Kelly - Hi Becca - how are you today?
Susan (NC) - Hi Kelly & Becca-
Kelly - Hi Susan! How are you?
Susan (NC) - I'm great Kelly, how's your daughter?
Kelly - you never know from week to week.....I think our newbies aren't really 'into' it yet....and the CIWs are moving on with other things!
Kelly - Thanks for thinking of her. She seems to be great right now. The white blood count went down, so they're just going to watch her for now.
Susan (NC) - Probably so.........
Kelly - Aha, there's Becca - back again!
Becca - My computer was clicing and not showing anything!
Susan (NC) - Did they ever come up with a diagnosis?
Kelly - They think it's a possibility that she has Crohn's Disease....that's what they're watching for....
Susan (NC) - I'm not sure what Crohn's disease is?
Kelly - Becca -what are you working on?
Becca - I am reveiwing standards and trying to practice thinking on my feet!
Kelly - It's something similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome...only more complicated. I'm not to up on it either...just beginning to learn.
Becca - Test is tuesday at 11:00am
Kelly - Becca - help me out here...aren't you taking the AC in a few days....as a NEW newbie?
Kelly - Hi Viv - welcome!
Susan (NC) - GOOD LUCK! BECCA..........
Becca - YUP! I think I'll be the first 2003-2003 candidate to test.
Becca - THANKS!
Kelly - Yes, I thought so! I think you're exactly right to be studying the standards and thinking......that's good!
Becca - I just found out we might be making a very SUDDEN move to Hawaii and am trying not to panic!
Susan (NC) - Hawaii, how exciting!!
Kelly - From what people have said, it's very doable. It's the standards that you really need to have internalized. Wow! Hawaii? Whew! What job takes you there?
Becca - Exciting if I can get a job...
Becca - My fiance might be taking a job transfer.
Viv - Hi Kelly. I am a newbie to be. Will make up my mind by Sept. 19th deadline.
Kelly - Not a bad place to be with your fiance!
Becca - I am reading the standards and having full fledge conversations in my head about what I do to support them.
Kelly - Viv - Sept. 19 is what deadline? Is it a state one?
Becca - Starting to feel a little batty!
Viv - ? How many hours per week and when did you work? Nights, weekends, holidays, personal days?
Susan (NC) - I have some grass seed to plant before it rains again, but listening to this chat is much more fun! Besides it is too hot!!
Becca - Susan where are you in NC?
Viv - Yes, Kelly County will pay, but must apply by then.
Kelly - Becca - make a T chart....make a line across the top of a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the left put the standard (in a few words!) and on the right list what that looks like in your room (you'll probably have lots in that right-hand column!). That's a GREAT way to think about them!
Susan (NC) - Becca, I'm in the mountains.......2 miles from the Smoky Mountain National Park.
Becca - I'm in Raleigh!
Susan (NC) - Oh, been to Raleigh lots of times driving to the coast.........it is too big of a city for this country mouse!
Kelly - Viv - I think it's fairly common for someone to spend AT LEAST 500 hours on this. Divide that between the time you start and the deadline for your portfolio, and that will give you a good hint. Obviously, some spend more, some less. You really need to schedule in YOUR time, too, though...not just National Board time!
Becca - Between entry 4 and the AC I have spent at least 150 hours this summer.
Becca - I have TRULY enjoy a lot of proffesional reading though!
Susan (NC) - good advice from Kelly! Too many people think this is such a snap!!
Kelly - Viv - do you ahve a copy of the standards? If not, have you downloaded them from the nbpts.org website? See how comfortable you feel with those.......if you read through them saying "Yep, that's me...yes, I do that" then you're in great shape! And yes, Becca - some of us (me included!) spend a LOT more than 500 hours!
Viv - I had heard at least 400 hours on average. I think I will take at least one personal day a month and just work from morning till midnight! Of course I will put in some late nights too!
Kelly - Viv - are you early childhood?
Becca - Kelly is it you that is switching to using 2 teachers in the classroom?
Kelly - Becca - no - that's another Kelly. Kelly B. I'm Kelly M. Hard to keep us straight! She's from the Carolinas, too, I think. I'm not...although I lived outside of Charleston a LONG time ago!
Viv - I have printed out the entire porfolio. I feel confident in all areas. Science concerns me a little. I have read some conflicting info about inquiry on the ring. I ordered a great book though. National Science Ed. Standards.
Kelly - Becca - as a matter of fact, when I read her post about that I was laughing.....recalling a few years ago when I had 28 first graders in one room....BY MYSELF!...no aide, no other teacher, etc.!
Susan (NC) - That grass seed is calling me......Kelly, if Debbie Mc comes - tell her to email me. Please. Having been trying to catch up with her since I got back from Canada.
Kelly - Hi Sunny - how are you?
Viv - I am a 1st/2nd Looping teacher.
Becca - Viv will your kids be in 1st or 2nd this year?
Kelly - Viv - there is a great article in our files about Inquiry Science - written by one of our very own assessors, no less! Look in the files in the old portfolio folder. I think it's there.
Sunny - Just fine! Trying to figure what going on.
Kelly - Susan - will do....she's been out of town at training...
Viv - First which is great because I taught first for 11 years.
Kelly - Viv - that's such a dream thing to do! I got to take 1/2 of my first graders to second to a first/second split one year.....but that's the only time I've gotten to do it. I really loved it.
Kelly - Viv - also, have you accessed the PBS site's inquiry information? I think they even have videos there.
Kelly - Sunny - we're talking about the Early Childhood National Board certification process.
Viv - Oh, that is great to know about the files! I get confused about the difference between true inquiry and guided discovery which is what I do with my first graders. I do a great unit on Force and Motion which has some pure inquiry. I just let them go!!!! We have a blast and most years they come up with some great investigations.
Becca - I feel a bit nervouse about teh AC science part.
Kelly - Viv - from what you describe - that sounds like inquiry!
Viv - I really bonded with my class and the parents. I made two really close friends(parents) I saw sooo much growth . It has been very rewarding.
Becca - I feel like I have a good grasp on inquiry.
Kelly - Becca - don't worry! Just be ready to look for the children's misconceptions....and think about how to deal with them!
Becca - If I get a topic I know nothing about I can emphasize how I TRULY do enjoy learning with my children.
Kelly - Don't forget to include things for all level of learner's....also remember to access prior knowledge - and to use parental support!
Becca - I have a list of NINE cues that I will write down before I ever touch the screen
Kelly - But Becca - think about it! We really don't teach our young children anything that we know NOTHING about! You'll be able to do fine!
Sunny - I'm not a classroom teacher, but I do spend time daily working in classrooms and with groups of children. Will that be a problem working on certification?
Kelly - Viv - that's THE best part of looping, isn't it?
Viv - sorry Kelly, I have to answer the phone. Darn!
Becca - Kelly, that is a great point!
Viv - Sunny, someone I know of certified without a regular class. I don't know the details, but it can be done.
Kelly - Becca - you sound very well prepared! Sunny - call 800-532-1813 for a more definitive answer....but the easy answer is that if you meet the certification requirements (you hold a valid teaching license) and you've taught for at least three years, then you are allowed to 'borrow' a class. I'll tell you what, though...to be honest. We've had many reading teachers do this...and they've said that it has been very difficult to build the community needed for this....but they've done it!
Viv - Becca, have you thought about units you might do for Social Studies and Science?
Becca - I'm on a district committe for scienc and have bben doing some revamping of our curriculum ...its balance and motion
Becca - That will be vvery early in the school year
Sunny - I read somewhere that the portfolios can be done with different classes/grade levels. I've worked with most of the children in my school in one way or another in the last couple of years. I feel I can handle the community aspect.
Becca - so if that dosn't work out I'll probably do rocks. Which is my true love.
Kelly - Sunny - Again, I would call and ask nbpts themselves! However, I would think that as long as you used classes that were within the age limits, it would be fine.
Viv - Kids, love rocks! Rocks rock!
Becca - Kelly, If I move and can't find a job will I just have to take zeros on the portfolio and become a banker?
Kelly - You guys are all having such a great early start! That's really good.
Sunny - Thanks for the advise.
Becca - I heard that the SS/art entry should involve posing a problem that the students need to solve as a group. This is not specified in the directions though. Any ideas?
Kelly - Becca - you can withdraw up until the date your portfolio is due, I think. With this new deal of you taking the AC first, though, I'm really not sure how they'll deal with that. You might want to give them a call on their 800 number, too! Also, check out the FAQ's on the nbpts website!
Viv - Kelly, my fear is having major behavior problems this year. I had a new student last year who just wreaked havoc in my room . Severely EH. It really put a lot of extra stress on me.
Kelly - Becca - that's the old directions! The new portfolio is not the same! You need to show how you have built the community in your classroom through the lens of you teaching your SS concept.....Read carefully!
Becca - Viv think of that as an opportunity to talk about your accomidations and how you make your classroom equitable and accessable for all.
Becca - phew! I reread and reread after I was told that and couldn't figure out what they were talking about!!!
Viv - Oh yes, put the positive spin on it. LOL I have to be more positive!!!!
Kelly - Yes, Viv, Becca's right! Look at it as an opportunity to have more to talk about! But keep in mind that these will be scored by current classroom teachers. You don't want to dwell on anything like that unless it directly pertains to a question you are asked. Assessors say all the time that candidates put in way too much information about how many struggles they have....when it just wastes space when it is not directly answering a question.
Becca - The tips that the science assessors offered this week were FANTASTIC!
Kelly - Viv - LOL...yes! Dwell on the good aspects!
Kelly - Becca - yes, they were! Hopefully I will have my new files for each NEW portfolio entry ready to upload within the next few weeks. Those will be more helpful to you!
Viv - The first unit in Social Studies that I do is Our School. It would be perfect, but I am not sure I want to use the first unit . The start of the year is so busy and we are all adjusting to each other, but it is a fabulous unit about building community which would be so appropriate. Lots of art too, both music and fine arts, drama too.
Jen - Hi........ where did the science tips get posted??
Viv - Kelly, thanks for all you do with the files. I just feel like I have struck gold finding you guys!
Viv - Well, I have to run. Many thanks and have a restful weekend.
Kelly - Viv - go ahead and videotape everything! Who knows? You might want to use it! You might really be showing GREAT things about building community within your classroom while you do that!
Becca - I saved the email if you want I can forward it to you.
Kelly - Hi Pennie and Jen - how are you today? Jen, the tips were posted on our EC-GEN mailring. Are you a member?
Jen - yes........ I will check there. Thanks.
Kelly - Viv - I think our mailring is a GREAT place for anyone connected to EC-GEN to be! The teachers offer such great expertise to one another!
Becca - Kelly I agree!! I wouldn't be where I am without the ring. It has been invaluable!
Becca - Well...I best get back to my reading!!!! Have a great evening everyone!
Pennie - Becca and Viv-Be sure you read the NBPT standards when choosing your units. When I assessed this summer for SS, A lot of teachers scored low because they didn't include social studies and art and a socia skill.They assumed that their social goal was social studies.
Pennie - Mycomputer is skipping letters. Sorry!
Becca - Thanks for the tip Penny! Are you allowed to mention what types of units people did?
Pennie - I saw a lot of patrotic things, Olympics, needs and wants. But just about everything that is in the standards.
Kelly - Pennie - thanks for saying that. We really need some expertise from those of you who assess. Any tips are very much welcome!
Kelly - Pennie - I have heard that many folks seem to throw in an art activity hoping to be satisfying that part of the entry....but that it really doesn't UNLESS it is an integral part of the learning........that it really helps the children learn the SS goal. Is that accurate?
Pennie - Kelly-
Pennie - Kelly-Yes! All parts have to really fit closely.
Kelly - Pennie - we'll really need for you to be helping to respond to posts as this new 'class' gets going! I hope you can do that for us! I'll be saving your every word for future reference! Hey there bruppert! How are you today?
bruppert - Hi everyone how are you all doing?
Becca - I just emailed Pennies words to myself so i would remember them.
Pennie - I'll try to help all I can. This group helped me to pass last year.
Kelly - I'm fine bruppert! How's everything in the beltway?
bruppert - Kelly are you KellyM?
Kelly - Pennie - that's where I get the things that become the 'files'! I save people's emails!
Kelly - bruppert - one and the same!
bruppert - Traffic is awful around the beltway, I know this is you!! How are you doing, relaxing?
Kelly - bruppert - just beginning to....this past Wednesday was my first true 'vacation' day this summer!
bruppert - Kelly, I am finishing up summer school this Friday and then I can relax
Becca - Thanks fo rthe help everyboddy! Any last minute AC tips????
bruppert - Beca, study but try to relax so you can do your very best
Pennie - Take every break they give you. Relax.
bruppert - Pennie is right, I did that when I took the test
Kelly - Becca - touch your screen when you're finished writing! You can access the strength (THE FORCE!) of the whole EC_GEN mailring behind you cheering you on!
Becca -
bruppert - Kelly I did that too touch the screen to feel the prayers and I felt them I just hope I passed
Kelly - Becca - we'll be anxious to hear your report!
Kelly - I really need to get going. I'll talk to you all later. bruppert - email me at home if you want to!
Kelly - See you all around the ring! Have a good weekend....what's left of it!
Becca - I'll send an email out on Tuesday night. We leave for NY early Wed morning. One last get away before the hectic year!
bruppert - Thanks Kelly , I will be in contact. Thanks again.
Pennie - Bye, Kelly. I'm leaving, too.
