acceptable' list this year!
Donna - where can I find the art standards?
sue - adrienne- did you tape the entire lesson. you night be able to show both and then discuss what happened before in the " before" section
Alyson - kelly - tripods are easy, but in small groups when you're moving around a lot I have found that to be difficult
trina - I did a search on national art standards and printed it off from there.
AdrienneHC - I did tape the neitre lesson but the discussion and the introduction takes up the fifteen minutes
Becca - Terri onmy old computer garamond was bigger than new times roman. I receintly got a new computer and all my entries had extra space. I was great ADDIng instead of taking away!
Donna - thanks trina!
diane - i did mlk last year and i tied in the political situation in the world today because last year there were so many people being judged by the way they dresses and everyone assumed they were terrorists...judging people by their character not the way they look
sue - one problem to be aware of with garamond- garamond on a MAC is smaller than the garamond that's printed as a sample font
Chris,NC - Wow dianne...that sounds like it was great!
lkelly - Alyson - that's true! But I really use my tripod all the time...
trina - I think I will go search core knowledge and see what comes up. thanks so much.
AdrienneHC - Oh I had one question about literacy....It always says period of instruction but I have not read where it aks for dates or specifics to what this period is. Should I state it?
Genie - Diane, does my "plan" sound ok? I teach K
Donna - If we are to copy the video to submit, then can't we chose whatever 15 min of the lesson we want?
Becca - good point sue, I'm on a PC so I should be ok?
Alyson - http://www.lovetoteach.homestead.com/
Chris,NC - I do too kelly...I usually position it near a group I expect to get great dialogue from.
Alyson - trina - try that site. She has EVERY link you'll ever need
lkelly - Donna - absolutely! Choose whatever minutes show best what you are wanting to show!
trina - Thank alyson
sue - becca- you should be.
diane - genie ...sounds good...e-mil me personally and we can discuss..i did well on the entry mscrazylady01@cs.com
sue - diane- is that your plan for this year too?
Genie - Thanks Diane....
sue - diane- oops thought you were dong that entry this yar
diane - sue...not sure what you mean...i passed this entry last year
AdrienneHC - Oh I had one question about literacy....It always says period of instruction but I have not read where it aks for dates or specifics to what this period is. Should I state it?
Becca - any tips on the literacy reflection? I think I have good plan for alternate strategies.
sue - diane-- LOL! I thought you were a first time candidate talking about a lesson plan from last year!
Donna - Period of instruction in literacy has to be at least 8 weejs, right?
AdrienneHC - Donna yes it must be atleast 8 weeks
diane - no i am a fortunate banker who has to redo one entry
lkelly - Donna - yes - 8 weeks at least...
Alyson - on Literacy - do you discuss the child's progress within the time frames of their writing samples? If not, when?
Chris,NC - I am trying to narrow down my students for literacy and have an ESL student, a student with language difficulties and ADHD, and a student who is performing above average for K any suggestions?
diane - yes, i discussed what gains were made in that time period
AdrienneHC - I picked my ESL student becuase I felt she will give me alot of material
Becca - Looking att he successfullnes, I was thinking of reflection on how the strategies combined with my knowledge of there needs created a supportive environmetn
Terri/K - my samples start in Aug and end in Jan.....is it okay to spread out samples like this?
Alyson - and the 2 children are completely unrelated "entries" right?
AdrienneHC - That is how long mine are they are from October until now and I am not finished selecting but how do they know when they come from
Becca - Is any one else her Due on Feb 15th?
diane - i chose a struggling student and one that was doing very well and needed challenging
lkelly - Chris - any difference in the parental involvement you have? If so, I'd pick the two with the most parental involvement that I could write about! Alyson - You certainly have to discuss the progress (or lack thereof!) from the writing samples...but I think you can discuss outside of that. My question would be why would you? I think it might be more convincing to have samples from beginning and end...and then in the middle somewhere...
Terri/K - I was told to choose kids wiht different needs so you can demonstrate how you meet needs of all
AdrienneHC - nope March 15th
Chris,NC - FEB 15??? Wow...mine is due in April thank goodness!!
diane - you write separetely about each child in that entry
sue - becca- how did you end up with a 2/15 date?
lkelly - Becca - yes! And do you have to do reflections about what you might have done differently? ...or how you might proceed from this point? What you will do next, etc.? Or have you already answered that?
Becca - It was based of the application and payment date. STRANGE system they have going
Terri/K - I used some of the same assessments and felt like I was repeating myself.
Janie - Chris, mine is due in April too. But I'm still working all the time on it.
Chris,NC - Good point Kelly...I have recommended the ADHD child to our school support team for evaluation so I really do anticipate a lot more parental interaction as well as interaction with psychologist, language therapist, counselor, etc...
sue - gotta run.. good luck yall
diane - i don't even know when mine is due since we have until the end of this month to reg. to retake...it better be april 15
Chris,NC - Tell me about it Janie...me too!!!
Donna - But Terri, you lkearned different things from each child when you assessed. If you find a point of weakness, should you assess more to refine the area?
Donna - I am not due until April either, but am starting to sweat it a little.
AdrienneHC - gotta go my son is up from his nap
Becca - II have 16 days till the mailing point. Cna't belive it is going to end soon. NOt sure what I'll do withmyself
lkelly - Hi amer - how are you today?
diane - oh believe me you sweat it right up to the last min. and then some more
Terri/K - yes,Donna. I teach differently for each child according to the results.
Alyson - kelly - did you get that message?
Donna - I can't wait to see that there is life after portfolio
Becca - Well the computer hard drive replacement is almos complete! YEAH back to work I go!
Chris,NC - Becca, Celebrate??!!!
lkelly - Becca - that's the beauty (?) of nbpts! Believe me, you'll quickly fill those holes!
lkelly - Alyson - yes...I just responded....did you get that?
Becca - YUP! we are planning the valentine/celbration dinner already!
Alyson - no, where would it be? LOL
Alyson - ok, got it now
Alyson - I think it is so hard for me because some of the kids didn't even know what letters were much less know how to write for me to get a "writing sample"
lkelly - My oh my ! If it ain't my buddy! Hi there Debbie Mc!
Chris,NC - Hi terri...do you teach K?
Terri/K - yes
DebbieMc. - Hi, Kelly. Hope things are going well.
Chris,NC - Me too. for the first time...7 years in 1st...now this (K).
DebbieMc. - I've been out of school since Wed. trying to catch up on work.
lkelly - Hi Brenda! Alyson - can you use dictated ones? Didn't you get to choose Option A or B? Maybe you could use that...and concentrate on oral language if there is no written sample to go by... would that work?
Chris,NC - Me too Debbie, thanbks to snow in NC
Terri/K - have been in K forever....27 years. always thought I would like to try 1st but never did
Janie - I've got to go. Since I'm a "newbie" I've mainly just listened today. It's nice to know there are so many others consumed with NBPTS! Thanks for all the comments.
DebbieMc. - Kelly's idea is good, Alyson.
Alyson - Kell, I just feel like I have shot myself in the foor because I didn't save much of what I should have...
Donna - Terri, I have 30 years in K
lkelly - Janie - are you on our mailring?
diane - have a nice weekend...go BUCS..bye
Chris,NC - I LOVE 1st...am slooowly learning to love K.
Becca - I would never belive I could appreciate 3 inches so much
DebbieMc. - 1st grade is wonderful.
AmyR - I hear you Chris. I'm in NC too.
Janie - Yes, I think so.
Terri/K - wow, Donna!
DebbieMc. - We might get more snow tonight/tomorrow.
Chris,NC - Snow? becca...me either!!
lkelly - Janie - I was going to say that on the mailring you'll find over 2,000 people consumed with EC-GEN !
Terri/K - I love K best between now and end of year when learning really seems to take off. Love seeing them catch on to reading/writing.
lkelly - Debbie - have you been home because of snow?..or something else?
Alyson - where debbie?
DebbieMc. - I prayed for snow while I was doing NB and never got one day.
DebbieMc. - Snow. In western Ketnucky.
DebbieMc. - pardon me, Kentucky.
Genie - Ok....I've hung in the background long enough. Here's a question: I have a student (for literacy) who is undiagnosed ADHD (mom wants to persue more info...dad doesn't...He knows all alphabet letters and many sounds. He is at that stage in writing I lovinglingly call "dwriting". I make a lot of accomodations and have support from mom. Is he a better candidate than a child who isnt making conections between letters/sounds
Donna - No snow days in Fl-just have to work on portfoilio LATE into the night.
Becca - Genie-I picked a child with behavior issues and wished I hadn't it was hard to leave that aspect out
DebbieMc. - Genie, can you work closely with parents? There really isn't a "best" child. It's about proving you know the child and the strategies to use.
Becca - but I had some great school attunded and parent communciation I wanted to include
Becca - so it work out, not sure I'd do it again though
AmyR - Do we want two students with very different abilities?
Genie - I know...that is my concern, too. I try to ignore many of his behaviors and focus on building his strengths...lots of praise for progress. His mom is in there every week.
Brenda - literacy--should we choose a boy and a girl? Does it matter?
Genie - Since we began a "cheer chart", he has started writing more letters/words and less scribbling. So he is making some progress. He just needs to have someone with him to keep him on track.
Chris,NC - Becca... do you think it would be better to use an ESL child performing at an average level in pretty much all areas, and a very high achieving child???
Becca - THE description was DIFFICULT but if you choose him try to focus on the lit and why without the behavior as much...just a candidate so take it with a grain of salt
Donna - Genie, sounds like you have a lot to say about that child-may be a good one to write about
Chris,NC - I was also thinking of using an ADHD child??
DebbieMc. - I don't know that differing abilities is so important. Just prove you know both children and what's best for each. More than likely, the strategies you choose will not fit both children.
lkelly - Brenda - that shouldn't matter. Amy - I think that two different types of abilities allows you to show that you can meet children with differing needs....but that's just my humble opinion!
Becca - I chose 2 boys but I have 17 boys and 7 girls so I figured it would be ok
Genie - Also, when writing about children, should we include what race they are?
DebbieMc. - I chose a high ability reader who didn't like to read or write so I had to use interests/strengths to get him to read and write more.
Genie - Becca...there must have been something in the water this year...I have 13 boys and 7 girls
Becca - I got a new girl on FIRDAY what a thrill!
Chris,NC - Becca...thought I was the only one 13 boys 6 girls
Terri/K - 12boys and 8 girls
lkelly - Genie - it really isn't relevant to his reading, is it?
Genie - that is wonderful! I lost a boy
DebbieMc. - Genie, ask yourself if race/ethnicity is relevant?
Becca - opps I guiess that would have been Wed haven't been to school in so long I dont know what to make of things
lkelly - 9 boys, 6 girls here.....
Donna - 15 kids?! how nice!
Brenda - I have 10 boys and 6 girls--one boy is something else--I have never dealt with such severe behavior problems
AmyR - my thoughts too...15 kids
Genie - He is a Native American, so I guess not....I didn't know if we needed to show diversity in our choices of students.
Becca - HOW LOVELY! I started the year (did my science videos) with 19? boys and 11 girls
DebbieMc. - Becca, you have 30 children??
Genie - So for information about this child, I'd just say 5 year old boy w/ severe articulation difficulties?
Terri/K - Becca where are you?
lkelly - LOL....wait a minute! I've been teaching since 1969 and 3 years ago was the FIRST time I had fewer than 20! Since then I had 2 years of 18...and then started this year with 18 but 4 have left....and I got one new one!But you are SO right! I think 15 is a perfect number!
Abby - Some kids should count as two or three students!
Becca - I talked about one of my students cultural..but the home language was effecting his literacy
Genie - AMEN to that Abby
Becca - I HAD 30...went down to 34 in mid OCT YEAHHHH!!! I'm in Raleigh NC
lkelly - Hi Norma - welcome!
Becca - 24 has NEVER felt so great!
Donna - I have a child with deaf parents that I may use in literacy as she has had difficulty with sound blending-but is very bright
Chris,NC - Me too becca..he was having difficulty iding medial vowels, beacuse in arabic they sound different.
DebbieMc. - Genie, unless you're going to use an interest/strength connected to culture/ethnicity, there's really no need. Of course if there are customs that affect the way you teach or the way the parents work with the child, there's no need.
Norma - And I felt overwhelmed with my 25!
Chris,NC - Becca...I'm in Rocky Mount!!
Genie - Thanks, Debbie. That's what I though, but wanted to check to be sure
Terri/K - guess I better get back to typing, this was my break for the afternoon. good luck gals, hang in there!
DebbieMc. - We have a capsize of 24 in K-3 but I had not been over 20 in years.
Becca - Chrsi that is interesting! MINE doesn't actuall speak it, (only phrases) his parent use bothe english and arabic and he only knows about 25 words OKOK now the computer is ready!
lkelly - I need to go, too. It's been great talking to you all! Have a good week!
Becca - bye everyone
DebbieMc. - Bye, Kelly. have a good week!:
Genie - Our capsize in Ga will be only 18 next year....YEAH
Abby - Does anyone know about the age levels on the AC prompts?
sarah - Is anyone clear on big idea? I finished my science video, worms, and think it is systems
Chris,NC - Bye Kelly!
Genie - You, too, Terri
Norma - About the ethnicity ques. I had a child last year whose parent's native language was Spanish. I think that was one reason why he had trouble with English maybe? He had a speech delay as well or perhaps was misdiagnosed? Anyway reading/writing skills were tricky for him so if your student had a similar problem ethnicity may be important to mention.
Brenda - If you have smaller class sizes, do you have and assistant?
Genie - Yes, in K
sarah - I am a bilingual teacher.. you child may not have speech problems if this is not present in Spanish speaking and only when he speaks English
Debbie Mc. - Abby, I'm not sure but I'm thinking you still have to prove you are accomplished in years 3-7.
Donna - In 30 yrs ofd K in FL, I have had an assisstant ppart time for 2 years!
sarah - What is his oral language in English? Can he communicate
Abby - How do you PREPARE for that?
Debbie Mc. - Sarah, the big idea depends on how you're going about designing goals and teaching.
Donna - Seems like I read that NBPTS will no longer tell us what ages go with what areas
Norma - Yes, he could. He was very shy even as a preschooler. His mother was very reserved as well.
Debbie Mc. - If your goals are designed to teach the big idea of systems through worms, then that could be it.
sarah - basically, they are learning about how systems interact..worms, plants.. etc and the structure of the worm as appropriate for the system
sarah - not usre if that made sense
Debbie Mc. - Here's the resident expert on big ideas.
Genie - Are you the expert, Debbie? If so, I have a question for you.
Debbie Mc. - Lord, no! sinetag is the expert.
sinetag - that's so not true
Donna - Sinetag, what do you think is the mosr important and worthwhile resource to help with the science entry?
Debbie Mc. - Well, in my eyes and many others, you are an expert. You're just very gracious.
Brenda - sinetag, please give us some words of wisdom...
sinetag - in terms of understanding big ideas, i think the best resource is probably Project 2061
Bella - I have 8 students in my science video. Is this ok?
Genie - My science unit was on sink/float....they tested a variety of objects. I had a discrepant event. then they had to design boats to hold "cargo". I thought the "big" idea was constancy in science since they deducted that a lot of plastic things float. What do you think?
sinetag - or the 1990 California Science Framework
Donna - What is Project 2061? Where do we find it?
sinetag - www.project2061
Genie - They also thought small things floated and big things sank until they tested those theories....great discussion following that part of the unit!
sinetag - I think the biggest misconception - where candidates get locked up - is the idea that there is only one big idea that is "right" for a given content area of science
Donna - Thanks sinetag!
sinetag - http://www.project2061.org/tools/sfaaol/sfaatoc.htm
Genie - Sinetag, does it sound like I'm on the right track with my "big idea"?
sinetag - That will take you to the Benchmarks for Science Literacy document
sarah - for big idea I thought we had to select one of the areas only
Chris,NC - Wellll I've lingered long enough! Gotta get back to typing....have a great weekend!
Norma - Sinetag, good to "hear" you say that. I had come to that conclusion lately after much struggle.
Donna - Just bookmarked that site-thank you!
sinetag - you can choose one big idea or a combination of big ideas - but over and over you hear people ask things like " what's the big idea for teaching magnets" when in reality you can teach magnets (or any science topic) through any of the big ideas
sinetag - Genie: it sounds like you had a good inquiry-based activity with sink and float
Debbie Mc. - See why I said she's an expert?
sarah - that is why I was stuck.. because it fits in other areas but had to limit to one
sinetag - if you chose Constancy as they big idea, how did you communicate that to students?
Debbie Mc. - Gotta go. Have a great weekend, everybody.
sinetag - What deeper knowledge of Constancy did they acquire?
Donna - Bye Debbie
Genie - It was wonderful....all from a discussion about the Mayflower. We tried different types of materials to make "boats" from (brought from home) and the most successful ones were plastic
sinetag - Whether you use one big idea or more, you want the acitivies in the unit to lead your students to a deeper understanding of those big ideas as science concepts
Donna - so, the big idea depends on HOW you teach the lesson-the approach and understanndings the students get from their inquiry?
sarah - in the video, they were investigating and asking questions about how they live, movement, what they did under the dirt, changes in body, light and dark reactions, eating, etc.
sarah - and learned about making air for plants as they researched their questions.. which will lead to our next plant investigation later
Genie - Also, the plastic materials in the classroom all floated. The children categorized them and graphed them by materials, too.
sinetag - The idea is that what they learn about Constancy through the sink and float unit (for example) they will later apply to other units of study (e.g. Constancy in ecosytems or electricity or geology, etc.)
sinetag - Genie: Tell me how you used Constancy.
sinetag - Donna: the big idea drives the activities you choose and how you lead students to acquire the specific scientific knowledge you are teaching, but within the larger framework of the big idea.
sinetag - The reason they are big ideas is because they are th Truths of science. For example: Patterns of Change is a big idea. Why is that a Truth in science?
Donna - because change happens in patterns thoughout ?
sinetag - Because we know that observations of the world support the notion that change is always occuring, that it can be incremental or catastrophic, that you can measure it, that it affects individual elements of a system as well as the system at large, that sometimes we need to use models to simulate change that we can't observe, etc., etc.
Genie - I had several objects for the students to "test" in our initial activity. We didn't even discuss the materials, but used a lot of predictions. As they tried different objects, one student blurted out "hey, all of the floating things are plastic"...from there, we tried other materials to see if this was true or not. Actually, they decided that if something was hollow, it would float better. or if it were flat, it would float better
sinetag - Right.
sinetag - Genie: What did you want them to learn about Constancy?
Donna - well,my brain is mush now-guess I'll muddle my way through some more writing
sinetag - I highly recommend the Benchmarks book as a way of understanding the role of the big ideas.
sinetag - That particular book calls them Common Themes.
sinetag - That chapter is at http://www.project2061.org/tools/sfaaol/chap11.htm
Genie - mainly that it doesn't matter how big an object was (like the Mayflower), but whether it was bouyant...whether because of its material or because it had air in it.
Genie - I hope to tie this into a unit on matter...with the idea that air takes up space...something that is hard for K kids to grasp since they can't "see" it.
Genie - Also that when we test different things w/ similar traits, the results would be the same.
sinetag - Go to the link below and read what is says about Constancy as a common theme and see what elements of that you can incorporate in your unit.
sinetag - It is just as important for the students (even K's) to know the big idea they are studying as it is for you to know it.
sinetag - otherwise it is an exercise for the teacher only
sarah - is there something on systems?
sinetag - Yes, it is the first one i think
Genie - You've been so much help, Sinetag....thank you. I've bookmarked the site and will certainly read it. I just bought the book, "Doing What Scientists Do"....now I have two good sources!!! THANKS A MILLION
sinetag - no problem
sinetag - I am off to lunch now - keep up the hard work!
Genie - Gotta go....have a great weekend
