Carol - What do you all want to discuss? I am new and have questions about everything.
kinderjane - Hey Carol, Susan and Delores. What's your status? I am a candidate in waiting- as is Dana. Wendy is the REAL THING!
Wendy - Go for it CArol
kinderjane - NOt that Dana isn't real. She's as real and wonderful as they come. Just waiting on certification.
Wendy - The real thing, now I have been called everything
Susan (NC) - I can't believe I was bumped off already....I'm trying again!
Dolores - I am new too....I live in Florida and have Wendy to type to anytime I want!! She is a mountain of knowledge
Wendy - Dolores is in my district
kinderjane - Carol- what are your questions?
Dolores - I am working on my Entry #1..did you find that it was easier to do the unit THEN write it up??
Susan (NC) - Hey Kelly- I loved your new song! (hope this the right "Kelly")
Wendy - Yes Dolores
Carol - The EC-Gen webring has been great! I have absorbed LOTS of great info from it and all the good books recommended. I'm worried because I don't yet know what I am going to do for SS and Sci. Trying to relax and get to know kids (26 2nd graders)
Kelly - Susan - yep - that's me.....do wah ditty ditty dum ditty do........
kinderjane - Delores- I kinda wrote as I went along. It was one of my first entries and I was getting a feel for it as I went along.
kinderjane - Kelly - I just heard that on the radio.
Carol - I loved ALL the song suggestions!
Susan (NC) - I am working on # 1 too; decided to go with Family for both my "borrowed" classes, both 1st & K. Do you think this is a good choice?
kinderjane - Carol- getting to know your kids is what you need to do now. I didn't know what I was doing for SS til Nov. and science in Feb. I did several topic for science before I got one that worked.
Dolores - What happens if my SS unit goes longer than 2wks...I was going to have a retired person write to us about what it was like when they were in 1st grade....but I don't think that I can get that in before my two weeks is up.
Wendy - Just make sure you have all you need before completing the unit.
Kelly - Susan - are you going to do it with each class, and then decide which one you'll write it up about?
Wendy - no problem Dolores
Kelly - Dolores - the time frames are suggestions - you aren't tied to them
kinderjane - Susan-what do you mean by borrowed classes?
Carol - I want to develop something for SS that starts with the big topic of FOOD , then goes into goods, services, where good comes from, businsesses in our community, and culminating in a cafe in the class. (I am borrowing this idea with permission from a wonderful candidate in waiting ) What do you think? I'll have to narrow my focus to set goals to assess for NB
Carol - That was supposed to be where FOOD comes from . OOPs
Susan (NC) - I am a reading teacher (k-5) so I have access to all the grades.
Dolores - Susan- I am doing family because I found out that I have a little girl who is in foster care, 3 three from divorse families,and a couple that live with the grandparents. To build my class "family" I thought I could start by getting to know everyone's families.
kinderjane - Carol- that sounds great. You can go in so many directions with that one.
Wendy - Dolores you can borrow my SS book from my masters
Dolores - I am a little worried about trying to start one of the entries so soon....but I figured if it totally BOMBS...I have time to do another.
Kelly - Carol - what "arts" will you do?
Wendy - It may suggest some good literature for you to teach about the variety of family configurations.
Dolores - Wendy - Thanks...could you pony it to me...or if it is easier you could bring it when we meet again in Sept.
kinderjane - Delores- Do you have the book Daddy Doesn't Live Here Anymore? It's good for children of divorce and explaining divorce to young ones.
Wendy - Carol sounds liek you are doing an economics unit.
Carol - Jane, do you have suggestions to help me gather artifacts to show what they have learned (need measurable goals). I'm unsure about the arts. We have a great restaraunt with murals. Decorations for cafe? PLacemats? Menu? Songs during meaL? HELP!
Susan (NC) - Dolores: I decided to go with the family thing because of the makeup of my classes too.
Wendy - If I don't send it in the pony this week nag at me
Dolores - Susan - Have you figured out what you are going to do to include Art??
Carol - Yes, Wendy, economics are part of our new SS obj for 2nd grade
Wendy - HI Alice
Susan (NC) - My question is I need to write up the activities for both my classes ( k & lst) right, I read in the directions that you need to explain your situation if you don't teach that class all day, right?
alice - hello everyone. it has been a while. hi jane
Wendy - yes economoics is ss
kinderjane - Carol- how about a class book or mural that shows how food gets from the seed to the table. All the steps it goes thru. Even a song to go along with it! Maybe to the tune of Doo A Ditty, Ditty Dum Ditty Doo!!
Wendy - you need to explain abou tthe kids your teachign situation, your school culture
alice - what is everyone talking about?
Dolores - If I am going to do family portraits ( I decided that might be better than the family tree) do I have to find an artist who paints family portraits? I was thinking of Norman Rockwell...
Wendy - social studies
Carol - I LOVE it! I 've been singing that song all week! I guess we could also write a play about the same thing.
Wendy - it would be nice to share that art with the kids, but they have to produce some art that will be your evidence
Dolores - I have really been looking forward to reading what is on everyone's mind
Carol - I guess a mural would be hard to submit. Could I send a photograph?
Susan (NC) - Is anyone having trouble staying connected? That was # 2......
kinderjane - Delores- Then have them paint portraits of their families?
Wendy - yes take a picture and send it
Dolores - I am...that's why my last comment sounded so silly
Debbie Mc - Carol, I sent in a photograph of a mural.
Susan in SC - Can someone explain what to include in the 3rd catagory in entry 5 - " significant contributions to collaborative work with colleagues in developing pedagogy, as a mentor or learner. I don't see how that
alice - last i remember there were size limits on the artifacts for social studies and the arts
Susan in SC - sorry I didn't finish the sentence
Wendy - SC Susan that means what do you do to help other teachers or develop curriculum.
Dolores - Yes...I was thinking of having them use water color over crayon. I thought it would be cute if I put thier portraits together into a house. Would I just send a picture of one child's painting/ art?
kinderjane - Alice- they can always take them to a copy shop and have them color copied and reduced.
Wendy - Yes or if it is small enough, you could send a color copy
Carol - Any suggestions for economic goal? We would be buying supplies, producing a meal, then charging a price. I'm excited about the children's jobs, training, job applications etc. I'll have cooks, waiters, hostesses, bus boys, etc. on the cafe day. I 'll have to do it in two shifts.
Susan in SC - Wendy - How is it different from #1?Thanks
Debbie Mc - Dolores, I guess that you could send in a color copy of the child's work if you wanted them to keep the original.
kinderjane - Susan-where are you in SC? I am in Pickens.
alice - true, true. send copies, not the original
Wendy - What are they asking for in #1?
Susan in SC - I'm the one in Charleston who knows Sunny and Charley Byrd Hi!
Susan (NC) - I have a question about permission slips......has anyone had problems getting them all turned in? It has only been 5 days but I have about 7 not in (both classes)
Debbie Mc - Susan, I called parents that had not sent them in.
Kelly - Susan - you might want to call the parents and talk to them about it. If they know more about why you want it, they'll probably sign it!
Carol - I am in Charleston too, actually Mt.Pleasant
Dolores - Susan - I wrote a personal note and attached it like they suggested. For the few that didn't come back I called.
Susan in SC - Significant contributions to the development and/or review of instructional resources and /or practices: curricula, instruction, assessment practices
kinderjane - Carolina Girls- Best in the World! (It's another oldies song. Not just my opinion! :-)
Susan (NC) - That is a good idea Debbie, some of the slips had the regular classroom teachers name on it - not mine.....so, I'll end up calling them anyway- I sent home a letter explaining the process and talked to a few parents at Curriculum night.
Dolores - Is a KWL chart good enough pre and post assessment? Or will I have to come up wiht something else for Entry #1?
Wendy - I think #1 is what do you do to develop or improve curriculum and #3 is how do you help teachers use it
Susan in SC - Carol - you go to the meetings with Cassie and Jean, right?
Kelly - Bye Wendy - I'll talk to you later!
alice - hello kelly, how have you been? I finally got my things from the reading lady. she said that everything was on backorder. how is schoool going? I am working very hard, although almost all of my children are reading on or close to grade level that sure makes a difference..
kinderjane - I had one parent who had a problem with her child being videoed. When I explained how it would be used, she was fine with it.
Carol - Yes, that's me. I missed the last one. The cafe idea is from Cassie and Jean. I haven't had a chance to talk to them about it yet.
Wendy - yes later
Debbie Mc - Susan SC, #3 sounds more like teaching and learning about the art/science of teaching. #--what Wendy just said in a nutshell.
Kelly - Hi Alice - I'm glad you got the stuff from her!
Carol - I have all my permission slips and hope to start videoing my morning meetings this week.
Dolores - This is the first time I have chatted...do you all do this every week? I'll save up my questions during the week for Saturday.
kinderjane - Delores- I think a KWL chart is great if it shows what they've learned. I used one as one of my assessments. I am a candidate in waiting, so take that with a grain of salt.
Susan (NC) - This is a great place to get answers! I always have a ton of questions.
Kelly - Dolores - we're here every Saturday - come rain or come shine! :)
Kelly - Dolores - but remember, you can ask during the week on the ring, too!
alice - jane, isn't it incredible that as a waiting candidate we fell less confident in our advice...
Susan (NC) - I am going to a workshop next Sat. about the NB process; hope to be back by chat time-
Carol - I like hearing the answers to other people's questions.
Dolores - Carol- Are morning meeting the same things as a class meetings? I ordered a book called Morning Meetings from Amazon.....it sounds like vidoe taping a morning meeting would be a easy thing to video for the community building entry.
Debbie Mc - Susan NC, let us know if you get any great info that we can pass along.
Susan in SC - Thanks for all the imput this week on reading others entries to jumpstart writing. I am still having difficulty getting info. down on paper, but still am enjoying the process.
kinderjane - I know Alice! I just don't want to steer anyone in the wrong direction!
Susan (NC) - It is amazing to see other people's questions, I say to myself, "I want to know that too!"
alice - I agree, that is why i haven't typed much in.. have a great week. i am going now. bye..
Dolores - I 'm willing to take advise from anyone who has lived to see thier box get returned!!
Carol - I am using the Morning Meeting Book as a guide. We start our morning this way. It has been great. The meetings I video (not counting practice) will be to discuss or solve a problem. I am getting the kids used to listening to each other.
Susan (NC) - I hope to bring back any TIPS but the ring & this chat is probably best!
kinderjane - Dolores- That's what I did for my video. It worked wonderfully for that entry. I can't believe how wonderful Morning Meetings are in kindergarten. they really solved their own problems.
kinderjane - Carol- get them talking to each other, too. Not just responding to you.
Kelly - The morning meeting book is a GREAT resource for community entry. Tape it every day.......you'll never know when a great meeting will just "happen"! :) Plus, it gets the kids so used to being taped that they won't pay any attention to the camera anymore!
Dolores - When I have done my class meetings the kids always amaze me with how they figure out solutions. I am looking forward to getting my book.......
Debbie Mc - My student teacher is doing my morning meetings and I have to admit that I'm a little bit jealous.
Susan (NC) - I', still reading my Morning Meeting book, have a few pages to go but is it ok to do a "morning meeting" in the afternoon? Don't mean to sound dumb.......
kinderjane - Dolores- Do other people mispell your name as much as I do? I think I have used every possible vowel combination.
Susan in SC - I had a mother volunteering yesterday and she was so tickled to hear the children talking about their heart being "wrinkled" when they were hurt by what someone said to them. :)
Kelly - Susan - sure - do it anytime! I actually like to have a "closing" meeting, too......but sometimes that gets shortchanged because we run out of time!
Dolores - Good idea to video the meeting everyday. Did you all use the special kind of microphone that they suggested? OR did you just use what the vidoe camera came with
Debbie Mc - Susan, one of the purposes of mm is getting the kids together to greet and have a positive start to the day. But I think that anytime would be great is you can't fit it into the mornings.
Carol - My student teacher will do some taping for me. I know I will need to let her lead some of the meetings, but right now it is my baby.
Dolores - kinderjane - YES everyone misspells my name....I don't ever worry about it. I'll answer to anything
Susan (NC) - Kelly, I think I'll try do a few "closing" meetings because I have K & lst the end of the day.
Debbie Mc - I love that end of the day meeting too. I think it just puts the icing on the cake!
kinderjane - Dolored- I think on that one, I just used the mic. in the camera. I tried many things along the way. I did use external mics. on my science video.
Kelly - Susan - each child tells something that he/she learned that day - or we each say thank you to someone who we noticed did something nice for us today.....things like that. Send them home in a warm, fuzzy mood!
Susan in SC - I have found that on the days I do start with a morning meeting, my children are calmer and nicer to each other.
Carol - I'm feeling a real time crunch this year. We go to lunch 30 min. earlier and the school just started live tv announcements in the am.
Dolores - How long would you say the morning meeting takes?
Susan (NC) - I did a practice tape on Friday and haven't had enough courage to watch it.......am I paronoid or what? ha I know I need to practice a lot more!
Dolores - Like Carol we have TV announcements.....sometimes I wish I could turn it off. I think I lose about a half-hour every day!
Debbie Mc - Carol, our school does those live tv things with the pledge and the song and the code of honor which are all great. It's those announcements that have nothing to do with us that I don't like.
Debbie Mc - Practice reflecting on that tape Susan.
kinderjane - Dolores- It can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes depending on what you do. Work for a good 10 minutes to tape. Isn't that the limit?
Dolores - I haven't been brave enough to video..yep, the limit is minute of tape.
Susan (NC) - At our school, a different 5th grader does the pledge, song ( we listen to Star Spangled Banner on tape) and then does a character trait and the weather report, doesn't take up more than 5 minutes.
Dolores - I meant to type 10 minutes
Sharon - Hi, everyone. Are we talking about Morning Meeting?
Carol - Our announcement have been cute, They even read part of our class book, an ABC book about our school wide rules! I just am having a hard time getting everything in.
Kelly - But you should tape the whole meeting - no matter how long it is - you can then pick which 10 minutes you want to use. You get to explain what happened before and after the segment you picked......
Dolores - Sharon - yes
Susan (NC) - Debbie, what do you mean "reflecting" on tape ? I know I can write my reflections in my entry but........?
Debbie Mc - If anyone is interested in earning extra money, TopTutors.com is looking for tutors. Sorry that's off topic but I know teachers are always looking for ways to earn extra cash. If you're interested or have questions e-mail me off chat.
Dolores - Did everyone decide to work on one entry at time??? Or are you working on more than one?
Debbie Mc - Analyze what you're doing. What did you do that reflects the standards, what could you have done differently, should you have asked further questions, etc.
Susan (NC) - Oh, ok - that makes sense, Debbie - thanks!
Susan in SC - I have found that on the days I do start with a morning meeting, my children are calmer and nicer to each other.
Carol - I will start homevisits week after next. Any suggestions for documentation that is clear and convincing?
kinderjane - Carol- I always think personal letters are great. Have a parent write thanking you for coming and tell how it impacted their child.
Dolores - I'll be back next week!!! We are going out to dinner! Thanks for all your advise. My goal will be to have made at least one VIDEO by next Saturday
Carol - Thanks. Is it okay for me to ask them to write a letter.
Sharon - I agree, Kinderjane, the evidence must be convincing!
Debbie Mc - Good luck Dolores.
kinderjane - Great goal Deloros! Just getting the equipment to work is a big step!
Susan (NC) - I want to send home something for 2 way communication but not sure what what to go?
Kelly M - Hi Joan - can we help you?
Debbie Mc - Susan, have you tried the interactive journal or a newsletter with a place for parent questions or comments?
Susan (NC) - That was supposed to be what way to go......my fingers are slipping!
Susan (NC) - The K teacher I work with sent home a newsletter last week with my picture with the children; we made koolaid play doh- what a hoot!
Carol - My newsletter was so full, I didn't have room at the bottom for them to cut off. I put a plea for response on another sheet, but so far haven't gotten any. I really want them to hold onto that newsletter. It has important stuff on it.
Pam(IL) - Hi everyone...I have a question. If you have several parents write you letters thanking you for something, can you cut and paste the portion of their letters together for one documentation?
Debbie Mc - Susan, we do those, but our progress reports contains a formal parent comment sheet that must be signed by the parent and returned to school.
Susan (NC) - I guess I could send home my own "newsletter" it would allow my to tell the parents what I'm doing with their kids.
Kelly M - Hi Pam - yes, you can, but you have to be sure not to reduce them to a less that 10 font.....
Debbie Mc - Pam, I don't see why you couldn't.
kinderjane - Pam- I did. I cut and pasted lotsa comments from a teacher workshop I did. I thought is was better to have many people's opinions.
Pam(IL) - Thanks, I wasn't sure if you had to include the entire letter. I will be able to show much more if I can do this!
mari - I mailed off my application for national boards today. Any advice?
Carol - Maybe I should try to keep that one inch response area at the bottom of my newsletteer. If I saved them, I could put several on a page!! you guys are so much help! Joan, you are welcome to listen, we hop skip and jump a bit!
kinderjane - Carol- My newletters are full, too. I send a small notebook home with notes about each child. The parents respond back to me in the book. It is a wonderful communication tool. On my newsletter I often ask a general question and have the parents respond in the notebook. Saves writing the question many times and makes the newsletter interactive.
Carol - We have a school wide thing that includes a black and white notebook for homework and parent notes. It is not above and beyond, but I'm not sure I could send yet another notebook. At my homevisits I will chat about how important their written responses are to me this year, and I will probably get some good stuff. I have a great class.
kinderjane - Carol, I tried the cut off thing, but it didn't suit me. Many parents did not want to cut the newsletter. The slips were hard for me to keep up with. With the notebook it is always there for me or parent to refer back to.
Carol - Good thinking,Jane. I'll do some more thinking about it before i decide the best way to receive comments.
LYN - to achieve certification...do you have to make 2.75 on everything or can your final total just be over 275?
Susan (NC) - I wanted to ask a question about those notebooks? Are they like the old black & white composition books? And does every child have one?
Debbie Mc - Total 275. You DO NOT have to pass every entry.
LYN - Say you make 3's or better on most stuff but on say 2 things make a 2....can you still be certified?
Debbie Mc - Susan, I don't use those notebooks. I use a folder with three prongs and filler paper.
LYN - debbie---thanks.....that's a burden off my mind
Debbie Mc - Depends on the weight of the entries you scored 3 and 2 on. The two professional entries in the portfolio have a weight of 6, the four teaching entries have a weight of 12, and the assessment center exercises are weighted 10. Or they were when I went through.
Debbie Mc - I think mostly 3s and a couple of 2s would probably equal 275. A constant of 12 points is added to everybody's score.
LYN - thanks for the info debbie...have been working on an entry most of the day
Debbie Mc - Lyn, what brought up the question about scores.Are you doubting your ability to write up one of the entries?
Lyn - debbie--am doubting everything at this pt
Debbie Mc - That's a normal feeling Lyn. Do you have a mentor in your area?
Lyn - working on student assesment entry...AYA science
Lyn - kinda have a mentor..friend is certified...awkard to ask ?'s though
Debbie Mc - Well, I'm not certified in AYA Science, but I'll try.
Lyn - and even though it is early...i really worry about the assessment center
Debbie Mc - You'll have plenty of time for that assessment center worry. Are you a member of the AYA Science egroup?
Lyn - i guess i just feel like i don't speak the language they want to hear
Lyn - i went to egroup and didn't see a group for me
Debbie Mc - You'll be fine if you teach to those standards and write about it.
Debbie Mc - Do you mean that you're afraid that you don't use those "professional" terms that they want to hear/read?
Lyn - i guess i'm just a "plain speak" type of person...writing was never one of my strong pts
Debbie Mc - I know how you feel. I don't use a lot of jargon either. Have you tried to post on the NBPTS website or tried to find a group here at teachers.net?
Lyn - i am sticking to the italicized questions and feel like i am repeating myself a lot
Lyn - i signed on to the secondary mailring here at tnet
Debbie Mc - You mean that you think you're answering the questions with the same answers over and over?
Lyn - You know there are three different parts written context, analysis, and reflection??? I feel like the answers to some of part 1 are the same as part 2
Lyn - it's kinda like they ask the same question just in a different way
Debbie Mc - I'm an Early Childhood Generalist, so I'm not familiar with your questions or entries. But they DO NOT want the same answer over and over?
Debbie Mc - What state do you live in?
Lyn - I asked my friend that is certified in my area if she thought she was repetious (sp) and she said yes....like it asks you the goals and strategies you wanted to achieve, then in part two the goals and strategies for each student
Lyn - North Carolina
Lyn - where are you?
Debbie Mc - Well, try this. On the NBPTS website, there is a section of NBCTs. Find one that is certified in your area. Some of us can be e-mailed if the name is in blue. click on one and send them a request for help. Most NBCTs are more than willing to help if they have time. I'm in Kentucky.
Lyn - does kentucky give incentives for certification?
Debbie Mc - I mentored an ex. needs candidate last year and it was a great experience. Would you like to try that?
Debbie Mc - I didn't finish my statement.
Lyn - sounds neat
Debbie Mc - I meant to find another NBCT in your area who will help you?
Lyn - yeah...it sounds neat...my friend is the only one close by that is certified in my area
Debbie Mc - If you can't find one in NC, maybe I can help you find someone in Ky who is willing to help you over the net.
Lyn - thanks...i check back in next saturday...gotta go for now
Debbie Mc - I've read entries and answered questions for people in other states, so I know that it can be done.
Lyn - just keep us newbies in your thoughts and prayers
Debbie Mc - The EC Gen ring is great. I'm sorry there isn't one for you. Maybe I can try to find your area at egroups and you can be on this one here at teachers.net and the one at egroups.
Lyn - thanks for all your help
