Kelly M - This is a meeting for people involved in the Early Childhood certification area for the National Board for Professional TEaching Standards
Dolores - I have a question about when you type up your entries. Did you all include the questions when you sent in your portfolio?
DebMc. - Dolores, I didn't include the questions,but some people do.
anjana - thanks kelly.. i am just getting information right now...
Kelly M - We're here to help anybody interested in the process!
anjana - deb mc how long have you been working on yours?
anjana - kelly is it really as hard as most folks say?
Dolores - I have decided to spend most of my Saturdays typing that way by 4:00) when I am ready to quit I can type to you all for help!!
DebMc. - anjana, I am an NBCT. Thank goodness!
Kelly M - Anjana - yep - it is - but it is also as rewarding as everyone says it is!
Kelly M - We have a ton of help for anyone who wants to attempt it!
DebMc. - Very rewarding. Will change the way you teach.
anjana - deb what do you teach?
DebMc. - First.
Kelly M - Hi Rita - can we help you?
Dolores - I had my first crying fit last night because I am having a hard time getting my regular school stuff done. Any advise?
Kelly M - Dolores - that's a dilemma you'll face all year. You just have to work smarter. I know that sounds silly, but it's true.
DebMc. - I'm that way too Dolores. And I'm not going through NBC.
anjana - dolores that is hard to fit all things in together
Dolores - Did you all try to do your national board stuff on the weekends..or during the school week?
anjana - deb how long did the process take for you?
Dolores - My husband told me that I had to get a grip....he said that after teaching 16 years, I shouldn't have to be spending my Friday nights until 11:00!
anjana - deb how long did it take you to do your certification?
Dolores - Any ideas for working smarter?
DebMc. - I started in July, reading standards and entry requirements and began when school started. I had a couple of entries written by Christmas but my computer crashed and I lost everything. Rewrote everything after Christmas--Jan. to April.
Rose - Hello, I just got here. I can guess that you are talking about the time this process consumes? Doesn't everthing new?
anjana - deb jee that is to bad about the crash...
anjana - rose that is my question too...lol
Rose - I am trying to stay up with everything but I am treading water somedays.
Dolores - My bathrooms may not get cleaned until I send my stuff in in April!
Rose - I saw someone's post this week that said she stayed at school until 4:30 some days. I realize that makes a long day. But
DebMc. - I survived. Didn't write over Christmas. Wrote nights and weekends. Had lots of help from husband and everything else worked out. Dolores, I did let some things go in my classroom while working on NB. Made sure that kids got what they needed, but left out a lot of extra stuff that I normally do.
Kelly M - If I leave school by 4:30 I think it's EARLY! :)
Rose - I have taught for enough years that I shouldn't have to stay so late but I often wind up at school until 7:00 or so. Crazy, I know but I'm trying to work smarter... Maybe I don't know how to?
DebMc. - I'm at school most days until 4:30 but I have no small children.
Dolores - Thanks for the encouragement...Deb. Letting things go is hard for me....Especially because I want to keep doing those things for National Boards.
Rose - Bathrooms clean...what's that?
Kelly M - You need to remember that while you might be leaving off some of the extras you used to do, you really are working on something that will help your class! They will benefit from all the stuff you are doing for EC-GEN!
Rose - Bathrooms clean...what's that? LOL
DebMc. - Kelly's right-as usual.
Dolores - I never leave school until after 5 and that is to make myself fo to exercise!! Something to deal with the stress.
Connie Fl - Hi everyone I am just starting the process too. I am getting great ideas from the mailring.
Rose - Thank you Kelly. I need to keep doing what I think is right and not worry what other people say, right? They give me a hard time.
Rose - This mailring is the BEST! I just wish we could all meet face to face.
Kelly M - Rose - depends on what other people! I'd choose to listen to the folks on the ring - and ignore the folks in your district/building who are not involved. No one will understand what it is that you are doing except others involved in the process.
Dolores - Getting the mail from this mail ring has been like a breath of fresh air....It is goo to know that others have made it
DebMc. - Hi Dana! You're here and I've got to go!
Dolores - Kelly - isn't that the truth
Rose - People around me haven't ever thought about NBC so they think I'm crazy going through this. Later, they will probably understand. When I can share from the other side perspective, right?
Connie Fl - I am reading the Standards and just started reading the porttfolio guide. My district is having support meetings for us..
Rose - What goes on at your support meetings?
Dolores - Did you all find it best to work on one portfolio at a time?
Kelly M - Rose - don't count on it. I really mean it - unless someone is involved in the process they have NO idea what you try to tell them. I've talked until I was blue in the face - and then realized that I was still getting either blank stares or looks like "why in the ______ would you try something like that?".......
Dolores - Connie - where in Florida are you from?
Rose - I have heard that Flordia is really active with the NBC process. I guess that you would find a lot of support from people going through the same thing you are.
DebMc. - Bye guys! Hope to see you next week. You can e-mail me if you need to.
Kelly M - Dolores - I found it easier to really be focusing on one at a time. I still worked on others - little touch ups, additions, corrections, etc.......but main emphasis on just one at a time!
Connie Fl - I am reading the Standards and just started reading the porttfolio guide. My district is having support meetings for us..
Susan (NC) - I just walked in from a NB workshop; about 300 people were there!
Rose - So when is the best time to work on writing?
Dana/MS - Bye Debbie! Catch ya' later!
Rose - 300, Wow! What did you learn?
dolores - I too have been attending county level support meetings. It helps having your district behind you.
Kelly M - Rose - I think everyone finds their own time - some like to only work on weekends - others like to work on it after kids are in bed, etc. You have to find what works for you.
Susan (NC) - The most interesting thing I learned was I'm in a lot better shape than I thought......some haven't even got their box and they had no idea what the presenter was talking about!
dolores - I would love some help/suggestions on what you all used for your artifacts for entry #1
Kelly M - Oh my gosh! SINETAG! Great to see you! I'm really looking forward to Orlando!
sinetag - me too
dolores - When is the conference in Orlando
Rose - I have to just make myself get going. I get bogged down in prep work. I guess I'm afraid to start. I promise I will soon.
DebMc. - Sinetag, my sister is doing MC Gen. Look forward to hearing from me a lot. Which mail ring are you on?
sinetag - October 20-22
Kelly M - Conference is Oct 20-22
Dana/MS - Hi Nancy! How is it going in Calif.?
dolores - Any idea where I can get info to go?
sinetag - Calif is great - I personally have not been doing as well
sinetag - You can download a .pdf file from the nbpts web page and it includes the application to attend
carla - nancy, where did u come from?
Dana/MS - Oh no, are you doing better? What's up?
Rose - How expensive is the conference if you have housing?
Kelly M - Conference is about 300 - something like that....
sinetag - where did i come from? you mean originally?
Connie Fl - I fell off. I am in Brevard Co. and we have about 35 NBCT's
Susan (NC) - Delores - I just started with Entry 1- I have a few ideas but haven't done much writing.....mostly random thoughts!
carla - yeah
sinetag - the conference is 300 if you are an nbct and register now and buy the 75 discount package
sinetag - california
Kelly M - Hi Sharon and Carla - wow -we're getting a crowd today. :)
sinetag - i subscribe to the MC-GEN-NBC email list
dolores - Today I went in and typed all the questions I have to answer for entry #1----At least it gives me something to think about. I have firmly decided to families, and will start teaching it on Monday.
sinetag - dana: it has been a really rough month for me personally, that's what i mean
Susan (NC) - Deb, everything that you have said about NB- the actually writing process was what they were talking about today at the workshop.
dolores - Susan(NC) - What did you decide to do Entry #1 on?
Connie Fl - FL Reading Association is having their Conference in Orlando Oct 13-15. It is a great location for Conferences.
Rose - Susan, tell us some of the tips they gave you. I don't have any of that type of support around my city.
DebMc. - Susan, do I know anything or am I out in lala land somewhere?
Susan (NC) - I'm doing mine on Families but I hope I'm on the right track because I have K & 1st graders,,,
dolores - Did you find the conference helpful? OR did you leave feeling more overwhelmed?
Susan (NC) - Debbie, all the questions asked today was what you have been answering on our chat & list for the past 2 months- see, experience counts! You know your stuff!
dolores - Susan- any ideas to involved the community with families? I was thinking of trying to get a grandparent from nursing home become a pen pal for my class? What do ou think??
Dana/MS - Debbie, don't sell yourself short! YOU are a tremendous help to all candidates!
Susan (NC) - Dolorses, why am I having so much trouble typing your name?????? Think I call you "D" is that O.K.?
Connie Fl - Susan there has been alot of info on families on the mailring this last week. I think that it is very appropriate since children start wtih a interst first in themselves and then would expand to the family.
Susan (NC) - I think a grandparent might be great because of the 2 way communication thing too.
dolores - The other reason why I picked families is that we are trying to develop our classroom family now. Knowing about their families at home would really be helpful.
Connie Fl - Deb I always read your post and find it very helpful
Susan (NC) - Connie, I 've been keeping track of all the "family " stuff; been writing notes or printing out the information - great stuff!
Kelly M - For those of you who don't know her - Sinetag is Nancy Brown - our resident expert on the "big ideas". If you have some questions about science - she is a GREAT resource!
Dana/MS - Dolores I found a book in our school library on family trees that explains step families, half brothers and sisters, etc. in an easy to understand format. I left it at school, but I will post the name on the ring next week.
Rose - Any other tips from your support meetings?
Connie Fl - In Fl we have the sunshine state standards for SS and that is a good place to start.
Dolores - Dana- I'd really appreciate getting the title of that book.. I'll be watching the ring for it!
Susan (NC) - Kelly, thanks for the tip! I never paid attention to what that stuff in the upper left hand corner was about?
Susan (NC) - Me too, Dana!
Dolores - Thanks Kelly- I'll remember that! I hate it when I can't read what's going on!
Dana/MS - I will try to get it posted Monday night Dolores. We have a PTO meeting, so I won't get home until about 8pm. I live 25 miles from where I teach, so I won't come home inbetween school and the meeting.
Dolores - Dana- Tuesday would be fine....It sounds like you have a LONG Monday!
Sharon (MS) - Dolores, are you familiar with the book CHARLIE ANDERSON? It's about a cat but the underlying theme is stepfamilies..."2 homes, 2 families that love him."
Dana/MS - Another good book on dealing with families is The Dinosuars Divorce.
Connie Fl - I teach K and think I will do "all about me" for my SS since 5 year olds are so egoentric
Dana/MS - I looked in our school library for the Charlie Anderson book and we don't have it.
Dolores - Sharon - I already have that one pulled to read. I think Charlie is one smart cat. I have Dino Divorse too!! I hope I don't cause any tears.
Rose - I used the Charlie book in our morning meeting and it was very helpful. There is a good book for math about families...(Kindergarten/1st level) HOw Many Feet in the Bed? Counting by 2's adding & subtratcting, etc. Could be a springboard from a family discussion.
Kelly M - Connie - you might want to read through Laura Kump's All About Me unit - it's on her site - www.readinglady.com (great site for just about anything - especially literacy!)
Susan (NC) - I did 5 little Monkeys Jumping On the Bed...it was good from a math thing to family discussion.
Kelly M - Hi Sindy - can we help you?
Dolores - I send a disposable camera home with directions to take a picture of something your family likes to do together. The plan is to develop them and then talk /write about what is happening.
Sindy - I'll follow along for now, thank-you. I'm new to this. I teach kinders!
Dana/MS - Dolores that is a neat idea!
Susan (NC) - Dolores- how many cameras did you send home? How many photos were they supposed to take?
Sindy - Sounds expensive to send home cameras, and then the cost of developing. How do you do it?
Kelly - Did you see that free place for developing film? Was that posted on the EC-GEn mailring or did I see it somewhere else?
Dolores - I sent home two camera ( I have 24 kids) and they each could take 2 pictures. I have had NO problem with them being returned! The kids are excited about it!
Connie Fl - Thanks I will try it. I have gotten so much support from this group. There are 5 teachers in my school who are starting the process this year. We made our school support group as our school commitee for this year.
Sindy - Sounds like you have great parent support.
Susan (NC) - Sending home the cameras with instructions to take 2 photos and then writing up what they did - wouldn't that be great for 2 way communication if they write it down in a journal send home with the camera?
Kelly - Susan - be sure to mention the two way communication - nbpts loves it!
Dolores - Good ideas Susan - I think I'll add that this week!!
Connie Fl - I send home our class mascot on weeksends with a journal and a recipe for the parents to make with their child. It works great.
Leigh - hi any ideas for first grade ss unit
Kelly - Leigh - have you read the files on that entry? There are a ton of ideas discussed in there!
Leigh - where do I find this, never been here before
sinetag - Kelly: have you registered for Orlando?
Kelly - Leigh - are you on our mailring? Email me at lkelly46@cs.com.... Sinetag - yep, I'm all set....and ready to go!
Kelly - Sinetag - when do you get there?
Leigh - no , not on mail ring but would like to be
Kelly - Leigh - email me - I'll take care of it for you!
Susan (NC) - Kelly, everyone I talked to at the workshop today - I told them about egroups.....we should have a lot of new people join up!
Leigh - is evryone here working on nbc or already completed
Kelly - Susan - GREAT - wish I could send you a "finder's fee"!!!! :)
sinetag - I get there Thursday night
Kelly - Leigh - Sinetag is certified MC-GEN - but always helps our ring out a lot. I'm a banking candidate - you and Susan are starting out (am I right, Susan?)
Susan (NC) - Kelly, no finders fee necessary......this list & chat is all the FIND I need!
Kelly - Sinetag - I get there Wednesday night.....so I'll be waiting for you!
Leigh - susan are you in north carlina, i am
sinetag - okay - i fly Thursday morning from Los Angeles
abc - Yeah I'm looking for a hot chick like you.
Susan (NC) - Yep, just starting out and I'm in for the ride of my life, so I've been told!
Kelly - Sinetag - I think NEA registered me as "Linda Kelly Mueller" - so my hotel reservation may be using that - it's my FULL name - I just don't usually use the Linda part! :)
Leigh - same here, what grade
Susan (NC) - Leigh, where in NC are you? I'm in western NC near the Smoky Mountain National Park.
abc - Kelly, I'll make sure to bring some wine up with me when I go to your hotel room.
Sharon (MS) - Kelly, Have you ever stayed at the Coronado before? Friends who were there this summer said it is such a huge complex and be sure to ask for the 900 building. Otherwise it will take 10 minutes or more to get to any other part of the complex.
Leigh - susan here is my email Giggy3@aol.com if you would like to exchange ideas
Susan (NC) - Leigh, I think you asked me what grade- I am a K-5 reading teacher, how bout you?
Kelly - Sharon - thanks for the tip! I"ll call.........are you going to go? Did you ever hear about presenting?
Sharon (MS) - Kelly, Yes to both questions.
Kelly - Sharon - great! It's going to be so much fun to put real faces to names! Are you presenting?
Leigh - susan I teach first grade reg ed. with 5 identified ec kids in my room
Kelly - Leigh - what does the "ec" stand for ?
Leigh - what conference is everyone going to
sinetag - The NBCT Meeting in Orlando
Kelly - Leigh - the National Board annual conference
Susan (NC) - The EC is exceptional children, right?
Leigh - exceptional children- resource
Sharon (MS) - Yes, I'll have a 50 min. session on Friday afternoon. (I believe) I usually don't get nervous doing presentations, but this one will be very awe inspiring. I can't imagine the power I'll feel to be surrounded by so many accomplished teachers.
sinetag - i presented at last year's meeting
Sharon (MS) - Sinetag, any suggestions?? About how many can I expect?
sinetag - NBCT=National Board Certified Teacher
sinetag - conference info is available on the nbpts web page
Kelly M - Sharon - what's your topic?
sinetag - Well, we did a 2 hour session, and at first they told us to prepare for up to 50 people, but in the end there were so many different sections going on at the same time that I think we had about 20-25 people.
Leigh - susan what have you worked on so far with your portfolio
Sharon (MS) - "Thinking, Talking, Writing About Literature" It's about getting good reading responses from kids.
Susan (NC) - Leigh, I haven't really done that much on my portfolio; worked on Entries 1 & 2 - just wrote up the questions and started answering them and did a LOT of reading!
Sharon (MS) - Susan, Have you worked on 5 and 6?
Leigh - me too. just studying standards and making notes, gathering ideas
Leigh - i am going to start with 5&6
Susan (NC) - Sharon, I sort of worked on 5 & 6.......so far, it is just a lot of lists and ideas and random thoughts!
sinetag - have you analyzed your accomplishments yet?
sinetag - i have a good graphic organizer to help you think through your accomplishments if you'd like it
Kelly M - on 5 and 6 remember to keep asking yourself "so what"? as you list accomplishments. Also - the BIGGIE is to tie it to student impact!
Kelly M - sinetag - I don't think I have your graphic organizer! Where can we find it?
Leigh - I would LOVE to have a copy could you please share!!!
sinetag - http://www.thesupportnetwork.net/Pages/DAGO.html
Susan (NC) - I made a list of my accomplishments but when I asked the ? "so what?" I had to take out a bunch! When you start asking yourself, how this workshop, or whatever helps impact on students learning.........I get confused?
sinetag - if that doesn't work for you, email me at sinetag@earthlink.net and i will send it as an attached Word file
sinetag - impact can be on student learning, but it can also be impact on your practice or the practice of others
Kelly M - Sinetag - can I post that address on our ring?
sinetag - sure
Susan (NC) - sinetag, I will email you for that graphic organizer if I may?
sinetag - go right ahead
sinetag - let me know which word processor you use and i will convert it to that format for ou
Susan (NC) - Ok guys, I'll see you next weekend......this has been a long day! Thanks everybody for your help, Sinetag, I use word.
Leigh - anyone currently working on the science entry
Kelly M - Leigh - shoot your question at sinetag - she's the expert on that one!
Rose - Hi! I'm back on. I got a postcard from Insect Lore. You can get free ladybugs if you order $25 or more by September 30th. Do you want the gift codes?
Kelly M - Rose - why don't you post the offer on the ring?
Leigh - I do lots of science but having trouble finding something special that will work. I do alot on animals but that is hard to do with discovery and hands on
Leigh - does that make sense
Rose - I have a science question also. I am thinking about the entry. I have incubated chick eggs for many years and connected it with the human life cycle (for kindergarten) It is a wonderful unit that is in the middle of a larger (about 11 week unit ) of farm.
sinetag - yes - what do you mean by finding something special?
sinetag - what would you *normally* be teaching in science right now?
Leigh - something to video
Rose - My question is with this free ladybug offer, should I include that in my farm unit also or is that overkill and confusing? They come from eggs and I have never been able to include ladybugs in my Georgia Swamp unit because we cannot order them in the Spring, when I teach Swamp and other insects. What do you think?
Rose - I will be glad to post it on the ring. I'll do it tonight.
Leigh - farm and leading into pumpkins,w e go to the pumpkin farm in early october
sinetag - I am a big proponent of teaching the way you normally would teach as you go through this process - obviously you want to reflect and refint what you do, but I don't suggest taking on something completely new to your practice
Leigh - i do alot of thematic teaching
sinetag - Look at the unit or topic you would normally be doing - clarify for yourself what your outcomes are for the students in terms of specific science knowledge..
sinetag - Consider whether or not you are involving the students in the science inquiry process, and if you're not, work on that
Leigh - i know that is what i will need to work on
sinetag - Figure out which of the big ideas you want to use as a focus for this unit, and be sure the outcomes and activities are tied to that
sinetag - then start videotaping and look at what you get - you want the video to show students involved in hands on science, using the processes and vocabulary of scientific inquiry
Leigh - i always do a science unit on living a healthy life. includes dental health. we learnhow to brush teeth then chew the red tablets. thought about that the kids love it
Rose - Elaborate on vocabulary, especially for kindergarten, do you mean observe, etc.?
sinetag - But I do think the key is being clear first on what your specific science learning outcomes are and then working backwards from there
sinetag - observe, collect data, make predictions, test, etc.
sinetag - look at the national science standards and find the strand or focus tha t you want to use for this entry - i think you may find the dental health thing to be too *health* oriented and not strong enough in science content
Leigh - thanks !one more question before I leave. I thought of using the circus unit we do for ss. i use it to tech working as a team. Diffferent types of familes, jobs, and geograohy( we plot where it travels) then we put on a circus of our own . Any thoughts or feelings sinetag. excuse my typing abilities
