Michelle - Hello
Michelle - Has anyone completed the process?
speced - two years ago
Michelle - I am just beginning
Michelle - any valuable suggestions?
speced - how are your entries going?
Michelle - just started... working on Entry four
speced - that is the best way to start
Michelle - I am unsure about the reflective writing...
speced - we all do reflection, we always wonder how things could go better
Michelle - Is it more in the postive or...
Michelle - I have... or I wish... I want...
speced - it's both, you should always be able to think about how to improve.. even if its a great lesson... that is how one continues growing
speced - striving for professional growth is an important component of the process
Michelle - yes.. but related to the entries.. especially four
speced - well, as you reflect on your development of a teacher leader, what have you learnd form it?
speced - how has it benefited the kids, and your own teaching, and that of others.. it's all related in a way
dvlly - Reflective wrighting considers achievements, proress, shortcommings. sources of satisfaction or discontent, feedback from others, strengths and weaknesses, newly spotted opportunities or missed ones, reasons for success or failure, needs for development, needs for and aources or support, and ideas for the future.
Tina - speced, I have a question--as we complete written portions, can we e-mail them to NBCTs in this support group to get feedback?
Tina - I am a new candidate--working on Entry #!
speced - Tina- you can always try and ask for a mentor in the group... some have volunteered
speced - I would put out an "all call" and see what happens
speced - dvlly- good description of reflection!
Michelle - That is helpful1 We are here now
Tina - Thanks! I've only completed the Student Profile, but I want to make sure I'm going in the right direction. I'll put out an all call on the list.
speced - tina- there are many NBCTs that volunteer to help out... the group is really a good source for support
Tina - That is helpful, dvlly.
dvlly - it really kept me focused and I even used some of the wording to start my sentences
speced - its a good idea to incoporate the language of the standards in your answers... I even restated the questions to make it clear
Michelle - Is the reflection more in the narrative form?
Michelle - Is there a place to view some reflective writing?
fbuquoi - listen I am working on entry 1 and need some assessment suggestions for working with a dd kid who needs to recognize and count objects and pictures 1-5 then generalize them to a life skill such as buying a coke out of a vending machine
dvlly - yes, the questions are important, be sure you answer each one
speced - dvlly- it sounds like you are on the right track!
Michelle - fbuquoi, I posted a message to you.. The TEMA should assess counting skills.
speced - dvlly- exactly- be sure to address all the questions, even if it sounds redundant, there is a direction to it all!
fbuquoi - I answered the questions in italics for the student profile and the question document and am attempting the assessment document now. Keep rereading the questions and attempting to answer them with what you have written.. if you get the answer you are looking for then you are on the right track
dvlly - yes, reflection is narrative. ________made me feel________, _________needed a little____________, Looking back, ______________was_________________, Next time I'd like to try_______________, I wonder if__________________
speced - dvlly's got it!
fbuquoi - What is TEMA? Haven't heard of it before? Is it criterion-referenced?
fbuquoi - Where is everyone from? I am in Ms
Michelle - The TEMA tests Early math skills
Michelle - Florida
ispy - tn
meggie - Hi...i have a TMH student (in a wheelchair)...he wants everyone to do things for him even though he is capable. Would a good question for entry1 be something about making him more independent? any ideas?
Tina - I'm in Georgia
Tina - Meggie, what are some specific things you want him to do independently?
amani - I need some advice
fbuquoi - Meggie I would focus on life skills?
dvlly - Fbuquoi, your assessments can be nonformal or teacher made as well as formal published assessments.
ispy - when you say everything.....
ispy - what is his actual ability
meggie - Tina...travel to parts of the school to deliver messages. get napkins,utensils at lunch, initiate participation inPE
dvlly - Massachusetts
speced - If I remember correctly, the question was supporse to be one that challenged your teaching, is this still the case? The entries have changed somewhat since.....
dvlly - is Entry 1 still assessment informs instruction?
fbuquoi - I have one assessment that I have made--It is a simple checklist of #1-10 and skills like counts objects, counts sets of pictures, matches # 1-5 etc. I am not sure that is good enough. I made the activity for the child to do and varied it using the same colored manipulatives, then different colors, then different objects, then mixed the numbers, then had the child buy a coke with the correct number of coins using a visual prompt. Does this sound okay
Tina - Yes to both speced and dvlly
Michelle - Yes
speced - dvlly- when did you go through the process?
dvlly - How will you use the assessment to inform your teaching?
dvlly - I am a CIW
Michelle - For entry one can it be an assessment that was done previously?
Michelle - What is CIW?
Tina - Meggie--can you do a life skills assessment and then formulate your question from some of the areas that he needs addressed the most?
speced - Wow... best of luck... after the AC, I almost forgot, then around Nov, anxiety came back! Best wishes!
dvlly - I believe you have to do the assessment, but you can use information about why you are assessing in your cocumentation
Tina - And is teaching him to go through the lunch line independently going to be a challenge for you, also?
Tina - I had to teach a W/C student to do that, and it was VERY challenging.
dvlly - thanks, i felt reaaly confident about the portfolio, but ac was another story
fbuquoi - the checklist was done as a pretest upon entering my class this year. i do this with all of my students. the checklist assessment tells me where to begin with each child and is done monthly to insure that the child is progressing or if the child needs reteaching. I use the checklist in conjunction with worksamples
dvlly - CIW=Candidate in Waiting
Michelle - How was the assessment center? I hear ver challenging!
speced - preparing for the AC is as much work as the ports...
meggie - tina...maybe noy he isjust so dependent on others, but he can do it
fbuquoi - I heard the assessment center is all situation related questions
dvlly - The question should come first,then you can choose and administer your assessments.
ispy - i am a CIR
meggie - tina...that was maybe not! sorry
Michelle - Is there a best way to prepare for the AC
speced - dont worry about the AC now, concentrate on the ports.. then after the box is mailed, the focus on the AC
Tina - Dvlly--please tell me what you think--I kind of had an idea that I would do something on written expression with a child with Asperger's. I then did the assessment, and formulated my question based on his needs.
Tina - Was that backwards?
dvlly - There was not enough time at the ac to formulate answers and respond to all the questions that were asked, I thought I worked well under pressure, but there was just no time
Michelle - OK good suggestion It is all overwhelming I am focusing on one Entry at a time...
speced - tina- your question should be specific to the kid's needs.. so what you are doing is OK
Tina - That's what I'm doing Michelle--I divided everything up.
fbuquoi - me too michelle
Michelle - I am doing Entry 4 first. I think I will them focus on Entry 3.
dvlly - Tina, now you need to decide what you will need to do with your student (lesson plans) to answer the question you have formulated. Do you have any ideas in mind?
Tina - I'm doing Entry #1 first because they talk about the "cycle" of assessment, and I want to make sure I get several months of intervention-assessment-intervention--assessment.
Michelle - I have to go now any last minute hints?
ispy - pray......
ispy - and drink to excess
speced - NEVER GIVE UP!
fbuquoi - Keep the faith
speced - Tina- also, consider what changes you can make to your instruction based on your assessment, that is the critical part
Michelle - Thank You!
speced - Assessment drives instruction
Michelle - How often are these types of chats?
Tina - dvlly--kind of a 3-pronged approach. (1) I will focus on strengthening fine motor skills through daily exercises and handwriting activities, (2) direct instruction with Engelmann's "Reasoning & Writing" program to get some basic written expression skills, and (3) introducing technology (AlphaSmart, keyboarding program, Write Out Loud)
Tina - They will be taught in conjunction with each other, not separately
meggie - For entry1..if i have a checklist so my student can self monitor independent skills is that ok?
dvlly - I don't think it was backwards, I think your're on the right track. I did Entry 1 with a student who was continually geeting into conflict with others. I used teacher and parent reports, suspension notices and counselor feedback for my documentaion. I then formulated my question about how my student could better learn to handle anger and improve relationships. I assessed what made my student angry and introduced the student to different ways to channel anger, both cognitive and behavioral.
speced - meggie- how will you show how you link instruction and assessment if the skills are already learned at the independent level?
Tina - Michelle--every Friday from 9-10:30
dvlly - Does everyone teach in a traditional eduacational setting?
Tina - Interrelated Resource and 2 periods of inclusion
meggie - speced...Bad idea? But this student really needs to be more independent
fbuquoi - I teach dd kindergarten setting in an elem school with 12 kids and an assistant that is only in my room for about 1 hour each day
speced - Oh, he needs to be more independent, that's maybe OK then, just be sure you can show how you are adapting your lessons based on the assessment to meet changing needs
speced - I also used a self monitoring check list- for math though... but I really like checklists! Quick and easy, and self running!
Tina - Meggie--How about a type of adaptive behavior assessment (Vineland?) The self-monitoring checklist would then be part of your intervention. Or, you could make your own assessment and collect some baseline data.
Tina - Hey, Randi! Ready for the academy?
Randi - I think so--did you get your email?
speced - well, I gotta go soon, any burning questions? I really wish everyone the best! It's all worth it in the end, just keep at it!
Tina - yes...sounds pretty intense!
Tina - Thanks for your help speced...you had some great suggestions!
Randi - Really! I'm looking forward to it--what time will you arrive on Friday?
meggie - Is becoming independent too broad? I was going to pull ideas from an adaptive behavior scale. Thanks speced
dvlly - Meggie, how independent do you want your student to be? Maybe you can formulate your question by asking How can I assist _____________ in becoming more indenpendent so he can better meet his own needs with support from the staff?
fbuquoi - what counts as the 13 pages of entry one commentary
Randi - dvlly--do you teach inclusion?
speced - specify the specific skills he needs to do to become more independent- it has to be measurable, and you need to show specifically how you addressed the specific skill
Tina - Randi--probably right around 11.
meggie - dvlly..very nice. may i borrow your brain for the next 4 months?
Jo - What academy, Tina?
Randi - me, too--I'll leave Cumming at 9 or so, but the traffic on 400 will probably be a nightmare
Jo - Randi where are YOU? I am in Cumming
dvlly - Good idea, choosing ideas from the adaptive behavior scale will keep you focused on what to assess and teach
Tina - Good one, Meggie---can all of us borrow it, dvlly?
Jo - Are you a candidate?
Randi - GET OUT OF HERE!!
meggie - i will need your brain too speced
Randi - Yes!! What school are you at?
Tina - The NBCT Candidate Academy sponsored by the Georgia Teacher Center
Jo - I am an NBCT.............. you must be going to the GA Teacher Center Academy??
Jo - I teach in Gwinnett County
Jo - Who is your mentor?
Randi - yes!! But you live in Cumming?
Tina - Yes, we both are! (Randi and Tina)
Jo - Yes..... I would be happy to help you if I can!
Randi - Boy, am I glad to meet you!
dvlly - No inclusion, I teach Violence Prevention to suspended students in my district in grades 6-12. I service about 300 student each academic year.
Randi - Tina, we hit pay dirt!!
speced - LOL, my brain is fried- just be sure to be specific, so if independence is your goal, will something like "bringing materials to class independentluy" help him achieve greater independence? If so, how will you teach that skill, how will you assess, and how will you adapt based on the assessment?
Jo - I will be at the Academy next weekend.
Randi - dvlly--that sounds like a really interesting job...
Randi - Wow--I teach herre in
Tina - Wow...what a job, dvlly!
Randi - I teach 8th grade inclusion here in Forsyth
Tina - Jo, I'm in Rome. I haven't been told who my mentor is yet. How can we find out?
Jo - I guess I will meet you next week!
Randi - I can't wait!
Jo - Mentors were supposed to contact you. Do you have info about how to log onto the discussion groups?
dvlly - What made the process difficult was that my stdents are only with me short-term their suspensions are for 30 days, but most are in the program 2-3 weeks.
Randi - According to Bill from Kennesaw, we can't do that until Wednesday
Tina - Yes, but they are they open yet? They said the Wednesday before the Academy.
Jo - OK...... then you can meet the mentors online in the discussion area.
fbuquoi - i understand that it is the student profile, and the reflective writing. I understand that the assmt doc and the question doc are counted separate from the other pages
Jo - I think they had problems with so many people accessing at one time.
Randi - Dvlly--that makes it sound like it would be hard to complete your portfolio entries...you hardly know them before they leave
fbuquoi - is this true
Randi - Jo, how many mentors are there?
meggie - speced you ask tough questions..i have alot to learn i guess
Jo - fbuquoi, the commentary itself is 13 pages and the question document and assessment documents are additional pages.
Jo - In sped I think there are 5 or 6
fbuquoi - does the commentary include the student profile or is that separate also
dvlly - I was told that I could have my question document on the same page as another form of documentation. I couldn't waste a whole page with only one question. I labeled it, and placed it at the top of the page.
Randi - That sounds great--I'm making lists of questions!
Tina - the student profile is part of the 13 pages
Jo - The student profile is part of the commentary.
Jo - Randi, which school?
speced - meggie- you are already doing lots of it- naturally- now you just have to articulate what you are already doing, and relate it to the standards... it's sometimes tough since teachers naturally do....
fbuquoi - well I have to go ==thanks for the help
Randi - Otwell Middle
speced - teachers naturally do, and don't give it a second thought.. this process makes you think about the whys of everything you do
dvlly - I had to rely heavily on parents, counselors and teachers form sending schools to get my information. It wasn't as difficult as it may seem
ispy - speced, i agree, i feel that is the toughest part--
speced - just keep at it meggie!
ispy - thats where i seem to be getting stuck
Tina - Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions. Randi and Jo--I'll see you Friday!!
Tina - bye!
Jo - I will be sure to look for you next weekend!
Randi - Bye, Tina--looking forward to meeting you!
dvlly - you're absolutely right speced.
Jo - ispy..... what are you stuck with?
meggie - thanks again speced..
ispy - the part of putting what i naturally do into a narative
dvlly - How many times do we teach a lesson and then make mental notes to ourselves, saying next time I'll do that differently.
ispy - it seems to flow so easily in the classroom....
speced - well, i'm off! Keep the faith- you will be a better teacher as a result of the process! Right Jo! Keep posting on Yahoo, there's lots of us there to help out......
Jo - If you focus on the questions and just answer them it should be easy to write down.
Randi - I agree, ispy--it's hard to justify and explain something you don't think about doing...
Randi - Sometimes I feel like I'm repeating myself, too....
Jo - You just have to start writing. You will feel comfortable with it.........
ispy - yes....
Randi - I was working on the student profile for entry 3, and it wasn't flowing as easily as my others
Jo - THe questions are repetitive. You need to answer them and then if you need space take out the repetitions.
Randi - Then when I got to the instructional approach narrative, I felt like I had already addressed alot of it in the profile
Jo - I think it really helped me to brainstorm with someone else going through the process. We would look at one entry and talk about the questions.
dvlly - Repeat, repeat, repeat, the questions are redundant, but as someone said earlier, use part of each question in your response and you'll be sure to include all the info you'll need
Jo - Randi, for entry 1 you need to address the instruction that you do that is a result of your analysis of the assessment
Randi - Jo, do we have to answer the questions in the order they put them? It didn't make sense to start with the student's social barriers before you gave his background info
Jo - If you have info about instruction in the profile that may not answer the question about instruction that is informed by the assessment. THis is the most difficult entry. (And I scored it this summer!)
Randi - Entry 1 is the one giving me a fit--I would love to talk to you about it.
Jo - You don't have to answer in order but it does make an entry easier to score..... which is what you want!
Randi - I THINK I'm going the right way with it, but I'm not sure...
dvlly - I didn't always answer the questions in order, but make sure you check them off as you answer them so you won't miss any. It is also help to use some of the language from the standards in your reponses.
Jo - I would be happy to talk to you and read your entry.
Randi - Well, I don't have an entry to read yet--I'm working more on 2 and 3 since 1 was driving me to drink
Jo - Are you bringing videos to the Academy?
ispy - you too?
ispy - i was late getting here because i started making my own moonshine
Randi - No, I'm not that far yet
dvlly - Sometimes it may be easier to stay focused on one entry at a time. set deadlines for each entry and try to stick with them. If you have time later, you can always revise. I found jumping around difficult.
Randi - I just got my box about 3 weeks ago. I never took Knowledgable Teacher--I just moved here from Florida and wanted to jump right in
Jo - in 6 months you will be looking for cheesecake! This turns into an additional 10 pounds easily!
Randi - Ispy--can you send some of that moonshine my way??
Randi - Jeez--and here I'm trying to loose 10............
ispy - address........
ispy - it will come sealed in a brown paper padded envelope--with a straw
Randi - and an IV??
Jo - I don't think Knowledgeable Teacher is necessary.
ispy - of course......
ispy - free refills
dvlly - The good news is, I finished and potfolio in April and the ac in june and lost 20 pounds by sept, so don't worry
Randi - That's what I've heard...no one if Florida takes any kind of course first, so I didn't feel like it was a prerequisite for me
ispy - where's the other alkie that hangs out in here with us?
Randi - Anyway, Jo--entry 1...
ispy - wow dvlly!!
ispy - wow dvlly!!
Jo - It is GA's attempt to keep people from backing out...... I don't think it will change that!
Randi - I have a kid who detests reading, in a classful of kids who detest it equally as much
Jo - So your question is.....
meggie - good night and thanks...i either have the flu or national boarditis
Randi - I gave the whole class an interest inventory, and I'm pulling topics off that to work with...the kid is actually READING for the first time all year (an article from a skateboard magazine...)
ispy - shot of moonshine to you meggie
ispy - good nite
Randi - So, I want to see if I can raise his reading level through the use of high interest materials
dvlly - I hope it's the flu, you'll be feeling better soon
Jo - high interest in that you are tailoring to his interests?
Randi - Exactly. I wrote a grant that a little bird has told me I should be awarded in order to obtain more materials for this class of reluctant readers
Jo - sounds like a good start!
Randi - THANK YOU!!
dvlly - Our time is coming to a close, good night everyone and good luck on the process, remember pace yourself and ask questions. there is always someone to help
Randi - I gave him the Woodcock form B for reeval purposes, so I thought I would do some informal assessments, and then test him with the Woodcock form A at the end
Jo - See you next weekend Randi. Email me if you like...... jrb97@aol.com
Randi - I will get that portfolio started this week if you think the idea sounds OK
Randi - Will do, thanks so much Jo!
Jo - It does. The interest inventory could be part of your assesment
