Michelle in SC - I guess i'm early, i've missed the chat for several weeks. I'v been trying to finish up all my entries so I can rewrite/polish up if needed.
Randi - Hi, Michelle--how are you doing?
Michelle in SC - Hi Randi, fine how are you?
Randi - Panic is officially setting in
Michelle in SC - Where are you from? What is your area?
Michelle in SC - PANIC big time!!!
Michelle in SC - HI AP
Randi - I'm in Georgia, and am in mild/moderate handicaps
Randi - How about you?
Randi - Hi AP
AP~ - Hi! I'm from Michigan
Michelle in SC - I'm in mild/moderate too in SC. Ifeel like part of my class right now. I still have to write up entry 1
Randi - how are you making out in all this, ap?
AP~ - Oops sent that before I could add that I teach 2nd grade
Michelle in SC - Michagan, please send snow!I need a few days! :)
Randi - I did entry 1 first and got it over with. I'm wrapping up 3 and 4 and am halfway through with 2
AP~ - In all what?
Randi - In all this Nat'l Board work!!
AP~ - We don't have much Michelle. We wish the same too
AP~ - Tell me more please. Nat. Board work???
Michelle in SC - 2nd grade, good maybe you could help me. Do you do any letter writing in 2nd grade??
Randi - This is a chat for teachers in the National Board process--are you a candidate, too?
AP~ - Yes we do
AP~ - Oops. I thought this was the Prof. Reading Chatroom
Michelle in SC - I'm in NB up to my neck with a snorkel and mask
Randi - That one starts at 10:30 eastern time, but don't go--sounds like michelle needs you!!
AP~ - OK I'll stay for a few and help if I can
Randi - Hey, ispy! How are you doing?
sonja - Need some advice on entry #3? Hi Randi!!
Michelle in SC - Ap, do you concentrate on the form itself, parts of a letter?
ispy - doing ok.........wondering if this is ever going to end
AP~ - Also, what is the advantage of going through the Nat. board process?
AP~ - Yes. Why?
Randi - I think I'm almost done with #3--I have a good video, anyway! Ispy, it's endless!!!!!
Randi - AP--the benefit in GA is a 10% pay increase
Michelle in SC - Just when it starts to get better, panic hits again.
ispy - i feel as tho my life is in a big vacuum........i have lost touch with everyone in my life
ispy - i feel as tho my life is in a big vacuum........i have lost touch with everyone in my life
sonja - It states knowledge of studendts..how deep did u go into that
Randi - hi, Lela--how are you?
ispy - even my partner is at arms length......
Michelle in SC - Wondering how you assess their letter writing, with a rubric?
Lela - I'm hangin' in there
Randi - Sonja--I went pretty deep into the history of my kid
ispy - but it will soon be done.......
Randi - Ispy--you're not alone. I forget what my kids look like
AP~ - Michelle, we have pacing guides and at the end of the 9 weeks they have to read a story and write a letter to the charater in the story. There is a rubric that I use to grade their letter.
Michelle in SC - My husband hopes it wont take 3 years, right now I think I'll be lucky to turn in something and bank.
AP~ - It's graded for the parts of the letter and for the content. The rubric is provided.
Randi - michelle, when are your portfolios due?
ispy - i dont think i wil have a life if i dont finish this the first time thru
Michelle in SC - I'm thinking about usiong a rubric with my students, their writing skills are at 2.0 grade level in an EMD HS class
sonja - Retake candidate here...I decided to redo one entry this time..........Since this is small group ...I have to work with 2 groups of 3 studnets..........Do I go into each child individually or what?
Randi - i'm not even thinking about that! too depressing
Lela - I need to quit 2nd guessing and call an entry "complete" or i'll never finish.
sonja - I just liked 88 points,,,,,,,,I am going to get it
sonja - I just liked 88 points,,,,,,,,I am going to get it
Michelle in SC - Randi, I've given myself 28 days to finish up, then a week to polishup and pack and mail and.......
Randi - Sonja--you're in special ed, right? I had an assessor read my entry 1 (she assessed it over the summer) and she told me to FORGET the rest of the kids, focus on the one kid you're writing about. It's hard to do
Jana - Sonja, what is your certification area
Randi - Michelle--we're on the same schedule!
Lela - For entry one, there is no prompt to answer the major question. Are you supposed to answer it?
sonja - Its a hard thing to go through.........ea social studies/ history
Michelle in SC - Lela, thats where I am too. but I want to be CLEAR and CONCise
Randi - Oops--forget what I just said Sonja! It was special ed specific
AP~ - Well, even thought I've been teaching for 18years, rubrics are still new to me, so I don't think I can be of much help here.
Jana - If I recall, last time you were talking about some entry that calls for "social understanding" or something like that?
Randi - I don't think so, Lela. There is an assessor for entry 1 who joins us sometimes...,maybe she'll be around in a bit
Lela - Yes, that is entry 3.
Michelle in SC - Ap this is my 18th year also, selling Pampered Chef sounds good after this
sonja - thats fine.........Promoting social understanding,,,,,,,,cultural stereotypes.I hve 6 kids that are going to work with me...
Randi - No kidding, Michelle--two years ago I seriously considered a career as a kitchen consultant with pampered chef!!
ispy - hello jo
Randi - Lela--the aforementioned assessor just joined us! Ask Jo your entry 1 questions
AP~ - My students learn to write letters because every Friday my students have to write a letter to their parents about their week at school. Usually they help make the web and we create the letter together. Today they wrote their own letters and I was really impressed
sonja - I am going to have some go toa s signing class with me
Jana - Actually, last Sunday you crossed my mind - I read a great article about that topic in one of my journals for students with LD
Lela - I went to the dollar store today and bought different types of soap, some toothbrushes and toothpaste, etc. I am going to concentrate on hygeine for entry 3.
Randi - oops--she left. maybe she'll be back
ispy - she's back....
AP~ - I'd never cut it as a pampered chef...just ask my hubby.lpl
ispy - hello again jo
Jo - I am on the squirrely computer so who knows if I will be able to stay on!
Randi - hey, jo!!
Michelle in SC - I used to think I was pretty good in the classroom but this year all I can do is analyse and rehash everything
Jo - Hello all.......................
ispy - squirrely..........
Randi - Lela was just asking some entry 1 questions, jo
Jo - Just sent you an email, Randi
AP~ - Oops. That was suppose to be lol.
ispy - do you feed it nuts and corn?
Lela - Hi Jo!
Michelle in SC - Hello Jo and Ipsy
Randi - gracias!
ispy - hi michelle
Randi - ispy--you're giving me my best laugh of the week!!!!
AP~ - Well, enjoy the chat everyone and good luck with the Nat.Boards.
Michelle in SC - Thanks AP!
Randi - goodnight AP! Check back for the readers in an hour!!
sonja - I have narrowed down 4 populations to deal with... hearing impaired......physically challenged.........hillbillies and another ethnic group
ispy - why so-------because my life is in the crapper or because Jo feeds her computer nuts and corn?
Randi - it's the combination, ips
Jo - It does not eat anything. It is apparently too cold..... it freezes and now I have an error message!
sonja - Kids have designed survey that they are going to give to their classmates
Randi - jo, your hubby really did a number on that computer, didn't he??
sonja - I will have to do some of this stuff on Sat.
Michelle in SC - I've collected every paper my students have done since day one. I can decide what or who to assess. Two students are aliminated because of other entries so...
Lela - How many students do you have?
Jana - Sonja, that sounds good. I am certifying in Exceptional needs but your entry sounds very interesting
Michelle in SC - You guys are crazy
sonja - look at the standards that u are trying to assess
ispy - well i could do a song and dance........
ispy - but i have 2 left feet.....so it would be a song and "trip"
Michelle in SC - Go for It!!!!
Randi - i'm a much better dancer after a few beers, ipsy...
Randi - i mean ispy
sonja - Jana would u take each student and doa mini autobiography on them?
ispy - welllll........slug them down
ispy - i am a much better NB'er after some hard liquor
Jana - are they comfortable with that?
Randi - i only had one tonight along with the best pizza in Cumming, Georgia!!
Michelle in SC - I have 12 students now. One was expelled(alt. placed) yesterday
sonja - kids are going to take results of survey and make charts
ispy - i think i have gotten my video taping down........
Randi - michelle, what grade do you teach?
Jana - that sounds good - what is the outcome of that activity?
Lela - I hate doing AES IEP's. I would almost rather put up with a rottin' kid than do the paperwork!
Randi - i'm sticking with the videos I have, ispy. The kids are sick of it and so am I
Michelle in SC - (9-12 )High school, SC EMD
ispy - i have some excellent tapes.......just need to narrow it down.......
sonja - Yes these kids and their parents are dynamite
Jo, yes Jo! - Now I can't even log in with my name! I switched computers!
Randi - Lela--I'm sitting with one now--just can't get around to the FBA. Too much videotaping to do!!
ispy - hey jo yes jo---------did you use some of that herbal essence shampoo and then log back in?
Jo, yes Jo! - No....... I ate the squirrel food!
Jana - that might turn out to be great - I would involve parents - if your standards are like ours, parental involvement is a big deal
ispy - oh i see.......
Jo, yes Jo! - I don't see any questions.....
sonja - to show how their peers view stereotypes/
Randi - I think Jo's been drinking beer along with the best pizza in Cumming, GA, too!!
Michelle in SC - It's unnatural to tape all the time. I was told to leave the camera on so the class could get use to it...DEer in headlights
ispy - ya know.......that shampoo just doesnt do it for me
sonja - and if there isany cultural stereotyping going on their peer group
Jo, yes Jo! - I wish!
Lela - What if your video is 13 minutes instead of 15, is that ok?
Jana - what are they going to do with the rsults of survey?
Randi - Michelle, my kids really did get more natural after about the 100th attempt
Jana - what are they going to do with the rsults of survey?
Jo, yes Jo! - 13 minutes is OK
sonja - no 15 min exact
ispy - no lela.......they are really looking for th efull 15 minutes.......
ispy - that is all i have heard.....nothing more nothing less
Randi - Lela, both of mine are 13! I was so mad--had an AWESOME literacy video going and the AP started the morning announcements 10 mins early. I cut it off and I'm going with what I have
Michelle in SC - Well maybe they'll be better next year. time is running out.
Lela - I bought a little egg timer today so that I can be more exact.
Jo, yes Jo! - If your video shows what it needs to in 13, go for it.
Michelle in SC - I heard less is o.k. if it is close. more is a no no
Jana - My kids got much closer to their natural selves (not sure that's a plus) after the camera was on for a while
Jo, yes Jo! - They will not watch more than 15 minutes
Lela - I emailed NBPTS with a question for entry one. They want your one question on a page all by itself. That wastes the rest of the page!
Michelle in SC - Mine have worse attitudes on tape?!
Randi - but, jo...is it BAD to have only 13? I can redo my little debate and get a full 15 easily..
Randi - ask jo, the entry 1 pro!
Jana - For the question document, I used student's work with my notes and put the question on top of the page
sonja - going to do power point presentations and how they experienced the cultural biases
Jo, yes Jo! - I honestly did not even time one of mine. I suspect it was about 12-13 minutes.
Randi - thanks, i feel better. I think mine is fine
Michelle in SC - My phone rang with the reciever unplugged, people banged at my locked door
Lela - I video tape almost every day for my homework program. I threaten to have the parents come watch the "bad" tapes. The kids attitudes change quickly.
Michelle in SC - good idea Lela
Jo, yes Jo! - The question page should not have the documentation on it that is true.
Jana - Sonja, I like the powerpoint idea-it's good idea to show how you use variety of resources
ispy - i managed to get mine right in at 15
sonja - going to present to board of ed, and their grade level
sonja - going to present to board of ed, and their grade level
Randi - so, the question page should have ONLY the question? I thought it was OK to have support and explanations for the question with it
Lela - Yes, the powerpoint is integrating technology, you could print the pages and make booklets to reinforce your lesson.
Michelle in SC - I'm going with the tapes I have and feel like I need to write now. Assessment will be the worst for me. I do so much informal testing and observation
Lela - the student work samples, data, can be the other 2 pages for the question document.
Jo, yes Jo! - The documentation does not belong on the page...... (ie the cut and paste notes from a conference, etc.
Randi - michelle, entry 1 isn't that bad...it's really not!
Jana - I think that informal assessment is OK to use
Jo, yes Jo! - informal assessment is fine
Michelle in SC - I was told to pick a specific skill not anything to general?
Jo, yes Jo! - Michelle, are you talking about the question being specific versus general?
Michelle in SC - How do I document informal assessment and obvservations to please NB?
Jana - I was told the same thing by some people who certified last year
Randi - michelle, make your data into graphs or charts or whatever.
sonja - refering to parents i could ask them to keep a short reflective journal as they see their kids experiecne these different scenarios...kids are going to try to interview people from these populations
Jo, yes Jo! - The key to entry one is to show how the question, assessment, goals and instruction are all related to the student's needs.
Jana - For observations you can show scatter plots or whatever you use in observation
Michelle in SC - shouldn't I have done that along and along?? I don't want to reinvent the wheel
Jana - could they also interview parents to see how their own beliefs compare to those of parent"s?
sonja - survey could take care of that, dont u think?
Randi - jo, I'm thinking I did my question document wrong now--the question is a page by itself, and the documentation goes on subsequent pages?
Michelle in SC - Right now I could do punctuation in letter writing or rounding decimal correctly??
Jana - yes - that would work
Lela - Michelle, could you use pre and post testing? task analysis and checklist? then analyze your findings...
Jo, yes Jo! - Check the directions. I am not sure if that changed or not.....
ispy - hey becca........
Michelle in SC - yes but I started teaching this in August.
sonja - so jana do the mini-student histories or what?
sonja - so jana do the mini-student histories or what?
Lela - Randi, that is exactly what NBPTS emailed back to me.
Michelle in SC - Hi Becca!
Randi - there are no specific directions for the question document AT ALL! It's highly confusing
sonja - sorry!
Randi - Then you're right, Lela--we're totally wasting one of our 6 pages!
Jana - Sonja, you have a lots of great ideas. I think all of it will meet the needs of your entry
Michelle in SC - What mini student histories???
Jo, yes Jo! - I am sure last year that entries had all kinds of stuff on the question page..... I will recheck the directions.
Lela - NBPTS was great about answering my question. They said that the assessors were expecting to see the question on a page all by itself.
Jo, yes Jo! - The assessors are trained to find the question in your commentary.
Randi - so a whole page of "how will joey improve his skills at ..............." or whatever!
Michelle in SC - The question and NOTHING else?
Lela - I'll log off, go into my e-mail, come back and try to paste their response.
Jana - Aren't we supposed to have the question stated in the written commentary as well? Why the whole page to repeat thequestion?
Randi - don't know, Jana. my question is right in my commentary, as well.
becca - Hi. This is totally off topic, but please humor me- I'll make it brief. I am fired up. I am curious about how things work in other states. In Maryland, students have to pass certain tests and meet certain curriculum requirements to get a high school diploma. Those who can't do that, get a certificate of attendance. How about in your states?
Michelle in SC - I feel like I have repeated myself a lot .
sonja - I just dont want to go through the fiery pits o hades again, my family went through so much last year and were very supportive ..........Husband said one entry this time ////////
Michelle in SC - Same in SC
Randi - it was the same in FL--I'm new to GA and am not sure
Jana - I am in FL - here the third graders (including ESE) are going to be retained this year if they don't pass the reading FCAT test - no alternatives.
Jo, yes Jo! - OK, I just looked at the directions. The directions are not specific. You need to attach the question and documentation to the cover sheet for the question.
Jo, yes Jo! - I know entries last year had other stuff on the question page. The documentation is not scored. It supports the commentary.
Michelle in SC - Becca, SC is the same way.
Randi - Jana--that's different than last year. I chaired the commitee at my school that did retentions. we could pass 3rd grade ese students on then. What county are you
sonja - I want to thank you for ur help!!!!!
Randi - thanks Jo, guess we don't have to fret too much if it isn't scored
sonja - see you next chaT!!!!!!!
Randi - hey, steph! The woman who survived the AC!!
Jana - Polk - we just got the great news about few months ago . Only ESE students that can be promoted are the ones that were previously retained.
ispy - sonja...........firey pits of hades?
Michelle in SC - Hi stephanie!
ispy - i think thats a true statement
stephanie - hey!
Lela - Please type your question only on one page and use the rest of the page
Jo, yes Jo! - If you don't include the documentation your score may be reduced but whatever you put in the documentation is fine. If you type, though, be sure you follow the font, margins rules.
ispy - so stephnie...........what ws the ac like......
Randi - wow--sounds like a class action law suit in the making to me,
Lela - That was all I could cut and paste
sonja - Yes ipsy that is one comparasion..............
stephanie - hmmm - well I did "ok" but i think i bombed the professional vocab.
Randi - Lela--can you forward the email to us
Jo, yes Jo! - Time flies, doesn't it, Stephanie?
Jana - no kidding - they said that there is currently no alternative way (such as different test). The parents are going crazy!
stephanie - tooooooo fast!
Lela - I'll try. I'm not very technologically advanced, but I'll give it a shot.
Michelle in SC - This will be the first year that my students are alt. tested.
sonja - by friends
Randi - wow--I hated even GIVING the 3rd grade FCAT to my resource kids--talk about a quick way to destroy self esteem
Randi - lela--my email is prsagona@bellsouth.net
Lela - Randi, if I have difficulty forwarding it to the group, could i forward it to you, then you forward it to the group?
Michelle in SC - My kids are sick already and they just learned of it last week
Jana - The kids are under such a pressure - also, if in each class 4 kids fail we will retain the whole classfull of third graders
becca - How does your state handle testing accommodations? There's a rumor that with No Child Left Behind states that if asccommodatins are given, the test will be scored as a "0". So my administrator doesn't want us to recommend accomm.
stephanie - what!?
Randi - steph--what can we do to prepare for the vocab?
Lela - I'll get back atcha!
stephanie - study those BASIC, BASIC definitions
Randi - JANA! wow--they are looking for a law suit!
stephanie - (at least for early childhood)
becca - michelle- what is alt. test?
Randi - steph, like from special ed 101??
Michelle in SC - I heard the test will be the same for all of my students taking it? I thought w/ accomodations???
Jana - the accomodations are OK , but they are so minimal that they may help only small portion of kids.
Michelle in SC - Alternative tesing PACT/ALT.
stephanie - yes randi - go back and study those definitions that you are SURE that you know...but know them really in depth...
Randi - Jana, if there are 4 special ed kids in a class that can't pass the FCAT, they will retain the whole class??
Michelle in SC - Where are you guys studying for thr AC?
stephanie - that is sooooooo wrong...
Randi - thanks for the tip, stephanie--I signed up for AC 6 weeks after my portfolios are due.
stephanie - michelle - took mine 2 weeks ago!!
Jana - no - if 4 kids per class in our school fail we will have over 30 retained 3d graderd
Jana - no - if 4 kids per class in our school fail we will have over 30 retained 3d graders
stephanie - randi - i wanted to be FINISHED FINISHED by spring break
Randi - OK--I misunderstood you!
Michelle in SC - I take the AC on May 29 Want to get it over hope I do O>K>
Lela - Jana, how can they justify this?
stephanie - oh - i thought the same thing! whew!
Randi - And you will be, steph!!! I'm proud of you!
Michelle in SC - good plan stephanie!!
Jana - I guess they don't have to - it's awfull
becca - I am surprised they retain. Do parents go along with this easily?
stephanie - uggh. i'm just tired of it by now! lol
Jana - This is the first year to deal with this for us - I don't think it's going to be too good
Randi - i really want to sequester myself for a few days and FINISH my loose ends on 2,3 and 4
Randi - Jana, it is so different in GA--they hardly TALK about the tests
Michelle in SC - So do I randi, I need to get busy!! I feel the crunch!
stephanie - i was "very" sick last week and stayed home for 4 days...
Lela - I do too, I am so ready for this to be over!
stephanie - even had a doctors note...unknown virus it said
Randi - steph, i think i'm catching whatever you had.
becca - hey guys! What about reading/writing accommodations? Do you give them?
Lela - I played hooky yesterday and worked until 10 pm
stephanie - it was a terrible headache, slight fever, sore neck.
stephanie - i really was sick for 1 day! haha
Jana - yes-flexible schedule and setting
Jo, yes Jo! - Randi, have you taken your days yet?
Lela - Yes, I give reeaing and writing accommodations
Randi - becca--we had scribes for some kids in FL, but didn't scribe for anyone in the school for the 8th grade writing test in GA last week
Michelle in SC - my kids in resource could use a word processor but not the spell check. they had to use a dictionary????
Randi - Jo, a nbct here in Forsyth told me the academy days were my 2 days. I thought my principal gave them to me as professional development days. I should check with her
Jana - our district decided to pay for 1 day of professional leave to work on the NB (obviously we will not get raise for few years, but it's a day off)
Lela - we give word processing, talking dictionaries, test read aloud to monitor...
stephanie - that is good - we get no days!
becca - I need to take some days...I am not getting much done...
stephanie - i got soooooooo much done when i was sick last week!
Michelle in SC - Hooky is coming up for me. I feel o.k. about my entries and then someone reads them and I feel stompedI'll have to just stick with something.
Randi - i work every night from 7-10:30. it's a killer, but it's the only schedule that works for me
Jo, yes Jo! - I was sick a few days doing my portfolio..... It really does make you susceptible to more viruses!
stephanie - same here michelle -i have decided to disregard most of what the readers tell me...
Jana - I think I need a continuous work for about 5 days
Randi - I'm definitely going to get sick any day now
becca - wow randi! I guess I shuld be more structured.
Michelle in SC - It could go on forever!
stephanie - i have worked about 20 hours a week on this stuff (including this hour each week chatting)
stephanie - you are so right michelle - eventually you just have to put it away
Jo, yes Jo! - Use the scoring guides to check your entries. Look at the section labelled "aspects" and what follows aspects. All of that is exactly how your entry is scored.
Randi - michelle--don't feel stomped. I did the first time, but got over it quickly and had an awesome sense of accomplishment when I fixed up what wasn't right...
Jana - I taped my Entry 2 this morning - it was great, but I forgot to turn on the microphone - I may really get sick (or already am)
Lela - thanx for that tip, Jo
stephanie - lol
Michelle in SC - My mom is an angel and helps with my kids a lot or I'd have nothing done.
Randi - i did that once jana. and once i had a great video going, but had the mike near the door. all you could hear was hall noise
Lela - Good night, ladies! i'm calling it a night!
stephanie - my assistants literally have nightmares about me videoing them at home!
Michelle in SC - i feel alittle better now, I know people are tring to help me, there is blood alover my entries from red ink
stephanie - night lela
Jana - I am proud of myself- I just started laughing (maybe it's insanity at this point)
Randi - Thats why I work during the week, michelle--so I can spend some time with my kids on the weekends. But I am locking myself up with my computer tomorrow
Randi - good night lela
Michelle in SC - Good Night Lela!
Jo, yes Jo! - Good night all. Michelle, I will reread your new entry if you want me to.....
Randi - Hi, baglady! Are you one of the Florida bagladies?
stephanie - good night jo
Michelle in SC - good plan Randi
Randi - thanks for everything jo. I'll be sending an entry or two your way one of these days.
stephanie - i am "doing" one of my entry 4 accomp. tomorrow morning...
Michelle in SC - Thanks Jo, that would be great! How ??
baglady - I just joined the chat room for the first time. I am reading all about how everyone is feeling so I don't feel so alone. I too feel a great illness coming on. The only time I ever get anything done is on the weekends because after school I have no energy or brain cells left to think.
stephanie - it is organizing activities for at-risk kids at our family involvement training sessions at school
becca - Is it just me, or do a lot of you Floridians pursue this venture?
Randi - ahhhh-a last minute accomplishment. i need one of those--can i join you?
stephanie - sure - come on!
Jana - yes- the state pays for most of it
Randi - i'm not sure if baglady is in FL--my son had a baglady for a teacher last year! She wrote a book about units using brown paper bags!
ispy - well all......it is time for me to go to bed......i am in the dog house enough as it is.......
Randi - anyway, i'm in GA now
stephanie - lol - i am headed that way too - very soon!
Michelle in SC - I sure don't want to have to pay for anything next year!
Randi - goodnight ispy--see you next week
baglady - Baglady lives in California but I taught my first 23 years in Miami
Michelle in SC - Good Night!
Randi - Ok--different baglady!
ispy - good nite
stephanie - your FIRST 23 years - !?
Jana - Thanks everyone for input. see ya next Friday.
stephanie - how many total?
Randi - i do believe my FIRST 23 years will also be my LAST 23 years
baglady - Has anyone used roleplaying for the social growth prompt
Randi - see ya Jana
becca - wow baglady! Good for you, and you still have the drive to pursue this???
Michelle in SC - Randi, i'm with you
stephanie - nope - i am preschool sorry...
Randi - not I, but I think it's a great idea
Barb in MI - I also am joining for the first time...I teach special ed in a high school and non of them want to be taped not to mention how bad their attendance is!
Randi - barb--i bribed my 8th graders with a pizza party. I got two great videos, I do believe! Well worth the price of a couple of pizzas
baglady - I have been teaching since I was 21. This is my 35th year and I still LOVE teaching. If only I could work just with kids and not with "adults". I actually walked out of a special ed meeting yesterday.
Michelle in SC - I have an attendance problem with several of mine too. tape when they are there. Every day!
stephanie - OMG! 35 years! i can't imagine!
Randi - GO BAGLADY!!! I always WANT to walk out, but have never actually DONE it!
becca - Why did you wlak out baglady?
Michelle in SC - What happened in your meeting that upset you?
Barb in MI - I wholeheartedly agree... the kids are great really, some of the teachers are a little strange...
Randi - jo--did you miss us?
Michelle in SC - Hi Jo!
stephanie - maybe you will after 35 years randi! lol
Jo - Michelle, I just realized, duh.... that I did not give you an address for your entry. jrb97@aol.com
Jo - Now...... BYE
becca - the paperwork sucks also...don't forget!
Randi - really! What are they gonna do, fire me? I'll just decide to retire
Michelle in SC - Thanks Jo, sooo much! Mine is csarnsamack@sc.rr.com
baglady - I got fed up with my "supervisor" giving me attitude. I said that I didn't need to waste my time away from my kids- sitting in a meeting accomplishing nothing. By the way, I teach in a middle school in the central valley of California. Agricultural - field workers kids-. I Love them.
Randi - Michelle--jo gives AWESOME feedback. She assessed entry 1 over the summer, and is a real gem. Take her up on her offer
Randi - your supervisor probably is some kid who doesn't know half of what you do!
stephanie - i went to college in a farming town too - mississippi delta kids - best kids in the world. poorest in the country
Michelle in SC - I love my job too. this process has stressed me out however and it hasn't been my best year.
becca - good for you baglady! It's refreshing to hear such optimism...
Barb in MI - Well baglady, I haven't been teaching very long, this is my second career and I have a supervisor just like that...I don't know where these people are coming from!!
Randi - i am having a great year with the kids, but the paperwork is making me postal
Michelle in SC - I will randy, thanks to you all!
Randi - barb--people that can't hack the classroom end up as supervisors. That I have figured out after my 15 years
stephanie - that is the main reason i want to be done with nbpts before IEP season in april/may
Randi - steph, my iep season is NOW. ALL of mine are due the first week in March--coincides with the due date of my natl board stuff.
becca - i am having an awesome year with my kids, but this certification thing and paperwork and a student teacher....I am overwhelmed. I am glad I am not yet a parent. I don't know how you guys do it.
Michelle in SC - Good night all, I think I have a stomach bug for real!
baglady - My supervisor is in charge of beaucoup programs and knows little about special ed. She doesn't have a sense of humor unless its at someone else's expense. Anyway, I only have to deal with her about once every two months.
stephanie - uuugggghhhhh
stephanie - night michelle - feel better!
Randi - michelle, i hope you don't have to take the whole week off
stephanie - that would be just TERRIBLE
Barb in MI - Right now I am fortunate enough to have a student teacher that knows what she is doing and I can work on the paper work, I thought I would use some of my extra time on the NB but so far I haven't done that at all, I am too busy with the paper work that I have to do for work.
Michelle in SC - If I do I hope i'm not really sick
Randi - becca--i get the guilts from my 6 year old every night!
stephanie -
becca - I bet you do Randi! Boy or girl?
baglady - I don't have an IEP season. It is whenever they are due. My biggest challenge is transitioning all of my 8th graders to the high school. I usually do that the first of April, but this year it will be after the 15th.
Randi - 6 year old girl and a 10 year old boy. He's a little too cool to admit he misses me when I'm working. Suits me fine.
stephanie - well - i have iep season, but I am prek, so there are initials all the time
Randi - baglady--i teach 8th grade, and all my transitions are due in march! And in my county I have to give a FORMAL ASSESSMENT to every one of them!!!
Randi - steph--was thinking of you the other day when I came across an awesome big book in the teacher store
Barb in MI - This NB stuff is due immediately after our spring break so I guess I have to have it done before spring break since we are going south for the break.
stephanie - cool - which one?
Randi - The Cows are in the Corn
stephanie - where you going barb?
stephanie - hmmm - gonna to have to check that out
Randi - never used it when i was in pre-k, but really wished i had caught up with it. Very rhymy and sing-songy--they could recite it along with you
baglady - On prompt 3-social/behavior-has anyone address the issue of teen violence. One of my boys was shot in the leg three weeks ago, he just returned to school. I really want to re-think my prompt-and address the issue of gangs-there is a lot of gang activity in the little town that I teach in.
Barb in MI - GulfShores, Alabama, we go there and sit in the sun...I know I shouldn't be but we completely relax for a week.
Randi - started something like "brother woke up, and he began to shout, 'the cows are in the corn and they won't come out!"
stephanie - ahhh - barb - wish I could go! i am planning on going SOMEWHERE nice this summer - as a reward for this hard work!
becca - Sounds awesome Barb! Lucky you!
Randi - went on to "the rams are in the yams" and the pigs are in the figs...it was sooooo cute
stephanie - cute! randi! I love that! i will look it up this weekend!
Randi - baglady--no, but I did mention a boy who was being sexually harrassed by another boy
stephanie - good rhymes!
Barb in MI - In Grand Rapids, MI we had four murders in one month, unusual for us but it sounds like they are gang related as well, just shootings in the street.
Randi - steph, it was awesome! They could learn it in a few days and think they are reading with you
Randi - Barb--it sounds like something that should be addressed and has the potential for some awesome discussion
Barb in MI - We have security guards in school but they aren't worth anything, we don't even see them all day sometimes.
baglady - No. That is terrible. The worst part about this kid is that he came back and he doesn't seem phased by being shot. I can't imagine a boy being harrassed .
stephanie - i think so too - sounds like a very interesting discussion
Randi - i think i need another adjective. Awesome is getting old
becca - good night and good luck everyone!
Barb in MI - That's awesome why don't we think of another adjective?
stephanie - how 'bout gnarley?
Randi - do you guys have crisis teams at your school? i was a crisis trainer in FL--you can read about it in my entry 4
Barb in MI - Only kidding.
baglady - We just got a security guard today. But, we have no special ed aides-except for the day class. Just like California, spend on prisons and guards, not on prevention and education
stephanie - or cool
Randi - i like groovy
Barb in MI - We have aids but they spend most of their time in the office chatting with each other and when they are in the room they take so much supervision it isn't worth having them.
Randi - wasn't the book "the outsiders" about gangs and murder? Could you tie that in somehow?
Barb in MI - We do discuss the violence with the kids and they would be more than happy to tell you who on the streets they think is involved, who is talking about getting who, and for the most part they are not in touch with their emotions at all, violent things are funny or cool, maybe that is a new word in this generation for pain I don't know.
stephanie - did i mention that i *love* my preschool world...?
baglady - I think I should open my own school and do what I think is really right for kids. My eighth graders, who read at 1st-3rd grade level are supposed to be getting 8th grade intervention which is at 6th grade reading level. This has been the week from you know where for me. I am so glad that it is over.
stephanie - teen violence is so hard to think about!
Randi - harder to address, apparently
Barb in MI - You are right about that and to think they start out as preschoolers and are so sweet!
stephanie - alrighty - well - i have to go prepare for a great "accomplishment" tomorrow ~! cya next week!
Randi - Maybe they can tell me if I'm right about "The Outsiders" Wasn't it about a kid (Pony or something) trying to escape the gang life?
baglady - I am spending tomorrow at the California Arts Project. I think I shall run the idea by the group to see what they think about doing some kind of role-playing regarding anger, hate, violence etc.
stephanie - oooh! sounds good!
baglady - I think that the Outsiders was about gangs
Barb in MI - Baglady how do you bridge the intervention gap from the 3rd grade to the 6th grade intervention? We are teaching kids high school science that can't even read, our district t gives up on their reading and just moves on
baglady - My best friend's name is Craige-female
stephanie - alright - gonna run - cyou guys later!
