kiela - JoyH- Our only ecgen mentor said she would read our entries for $100 an hour
JoyH - Debbie - I can get on now but it doesn't let me see the list of who's chatting while I see the chat.
Diana - I have lots of questions. Should I start with parent contact, or science?
Mary - Science
Debbie Mc. - That's okay Diana, I've sent a nasty note for the fourth time to onelist.
Debbie Mc. - Kiela, I mentor and I don't get paid anything for mentoring or reading entries. I consider it my duty.
JoyH - YOU ARE KIDDING ME!! THAT WAS OUR MENTOR?!?
Lana - Hello from Nevada!
Mary - It's 60 degress and rainy here in Wisconsin
kiela - Debbie- we paid to be in this group sponsored by two counties they are getting paid by them too.
Debbie Mc. - I'm sitting by an open window with the breeze blowing over me.
kiela - JoyH- Michelle and I were fried. We are not going to another meeting
Debbie Mc. - I can't imagine getting paid for any of this. I just enjoy it.
Lana - Kiela, your mentor stinks!
Debbie Mc. - Kiela, there's plenty of help on our ring. Don't worry about it.
Debbie Mc. - Kiela, how much did you have to pay?
kiela - I hope that when I pass- I can help more than what has been happening for us. The onelist has been my lifeline
Mary - We are appreciate the information we get from this chat room and the one list Thank you from my whole group of five here in Wisconsin
Lana - I have to go to a district meeting on Monday. I'm supposed to come up with ideas for next year's NB candidates. Any suggestions as to what I should say?
JoyH - Keila - The only thing that I have gotten out of any of the "meetings" cluster or county is the onelist address, learning who in YV is doing this and who in PS is doing this. WE'RE GETTING RIPPED!!!
martha - Who said they had questions about science? I have questions too
Debbie Mc. - Kiela, that's what we want. Lots of FREE collaboration.
Mary - Start early!!!
Debbie Mc. - Mary's right and get all the support you can.
Lana - Thanks, Mary! Joy, did you have to pay for the meetings?
martha - Start early is right..I think I started to late. but, I'll finish. Now I do nothng by NB and teach
Mary - Let next year's NB candidates know what they'll have to do and to get started early !!!
Debbie Mc. - Science questions? HI Smitty.
JoyH - Lana, Yes, I'm in the same group as Keila.
kiela - Lana- we did only $35 but county is paying mentors over $5000
Lana - Thanks Debbie! I think it's important to get support from people in your same area. The other ones are too confusing!
JoyH - Keila - do they get 5 grand each? Miles isn't charging to read is he?
Debbie Mc. - I get so excited talking to you all. I can't wait to be able to meet you all in person.
Mary - Thanks why this ring is so valuable--everyone's working on the same questions
Kelly - Hi kids! Sorry I"m late! Was getting my hair cut! (Boy did I need it!)
Smitty - I know two local NBCT's who charge to read but they don't have much business with the rest of us around!! LOL
Lana - We should make a pact to be like Virginia and emerge from this process dedicated to helping others!
Debbie Mc. - I think that's unNBCT like to charge above a mentoring stipend.
JoyH - Lana - totally agree - only I have a sneaking suspicion I'll be a banker next year!
kiela - Joy H- Yep that includes Miles. He doesn't charge to read. But I don't think he gets it.
Smitty - Hi Maria, welcome!
Lana - I think it'll be great if the districts pay us; but we should not take money from each other!
Debbie Mc. - Guess what Kelly. I just got most of my hair cut too.
Maria - I agree with you Lana!
Smitty - Joy I had that same sneaking suspicion and it was unfounded, know yours will be too!
Lana - Any of us who come out of this bankers are so many more points closer to the magic 275. I've already more lessons planned, just in case.
Kelly - Debbie - I just got home - I just sat here ripping open your package! :) Thank you SO much! I owe you big time! :)
JoyH - Smitty - thanks for the ENCOURAGMENT! ;0)
Mary - Must be the time for mid-winter haircuts --more than six weeks after the holdiays
martha - I had a local friend who cert. 99 read two of my finished entries. That has helped me so much. I have spent the day making needed changes. Thanks to all you cert. persons. I am deep grateful for you!
Debbie Mc. - Just hope it helps Kelly. If you can get just a little help it's small payment to you.
Maria - I'm getting mine cut Tuesday. Nothing gets in the way of that! LOL
kiela - Lana- I agree- knowing that I am closer and not doing this whole thing again.
Smitty - Monday is my day for haircut, must be catching!!!! aaaaaachooo!
Debbie Mc. - We NB people are so much alike. Maybe we should all get cuts and dye jobs alike so we'll be easy to spot.
Karen - OK, question........I've been working on DA I........I start out writing the accomplishment like a paper I would have written in college......then I realize I'm getting more informal.......does it have to be so formal????? andy ideas.......I keep switching back and forth
Mary - Kelly, is it correct--we have only one hour today?
martha - Science question: On the video when the kids keep saying my name. Is this ok. I can't imagine them not using my name.
Lana - I keep looking over my entries and finding ways to improve them. I'm finding the Scoring Guide, especially "note-taking guide" is starting (finally) to make sense and help with my entries.
Smitty - Perhaps we should frost NB right in the top of our hair. Easily seen by the angels so they know where to stop and help!
Kelly - Life as a banker isn't so bad......but you THINK you'll have more time....HA! You just fill the time with other things!
Lana - Martha, it's okay if the kids say your name!
Maria - In case anyone here has been trying to get to the chat at night and can't my advice is don't use your old bookmark. Start all over at onelist.com.
Debbie Mc. - Martha, I think some of my children called my name, but I can't remember for sure.
Karen - speak for yourself, Kelly.....I get more frustrated every day! lol
Kelly - Yes, Mary - we only have this room for one hour today....but then we can move to a conference room here at teachers.net - or move to our new chat room - whatever we want! :)
Smitty - Kids said my name constantly in video, it is natural and scorers take that into account. I passed with no problem!
Debbie Mc. - Maria, I've tried everything at least twenty times and nothing helps unless it's empty.
bgail - One of our state's candidates mailed her box this week. I couldn't believe it.
kiela - I had a crazy scare this week- onw of my parents backed out of leting her child be taped. I thought I was finally done with my videos. My prinicple and I did a home visit and talked with her. She agreed again. I was really stressing.
Mary - She must have started EARLY
martha - Lana, can I use their first names? I have just finished typing a transcription fo the video. Does it need to be word for word exact?
Kelly - Debbie - did you write to help@onelist.com?
Maria - Debbie- You're sure you started from onelist and clicked on MYgroups etc?
Lana - bgail, I can't imagine mailing my box, even when the deadline comes. It will be terrible to tell it goodbye, especially since my cats have grown so fond of playing in it.
Lana - Martha, yes first names are fine!
kiela - Mailed her box? Oh my!!! Even if I was completely done. I would still be looking at it and wondering how to fix.
Smitty - DO NOT stress over fellow candidates who have already mailed, all of us do not use the restroom at the same time each day either!
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, about four times and I keep getting the same form response. Yes Maria, I've started all over about ten times.
Karen - anyone have any comments on my question about DAI?
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, I can get to the screen, I just can't get past the "loading" on the right side.
Smitty - Sorry Karen can you repost, I missed it!
tiffany - Is it best to pack the entries as you finish them, or wait and pack the whole thing one day. (That's making the assumption at some point I will actually finish any entry!)
Maria - Debbie-Maybeyou should try signing on again. Sometimes that helps. I mean to onelist.
Debbie Mc. - Karen, your question has gone off my screen would you post again?
Lana - Karen, I must've missed the question re DAI.... Ask again and we'll give it a go!
Diana - Am I in? I keep losing my connection.
Debbie Mc. - Tiffany, I've known people who have done it both ways.
Kelly - Debbie - I'm sure you've probably tried this, but have you clicked on the refresh button in your toolbar once you're there and it says it's loading?
Lana - Hi Diana, you're in!
Smitty - tiffany set aside a whole day for packing, copying, etc, get a helper, read directions as you go, copy as you go, need plenty space for spreading out!
kiela - On one of my videos they announced a child's first and last name- I was wondering if that will be okay. I can always cut that section it is on the end of science
Debbie Mc. - Maria, I think I'll unsubscibe and subscribe again. Yup Kelly, I'll just keep trying.
Maria - Debbie- another thought Have you clicked on the chat button?
Lana - Kiela, if you can cut it, I think I would. I'd be real leery of a child's last name.
Debbie Mc. - Maria, you're so helpful and I appreciate the tips. I've clicked chat many times, so I think I'll just do the unsubscibe and subscribe again.
Donna - With SS and Literacy artifacts, if they are student made books, do I staple these together or cut out the shape of the book? Suggestions?
Diana - I need some advice about the parent communication log.
kiela - The secretary announced it over loud speaker.
JoyH - (((((Kelly))))) Thanks for all your help this week!! One more question - when I'm on the onelist chat the screen freaks out if I try to see the list of names in the chat on the right side at the same time as reading the chat. Does this happen to you too?
Smitty - I would cut it Kiela, no need to risk the ire of scorers!
Karen - OK, question........I've been working on DA I........I start out writing the accomplishment like a paper I would have written in college......then I realize I'm getting more informal.......does it have to be so formal????? andy ideas.......I keep switching back and forth
Maria - Donna- take out the staples.
Lana - Karen, I vote less formal. Pretend you're showing a guest your class or how you teach.
Maria - Joyh- allthe time!
Kelly - Joy - thanks for the hug - I can always use one! No, I don't have that problem on the chat. I know that they're working on it still. Write to help@onelist.com and tell them your specific problem. Debbie, I'm sorry they haven't answered you better - I'll write to them again, too!
Smitty - Karen needs to be short and to the point, I was advised to keep it on an impersonal level!
Diana - Somewhere in my piles of confusion, I have misplaced the two months of logs I painstakingly kept at the beginning of the year. I decided to just start over. Just counting last week, I had a page and a half of the form in the book. How much do I need?
kiela - Karen- I wrote mine as if I was talking to someone it was easier to write.
JoyH - Maria - THANKS!! Glad it wasn't just me!
Debbie Mc. - Karen, I agree with Lana. Speak to a guest in your room.
Donna - If its a shape book, eg, Clifford...Should I cut the shape or just send copy on 8 1/2 x 11?
tiffany - Karen~ We worked with a trainer this week and she said it was good to have your "voice" in it. Less formal, she said often that is how you show things that get you from a 3 to a 4.
Karen - good......that's what I felt......but needed reassurance....thanks guys!
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, that's okay. You have enough to worry about. I'll keep trying the onelist. You concentrate on your entry.
Maria - Donna- I'd send it on 8 x 11.
Lana - Diana, I'm including only two pages of logs. I heard that we need to include at least one, something the assessors look for...
Diana - My screen is white again. Did I lose you guys?
Smitty - I'd send it on 8 1/2 x 11
Kelly - Debbie - but I'm so much better at doing "other" things than keeping my nose to a grindstone! :)
Karen - I'm going to go back to work.now......I'm on my last accomplishment then I'll be ready for readers..........I think??????
Lana - Diana, I see you!
Debbie Mc. - What happened to the science question?
Karen - I'll look for you all in a bit when I finish
Karen - THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
kiela - We were told at our meeting you always reference to the standards and quote them. I was surprised of this advise. Even put what standard and paragraph # in (). I looked at my mentor and told her I didn't have enough room
Smitty - Diana go up to small rectangular screen in upper left hand corner and click on refresh if screen doesn't return to normal!
Lana - Bye, Karen - Good writing!
Debbie Mc. - Karen, I'll be out in cyberspace wandering around.
martha - I want to know about video transcriptions for science. Does it have to be word for word correct?
Lana - Kiela, I don't think the information you got was right! Waste of space; can't really be scored!
Karen - we can wander together, Debbie!!!!!
Karen - t follow me........could get you in trouble!
Debbie Mc. - Martha, do you mean when you're commenting on your video?
Debbie Mc. - Karen, at least I won't feel so left out this time.
Karen - Thanks, Lana........hope to get back soon
Smitty - Kiela the scorers will find your evidence of the standard in your paper without prompts.
Lana - Martha, I think the transcript is note required.... Do you have to send it?
kiela - Lana- that is what I thought- plus I didn't want to redo my entries at this point
Debbie Mc. - Kiela, I agree with Lana again. If you show evidence in the writing you won't have to list the # etc.
JoyH - Kiela - I asked Virginia about this too, and she said definitely NOT
martha - Not exactly, I was typing a full transcription to submitt as an artifact if the audio is not clear. does that make sense?
Karen - look me up any time you feel left out, Debbie......we can whine together! lol.......I think I'm stalling.......back to work for me!
Kelly - kiela - I wouldn't waste the space. I know some people do that, but most of the people I've heard talk about it say NOT to reference the standards by number. Ask Virginia - I think she's already said that it is a waste of space. The assessors are trained to find evidence of the standards.
Lana - I really think the "Note Taking Guide" in our Scoring Guide is what the assessor's look at to score our entries.
kiela - I agree wiht that- Imaging this is the person who offered to read for $100
Debbie Mc. - Bye Karen.
kiela - Golly- sorry about the typos
Genie - Hello room...I am currently enrolled in a Masters program that is compliant w/ Nat'l Certification...is anyone else familiar with this type of program and what else would be required?
Lana - Like most things, I think there will be rip-off artists trying to make a buck out of NB. Candidates will feel insecure and pay some of them.
Kelly - Martha - I think that doing the best you can with a transcript is a great artifact for science!
Debbie Mc. - Kiela, I can give bad advice for free.
Maria - How about SS artifacts--Did you guys quote them exactly or just make references?
Lana - Genie, sorry not familiar with a program such as yours!
Kelly - Debbie - you couldn't give bad advice EVER!
Debbie Mc. - Genie, I have spoken to a high school person who is doing that. Her program is aligned with NBs.
JoyH - And it looks like the people asking for money are charging for even worse advice!
alice - i'm working on retaking the classroom community and literacy development. having a hard time on deciding what to put in the video. any suggestions for a third grade teacher.
Kelly - alice - do you use morning meeting?
Lana - Maria, when I wrote about the artifacts, I quoted them exactly thinking they are EVIDENCE necessary to prove that I am "guilty of being an NB teacher"!
JoyH - Debbie - oops, that sounded bad!! I meant probably the most qualified and sincere aren't asking for $$$
martha - Kelly, I have it mostly finished due to having a High Sch teacher tell me Tues. she could not hear them well enough. She said the rest of the inquiry lesson was great and I am going to use the lesson. No time to do another. does this sound ok?
Kelly - and alice - are you on the ring? There have been several really great comments about community in the last few days.
alice - kelly- don't use morning meeting. should I?
tlhastings - Last year when working on certification, I got much better advice from the NBCT site and onelist than from my "mentors"----wish I'd discovered both of these aids sooner!!
Mary - Alice, I would think third grade would be a great grade to have good student interaction on a playgournd problem , etc.
Debbie Mc. - I guess I'm slow today. DUH! I didn't think anything about what you posted.
alice - what is the ring/
Kelly - Martha - sounds great!
Lana - Alice, how about a class meeting? Do you have the book Positive Discipline by Jane Nelson? If not, it's at amazon.com
kiela - Question about the science video- I have two videos of my children working with their worms. It is two days in a row of them experimenting with their worms. Can I put both together? Or does it have to be one small group and the next a culumilating acti
Debbie Mc. - Alice, Kelly's right. Morning meeting is for all ages. and as usual she's given a great answer!
Kelly - alice - we have a great email ring for EC-GEN - email me at lkelly46@cs.com and I'll send you an invitation
JoyH - Keila - is your community taping going any better?
Debbie Mc. - Kiela, last year we could show two sections on the tape.
alice - how much emphasis is being placed on the video itself compared to the rest of the enrty?
Lana - Kiela, could you have one session of discussion and the other of the children with their worms?
kiela - JoyH- I got it on Monday. I had Michelle take a look at it. She said go for it. It was nice to have someelse take a look at it.
Kelly - kiela - I think you're okay with that. If it would make you feel better email the inquiry address and ask!
Maria - Lana - I'm just wondering if I'll have eniugh room!
alice - thank you debbie
martha - Alice, I'm a 3rd grade teacher. We have had some success on commun. building around character ed. vocabulary. We have taken 2 each Friday and written in a journal then discussed. I find it hard to get them to "freely" discuss. They want to address me.
Lana - Alice, it's how you write ABOUT your video, more than the video itself. Write reflectively!
Kelly - alice - I think a lot is the video - how the kids interact with each other and with you. Really important to have the kids talking to each other - you're just facilitating....
tiffany - I am still trying to get a good community video, on Thursday, when I was gone to a NB workshop I got a new student! Didn't know until I came to school on Friday. My kids are doing well being friendly to her. I think I could turn this into a good discussion. Any ideas?
JoyH - Kiela - lucky duck! I thought it would be easy to get but I'm still working on it!
Donna - Similar ?? as Kiela...What if the two segments are of the same investigation, but different students in each segment?
Lana - Kelly, just out of curiosity; how long has the Onelist EC GEN been going?
Kelly - yes, Tiffany is right....you're write up is everything....but you have to either have the kids interacting well with one another or address the fact that they're NOT in your write-up
tlhastings - Alice....I don't think there is a set % of emphasis placed on video/other stuff; but I will tell you that my videos last year were not great at all....I truly think what saved them was my relection(s).
Debbie Mc. - Tiffany, when I got a new student this year, we discussed how to handle making the new person feel at home. I thought what a great video it would have made.
Kelly - Lana - it was "born" in November of '98
Lana - Oh, good, I met it before it was too old! We'll all be celebrating our certification when it turns two! ;)
Mary - I'm finding the scoring guide really hlepful when I write up my entries. What about you all?
martha - Debbie That's a great idea. I'll try it this week. I just got a new student. And continue to video hoping to find a better comm.video.
alice - thanks so much for your input. are you all completing portfolios or are you retaking or certified already.
Lana - Mary, ABSOLUTELY (now that it's beginning to make sense.....)
kiela - JoyH- I was relieved. We did ours on name calling. Major problem. They discussed how to work on this and they had an aimated discussion on why not to tell the principle. I said 10 words the whole video.
JoyH - Mary - totally agree - the scoring guide helps me a ton!
Debbie Mc. - Martha hope it goes well for you. Mary, last year that really helped me.
tiffany - Mary-I just rediscovered the scoring guides this week and they are really helpful. I spent time reading them before I had started writing, and they didn't make much sense then. Now they are really helpful!
Kelly - alice - I'm a banker....
alice - mary I am also finding the scoring guide helpful ,this time around
Lana - Alice, this is my first attempt. I never heard of NB until last summer.
martha - Mary, I've started going over those pages with a fine tooth comb. So much to read and remember. Thanks Kelly for the Buzz word list!! Theyare great.
alice - lana, read the scoring guide
Kelly - Lana - and now you think of nothing BUT NB! :)
Mary - Are they harder on us than on those areas which are just beginning to have cerrtification?
Debbie Mc. - Alice, I certified in Nov. 99.
Kelly - Martha - remember that Wendy from Florida and her group composed them. They get the credit. I just saved them and send them out to anyone who wants them!
martha - Lana, that is me too. I never heard or thought of NB until the end of Aug. Now Look!!
Debbie Mc. - Mary, I've heard (don't know if it's true) that new areas have a 20something percent passing rate.
martha - Kelly, I'll write Wendy on Monday.
alice - kelly, please send me the buzz word list
Mary - Some of us didn't get to start until December --actully January--that's why we're still video-taping.
Kelly - Mary - I think every area is hard - just in different ways. Recently someone posted on the nbpts website that they heard EC-GEN was easy! NO WAY!
Maria - I guess I should get going company coming. I'll try to catch up with you all later!
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, I think that that list is helpful when reading other people's entries too.
Angie PreK/IA - Hi everybody! Was afraid I was going to miss this chat!
alice - should have my address, alicebob@msn.com
Debbie Mc. - Maria, look for me wandering.
Kelly - alice - why don't you just put up your email address and I'll send you the buzz words and an invitation to join our ring (it's THE place to be if you're involved in EC-GEN!).
tlhastings - Alice...to answer your ?, I certified '99. Let me clarify what I said earlier...my videos weren't the best mostly because I didn't have chances to redo much....lack of equipment, people to video, etc....but the reflecting I did helped me to pass them...even to score well on the science one...I do think my community vid. didn't have enough kid-to-kid interaction....this year I've implemented morning meeting, and this group does WAY better at that!! Just an example of one thing I learned (and changed) through the process last year....
Mary Lou - Hi Angie! Did you get that phonemic awareness info I sent you?
Kelly - alice - you're much too fast for me! Thanks....I got it...
Maria - See you in cyberspace Debbie. :-)
Lanna - I'm baaaaak! Boy, did I get bumped and I had to add an 'n' to log back on!
Mary - My screen just went white when I looked out the window at the earlllllllllly spring rain
Angie PreK/IA - Got my community video done this week. Yes, marylou! It was fabulous. Meant to email you, but I've been swamped (guess you know what I mean!)
Debbie Mc. - tlhastings is right on. Nothing has affected my teaching the way this process has.
Mary Lou - Glad you could use it!
Lanna - Kelly, you are right; it's now in my blood!
alice - kelly, are you working on any entries this year?
Kelly - alice - I'm redoing community this time...
martha - This question is a bit off the subject. So if you know, just give me you e-mailadd. and I'll write to you later. Anyone heard or experienced the Edison Project School? My school is about to be taken that way. Like it of not!!!!
Kelly - Hi Sari and Cas - are you working on EC-GEN?
Angie PreK/IA - My community video is centered around the death of our class rabbit. It was wonderful (thank you Sam the bunny, may you rest in peace!)
Debbie Mc. - Sorry Martha. Haven't heard of it.
kiela - Martha- what is that?
alice - is there anyone from miami or nearby on this chat
Lanna - Martha, sorry, no.
Lanna - Alice, my principal's son is on the Miami Dolphins. Would that work?
Debbie Mc. - Lanna (with an extra n) you'll never be the same. You get addicted to this.
Kelly - alice - we have a lot from florida on our mailring....can't remember who is exactly where, though....
cas - I have another question off the subject. Has anyone had experience with the school improvement plan "Success for All?"
tlhastings - I find myself measuring everything I do and say on whether I'm meeting the standards this year...want to be worthy of my NBCT title....and feel really guilty when I catch myself "messing up!"
martha - It is a private corp. which puts money into schools and they are run very structured and governed by there phil.
Mary Lou - Angie, did you do your community video whole group, or did you have them break up into small groups?
Debbie Mc. - tlhasting, I have told my colleagues this and they don't understand that I feel responsibility over this.
kiela - Oh no - Martha- That is a little scarey
Lanna - Debbie, no one in our state is certified. I'm totally jazzed about being a pioneer and helping a plethora of people become certified in Nevada. The the legislature can eat the many bad words they've said about teachers!
Kelly - Tracy - but you are LOOKING - and wondering - and reflecting - all that good stuff! That's why your an NBCT! :)
Debbie Mc. - Martha, I smell trouble.
Kelly - Martha - can you fight it?
alice - macas, success for all is a very structured script like approach to teaching reading. you must be working in a school with low scores..is that the case
tlhastings - Debbie Mc.....my friends think I'm obsessing....and sometimes I am a little overly "guilt prone," so I guess I do need to watch for that....
Debbie Mc. - Lanna, I am in the 30somethinn in Kentucky. Only one in western Kentucky. I'm a pioneer too. And you know what? I can really make a difference if I work hard enough at this.
Angie PreK/IA - Mary Lou, I did the whole group (only 15 kids, though).
Lanna - Martha, if you're stuck with it; go with what's good and make it better!
Kelly - Martha - my experience has been that businesses want to run it like a business - but we're not building widgits in our classrooms! It's a totally different ball game....
Mary - I'm finding myself complimenting other teachers who I see are using community building activites such as Morning Meetings--soemtimes they don'e even know thatt's what it's called--it's jsut their postivie taching style
Lanna - Debbie, You are making a difference! Think of what this will be ten years from now!!
Debbie Mc. - Tracy, I've had that word "obsessive" used with my name too.
Debbie Mc. - Lana, I like the word "foresight" better than "obsessive". Thank you.
tlhastings - Thanks for the kind words, Kelly....you made my day. ; )
Donna - Science ? Can I use two segments of the same magnet discovery using different students in each of the two segments?
Debbie Mc. - Donna, will your groups be doing the same thing?
Angie PreK/IA - By the way, did anyone else put themselves on a diet after watching all the video tapes? Is it possible that the camera adds 30-40 pounds
Lanna - Donna, there was an EC GEN science assessor who talked to our group. She said the best to assess were science segments, one of which involved whole group discussions and the other showed the children in their exploration.
Mary Lou - Angie, I am absolutely convinced of that!
kiela - Angie- I felt that way to. I also realized that my skirwas way to short- but I am using that video
Lanna - Angie, not only did my rotten video add pounds, it colored my hair and aged me!
Donna - Debbie, yes, I rotate the groups and they do the same discovery. Do I need to include to intro whole group discussion and then the discovery?
tlhastings - Oh, yeah....the diet thing....I joined Weight Watchers as soon as I finished NB.....I looked fat on video, and I know I'd gained even more stressing during late night entry writing!!!
Debbie Mc. - I wouldn't use the video of the same activity with two groups. I go with the whole group dis. and then the discover.
alice - i have really enjoyed this chat. i am glad there are others out ther in my boat. last year i worked all by myself. it was so lonely.
martha - Lanna, thanks for that tid-bit, that is exactlywhat I did today in putting together my science portion.
Lanna - Donna, rather than two groups doing the same thing, I'd include the whole group discussion.
Debbie Mc. - All I did was type and eat. No physical exercise at all.
Lanna - Good, Martha, I think that's the way to go!
Kelly - alice - we are really bad about chatting. This usually goes for 3-4 hours. We have to cut it short today because teachers.net had to change the schedule. But we chat every night, too....in our own chat room. I'll email you about it! NO NEED TO FEEL ALONE! :)
Donna - Lanna, in the discovery component, did you get ideas as to how much prompting or questioning should occur during the exploration?
Lanna - My fingers are as thin as Jane Fonda's ever were and they are very muscular!
tlhastings - Debbie Mc.....we must be kindred spirits....me too.....(typing/eating last year, I mean...)
Angie PreK/IA - LOL Lanna!!!!!
Kelly - Lanna - LOL
Debbie Mc. - But Tracy, I didn't join WEight Watchers. I still have my "process" pounds.
Lanna - Donna, the important thing was to get the kids to INTERACT. If they are asked questions, they need to be questions that will get them thinking rather than questions with preordained answers.
Debbie Mc. - I'll try to get to the chat room tonight. If I'm later than five minutes, send a search party.
Angie PreK/IA - are they kicking us off here in a couple of minutes?
tlhastings - Debbie....still got a lot of mine too....the losing has been slow!
Lanna - Donna, minimal prodding, unless the kids are saying nothing!
Donna - Lanna, so the interaction can be with me and/or partners.....and I show focus on "HOW" and "WHY" questions to get them thinking?
Angie PreK/IA - I've found chocolate helps me reflect
Debbie Mc. - Tracy, I'm still in front of the computer and still reading entries and still eating. Hard to lose them that way.
Lanna - Yes!
Debbie Mc. - Angie, I think chocolate is a brain food, don't you?
Lanna - However, I wouldn't interact much with the adults. The idea is to get the kids' curiosity working in order for them to discover. (I think....)
Donna - Lanna, thanks....I haven't really heard from too many people that have assessed science or talked to science assessors. I think I've got good ex. but I'm constantly wondering if its what they want.
alice - thanks so much. any one else working on literacy and classroom community with third graders
Kelly - alice - I"m first grade. But when you get on the ring, folks can help you from all grade levels...
Donna - In science entry, did anyone specifically address which "Big Idea" they were teaching? eg. constancy/change. I'm just starting on this one and I'm as familiar with it as the others>
Donna - Sorry...meant "not as familiar"
Kelly - Donna - I think you do have to address it. I"m AWFUL with the big ideas....but the ring will help!
alice - kelly, when i did the portfolio last year i was in first. i switched schools and the principal placed me in third because I had taught it for many years-5. I have enough students to do the entry that are 8 years old, but i think it is easier to complete ec/gen with younger kids
Donna - Kelly, thanks, the ring is a life saver!!!!!!
Kelly - alice - yes, I think you're right!
Diana - Did I find the right folks? Did you move here from the meeting room? I kept getting bumped off earlier.
Kelly - Diana - yes, we're here!
alice - kelly, i would borrow a class, but that seems so complicated.
Kelly - alice - do it with your own. I think THAT is easier than borrowing a class! You really can do this with third!
alice - definitely easier
Diana - I wanted to ask someone about my communication log. I have misplaced the original ones I kept last fall. I thought it would be easiest just to start a new one. I went back and recorded all the contacts I had last week and discovered that I had 15 contacts with 9 parents. Will one week be enough? I don't want to waste extra artifact pages.
Donna - Literacy entry-should I have artifacts that address writing, reading, listening and speaking? transcripts of re-tell in puppet center, listening center record sheet to show comprehension on story?
Kelly - Diana - if the calls cover a variety of "reasons" for communication, I think you're okay!
alice - donna, make sure you show growth and be specific about how your artifacts are indicative of growth from the area the student was weak in
Kelly - Donna - Yes - sounds good. Is the listening center record sheet something the child completes, or is it just like a log? I think the artifacts need to be written things....
Diana - I think I have variety. Volunteer schedule, sharing progress in reading, looking for a lost reading book, behavior reports, scheduling conference...does that sound okay?
Kelly - donna - growth or lack thereof! :)
Donna - Kelly, they draw a picture of their favorite part and then dictate a sentence which they copy on to the sheet.
Kelly - Debbie - I was about to send the cyber police for you! Glad you made it!
Kelly - Donna - sounds okay to me!
Diana - I noticed you were talking about Big Ideas in Science earlier. What did you decide? Do you need to name the big ideas in your write-up?
Debbie Mc. - I named the big idea in my write up.
Diana - It seems like the big ideas should tie into the goals. Am I on the right track?
Donna - Would someone help me with which big idea magnets would fall under? I know physical science....properties of objects and materials?
Debbie Mc. - Diana, I tied them together but everyone may not do that.
alice - kelly, have to go now. looking forward to getting on the ring and will keep in touch. how do you all find so much time to chat and work on your portfolios and take care of your families?
Diana - Donna, this whole business about big ideas is still elusive to me. Is the point to steer you away from just factual knowledge to include scientific processes?
Debbie Mc. - Alice, my son is in college, my husband is a golfer and I'm an NBCT which is my hobby.
Donna - Dianna, I'm not sure...so many of the areas can overlap. Scientific inquiry should be in all areas of discovery.
Diana - Debbie, I KNOW about teaching hobbies. They're expensive!
Debbie Mc. - Donna, let me think for a minute. I've seen that somewhere.
Donna - Debbie Mc. Take all the time you need....:-)
alice - congrats debbie and thanks for your help. my son is 7 and my husband is waiting for dinner . will chat again soon
Diana - Donna, I agree. But I thought maybe the reason the big ideas are so important is so that we will focus more on discovery, recording information - you know - thinking like a scientist stuff? I could be WAY off-base here.
Kelly - alice - you'll be hearing from me!
angie - where are you all from, and what do you teach?
Diana - Seems like every time we turn the discussion to Big Ideas, everyone gets quiet. Are the rest of you as befuddled as I am?
Diana - Angie, I'm in Central Florida teaching K this year.
Joy - For the community video how much can I be involved with the conversation? I taped Friday but I had to keep bringing them back to the topic (how not to get in an argument if you get upset with someone) and they kept talking about what to do if someone says
Donna - Diana, I think you're right on track. Unfortunately , alot of the science young children get in school is not of the discovery nature..
Debbie Mc. - Donna, I think magnets would be in the systems, order, organization big idea. It is in the theme of energy and that would be where Newton's laws of force and motion would be. That's written in the portfolio, I think.
Diana - Joy, that community video is DEFINITELY the toughest entry. It is so hard to get the kids to talk TO each other.
angie - i'm in nebraska and i teach first...i'm hoping to be in colorado next year :)
Joy - bad words to them or hits them instead of what to do before the conflict starts
Donna - Is everyone saving the wonderful science entry until last? Ha!
Diana - Donna, I hope you're right (about being on the right track). I am feeling very insecure about this write-up.
Debbie Mc. - I have some more info on Big ideas or (themes) and it gives examples of experiments.
Joy - Science is the only entry I haven't written a word on yet!
Debbie Mc. - My science video was my first one. I thought it was the easiest of the entries.
Diana - I have spring break in two weeks. I am planning to tackle science seriously then. I haven't done literacy yet too, but I think it will be easier.
Debbie Mc. - But, I like teaching science.
Diana - Debbie, How can I get this information on Big Ideas?
Debbie Mc. - Give me your fax number or e-mail. If you don't have a fax, I'll type it in and send it to you. My scanner is at school.
Kelly - angie - if you need more info from project appleseed let me know. The director is a parent at my school....I've taught his kids....know him well....
Diana - My science tape would have been easy except my assistant didn't turn the camera on right.!!!!! Anyway, it is the write up that has me nervous about science.
Debbie Mc. - The multiple intelligences program that we use, has connections to other content areas. Kelly, that's where the classroom community book that I sent you came from. We also have a science connection.
Diana - Debbie, my fax # at school (don't send until Mon) is 407-891-3129
angie - it looks like a great site, thanks so much
Debbie Mc. - Dianna, it lists themes at the top. Life and Environmental, Earth, Physical at the side. It's like a graph and the experiments under both of these.
Kelly - Debbie - you know what I'll be reading tonight! :)
Diana - Debbie, How much info is this? If you could e-mail it this weekend, my address is tripled3@hotmail.com
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, I just hope it helps. I'm going to look at my classroom entry again and see if I can remember if I got more info in another place. If so, I'll let you know.
Debbie Mc. - Diana, maybe I should go ahead and type it in and list it on the ring. It may help someone else.
Diana - Debbie, this sounds great. Where did you get it?
Debbie Mc. - Diana, it's about two pages in graph form. Maybe four typed up.
Joy - Debbie - please do! I'm sure a lot of us would be grateful!
Diana - I'm sure there are many of us who would benefit. I don't know why science is so scary. I guess I'm just afraid I don't know what they are looking for.
Debbie Mc. - Diana, Different Ways of Knowing. A program to teach to the multiple intelligences. It's from the Galef Institute in California. My school was a pilot for it. Cost out district a lot of money.
Kelly - Debbie - yes! Please do put it on the ring. I think MANY folks are confused with the whole big ideas concept. I've been looking at it for two years, and I don't think I "get it" any better today than I did when I started!
Debbie Mc. - Diana, I think that it's because we do so little in training to be a teacher with science.
Diana - Oh, thanks Debbie. This sounds great.
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, that's probably because it's listed as themes, big ideas, etc. in so many different places. When I stop chatting, I'll start typing.
Kelly - But I teach LOTS of science! I wrote my own "Fun With Physics" class for summer school for grades 1-2. I have been doing discovery science for more than 10 years! I just don't "get" the big ideas lingo.....
Diana - Maybe. I feel like I do a good job teacing science, but all the emphasis from above is on READING. Guess that's why I've actively pursued info in this area and feel more confident.
Debbie Mc. - I need to correct myself. Experiments are not listed. Questions are in the graph. And we all know that scientists start with a hypothesis.
Diana - Debbie, that's exactly what I'm asking. Is part of connecting to the big ideas teaching kids things about preditions, recording, etc.? I am doing this, but like Kelly, I don't get the Big Ideas lingo. Is this going to hurt me?
Debbie Mc. - I'll also list some more resources that came in my DWOK kit.
Debbie Mc. - Diana, the science process skills are one of the most important things you can do. No it's not going to hurt you if you write up your entry as analyzing and reflecting.
Diana - Yes, it is fun to teach science. And so relevant for young children. Exploring the world is what they are all about.
Debbie Mc. - Have you all noticed how much emphasis is being placed on science skill now?
Debbie Mc. - Do any of your schools have a science fair?
Kelly - Debbie - yes - ours is in about 2 weeks!
Diana - Debbie, Very little emphasis is placed on science here. What is it like where you are (and where are you?)?
Joy - We are being to ONLY TEACH READING AND A BIT OF MATH
Joy - Imean being told to
Diana - I'm in Joy's shoes too. I'm supposed to have these kids reading and writing when they leave K. silly!
Kelly - I teach first, too - in a ring suburb of St. Louis. We've worked hard on science for the past 15 years. It's REALLY helped me. Some of our teachers don't teach it at all, though.
Debbie Mc. - Kentucky and we've had a big upheaval you know. In Ky, writing has become the be all and end all for everybody. But, when we had performance assessment tests a couple of years ago, science was a big part.
Joy - I have to sneak around this year to do science and ss!! It's terrible!
Debbie Mc. - Diana, forget about where you have to go to meet them and get them ready for reading and writing.
Diana - I have been to AIMS workshops. I also had a good grad school science teacher. I like to teach science, and I do it, but it really isn't stressed here.
Debbie Mc. - Joy, where do you teach? You can learn to read while you're doing science.
Diana - Debbie, I don't understand what you mean about "where yo have to go to meet them".
Kelly - Debbie - you took the words right out of my mouth!
Debbie Mc. - Great minds, Kelly.
Joy - Palm Springs. Debbie - very true but last month we had Open Court (I started that conversation on the list) and they are saying we have to start at the very beginning and none of the themes fit with what I'm doing for NM :0(
Debbie Mc. - Diana, the place where their ability levels are when they come to school. Some of them have had no laptime reading or discovery learning until they get to school.
Joy - I mean oc dropped on us
Diana - Oh - I definitely know about ability levels. I have an inclusive classroom.
Joy - and I meant with what I'm doing for NB
Debbie Mc. - I'm sorry Joy. It's a shame that teachers don't get to make the decisions. Our district is one of the richest in Kentucky and we don't have a reading intervention program for first graders. We are sitting on about 9 million dollars. For a rainy day.
Diana - Joy, What do you think of OC?
Diana - Inclusive: I have special needs students in my classroom full-time. They get their support services from the VE teacher who co-teaches with me for 30 minutes per day. The rest of the day they are my responsibility.
Diana - Well, all day they are my responsibility. For 30 minutes per day I have help.
Debbie Mc. - Our reading series has lots of science and social studies built in but we can't use it because of the specificity of our curriculum. I'm working on this with my principal.
Joy - They told us to start with the first 20 intervention lessons - so we did like all phonics for three weeks and were hating it!! But after lesson 6 we decided to stop and start the book and the stories are great!! But my higher students are suffering becaus
Diana - I mean all kinds of special needs...EMH, PI, language delayed, DD, etc..
Debbie Mc. - Phonics without reading great stories and having them be able to apply it is almost useless isn't it?
Joy - we are doing stuff at beginning of 2nd grade level and they'll going to miss a huge chunk because we can't get through the whole thing
Diana - Some days are tougher than others. Some groups are tougher than others.
Diana - Joy, aren't the books decodeable readers? Do you get any "real" literature?
Kelly - Diana - me, too. Four with IQ's under 70.....and one reading on about the 7th grade level! :) and, of course, everything in between!
Joy - The phonics only WAS A NIGHTMARE!! They want us to do tons of whole group stuff and still our guided reading groups daily.
Joy - We use sitton
Debbie Mc. - Joy are they going to be "word callers" and read with that slow hesitant, stuttering phonics sounding out words rhythm?
Diana - Kelly, I certainly can relate!!!
Debbie Mc. - Joy, do you keep them all night to get all of this stuff in.
Diana - Joy, can you fit in OC and Sutton both?
Diana - Oops, Sitton.
Debbie Mc. - Our spelling is built in with the reading and I like that.
Joy - Debbie - luckily most can read already, but my students who can't read can't focus in whole group and it's all going over their head.
Kelly - I'm a happy Four Blocks teacher myself! I hate programs that tell me what to do every day.....I want to be able to make those decisions myself! I'm the rebel at my school (and in my district, for that matter)....can you tell? :)
Joy - I had to stop spelling lists when we started oc because I had no time
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, I'm still working on using Four Blocks with my series. I need to be doing that instead of so much NB.
Joy - Sitton was good. I really like McCraken dictation and so did the kids, though. I used both.
Diana - Debbie, my son learned with OC years ago. He did go through a "word calling" stage. He got past it, but I don't think he would have gone through it without the stress on phonics. I've often wondered if his reading progress was stalled from all that out-of=context phonics.
Diana - Kelly, me too. I'm known as a rebel. Proud of it. :)
Joy - I had good success with the sitton list when I individualized it, students who got all the words right went on to a new list, others repeated words they missed until they mastered it.
Debbie Mc. - I just think that too much emphasis on phonics takes away the joy of reading. I know that there needs to be a good balance though. I guess that's where we need to be good role models when we read to them and do shared reading.
Diana - Luckily, I have a generous principal who lets me design my own curriculum as long as the kids are learning.
Debbie Mc. - I wish you could see our curriculum guide. UGH!
Kelly - Debbie - I just file them away! :)
Joy - oops, now that I think about it, there were 1 page stories that went with the intervention lessons so I guess it wasn't THAT bad. Two stories for each lesson. And dictation but the beginning of 2nd grade is so easy for them since we had gotten so far thro
Diana - My object is phonics without the reading context. I dislike any program that presents isolated sounds separate from real poetry or story.
Kelly - I'm going to have to go. I will tell teachers.net that we were in here. When the last one leaves, please enter a message saying that our chat is over. They're going to compile this with our chatroom portion in the archives for this week's chat. Thanks.
Debbie Mc. - I'd also like to show you all the economics guide that a fifth grade teacher picked out for us. Kelly, I have a 4X6 chart with cards that I must place on there as I teach that part of the curriculum. There are about 300 cards.
Joy - so easy because we got so far so through McCracken
Diana - Joy - are you teaching 2nd? And you had to teach isolated phonics without stories? Did I get that right?
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, enter it on this site or send them a message?
Kelly - Debbie - just go in Monday and put all the cards up - and SMILE! :)
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, that's a good idea. I may just try that!
Kelly - Debbie - Just enter a last message in this room that says that everyone is leaving now....just post it here like all these messages. Then they'll know for sure where to "cut" this for the archives....
Joy - Diana - I teach second and just remembered that there were two one page stories that went with each intervention lesson.
Debbie Mc. - Thanks, Kelly. Bye. Have a good week.
Kelly - I'll write to them now so they know to look for part of it here. Kathleen told me to do this when we emailed last night.
Joy - We were ordered to start open court last month.
Diana - I need to go feed my family. Thanks for the chat. Debbie, I'm looking forward to the science info on the ring. Thanks.
Joy - We'll send all good thoughts to help you get there, Debbie!
Debbie Mc. - Diana or Joy, any questions about entries? If not, I'll start typing on that science.
Diana - Start the science. :)
Joy - No - I should get started to!!
Debbie Mc. - Thanks, Joy. I need all the help I can get.
