Debbie Mc. - Hi Casey. Are you a candidate this year?
Casey - Yes, I am waiting for November! How about you?
Debbie Mc. - I'm an NBCT thank goodness.
Susan - Hi all, I haven't got the box yet?
Casey - Debbie, Lucky you. The uncertainty of will I be a banker, should I be preparing the way I did last September, is driving me crazy!
Debbie Mc. - Casey, relax for a couple of months. You'll have plenty of time to redo an entry/entries.
Casey - Susan, can we help you with standards etc, if you do not have your box?
Susan - I just got the book Constructing Curriculum....looks really good!
Debbie Mc. - Susan have you read the suggestions on the EC Gen ring?
Casey - C/C is like one of your bibles during the process. I eneven refered to it at AC time.
Susan - I would love to know what standards are; could you email me an attachment and I am reading & saving all the tips from the list.
Debbie Mc. - Susan, do you live close enough to a candidate that you could borrow a standards book?
Debbie Mc. - The only thing that's been placed in the ring files are the buzz words. You really need the standards book to read.
Susan - I am the only one at my school that is attempting this process this year but I knew someone who did it last year. Would the standards be different?
Debbie Mc. - Was this person an EC Gen candidate?
Susan - Debbie, yes she was- a 2nd grade teacher - I believe.
kinderjane - Hey Ya'll! I'm Jane, a Candidate in Waiting.
Debbie Mc. - Well then borrow hers if it's EC Gen. The standards won't have changed. But take good care of it. A friend lost mine and I was heart broken.
Susan - Hi Jane, I know your name from the posts, you seem like an old friend!
Susan - That sounds like a good idea, Debbie! Our school system's 1st day is next Friday, August 4th!!!
kinderjane - Susan, copy hers and then you can make notes on your copy.
Debbie Mc. - Jane knows her stuff!
kinderjane - Debbie, I hope I do! November will tell!!!!
Debbie Mc. - 275 points or not, you still know! Hi Dana!
kinderjane - Casey are you a "waiter", too?
Dana in MS - Thanks for the reminder Jane!
Susan - I wish I knew when the box was comming...I just heard from NB's and they sent my a letter asking if my information was correct (name, etc.) How long do I have to wait??
Debbie Mc. - I think it depends on if you apply on your on or through your state.
kinderjane - Susan, the best thing you can do for NB now, is to have a GOOD beginnning of school.
Debbie Mc. - Sorry I meant own.
Debbie Mc. - I agree with Jane. Get to know your class.
Debbie Mc. - Think about what you do that follows the standards.
kinderjane - I think tone for the whole year can be set at the beginning, and that is the most important thing now. You can worry about NB later once you have your class going.
Debbie Mc. - If you try to be super teacher, you'll be worn out before October.
Casey - kinderjane, YesI am a "waiter". I found that it took a while to really get to know what NB wanted. I am amazed at those on the ring that have already completed an entry. I still find myself wanting to change what I sent in!
Susan - I applied thru my state since NC pays everything! But I am so worried because I'm a Title 1 Reading teacher and do not have a "regular class" ,,,Any suggestions?
Dana in MS - Susan, do you have the Morning Meeting book? It would be great to scan to get ideas for the first of school to begin building your classroom community!
Susan - Dana, I just ordered M/M by Amazon this week.
Dana in MS - Susan , I remember your post about borrowing a class - wasn't that you?
Debbie Mc. - I don't like to give advice on borrowing classes because everybody's situation is different.
Debbie Mc. - Casey, I did entries 5 & 6 last when I was a candidate. I thought these were the least difficult.
Dana in MS - The First Six Weeks is soooo good too - I am reading it too. The books come fast when ordered from Responsive Classroom.
Debbie Mc. - Dana I have First Six Weeks too. It's great too.
kinderjane - Dana- Should I order that? I have been thinking about it.
Debbie Mc. - I've read and made notes on the first part so that my colleagues wouldn't have to buy and read before school.
Dana in MS - I would Jane - it is worth the money to me!
Casey - Debbie, I agree about 5&6, but I'll know better when the scores come in. My advice to newbies is to film, film, film! That was my biggest stressor! I also got a multidirectional microphone for my science video, I did not have it for community so I am interested in those scores as well.
Dana in MS - Debbie, that is so sweet of you!
Debbie Mc. - Jane would you like for me to send my notes on the intro section?
kinderjane - Debbie- Are the notes in a form you can send me e-mail in case I don;t get to read before school starts?
Dana in MS - Do you have them on Word? Could you send them as attachments?
kinderjane - Oh, I just read your note! Yes!! Please!
Debbie Mc. - They're a Word document and I can send as attachment.
Susan - Dana, that was my post about the borrowed class
Dana in MS - Casey my multidirectional microphone was worth every penny - it made such a HUGE difference
Debbie Mc. - Anyone else want them (other than Jane)?
kinderjane - Dana- Our school had two of those microphones. They did make a huge difference!
Susan - I would love your notes; this whole process has me so nervous, I need all the help I can get!
Debbie Mc. - Jane, I don't have the schedule for the first week in my notes and I've loaned out the book. Maybe you could get Dana (don't you like for me to volunteer you?) to type it in and send it?
kinderjane - Susan, have you decided how you are going to work all of this out without your own class? They need to come up with a separate area for those of you doing that. There are many! Title I, Reading recovery, etcc.
Debbie Mc. - Susan, what's your e-mail address?
Casey - I got bumped off!! Susan... What grade are you going to choose for Community Building. That will definately influence how you set up your classroom community entry.
Susan - Thanks for the tip on the multidirectional microphone - I'll check that out with the media specialist. How much, if I have to buy it myself
Debbie Mc. - Dana, I've got notes on everything up to that first week's schedule.
Susan - My email is nebrick@wnc.net Should I have said that when I logged on? This is my first time guys on this chat thing.....sorry, if I'm not doing it right!
kinderjane - Susan, what state are you in? (Besides a state of confusion- LOL)
Hello! - Please go check out "We are taking the plunge" post on main board and leave a response! Thanks!
Susan - I'm not sure what class I'll choose because I teach K- 5 so I could pick & choose any .
Casey - Susan, do you or will there be a mentor for you, or a mentoring group to help, etc.?
Dana in MS - Susan, why don't you decide which class to use - or students after you see which would be the best example to work with toward the NB standards?
kinderjane - Susan, I am in SC
Susan - I know someone who went through it last year and she was an EC and she passed so I'll definately ask her. We have NCCAT in Cullowhee (WCU campus which is nearby (25 miles)
Dana in MS - Susan, we have a great mentoring program in my state, but overall, the best help I got was right here on the ring!
Susan - I think once I get to see the "standards" and read them a million times; like the list says I will be able to decide, (I hope) But my first thing is reading my EC digest everyday!
Dana in MS - Many candidates in my area said they didn't have time to read the digest - my response was I DIDN'T have time NOT to read it! I learned so much, that saved me short-cuts!
kinderjane - Me, too, Dana. The ring was my lifeline to sanity this year!
Debbie Mc. - Jane and Susan, your notes are on the way. If you can't open the attachment, let me know and I'll cut and paste and resend.
Susan - I agree Dana, this is really "working smart" not just working hard!
Susan - Thanks, Debbie - this list is so helpful!
Debbie Mc. - I wish I had known about the ring when I started. It has got to be tremendous help.
Dana in MS - Debbie, when you get a chance do you mind sending me the notes, too? I have a coworker who wants to borrow my book when I finish - the notes will get her started quicker!
Susan - How long has this ring been in progress?
Dana in MS - Debbie, you are so much to all of us who have followed you on the "journey' toward becoming NBCT's!
Debbie Mc. - Don't thank me, Susan. They may not help you at all.
Dana in MS - The ring will be 3 yrs old on November 18 of this yr.!
Debbie Mc. - You're too kind Dana.
kinderjane - I just checked- They came through fine. Thanks!
Dana in MS - Debbie - just the truth - you are TOO modest!
kinderjane - I just read Teaching Children to Care. I think by the same authors.
Debbie Mc. - Dana, I just sent your notes.
Dana in MS - Serafin said that is a great book, Jane. Did you like it?
Dana in MS - Thanks Debbie! I can always count on you! ;o)
Debbie Mc. - I have that book too but haven't started reading.
Susan - I've gotta go guys - how long does this chat usually last? I will definately be here next week. Thanks for all your great suggestions, Bye!
Dana in MS - Bye Susan! Good luck!
kinderjane - It was good. Some of it built directly on community entry. Parts of it were for teachers of older children. I skipped and skimmed parts.
Dana in MS - I have reread some in Constructing Curriculum - I think overall, it is the best to read first for newbies - and reread! What do you girls think/
Debbie Mc. - Thanks Jane, I won't mind starting if I don't have to read all of it.
kinderjane - Debbie, did you have ANY help when you went through?
kinderjane - I agree Dana. If I could recommend only one book, it would be CC
Debbie Mc. - Regrettably Dana, I have not read that book. That's on my list of "to buy".
Debbie Mc. - Jane, I found the list about a week before I went to the AC.
Dana in MS - Debbie, why don't you get one they still have on 1/2 price? Only $15. A lot less than the $30 something for the new version!
Debbie Mc. - Wait a minute, maybe it was earlier than that. I don't remember when I found it Jane. It's like a blur now.
kinderjane - We did not have support in my district. That is why the ring was so important.
Debbie Mc. - I do need to get that Dana. I've put off buying any new ones until I read the ones I've bought.
Dana in MS - I don't know how you managed to certify going it alone Debbie! My hat is off to you!
Debbie Mc. - The good Lord, Dana.
kinderjane - The three Candidates in Waiting are wanting to help newbies in our district this year- if there is some sort of organization thru the district to let us know who they are!
Dana in MS - Had to be Debbie and your faith!
Debbie Mc. - I did have the list for the AC.
Dana in MS - I heard from Kelly last night - she is having a good trip!
Debbie Mc. - Good luck Jane. I hope your district is more open to support candidates than mine has been.
kinderjane - I miss her today!
Debbie Mc. - She needs a good rest now.
Debbie Mc. - We should have posted a message about the chat on the ring.
Dana in MS - I thought about posting a message to the ring, but I wasn't positive I could come myself! Kelly, is helping out her sister who has been sick. She is always taking care of someone and all of us! Wonderful lady!
kinderjane - See how valuable she is? Nobody else thought to do it!
Debbie Mc. - She takes care of us.
Dana in MS - She has definitely "spoiled" her "kids" on the ring! LOL
Debbie Mc. - Bye ladies. Have a good week!
Dana in MS - You too!
