sonja - Nbpts
jodi - I take EA Math test on June 28. Has anyone already tested?
sonja - I tested in april
jodi - what is your area?
jan - my ac is the 8th of july
jan - is this exceptional needs
jodi - I know that no one can discuss the test, but I am really concerned about being prepared - any suggestions?
jan - exceptional needs is my area
jan - study your prompts and the areas they cover
jodi - I've done that and plan to continue. thanks
jan - sonja what is your area
jan - it is really hard to know where to concentrate isn't it
jodi - I've read so much math - textbooks, etc. that I feel sorry for my students
jan - lol
jan - my prompts are so broad
jan - wb
Sonja 2 - Early adol soc st history]
jan - i actually order a college text to bone up on what is new
Sonja 2 - if they are broader that gives a greater breathng room
jodi - that's the way that mine are also. the age range is so vast covering more depth than I cover my 6th grade
jodi - more breathing room sounds great - I hadn't thought of it that way. The words Trig and calculus scare me.
deb - hi, I test on June 28
Sonja 2 - terminology is important and applying it . dont bs
jodi - I also test on the 28th. Where are you testing?
Sonja 2 - I am just waiting on my scores
jodi - Did you find that you could manage to answer the questions in the time allotted?
Sonja 2 - Yes but i used every spare minute to the wir3e
jodi - Were there multiple parts to each question?
Mell - Does anyone teach reading??
jodi - Sorry i teach math
deb - I'm testing in E. Longmeadow, MA
nan - I teach reading (mild/mod)
Sonja 2 - Yes there were
Mell - I teach in CT, special education
Mell - looking for new reading program
jodi - I'm in north carolina
nan - What's your question Mell?
Sonja 2 - Great Books training great
Mell - Anyone teach Wilson Reading?
nan - I teach SRA reading and am somewhat familiar with prescribed reading programs.
deb - I am testing in Young Child through Young Adulthood/ Exceptional Needs, but I teach Violence Prevention to all suspended students in my district
Mell - SRA-is that Corrective REading?
nan - Yes, Mell the corrective reading series with fourth and fifth graders. I found it very successful
deb - We got some bad news from our state. They can no longer afford to support the program, but are still encouraging teachers to apply without the incentives.
Mell - I just got the program from my school and they want to look it over and teach to pilot group 0f 6th graders in fall. Do you do it large groups?
Sonja 2 - I prefer trade books for reading.
wizzlewolf - Deb, which state is that?
deb - Massachusetts
nan - NO, the largest group should be six kids to be most effective.
wizzlewolf - Oh dear, that is terrible. I like to keep up with which states are falling off.
Mell - Sonja- what about kids who need a structured reading apporach? Really low decoders/encoder?
deb - Are there others?
Sonja 2 - I teach share pair with levels.
wizzlewolf - Yes, Florida is strong now, but wavers every year. I can't remember which but one of the Carolinas is giving up on incentives.
Mell - what do you mean incentives?
Sonja 2 - I also use LEA with relcuatant readers
Mell - LEA?????
deb - It really is too bad, shows how much teachers are valued in our society...this would never have in the business world.
wizzlewolf - Incentives for going through the National Board Certification process.
jodi - what incentives do you mean?
Sonja 2 - Learning Experice Approach
Sonja 2 - Experience
jodi - I'm from NC and I certainly hope that the pay increase is still intact!
wizzlewolf - Some states offer to pay for the certification fee or give bonuses to National Board Certified Teachers.
Mell - Has anyone heard of REWARDS- reading program??
wizzlewolf - Jodi, I think NC is going to be fine, I hope!!!
gitti - Is this the live chat..not familiar with the time zone thing..is it 9 pm eastern?
deb - Until now, the state paid the $2000 application fee and had agreed to pay NBPTS teacher $5,000 per year for 10 years if they agreed to mentor.
Sonja 2 - I have had to take out an NEA loan to pay for mine. (If I pass they will pay me back 1700.oo
Mell - I am live!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nan - OUr district just gave us an incentive (not much) to be added on to our salaries for the 10 years. Illinois
gitti - thank you mell
wizzlewolf - Yes, in Florida we get $$$$ too. However, it has to be voted on by the legislature every year.
Sonja 2 - my state gives rank change
gitti - I'm from Hawaii...just sent in my application online and trying to get a head start during my summer vacation.
wizzlewolf - Sonja, which state is that?
deb - Yes, it is live 9 EST. So now in MA, incentives will be provide by the district. Some district give applicants Master's level, but there are none presently in my district.
wizzlewolf - Gitti, good for you!
nan - We have 11 schools in our district and there are only 2 of us who are going through the process to certify.
Sonja 2 - KY
wizzlewolf - Have you checked out my NB site yet? It may help you get started.
gitti - thank you wizzle..I assume most of you are already in the process..the thick of things whereas I'm just a newbie trying to get started.
wizzlewolf - Kentucky? Great!
gitti - yes wizzle..so much info makes one's head spin
Mell - In our distict they pay fee $5,000 increase in pay
Sonja 2 - GETA MENTOR
nan - I'm jealous
deb - gitti, you really won't be able to do anything until you get your box. We got ours last Oct.
gitti - I figured..but I did get some great website info...and I thought I might just listen for clues.
sc_kathy - I think South Carolina is going to keep their incentives
sc_kathy - I think South Carolina is going to keep their incentives
nan - gitti - get a mentor I agree
wizzlewolf - Sure you can start without your box. You can start to jot down notes and collect stuff for Entry 4.
gitti - I team teach with another teacher..I'm a bit worried how to do this without leaving her out.
sc_kathy - opps - don't know how I did that! lol
Mell - In Ct starting salary is $38,000. so they have to do something more for seasoned teachers
gitti - how do you get a mentor?
nan - and don't forget the parent communications you make throughout the school year
wizzlewolf - Gitti, what subject area?
deb - MA provided us with a mentor, but there is no money to do the same with new applicants.
gitti - there aren't many teacher's in Hawaii with this certification...just two in the entire state till 6 months ago..now I think there is 12
gitti - Exceptional needs..middle school
Mell - Gitti-me too!!
wizzlewolf - Join the Ex. Needs listserve NOW
nan - gitti - are you in Hawaii?
wizzlewolf - You are lucky. The Ex. Needs listserve group is one of the best.
gitti - Great...nice to know others
gitti - yes in Hawaii.
Mell - I teach emotionally disturbed
Mell - students that is
gitti - wizzle how do I get there..Ex needs listserve group?
deb - Good idea to start on Entry 4. Do you think the box requirements will be the same?
Sonja 2 - A MENTOR IN YOUR AREA , Check your state for one NBPTS website.
gitti - I teach mostly ED and SLD
nan - This is my second time in the chat room and it's exciting to hear from other exceptional needs candidates. I test on the 22nd of June
gitti - nice to meet you nan
wizzlewolf - Go to my website, click "Yahoo Groups" in the top Quick Jump section
Mell - GOOD NAN!!!!!!
gitti - nks all for the entry 4 idea.
wizzlewolf - Then scroll down to Ex. Needs. Click that and the JOIN button is in the upper right corner.
deb - Ex Needs is such a wide area, it is really difficult studying for the ac.
gitti - wizzle I've got it thanks
Mell - Gitti are your kids mainstreamed at all?
wizzlewolf - www.wizzlewolf.com/nbc.html
gitti - wondered why anyone would try this with the IEP thing hangin over our heads.
gitti - Mell..not many...just a few
gitti - I teach only the non manistreamed ones
nan - Mell how low are your students in reading? 2,3 years?
gitti - I teach 6 7 and 8th grade but reading is mostly in the 1-4 grade range
Mell - Yes, Deb that has been my complaint. I taught phsically impaired, Autistic, LD and now Emotionally involved-more psychiatric
gitti - mixed in are e d's with 9th and 10 reading comprehension
nan - These kids are ED?
gitti - In Hawaii..we have the Felix decree anyone heard of it?
Sonja 2 - Gotta go! GIRL sCOUTS TOMORROW. gOOD LUCK!!!!!!!
Mell - Nan- have 6-7-8 graders who read on 3rd grade level- severe decoding problems
nan - I found the best reading programs are the high interest books, Soar to Success by Houghton Miflin has worked for me when I taught 6th LD kids
Mell - I did SOAR
gitti - Mell..I'm new to Language Arts.... I was believe it or not a Business Ed teacher ..secondary..but due to the shortage of sped teacher here, I got a job right away when none in my field was available.
nan - How did it go for you?!?
wizzlewolf - Gitti, I teach severely emotionally disturbed
gitti - the state provided a one year certification with a five year term...and whoopiee wee...I'm a certified sped teacher..and its scary.
gitti - wizzle..severely? wow...
Mell - not sure what level- it started with a book called "Potatoes" and Arthur a dog
jodi - wizzlewolf, do you know anyone that I can communicate with who is working on EA math? I test at ASU on june 28.
deb - Welcome to the "Hotel California" gitti
gitti - I must admit my experience has been problems with culture and economic poverty.
gitti - deb...wow.
Mell - WIzzle me too- but I teach in a psych hospital school
gitti - taking notes
nan - YEa , that's it I know it sounds bad in the beginning but teaching a strategy using simple books might help the kids.
wizzlewolf - No Jodi, you would have to go to the listserve people. I only have Florida mentors in math.
gitti - Mell where do you teach?
Mell - CT
wizzlewolf - My whole school is for ONLY severely emotionally disturbed K-12
gitti - Deb , do you work with exceptional needs kids as well?
gitti - Oh mell..great..the state with the great reputation..
Mell - Ok Wizzle sounds familar
deb - I know it can be difficult. i teach in a urban setting that is 75% minority and is severly impoverished
gitti - wizzle...so lots of experience and materials to work with huh?
Mell - that is tought Deb
jodi - wizzlewolf, i teach with John the Banker and admire him a lot. He and his wife have been a great support for me
gitti - Pacific Islanders have their own unique challenges
deb - I work with kids in grades 6-12, regular ed, special ed: ed, bd, ld, you name it
Mell - wizzle- one advantage of teaching in psych hospital is kids are medicated
wizzlewolf - Gitti, ???
gitti - I saw post from John the Banker in the discussion room
wizzlewolf - Oh my goodness.....John the Banker????????? How is he???
wizzlewolf - Mell, almost all of our kids are on meds too.
gitti - wizzle I meant I have only a small population to work with..your school is geared for their needs.
Mell - you know that story about the kid who sees dead people? I have a kid who really sees dead people
jodi - He's great! and teaching summer school. He has the greatest attitude and I feel sure that he will get it this time.
deb - I teach in a k-12 alternative school that consists of 4 programs: long-term, emergency services, psychiatric, and suspensions due to violations of the behavior code
Mell - scares the crapp out of the rest of the kids
gitti - Do many have to retake?
wizzlewolf - Oh yes Gitti, now I understand
Mell - What is worse is that he has SEX with these dead people!!!!!!!!!!!!1
gitti - OH mell...scary...
wizzlewolf - About 50/50 Gitti
jodi - i really admire those of you who work with the special needs students!
Mell - Never know the stories he will came up with
wizzlewolf - The national average for certification the first year hovers around 50%
gitti - oh my 50/50 what have I done?
nan - Wizzle that is what I get anxious about
gitti - guess it's the opportunity to shine and at such a fair price..LOL
jodi - 50% sounds very scary
wizzlewolf - That doesn't mean only 50% certify. It means that about 50% certifiy in ONE year.
deb - gitti, we have all asked ourselves the same question...more than once!!
wizzlewolf - It varies greatly between geographic location and subject area.
Mell - Before they sent him to us he was stealing women's undear from departement stores
gitti - thinking I don't want to drag it out longer than need be... thinking I'll be consuming lots of coffee and laying off the beers..
wizzlewolf - Don't worry about statistics. Just do it. That is what I did. Who cares how many did what.
jodi - how are the numbers for EA math certifications?
nan - wizzle I am certifying in MILD/MOD - How 'bout that area?
gitti - wizzle..for real? geographic locations have better stats than others?
deb - the secret is to pace yourself so you don't become overwhelmed by the process. Organization is key.
wizzlewolf - Actually, Ex. Needs did pretty well last year. However, still about 50 ish percent.
gitti - Loretta in OH sent great organization tips
Mell - Pace yourself and know the LAW- IDEA- lots of questions on that
wizzlewolf - Yes Gitti. for example, NC and Florida do pretty well because they have oodles of NBCTs who mentor. The more support , the more candidates certifiy.
gitti - purchased my binders and doc protectors right away..now where is the mail man...dont' they know I have only 4 weeks of summer vacation to learn how to start..
deb - I hope they revise some of the questions in the portfolio. Did anyone else find them redundant. I felt like I answered the same question ten times in ten different ways.
nan - The questions about the law - Are they related to IEP, BIP's, Transition planning???
Mell - DEb what state??
gitti - Ahh I see.... this is a new thing for Hawaii...they just start their incentives and we don't do so well on test as you all know..kids or adults.. grin
deb - Massachusetts
Mell - Nan- could be on all you mentioned
deb - Aren't the portfolo requirements the same for every state?
nan - HOw about all the acronyms - lot's of those??
jodi - I've got to go study - have a great evening!
Mell - just know the basics of IDEA- who needs to be at a PPT?
wizzlewolf - Deb, yes for every state, different for subject areas.
Mell - Nan- yeah they just throw it in so you need to know them
gitti - so has anyone made a video yet?
Mell - Gitti what state are you??
nan - I made my videos-
wizzlewolf - Nan, did you go to the Sp. Ed. Law site? http://www.spedlaw.com/index.htm
deb - Videos are strange, I hate watching myself. I made three and sent in 2
gitti - and were you pleased? I think my skills at that might be amateurish
gitti - Mell Hawaii..Aloha
gitti - I team teach with another teacher..it was her idea to do this
nan - Don't worry- be yourself- when I saw my mentors tape and she scored high- it was not professionally done.
gitti - then she found out she wasn't eligible
Mell - OK- Gitti- just make sure the person that taping you is a good teacher and knows what to key into
gitti - leaving me and my 300 bucks in a lurk
deb - My district provided someone from AV to come in and tape, I just set up the dates. I didn't need any equipment
gitti - lucky me..she is a VERY good teacher
gitti - can I include her...we truly are a team..and I'll have to adjust to leaving her out
nan - Wizzle thanks for the info
Mell - Deb- AV people are not always the best because they may not know what part of the lesson to capture
wizzlewolf - Got a go. Good luck every one!
gitti - not sure I know what 15 mins to capture
nan - Gitti- I think you are the only teacher that needs to be on the video because you are the candidate.
gitti - thanks for everything wizzle
deb - He taped the who lesson, Mell, 50 minutes. I took out the 15 I wanted to use after watching.
gitti - I thought editing was prohibited
nan - The 15 needs to be in a continuum state.
Mell - yeah but when my person taped he did a great job, even capture the kids writing up close and you could actually read the words on the paper
deb - And, I didn't use the 15 i had originally intended to use because another part of the video was better.
Mell - you are right NAN
nan - YOur right, gitti
Mell - one of kids asked to go to the bathroom in the middle of my GREAT lesson
gitti - oh okay...so tape the whole thing and get the 15 you want?
gitti - mell how dare that kid
Mell - then we had a fire drill
nan - I had the loud speaker announcement during my video.
gitti - did you send it in anyway?
deb - I think the scorers expect things like that to happen. Afterall, it isn't rehearsed
nan - I sent mine because it truly was the best lesson - I think
deb - I had an intercom announcement twice, things you just can't control in the real word.
gitti - so how did you start? just read the standards and start working on lesson plans that fit?
nan - I work with an autistic child and we were doing scripting and I forgot to script how to answer the door to let a person in the room. I still sent the tape in. He yelled out "Who is it"
nan - gitti- it's not really lesson plans - it's all about teaching and impacting student learning and parent communication
deb - one suggestion gitti about video taping especially in a room with sped kids. Get them used to the camera, even if you don't have any film in it. A teacher in our building said videotaping was a nightmare because his kids kept going up to the camera and making faces, etc.
nan - Good suggestion, Deb
gitti - I think the parent communication is the easiest ...I mean we all do that all the time....therapists, dr's, other teachers, parents..that's ongoing...
gitti - oh that's a very good idea....just have the camera around all the time
deb - and reflecting on your practice
nan - Remember to keep a record of the outcomes.
gitti - I teach social studies and English...my DH says I shouldn't focus on social studies..I should focus on Language arts because that is the need and I should just use social studies as the format to convey the language arts skills...is that what you guys think?
gitti - thanks nan
nan - I had a mentor who made my entries bleed with red pen - all she asked is How did you do this, Why, Data? Explain
deb - you'll be teaching your lessons, but you portfolio will be answering questions related to your practice. Answer all the questions, don't skip any. That is something a mentor can help you with
nan - Gitti - that sounds great - do some vocabulary build-ups using content words??
gitti - good questions, I'll remember that
gitti - practice ..how I do things..that is what matter's? and the reasons I do them?
deb - absolutely and how the kids benefit from what you've done
nan - Gitti- most important do you impact student learning and how do you make it even better
gitti - well I must say..this is a nice place to come
gitti - people are so willing to share what they know
deb - it is helpful to have some inside information
nan - We know what you are going through - Ask a lot of questions!
gitti - I dont' have any mentor program here...like I said Hawaii is just getting started.
gitti - thanks nan...I wish you all a good night. and I'm going to check my mail...it's only 4 :20 pm here
deb - you can ask questions to the national board, but i think you'll find the web site forum helpful
nan - Stay on the websites - chat rooms and e-mail accounts - I find them helpful and somewhat supportive
gitti - I've got them all bookmarked...
gitti - take care all
nan - Deb - where are you in the process
deb - good luck to everyone going to the ac
deb - I test on the 28th, first time
nan - When do you take the test?
nan - I'm on the 22nd - and basically I come to the site when I need a break - sometimes it's overwhelming?!
deb - i have been getting a lot of e-mails... about 20 today when other find out our state stopped the incentives until further notice.
nan - I can't believe they are dropping the incentives - maybe the individual districts can give incentives???
deb - some do, mine doesn't, but they did provide $300 for application
nan - I'm on a grant and did not have to pay anything - first time
deb - My state used to provid an incentive of $5000 per year for 10 years if you agreed to mentor
nan - That is great - I get additional 500 on my salary for the 10 years. and 3000 from the state for certifying
deb - nan, it WAS great, but not any more.
nan - You know- we are asked to go for the certification nationally -why don't they make it the same for everyone?????
Glenda 1st TN - Nan, I'm not sure why they don't try to make everything the same.
deb - they should, but each state has different incentives, systems too. Some systems give teachers days of to work on the requirements
