Kelly - Hi Kim - and hi Susan!
Susan (NC) - Hi Kelly & Kim!
Kelly - How are you two today?
Susan (NC) - I'm still looking around for grant ideas but when it comes to 4pm on Saturday's - I gravitate to the CHAT!!
Susan (NC) - Are you reading to go back to school (finally) Kelly? I say that because our kids have been there since Aug 2 which seems forever!!
Susan (NC) - That was supposed to be ready Kelly.........
Kelly - LOL....yeah....ours finally return Tuesday. I've been working so in my room so long that I feel like we've been in since early August, too!
Susan (NC) - any changes in your room plans this year?
Kelly - I always change everything in my room! I'm going in tomorrow to finish my desk area....everything else is ready, but we piled everything on my desk that wasn't being used!
Susan (NC) - My desk is so covered up..........can't even tell you what color it is!!
Susan (NC) - Working on Sundays? WOW you will want to have a holiday! Guess that's what Monday is for! lol
Kelly - Oh, I keep mine hidden! It's always behind my tall bookshelves - and plants! Nobody needs to see it except me!
Kelly - Kim - are your kids back already?
Susan (NC) - Mine is in my office since we now work in the classrooms........but we may be getting a classroom back again since they are building 4 new ones!
Susan (NC) - Kelly, did you get to share your "Teacher Therapy"
Kelly - So you 'push-in'?
Kelly - Oh Susan, YES! My student teacher thinks I'm crazy!
Kelly - Thank you again for that!
Susan (NC) - sorry- that got away from me.........I'll try again - did you get to share your "teacher therapy" CD with some of your peers? My principal played "Faculty Meetings" at our last one! Everyone liked it!.
Susan (NC) - I finally figured out it is just you & me today.........I think we have DONE this before! LOL
Kelly - Someone named Kim was here at first, but she seems to have left. I hope we didn't scare her off! Hi Debbie! How are you today?
Debbie - hi I've NEVER made it to the chat room before
Debbie - I've hung around the ring for two years
Kelly - Welcome Debbie - the new messages will appear at the top. If we get a lot of people in here it can sometimes go pretty fast! Hi djh and Sue - how are the two of you today?
Debbie - I'm a banker waiting for November!
Kelly - Debbie - it's sort of addictive, isn't it?
sue - Kelly- doing ok, had a major allergy attack from something blooming in the field next to school yesterday
djh - fine-thank you. Preparing for the new year as everyone is doing!
Debbie - yeah, I'm been having to skip messages mostly lately
sue - November will be here before you know it
Debbie - moving and school starting!
sue - LOL! nothing like facing my new kids in a benadryl haze~~
Kelly - Yes...November has a way of arriving sooner than you think!
Kelly - sue - allergy attacks are awful.....how did you manage with your kiddies?
Kelly - Hi Susan - you're back!
Debbie - life definitely goes fast these days -- it's allergy time in Oklahoma too
Susan (NC) - I was looking for something and pushed the wrong button...........
sue - Kelly- they learned to say bless you! luckily it didn't get really bad till dismissal
sue - let me tell you though driving that bridge built in '39 while sneezing was an experience!
Susan (NC) - I can't believe it.......chat starts & then comes the thunder! I'll stay as long as I can-
sue - anyway who is in what stage of the NB process here?
Debbie - banker
sue - CIW
Susan (NC) - Banker here too!
sue - OK for those who are bankers- how long did it take you to get your scores and start the process again
Debbie - what did you redo Susan
Kelly - certified - finally!
Debbie - I got mine in December I think -- started over first of Feb
Kelly - Sue - you get your scores at the exact same time as everyone else. The deadline for retake applications has always been Jan. 31.....I don't know that it has changed, but you might want to check with NBPTS.
Susan (NC) - I redid Science, Literacy & Math at the AC but I'm in the old generation............in more ways than one! lol!!
Debbie - did SS and Art with borrowed kinder class
sue - I'm wondering becuase I am applying for a new job and may have to borrow a class if I have to bank
Debbie - me too Susan
Debbie - I redid AC science
Debbie - in June
Kelly - Susan - I think I have you all beat in the age dept!
sue - so, if I have to bank and choose only to redo AC, when will the AC be?
Debbie - I KNEW I wasn't going to certify last year
sue - I thought they were rescheduling the AC to be staggered this year
Debbie - I think you sign up for AC May til July just everyone else
Susan (NC) - Yeah Kelly, but you are certified and that makes all the difference!!
Debbie - oh, I hadn't heard that yet Sue
sue - well, I keep hoping my portfolios will help my AC. I blew the first question becuase I answered all the prompts in the first section!
Susan (NC) - I still think "borrowing" a class makes NB much harder!
djh - I am a new candidate
Debbie - yeah, first time I took AC I didn't finish the first question I got too long winded
Debbie - yeah, I wish I'd done this when I was still in the classroom
Kelly - In the past, any changes did NOT effect the 'old' people. So I would guess that you will test at the AC in the same window that you did before.
Debbie - I'm a reading specialist now in an SFA school
djh - At the Ac- what are the logistics for time and response?
sue - I personally think they need to change the AC time to 45-- 90 is to long and 30 was way too short!
Kelly - djh - is there anything we can help you with? These folks are plenty knowledgeable!
sue - brb
Kelly - djh - you have 6 prompts....scenarios....and get 30 minutes for each one.
Debbie - Don't put things off til the last minute is my best advice, advice I have never followed
sue - djh- be sure to read through the entire thing first!
sue - debbie- I had everthing done on time- 3 weeks ahead for revision, review and packing
Susan (NC) - And take notes too so you don't waste so much time scrolling back & forth!!
Kelly - djh - when do you take the AC?
Debbie - I think I had 30 minutes to spare!!!!!!!!!
djh - the subjects are pre determined and I can check these on the NBCT website correct? I have been checking the GC GeN mailring for several months and the files to start to accrue information to prepare for the testing. I also read the book available through Stenhouse-very helpful.
Debbie - don't you get information with your packet on the AC still
sue - debbie- wish we had that. I felt rushed and was very prepared for each section
djh - I do not know yet- I have not registered officially due to subsidy availability in my state.
Debbie - Sorry -- I meant I had 30 minutes to spare to get my portfolio mailed on time
sue - we had to pay the reg fee ourself first
sue - debbie! you believe in cutting it close
Susan (NC) - Sue, is your state paying your fee?
djh - Our state subsidy aligns with the last window schedule.
Debbie - Okla did pay our reg fee and paid to bank two exercises the first time
sue - djh- here's a bit of advice. write down everything you do before ou start on entry 4
Kelly - Hi Delia - how are you?
sue - susan- state paid $2,000 and I get an additional $7,500 a yr for 10 yrs when I pass
Debbie - wow sue that's great -- we get $5000 for 10 years
sue - djh- I forgot about the school supply drive I do every year before school starts. It impacted 8 schools, and approx 400 kids!
Susan (NC) - In NC - our state paid everything for us plus 1 redo and we get 12% increase in salary for as long as we teach.
djh - I have begun to do that and to plan any proffessional development opportunites I can get to align with the portfolio entries. For instance I am going to a workshop in Oct. that focuses on intergrating science and ss with guided reading and other literacy areas.
sue - susan- the 7,500 will probably be renewed after 10 yrs. But, I hopefully will be retired by then
djh - That should impact my children's learning if I plan effectively.
Delia - Hi! I'm late getting here. I am fine. I wanted to ask about the SS entry. how do you show classroom as a community as well as a social studies lesson and arts? Do you show your morning meetin?
sue - djh- go into the files for each entry and read! read! read!
ginger - fine, kelly, just got back from CA
sue - hi ginger- are you a new candidate, a CIW or NBCT?
Susan (NC) - Sue, I'm in the same boat as you.......hope to retire in less than 10; maybe 8 - --although my husband says I'll never retire! and they will carry me out feet first!!
Kelly - Delia - you don't have to show a morning meeting. Whatever you are doing for your SS/Arts concept is fine. The aspect of the community you have built in your classroom will be evident as the kids discuss the subject matter....
ginger - delia, you can use lots of ideas. I think you need to include some kind of ss and arts concept, so however you would do that is fine
Debbie - are you still asked to show parent involvement in the SS Arts portfolio?
sue - susan- stared teaching as a second career at 36. I might make it to 61 but not in my present position as a PK teacher. These bones are tired after an hor of outdoor time!!
Kelly - You can show 'community' in any subject area!
Debbie - that was my major flaw the first time, I think
ginger - i found it easier to tape lessons within a ss unit that included arts and community building
ginger - from what i understand, the best thing to do is to foster mutual respect and listening to each other from day one of your year.
sue - the community part of my video was the hardest for me. Several parents of the kids in my class and the other PK class got into a fight on campus that morning in front of the kids
Debbie - maybe you could send it to America's funniest videos, sue
sue - the kids were cranky and upset and not as polite as they usually were since they witnessed my escoring parents off campus
ginger - sounds great, sue! Did you send in that tape or just keep it for future laughs?
sue - debbie- it was funny watchng grown women holler " your mamma" at each other!
Debbie - oh dear, I guess you didn't record the parents, huh
Susan (NC) - Oh my!!
Delia - Thanks, that sounds good. I feel worried that I will miss something. I really am enjoying reading the morning meeting book. Also, for entry 4, I feel like I am trying to do too many things, It's hard to stay focused.
ginger - on my science tape, one of my kids got annoyed at another kid, and finally said, "Hey! Are you calling me stupid?"
djh - We use a program called Art Master- where we show the children slides about a major artist or gruop of artists. Then we discuss the major techniques or idea that that artist was known for. We do a "child friendly" project based on that with music from that time period of the artist. If I include a more indepth study on that artist and incude readings etc-then could I tape the lesson and include as the ss entry?
sue - ginger- the lesson was great. I documented the incident in the section as to what happened immediately prior to the lesson and in the reflection
sue - where I teach, violence and fighting do affect how the kids react at school
ginger - don't you just think that some of the assessors must have cracked up watching us?
ginger - hi, melliss
sue - djh- what age level?
Kelly - Hi Meliss - how are you today?
sue - ginger- on my science entry, one of my kids tasted the worm!!
Meliss - hi ginger! hi kelly! i'm fine thanks..how is everyone?
ginger - ohmigosh!!!
djh - first/second grade- maybe I could have the part where the children are discussing the slides taped.
Debbie - djh, I would just be sure that the children did most of the talking
sue - djh- jmo, but I would do something more handson
Kelly - djh - can you tie that into SS goals for your district?
djh - So perhaps then I would tape the children doing the actual art project.
ginger - djh, i think using art master is great, although i've never seen it. Read the direction,s make sure it's SS,
Delia - Are there any good resources for SS you would recommend?
ginger - i know there are a million ways to do it, but this entry was hard for me to visualize
djh - Yes- in terms of the impact of important people such as Georgia O'Keefe and we are looking at native american artists and that certainly ties into the standards.
sue - djh- maybe start the discussion before the kids create their own interpretation of an artist and video the interaction
ginger - Delia, use your ss syllabus to get whatever you should be teaching. Then create a unit that teaches that and ties in real art, not just making a picture about what we just learned about
sue - for social studies you had to show how the lessons linked to those prior and those in the future
djh - That is when you have the dicussion- to build that background for the art experience.
ginger - wow, djh, tying Okeefe into Native americans...sounds like you could have something good beginning
djh - In the case of Georgia O'Keefe- the impact she had as paving the way as a woman artist.
sue - djh- be careful and read the directions. I think it said the discussion should not be the intro to the lesson
Debbie - I have seen the directions for the new portfolios, I did the old SS Art with no video
Debbie - following directions is key, though
sue - delia- I checked the ss state standards
ginger - so how can you tie that into what's happening in your class, djh
sue - brb I 'll get the link
djh - The slides are the actual intro to the lesson-the artists actual work and techniques.
Delia - sue, did you check the standards for art and social studies and then tie them together?
sue - sorry couldn't access it- must be on son's computer
ginger - try writing down your responses to each question, and seeing if you are meeting all the requirements. Patrice had some awesome outlines that got posted in the files and they helped me see what i was missing
sue - delia- in my case it was easier. I had already done that when I wrote the schoolwide grant for the art/ss unit for the entire school
Debbie - couldn't you do some interesting this with the gender idea with O'Keefe
sue - here's what I did for each portfolio. I wrote it. Then, I went back to the standards and makde a chart.
ginger - talk about how gender affects your classroom, your town, etc
Debbie - do boys and girls in class like the same kind of art?
ginger - a discussion that makes them think and offer unique ideas is so wonderful
Debbie - can you tell the art of a woman from the art of a man?
sue - on one side of the chart was the standard on the other side I wrote how I evidenced it in the entry and highlighted it. Then, I went back and looked for ways to incorporate the missing items
ginger - find something they are excited about so you get lots of ideas
ginger - debbie, good ideas!
sue - ginger- I agree. My science entry came from the playground!
ginger - i am sooo excited to teach this year, with newfound energy and techniques
Debbie - you have to be careful not to get carried away and neglect the DIRECTIIONS though
sue - ginger- what are you?
ginger - I agree. READ,READ,READ
ginger - i'm a CIW, sue
sue - me, too!
ginger - is that what you meant, sue?
ginger - yay!
Delia - Thanks for your help!
djh - We are also doing a unit on Louise Nevelson-who at the height of her fame would design huge sculptures and then have men asseble them for her- the tie to this is the whole "shakespeare's sister theory" where we know Masters though the years had their sisters or wives etc. work on their projects but recieved no credit.
ginger - djh, sounds like you have a wealth of info and challenging ideas to work with. just read carefully so you don't miss any aspect
sue - delia- if you do a google search for state content standards you can find all sorts of info
djh - Anywat that is too sophisticated for my first grade students but it is an interesting aspect.
aggieb - Hi everyone
Kelly - Hi aggieb!
djh - thank you everyone
sue - hey aggie! I survived the first days with my kids!
ginger - good luck, djh. Hang in there
Debbie - djh, you are right to stay on the kids developmental level
ginger - am i the only one not teaching yet?
sue - ginger- I only did staggered entry this week
Debbie - our kids have been back for 2 weeks
Kelly - Ginger - our kids come Tuesday.
aggieb - I have been with my students for 5 full days
Debbie - we have already had kids transfer out!
ginger - I was calling the parents of my kids this week, just to say hello and see if they have any questions, and a foster mom told me that if her son doens't get his meds at lunch, he'll break our windows!!!
sue - debbie- so have we but the rest of the school has been in session since 8/19. I'm Pre-K
ginger - i love talking to them before the year starts= I find out so much interesting stuff
sue - ginger! at least she told you he was on meds. Had one in PK I found out about in Feb!
aggieb - ginger, I will be thinking of you
ginger - Debbie, why did kids already transfer out? Did they move?
sue - we do mandatory class visits as well as a 2 hr parent meeting
Debbie - I called all the PK kids at our schoo yesterday. I'm teaching a Love and Logic parenting class starting next week. Hoping PK parents will come
ginger - what is a mandatory class visit?
sue - debbie- you're PK?
sue - ginger- if they want their child to come to my class, the parent has to come and see the class.
ginger - debbie, i read that book this summer, and bought two more copies for student teachers and new teachers
Debbie - nope, sue, I'm the reading facilitator, just inviting them to parenting class
ginger - what do you do for parents without transportation?
sue - at the class visit, we discuss expectations and any problems such as custody, guardianshio, etc
Debbie - sue, would you really not let the child come if they didn't??
Debbie - I'm pretty sure all of ours do come at the beginning
ginger - we have many parents without a car and no public bus out to us as of yet
sue - debbie-it's policy. there is a parental participation requirement if they want the free program
Debbie - PK teacher does a one-on-one screening with each kiddo
ginger - i have some parents that i don't see all year!
sue - ginger- I may sound hard hearted but my area is low income, too. They have to work it out.
ginger - oh, sue i didn't realize your program wasn't a regular school program
Kelly - Sue, I think that's so important! The parent needs to have a buy-in to the program, too!
Debbie - PK is optional in Okla -- K is mandatory
sue - ginger- it is. Title I Pre-k. But, it's voluntary and they have to follow the rules or be exited
ginger - sounds really good to me. We tend to be quite wishy washy with families in my district
Debbie - sue, fullday or half?
Kelly - Ginger - so are we (wishy washy!). I say that we are enabling the parents to be LESS responsible!
sue - we just opened 50 new programs. Parents are getting bus transportation for the first time, free before care, free after care and snacks provided.
sue - They can arrange to come to a meeting!
sue - debbie- full day, 20 max with an asst
ginger - wow, sue where do you teach?
ginger - we need that!
sue - La.
sue - ginger- we are using the TANF money
ginger - how wonderful. i hope it makes a huge difference for you guys
sue - aggie- still with us?
ginger - i don't know what TANF is, but i am writing it down, and intend to find out!
aggieb - just listening carefully
sue - ginger- it does. I get to see the growth in the parents, too.
Debbie - our PK teacher would love to go to fullday, district won't do it yet
sue - TANF- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.... welfare money
ginger - we will be mandated to be full day K in two years, and will probably go in kicking and screaming, as it is soo expenseive
Kelly - I need to get going.....hope you all have a good week! Enjoy this long weekend!
aggieb - I wish we had preK programs in our school, What a difference it would make
Debbie - hey, has anybody ever access HUD money for a school program???
ginger - thanks, sue. i'm going to look into that for our conference days!
sue - 1/2 K I don't understand. We've been full day since 1980
Debbie - bye Kelly
ginger - well, NY hasn't done it yet!
ginger - some of our districts do, some don't
sue - aggie- check out the federal grants. There are different federal funding sources- Starting Pt and TANF
Debbie - childcare in our community is dismal, I wish the kids could stay with us
aggieb - We have been full days since back in 1975 or earlier, and yet we are so rural
sue - aggie- LOL! sure wish the K teachers would feel that way about our kids. They complain about them all the time " too independent"
ginger - thanks for the good info, everyone. I have to get some work done around this house! Have a great week!
aggieb - I turned over information to my board of ed during the summer , they decided not to apply
sue - aggie- where are you again?
aggieb - Any preschool ed is going to make an impact,
Debbie - amen, aggie
aggieb - I am from NC ( the leader in literacy)
Debbie - well, laundry's done, gotta go
aggieb - The leader in literacy is what we bragg about but I have my doubts
sue - it's sjut a differnt philosophy. We have shared control. K is a dictatorship
sue - aggie- know anything about holly springs NC?
aggieb - the town sounds familiar and not too distant
sue - god child goes to school there. I'm hearing good things about the district
kim - I'm new to NBoards. Thinking about the SS entry. Would like a little advice.
sue - kim- I'm a CIW but will listen
kim - thinking about doing a body map for mapping skills while we study ourselves and families.
sue - a few questions- can the kids work cooperatively? is it teacher directed?
sue - how does it tie to ss state standards?
kim - will actually work in partners to trace and help label selves we have introduction to map skills in SS standards and learning about ourselves and our families
kim - pretty good group I work for independence from day one from my K kids
sue - kim- read and reread your directions. make sure it's tied to the ss and arts standards not just a " craft"
aggieb - How will you incorporate the "Arts"?
sue - that's right- the Arts is not just drawing
kim - I'm thinking the arts are our self portraits
sue - so what would you tape?
aggieb - Kim I think the ss units are going to be stronger if you will be able to use a variety of arts , rather than just art, drawing that you may show in the video.
kim - hopefully the children engaged in helping one another create self portraits and working to help one another lable body parts
sue - yes! mine had music/dance/music and drawing all in response to a social studies topic
aggieb - Think about the national standards for ss, arts
kim - That's a given because we would incorporate songs and movement activities while learning about ourselves Just not sure if this is the right direction to take Seems developmentally appropriate
sue - kim- read again. the arts should be an integral part of helping the students learn a ss topic
sue - ok- what is your topic- me?\
aggieb - Kin what grade?
kim - yes, Myself and others It's a K class
sue - the try needs to show how you integrate social studies and the arts
sue - entry not try!
aggieb - Kim, keep docementation and pictures of all the arts you do,, you will be surprised what you may submit as your other artifacts
sue - read the directions. you can do all your arts stuff as a lead in and a follow up to your video tape
kim - we will explore our hands, faces, similarities and differences Just thought a body map was more on their level
sue - gotta go yall benadryl for allergies just clicked in
kim - that's a good idea.. Maybe a discussion among them about themselves and others
aggieb - I am a kindergarten teacher also
sue - kim- what about having them do the color mixing for skin tones and tape the discussion and the beginning of them doing self portraits
kim - are you in waiting
kim - sue you are so good
sue - kim- yes I'm a CIW
aggieb - Kim both sue and are are CIW
kim - We have already done color mixing and they loved it Didn't think about doing it to make skin tones
kim - I participated in the pilot last spring but haven't heard any scores yet decided to go ahead and go for it just incase I get lucky and pass the pilot prompt
sue - kim- try this- Read Land of Many Colors or We're All Alike, We're ALl Different and then put the different colors of flesh tones out and have them mix their own tone
aggieb - Kim what area did you pilot
kim - I was so lucky I got Literacy. Guess what? I've been part time for the past 8 years and have only concetrated on teaching mathematics. They sent me literacy.
sue - kim- ggod luck! check the EC GEN files at Yahoo for great info
kim - I think I did okay I dusted off the cobwebs We'll see
aggieb - Kim it is important to begin now letting your children hold discussions with each other and you facilitate the discussions
kim - We do moring meetings everyday and i'm workng on this.
aggieb - My students knew how to hold a conversation as I stood back an acted as their coach. Let's hope it payed off
aggieb - Great Kim, I did those also, that helps a lot.
kim - I'm sure it did. Right now I also have a student teacher. That makes it a little more difficult because I have to turn things over to her and hope everything continues on the path I started
aggieb - Kim it sounds like you are headed in the right direction
kim - I hope so. This is the first time in the weekly chat and it's already been a wonderful experience. You guys are wonderful. Even if I don't pass I'm learning so much.
aggieb - when I did this entry it was the hardest one for me.. I did it first and then redid it over as the last one.. I had learned so much
kim - When I did the literacy prompt last spring it was wonderful. I stayed late everyday to work with a small group to gather my evidence. Alot of things were already in place it was just a matter of selecting artifacts and students to monitor
kim - SS does seem hard. Everyone says to do the 9-11 thing I just think that is too abstract for 5 and 6 year olds
aggieb - Follow the lead of your class, do what interest them and you will get better participation
aggieb - I started out to teach one goal and because my children had another interest it sort of shifted
aggieb - I was teaching about culture diversity and was able to bring in the 9-11 event.. It directly impacted a student in my class
kim - What grade?
aggieb - Give yourself plenty of time to reflect. that is so important
aggieb - I am also a kindergarten teacher
kim - are you in Texas?
aggieb - I am from NC'
aggieb - Don't rush into doing the "final" draft.. it takes so much and so many rewritings to get it to be clear, concise and convincing
kim - Got to go and take my kids to buy Harry Potter cards.
kim - Thanks a million.
aggieb - Good luck
