Susan (NC) - Hi Everybody!
Susan (NC) - What does everyone want to talk about today?
BEV - Have any of you started your video taping yet?
BEV - I had that happen too. It was a bummer getting back on.
Susan (NC) - Bev, that is funny you mentioned "video taping"" I just brought home the school's camera to practice........oh my!
BEV - Do you have a time limit for keeping the school's cam? I did and didn't know it. They were scrambling looking for the thing and it was in my room for three months!
Susan (NC) - We are fortunate to have 3 cameras at school; I just checked it out - never asked about "how long to keep it?"
Julia - What are you going to video tape?
BEV - You know I have fried brains. Some of you haven't started back yet. It's probably too soon to start video taping. So have you planned how you are going to do it?
BEV - You have two sections in your portolios that require video tapes, Community and Science. Have you gotten your box yet?
Susan (NC) - My classes start on Monday, Friday was a 1/2 day; so I don't know which class to do - K, 1st or 2nd since I teach all grades (K-5)
Debbie Mc. - I just kept my own camera in the room and turned it on and off. Got the two videos I wanted and brought it back home.
Debbie Mc. - You have plenty of time to decide Susan.
Susan (NC) - I think this is a reason for buying my own camera - especially just leaving set up in the room and letting the kids get used to it. How many times did it take to get a good tape?
BEV - I ended up buying a video cam, but the sound didn't pick up very well in the back. The NBPT have to hear what the kids say. That was a problem on my tapes.
Debbie Mc. - I videod a two science and three community. Some times it takes many more.
Debbie Mc. - I went with what I had and wrote about them. Remember it's reflection, not perfection.
BEV - First I made a rubic of behaviors I was looking for in Community and in Science. Then I started tapig and taping. I would watch the tapes and look for the 10 minutes of Com and the 20 m. (can be segmented) to be just right, or sufficient. It was tough.
Susan (NC) - I asked our Music teacher about this problem- he suggested getting another "plug in" mike, He found me one on the internet for $ 34.99 so I'm ordering it Monday. I like that reflection not perfection!
Sharon - Hi! Debbie. Are you going to Orlando?
Debbie Mc. - I don't know about Orlando! Waiting on my district!
Debbie Mc. - I'm hoping that since I am writing the proposal for our district to receive state funds for NBC, they'll be grateful and pay my way! I doubt it though.
Sharon - Here's my tip for the videos. Let your kids think you are video taping all the time. I would go over to the camera and pretend to turn it on...even when I did not.
Sharon - Here's another tip. When your kids are doing science and social studies discussions (for your portfolio entries) leave the video running. This is for YOUR benefit. I was able to go back and quote kids in my entry. It also made the experiences fresh for me as I wrote them up.
BEV - Good tips, that's what I did too. It really helped with the writing.
Susan (NC) - Sounds like a good tip, did you put the camera on a tri-pod? How do you know it is aimed for what you want? Is it better to have someone tape everything by panning the room?
Debbie Mc. - Good idea, Sharon! That could help you include assessment evidence--whether they mastered the goals and objectives. Also might help you find things you will do differently next time.
Sharon - I don't know about the others but I didn't have anyone so I relied on a tripod.
Susan (NC) - Did anyone have a problem about your little "angels" clowning around?
BEV - I had mine on a tripod and moved it around frequently. The kids got used to seeing it in dfferent places. I was even able to use it to document to a parent that her precious prefect son was abusive and a bully. She signed the permission letter and couldn't argue. I ended up giving her a copy of the tape.
Debbie Mc. - I had mine on a tripod but also (sometimes)kept in on the shelf with my tv.
Sharon - Susan, that's why I let them think the camera was on most of the time. They actually forgot about it.
Debbie Mc. - They got used to the camera and like Bev, I told them their parents would be able to see how they were behaving. I used this to show a parent why "Johnny" wasn't getting his tasks finished.
BEV - Sometimes I would show the tapes back to the kids. They got a kick out of being on TV
Debbie Mc. - Kids must be the same everywhere. Mine would beg to watch themselves. "Look! We're on tv!.
Susan (NC) - I really appreciate all the neat tips.....I will be having Curriculum Night next Thursday and was planning on telling the parents my plans for NB process, taping etc. Is this a good idea?
Dixie - Sounds like my favorite topic. My mentor suggested I get taping going ASAP as there are always things going wrong.
Debbie Mc. - Yes it's a good idea!
BEV - I also found it was a great way to bring in the parents. They got to "see" what was happening in the class. I sent what I thought were really good tapes of class activities home for the children to show their parents. It was good PR
Dixie - Gives them a stake in it too!
Debbie Mc. - I've told my candidates the same thing. We sometimes have bad weather in January/February and is you have your tapes you can use this time to write.
Dixie - Thanks, at least I'm on the right track.
Susan (NC) - One thing that puzzles me is how do you show evidence of growth if you haven't given a workshop, etc. but have only "attended".
Debbie Mc. - Impact on students!
Dixie - What are you doing differently as a result of the wksp. What is the effect on the students and their learning, socialization, etc.?
Debbie Mc. - How has attending that workshop made a difference/impact on your students? Do you use different strategies? Individualize assessment?
BEV - My camera didn't have good audio. I had microphones and speakers planted all over my room that projected toward my camera. I went to Radio Shack and picked up three. I bought one set over three month. so all my walls were covered. It really amplified and helped the sound
Debbie Mc. - Do you teach to different learning styles because of your attendance at the workshop?
Susan (NC) - A couple of years ago, I attended a Marie Carbo conference.......it was wonderful! I would like to show the students listening to "recorded books" is this what you meant Debbie?
Debbie Mc. - Only if listening to those recorded books or something else you've started helps those students learn in a different/better way.
Debbie Mc. - If you have a student who is an audio learner instead of visual, the recorded books affects her/him by...
Sharon - Yes, Susan. I used Marie Carbo training in my entry. Show how it has effected your class & particular children's growth. I had one child that I was able to focus on and show how recorded books had helped her growth.
Susan (NC) - That is one of the Carbo strategies of recognizing the different learning styles.
Dixie - I attended a wksp today that had a lot of good information and the presenter said he'd come to my room and teach the students for free. I'm writing up the wksp today and hope he will come and there will be a positive outcome. I'll wait until Oct. to have him come to show change. Will that work?
Sharon - You went to a workshop TODAY???
Dixie - Yes, it was 8:45 to noon 35 miles away! I know I'm crazy!
Debbie Mc. - Does this reinforce something that you've taught? Is this more effective for one or more students than listening to you read? Does the child focus on the book because the headphones do not allow sound from the classroom to distract? I'm just throwing out things. I don't know.
Sharon - No, not crazy...dedicated!!
Dixie - or demented!
Sharon - We might all fit in that category!!LOL
Sharon - Susan, I love using recorded books with my first graders. Don't you enjoy it? What grade do you teach?
BEV - I think trying to measure carry over from a workshop to student learning is very difficult. I think it starts in what you want and what you are looking for. Why did you go to the workshop? What did you get out of it? What method did you decide to use? How is it suppose to effect learning? Listing those behaviors, did you see evidence that suggested behaviors were or were not changed?
Susan (NC) - Just got "knocked off" grrrrrrrr hope this doesn't keep up!
Debbie Mc. - If this is for entry five or six, you can write that particular accomplishment up as one. Have the presenter write you a note to include as evidence.
Dixie - I am considering using tapes of AR books with my kids who have trouble retaining info. I have been model classroom the past 2 years and want to keep that up too. Thanks, Debbie.
Sharon - Yes, or if you share ideas with a fellow teacher and she tries it too, then she could verify.
Susan (NC) - Sharon, I have a friend "Sharron" who spells her name with 2 r's so it is hard to get it right, anyway I teach Title 1 reading which is K-5 classes and love it!
Dixie - You are great! Keep those ideas coming! I teach kdgn.
Sharon - I bet you DO see the benefits of rec. books with your students.
Debbie Mc. - What are AR books?
Dixie - Accelerated Reader books - our county is big on Reading Renaissance.
BEV - Recorded books are great. That is how my daughter started to really learn to read
Susan (NC) - So many times my children get frustrated because they can't read, but when they listen to the Carbo books; they get confidence and then I let them read to our principal - they love it!
Debbie Mc. - Our school uses it too, but I'm not a fan.
BEV - I like the print out the AC provides for the teachers. All that information can really drive the lesson
Dixie - Oh, I love them! I have between 6 and 7 independent readers by years' end.
Sharon - Debbie, not a fan of which,,,AR or recorded books ?
Susan (NC) - I like the AR concept but I have a problem with a lot of great literature is NOT on the AR list and the children do not want to read if it doesn't have "points"
Debbie Mc. - Accelerated Reader. I teach first grade and I find that my children love to read but when they have to test over a book, they're not motivated by the prizes a lot.
BEV - Sorry, my bifocals are adjusted, I'm blurring. I mean the Accelerated Readers print out for teachers. and I hit the update key twice.
Dixie - Don't have that prob in kdgn I read, they listen.
Sheila NC - been out walking the dog and almost forgot about the mtg. what's the topic? [that's true susan about AR. We are trying to make our own "test" now for other books...
BEV - Do you do follow up activities with you Kdgs after you have read to them?
Debbie Mc. - I agree Susan that the literature is limited. I want my kids to love to read without getting a prize. Our upper grades and principal like it.
Dixie - Also, we've really stopped the extrinsic prizes as they weren't the way we wanted our students to feel about reading.
Susan (NC) - Hi Sheila, I've been enjoying your posts to our list but I'm mostly a "lurker" until it comes to SATURDAY....then, I;m a blabber mouth!
Debbie Mc. - Does anyone have any recent research for or against AR?
Sheila NC - debbie, our whole school (except a few black sheep) think it's the best thing since... ummm, what?
Sheila NC - susan? what happens Sat.???
Sheila NC - BTW, did I mention my song? BAAAAAAAA
Dixie - yes, the sequence is usually read the book, do activities, act it out, discuss characters, etc. reread, and test. It's really labor intensive as each child must be read the test individually, but I have seen such progress.
Debbie Mc. - Sheila, are you one of the black sheep?
Susan (NC) - SATURDAY is our real time chat line like we are doing now!
Dixie - Gotta go do Mom stuff. Thanks for your advice.
Sheila NC - hee hee deb, actually i see both the good and bad of AR. i do try to incorporate other literature and teach love of reading for books sake, not points. [understand susan!] :)
BEV - Is your library set up to accommodate the AR program Shelia are the books graded?
Sharon - Our district is getting into AR more this year with STAR testing. Is that going to be good or bad?
Sheila NC - bev, yes. and this year we are switching over to their latest program (over 600 titles will have new grade equivalents based on another formula than Frye
Sheila NC - hi sharon. STAR is both. ;)
Susan (NC) - We do STAR testing at my school too with the AR and we are buying more tests that go with the books we already have.
Debbie Mc. - I assume that no one has any research on children who have gone through elem. with AR?
Sharon - Yes Sheila, us too!!
Sheila NC - i used to call the company at first complaining about some books having the wrong GE. Especially beginning chapter books!
Sharon - I just last spring finished marking my books and now...
BEV - We have 6 elementary schools in our district two of them use STAR. and have the AR. They are all sold. My school tend to be a skeptic.
Susan (NC) - Sorry, Debbie - we forgot your question......I haven't seen any recent research but with all the "extra" reading I'm doing; to be fair - - - I haven't really looked!
Debbie Mc. - What about you Bev? How do you feel about it and what grade do you teach?
Sheila NC - even junie b. jones, as a chapter book, is more difficult for independent readers than than a 1.9 or 2.2 [same with magic treehouse books]
Sheila NC - AR & STAR have been more helpful than not at our school (in my opinion). just have to use a little common sense with it!
Sharon - I agree, Sheila. AR is NOT my main focus during the day but it is surely a helpful supplement.
Sheila NC - STAR supports AR levels but TEACHER JUDGEMENT should ALWAYS override a computer derived reading range! [yes, sharon!]
BEV - I teach, taught remedial reading elementary 2 - 4. I looked intothe STAR program with another teahcer. We thought it would be a good idea because our sister school uses it and they have GREAT reading scores. Our principal took one look at the cost, turned red and walked away from us. Well so much for that I would have LIKED to try it. Every one I know who uses it loves it.
Kelly M - BEV - how did the phonimic awareness chat go?
Debbie Mc. - In first grade, so I want them to learn to read and learn to love reading. I was disappointed with the books/tests on our level.
Sheila NC - i am glad we have it, bev. even though i don't always agree with it's results, it's truly amazing the growth shown during the year, and it's nice to share with parents. our entire county has now purchased it! [wish i had stock in their company!] it is big $$$
Sharon - Have you ever heard the background for AR? It was developed by a parent.
Kelly M - Sharon, I hate shopping, too! But Sam's is always so much fun! I got a bejillion post-it notes, etc. You know.....it's so easy! :)
BEV - I think PA went well. I thought you were there. It certainly went FAST. There were a lot of GREAT ideas. Hope we can do it again
Sheila NC - i understand, deb. that was the biggest complaint the first years we began. we had PTA drives to purchase more test [and you can purchase the rights to make your own test]
Kelly M - BEV - did anyone suggest a different time? I know most of the evenings are taken. If you want you can keep this Saturday at 2 Eastern time, though. Kathleen said that would be fine.
Sharon - Sorry, Deb, that's all I remember! I just know it was a parent whose child was having difficulty reading and she wouldn't give up on him.
Sheila NC - i've enjoyed my visit but am in the middle of starting supper. gotta go! have a great week everyone! :) Welcome lurker! You've dropped in at a special place!
BEV - Shelia, I never let a reading program over ride my judgement as a teacher. I hate the words "TEACHER PROOF" I spent the $$$$ to get the degree to be in the classroom t make the professional judgements about student progress. Not computers, book companies, nor their lackies. If a reading program isn't working with a kid, move on to something that will
BEV - Kelly, I don't know about times. We didn't get a chance to talk about it. Like I said the chat went super fast.
