gidget - Hi
gidget - Is this the national boards chat
gidget - where is everyone
G - I joined for that
gidget - where do you teach
G - have you signed up for boards
G - i teach in north carolin how about you
gidget - mississippi
gidget - what do you teach
gidget - I teach dd kindergarten
G - are they offering any incentives
G - i teach k-5 resource
gidget - yes--6000/yr raise and they pay for the exam
G - that 's definitely an incentive
G - how far along in the process are you
gidget - Thank God that someone teaches what I do. It is really hard to find someone teaching my level
gidget - I just got the application--YOu
G - i have my candidate number and an waiting for the state to pay and then get my box
G - hi wiz
wizzlewolf - Hi G and gidget
gidget - Are there mentor teachers where you teach? I do not have anyone-- (I am the first in my county)
gidget - Hi
gidget - Where do you teach and what level
G - no i am the only one in my county in sp ed
gidget - That is really the scarry part to me--not having someone to confer with
wizzlewolf - If you don't have anyone in your county, did you join the Exceptional Needs listserv group? There are mentors in that group.
G - id did great group!
wizzlewolf - It is a great group of candidates and mentors.
gidget - I do not know anything about nbpts at all --I just picked up the app
gidget - how do you join
G - wiz, are 5 accomp. in entry 4 too many
wizzlewolf - Well gidget, you will have lots of stuff to learn!
gidget - how do you join
gidget - hi stephanie
wizzlewolf - G, there is no magic number for Entry 4 accomplishments. 5 is not too many at all!
G - do you need to have a verification form for every accomp.
wizzlewolf - Giget, i will go get the URL for you, brb
gidget - do you all get incentives for the nbpts
Stephanie - hello everyone, I'm new!
wizzlewolf - Here it is, When you go there click "JOIN THIS GROUP" in the upper right corner
wizzlewolf - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exceptional-needs/
naneb - Hi Wizzle
Shelia - Sorry I'm late
wizzlewolf - Hi Stephanie, I think almost everyone is new!
wizzlewolf - Hi NAN!
gidget - hi all I am new too
naneb - Boy, does this bring back memories
G - are you guys candidates
gidget - I think my name should be scared and confussed
wizzlewolf - Gidget, one thing you need to know is NB is not just an exam.
wizzlewolf - Why Nan?
Stephanie - has anyone took the assessment center test? I am a candidate just starting. I teach students with visual impairments
naneb - Of all the Friday nights I spent in here
wizzlewolf - Gidget, everybody who starts NB is scared and confused.
wizzlewolf - Oh yes, I never left though. In fact, I am here all kinds of nights even now. Tee Hee
naneb - I have not taken the new test
Ros - hey guys- how are you?
Shelia - Good naneb! Any words of wisdom for us newies
naneb - being scared and confused is part of the process as well as doubting yourself and indecision, this will all pass
gidget - I know that there is a very large box with videos to make but no one in the school board office or anywhere else in my county has ever even attempted the boards
Ros - are any of you certified behavior disorder teachers?
Stephanie - is anyone certified here?
naneb - be clear, concise and convincing and make sure you prove everything you say with facts and data, make sure that what you do impacts your student's learning
wizzlewolf - Yeah, the scared and confused goes away and is replaced by TIRED and EXHAUSTED.....LOL
gidget - I teach dd kindergarten
naneb - Boy, that is the truth along with bewildered and demoralized!!
Ros - dd?
wizzlewolf - Yes Stephanie, Nan and I are both NBCTs. I did not get my NB certification in EX. Needs though because they didn't have it back in 99. However, I have mentored candidates in all areas.
gidget - developmental delays 5- 6 years old --everything you can imagine until the disability defines itself--dort of a varying exceptionalities class
naneb - I am cerified mild/ moderate, cetified 2001
naneb - It is so nice to write that!!
wizzlewolf - I teach severely emotionally disturbed K-12.
G - wiz, how do you go about getting a support group together
gidget - I am going to do the mild/moderate
wizzlewolf - Do you mean a local support group in your own town?
G - yes, where would you start
gidget - can you choose any areas within the mild moderate
naneb - you must be prepared for anything within the mild/moderate range of disabilities
wizzlewolf - Do you have many NB teachers in your area? There probably wouldn't be enough Ex. Needs NBCTS to make a group. Therefore, you should contact your district to find out if there is any National Board group already in place. If not, ADVERTISE that you want to form one. Check local unions too.
Ros - gidget- this semester I finally woke up two weeks into my mainstream student teaching of history- i realized that having been a bd kid myself, they are the only students I can really connect and communicate with- i stopped my ST and decided to get my uncertified sec ed/social studies degree next semester- i'll start my masters bd ed this summer- do you think it would be wise in the meanwhile to para for a bd teacher
gidget - I am really in new territory since no one in my county is certifies
gidget - I am really in new territory since no one in my county is certified
naneb - the group I worked with was through a consortium of districts and allied with a University
wizzlewolf - NB teachers in all areas can help each other with many of the aspects of NB. They don't have to be Ex. Needs mentors exclusively.
wizzlewolf - Yes, that is another resource. If there is a university in your area, there may be a group of mentors there.
G - nan, when you say be prepared for anything, what do you mean
naneb - my best partners were a deaf ed teacher and an early childhood teacher
gidget - yes ros--being a bd kid and living with the situations as an authority can be sooooo different
wizzlewolf - Gidget, then you may have to rely on people who will help you via internet. You can do it though. Nobody was certified when I did it.
Ros - i sort of understand- how so?
naneb - You may be asked about mildly retarded or inclusion students ADD or LD any type of disability dealing with a mild disability, this is the assessment center, your portfolio is about you and your students
naneb - the Yahoo group is a great resource and you will form some lasting friendships
Ros - the reson i ask is because almost every bd teacher i know was a bd kid themselves
G - i can handle that, the early childhood thru adult part scares me
naneb - I hated the assessment center but my scores there were some of my best scores so, go figure!!
G - about how much time did you guys spend writing each entry
naneb - I did one entry three times, totally new instruction, new lesson and new write up, it was my lowest score
wizzlewolf - Yeah, where I work is a school that is exclusively severely emotionally disturbed. We always joke that all the teachers are SED too. (Sometimes it is no joke). We gravitate to our own kind.
G - how many takes on your videos to get them right
naneb - that was the entry I did over and over, I have a box of awful videos!! lOL!
Ros - what i was told is that former LD students are the ones that should avoid teaching as an authority- she said the worst LD teachers she has ever seen were LD kids while in school- and the former BD kids are usually the best BD teachers
wizzlewolf - G, how much time is such an individual thing. Everyone is very different. Some people write slow, fast, and in between. Some people are very organized, some aren't. Some people work slow but do a fantastic job. All different.
G - if i spend as much time on each entry as i have on entry 4 , i'll never finish
wizzlewolf - Same goes for the videos. However, not many people get it on the first take. (In other words, buy quite a few videotapes!)
wizzlewolf - You should even spend that much time on Entry 4 anyway. It is weighted the lowest. MOVE ON!
G - i read on the list serv that some people have professional video people, what's you tak?
wizzlewolf - Hey if you can afford to do that, go for it. Not many people can do that though.
G - is the amount of weight each entry has in the box
wizzlewolf - YES. The box will have everything you need. Be sure to read EVERYTHING twice or three times. LOTS OF DIRECTIONS.
naneb - I did the professional development and family partnership entries before Christmas and did not look at them again until almost time to ship the box off. Then ,I did a little rewriting and that was it
gidget - How long does it take to get your box after you pay the fee
G - do you get more bar coded numbers - some came in the application
naneb - I had piles of barcodes leftover
gidget - what types of things do you list for professional development and family partnership
naneb - if you have any questions email or call NB and then save their reply
gidget - how long does it take to here about your scores
naneb - make sure whatever you use for those entries that they impact student learning
wizzlewolf - Yes, get everything in writing!
wizzlewolf - Scores come out about six months after the portfolio due date
G - and save copies of everything??
wizzlewolf - For example, April due date, usually November scores.
gidget - I am sorry but I think I am misunderstanding something..What did you all list for family partnerships and professional development
wizzlewolf - Make a duplicate of your portfolio. That way you will have your own copy . (They don't send the original back to you.)
naneb - I had so many copies Wiz, on paper, on CD at hoe, on Cd at school, I took a copy with me on vacation in case something happened!! I was so paranoid!
naneb - oops!! hoe=home!
naneb - and copy your video and put it away somewhere safe!!
gidget - I have many things to list for prof. dev. such as TEACCH, Association Method, lots of Autism, but what about family partnerships--Can you help me with some specific ideas
wizzlewolf - Gidget, make a list of all the stuff you have done in those areas training, parent events, parental contacts, any stuff you have done related to student achievement that is above and beyond the call of duty.
naneb - how do you contact and involve families?
naneb - keep a parent contact log
naneb - I used a big calendar
gidget - do you mean like iep conferences or like seminars that I plan
naneb - above and beyond what is required
wizzlewolf - Gidget, don't include things that you are expect to do all the time. Focus on stuff that make you an EXCEPTIONAL, OUTSTANDING teacher. Teachers have to go to IEP meetings, that isn't above and beyond.
naneb - I emailed a boy's mother every day ab out behavior, had parent volunteers, h ad a class newsletter, called parents every week about good things that happened
gidget - I am involved with some of my former kids at church--I have kept in contact with families long after the kids leave me--Is this what ;you mean
naneb - I had a parent night about a new program I was teaching, I used the sign in sheet and a note from a parent as evidence
naneb - it has to affect student learning
wizzlewolf - Well, that is a great thing. However, in order to use it, you have to tie it into your students now and their achievement.
gidget - I am also a Red Cross Volunteer and chaird a drive with my class for items for disaster victims--This taught them to appreciate others and recognize differences in others
naneb - I showed ongoing communication with a family about a student and how this communication helped his grades in his reg. ed class, used the log and his report card and parent notes as evidence
wizzlewolf - That sounds GREAT Gidget! That is a keeper!
naneb - Gidget, especially if a student would write a note or letter about what he learned by being involved in this project
gidget - The only evidence of the event is a letter from the Dir of the Red Cross thanking us
gidget - Most of my kids cannot write independently and cannot read
wizzlewolf - That is good evidence
gidget - This will make it difficult to have kids document things
naneb - maybe a parent could write a note
wizzlewolf - You could supplement it with a verification letter from another participant or the ARC.
G - do you need a verification letter for each accompl
wizzlewolf - Not necessarily G. If you have some other source of evidence, you don't need a letter
gidget - What about including letters from parents thanking me for kids progress
gidget - I have several notes like this --will it help
wizzlewolf - Gidget, that may work if you have any that mention something outstanding that you did. Remember, not ordinary everyday teachers stuff is the best thing.
wizzlewolf - Kids progress is a teacher's everyday job. This is not above and beyond. It is great that you get letters, but NB is looking for even more.
G - what about progress charts that go home every week and get parent's sign
wizzlewolf - Kids progress is a teacher's everyday job. This is not above and beyond. It is great that you get letters, but NB is looking for even more.
wizzlewolf - G, those progress charts my be one way to log parental contact.
gidget - I am doing a project next week related to our reading series that will be done with my class and a reg K class. They are studying letter A and I am going to make apple pies with 35 kids to reinforce A, following directions, but also to combine the 2 classes allowing the kids to develop acceptance and social skills--any good
wizzlewolf - Oh dear, the board here is gettin wacky.
debadoo - help...I am working with wonderful children, but with ODD and ADHD..any aadvise
G - thanks for all the suggestions, sign off
wizzlewolf - Gidget, put that on your list. Once you get a number of ideas pick the best ones.
gidget - I am sorry wizzlewolf but this is the only contact that I have had with anyone who knows anything about the boards
debadoo - anybody know of any job openings for secial education tachers
gidget - where are you de
wizzlewolf - Hey gidget, I am here nearly every week. More people will be here in months to come. Here is my website link. There are some helper pages on there:
naneb - Gidget, Wizzle is a great resource
gidget - to document the apple pie thing can I use pictures
wizzlewolf - http://www.wizzlewolf.com/nbc.html
naneb - she has held all of our hands and helped us over the rough spots
naneb - Yes, make sure you get permission forms from everyone in the pictures
wizzlewolf - Also, feel free to email me direct. Remember the Ex. Needs group too. They are a GREAT resource!
gidget - I just do not want to sound stupid and childish
wizzlewolf - wizzlewolf@aol.com
gidget - is using the pictures okay to document the apple pie idea
wizzlewolf - Gidget, you don't! Believe me, within the next month or two you will become a PRO at all of this!
snoopy - Anyone doing kidwriting
naneb - Gidget, you sound just like I did when I first started, you will ask a million more questions before you are done
wizzlewolf - Gidget, I am not sure I would use the apple pie thing, but pictures can be used for documentation.
wizzlewolf - Well gotta go Gid, new group coming in. Bye bye, Keep in Touch!
wizzlewolf - Bye Nan!!! (((((((((((((NAN)))))))))))))))
gidget - Can you give me some other suggestions ; we do not have much parent participation this year. The kids are more interested than the adults
naneb - Bye Wizzle
Swattie - Count me in for a million questions...plus one!
