Grace/IL - Hi Judy
judy3ca - Hi Grace! How are you?
Grace/IL - Just sittin' here a'stitchin' and a'waitin'
judy3ca - (((Terry)))
terry3fl - Hi girls
Grace/IL - Not working on the black thing, though -- have a wedding piece to finish.
judy3ca - I've been considering getting back to work on my sampler, Grace.
judy3ca - Terry, did you have a good week?
terry3fl - very good
terry3fl - and it sounds like you did too
judy3ca - Me, too! Exceptional week here.
judy3ca - oops, LOL.
Grace/IL - Everybody's tongue tied tonight. LOL
terry3fl - sorry got thrown totally offline!
terry3fl - one of the reasons I came was to hear the details about your week judy
judy3ca - (((cavey)))
cavey - Got here early and snagged the red! Hi Girls!
Grace/IL - Hi cavey
cavey - My snowdance payed off today!
judy3ca - Oh, gosh, Terry, no big details--just coming together finally. And great parent turnout today for something--that always amazes and pleases me.
Grace/IL - (((Kim)))
Kim/1/Ca - CAVEY..........you dirty rotten no good orangered stealin' SNOWDAY slacker...........
judy3ca - (((Kim)))
Kim/1/Ca - (((((((judy and grace))))))))
Grace/IL - No snow here -- about 80 miles away in Indiana, they got a foot of the stuff.
judy3ca - Kim, how's our little Kwinzie?
cavey - Love to you too, Oneka baby!!!
terry3fl - well that is good to hear
Kim/1/Ca - <<<stamping foot at cavey
Grace/IL - Cavey's doing a nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah on the color thing.
cavey - Finally got my tree down today!
Kim/1/Ca - oh JUDY I have a SHARE about Kwinzi!
judy3ca - Okay, ladies, anybody reading anything good? Why yes, what a good question, I am!
Kim/1/Ca - For a couple weeks I have modeling and discussing "connections," wildly praising them when the kids get one, you know?
judy3ca - Right, Kim, and...
Kim/1/Ca - So today I brought my Rosy Boa and the kids went NUTS. The first thing they wanted to do? GUESS?
judy3ca - I give up, Kim.
Grace/IL - Tie him in a knot?
Kim/1/Ca - (((Marcia))) (don't hug cavey marcia she is being a brat) ANYWAY........so, they all RUN for their writing journals to write about Rosie!!
judy3ca - OH HOW WONDERFUL!
cavey - Yah for Kim's class!!!!!
Mrs. J - Greetings from the frigid North
Marcia/1st/GA - cavey has really been helping me this week I'll just blow her a kiss--sorry Kim!
Kim/1/Ca - Kwinzi writes his FIRST sentence. "I like Rosie Boa." BUT that is not all.......
judy3ca - Marcia--you are one of the reasons I had a spectacular day--thanks!
Grace/IL - Congratulations, Kim! You're winning. (((michikim)))
judy3ca - (((((Sharon)))))
cavey - Kim, I actually like your color better.. wanna trade? what size are you?
terry3fl - it's in the 20's tonight in FL!
Marcia/1st/GA - how was that, Judy?
Kim/1/Ca - So... they go to the library and SEVEN of them return with snake books. At the end of the day, Junior asks me to quickly read his Rookie Reader about snakes to the class. Kwinzi is HUGGING his Verdi book.
judy3ca - Marcia, you'll never know how much I appreciated the Routman connection.
Marcia/1st/GA - oops, I need to change colors. Terry was here first...
cavey - Marcia? Me help you?
Kim/1/Ca - ((hey to terry and sharon baby)))) So, anyway....I am reading and I point out a green tree python. Kwinzi looks puzzled.
Marcia/1st/GA - Well, good. I think we are melding into one, don't you?
Kim/1/Ca - He flips through VERDI and finds a picture of one of the old green snakes. He says, "TEACHER..I have a connection."
Marcia/1st/GA - I'm listening and talking, Kim. This is great about your kids. I love the excitement and the synergy.
cavey - Hi Terry, sorry I didn't introduce myself when I came in
Kim/1/Ca - And he points to the picture in MY book and the picture in his BOOK. I coulda DIED and gone to heaven right then and there.
terry3fl - it's okay i "recognized" you LOL
judy3ca - That is wonderful, Kim!
Marcia/1st/GA - did you get goosebumps, Kim? Sometimes I do when those HUGE moments happen
Grace/IL - Hi Brad
cavey - Happy dance for Oneka and Kwinzi!!!!
Kim/1/Ca - (((bradleykins snoookems sweetie pie))))
Sharon - kim... did you check on university program?
judy3ca - Sharon, how are your classes going? Are you perpetually tired?
Mrs. J - I REALLY miss first grade
cavey - Hey Daddyo!
brad - LOL, I"ve been in here since 20 after but I was on family website posting pictures. Don't you love these picture CD's?
Marcia/1st/GA - cavey, you really helped me this week. I have been concerned this week about the parallel block thing. thanks for responding.
Kim/1/Ca - Oh MAN, Marcia........and the writing of some of the kids this week has been PHENOMEMAL, truly.
Jan - Hi, everyone...it's been a long day at the beach!
judy3ca - Mrs. J, I don't miss first grade at all, but once in a while I miss a first grade moment.
judy3ca - (((Jan)))
Kim/1/Ca - Yes Sharon. Interesting. 'spensive. $15K
brad - Again with the gloating??
Sharon - hi jan.... brrrrrrr... beach sounds good
Grace/IL - Poor Jan!
Marcia/1st/GA - don't you love coming back from vacation. My kids have been hitting on all the pistons today. You should have heard the MLK talk going on and the understanding!!
Jan - Hi, Judy!
Mrs. J - I am a first grade teacher at heart, stuck in a third grade body!
Sharon - total?
cavey - Enough with the beach Jan!
brad - Judy, I was thinking of you today and how you seemed to have found a niche with third grade
Kim/1/Ca - Hey, I had a nice SHARE, Brad. A bright spot or two this week.
Jan - It was 82 here today. How about Ohio, Brad?
brad - Kim did you get my email?
Kim/1/Ca - Oh brother.......between Jan and Cavey........I don't know who is worse.
brad - I believe Ohio was in the teens for most of the day
judy3ca - Brad, that's very nice. I think you may be right.
Kim/1/Ca - Yes, sweetie. I did. Thank you.
cavey - Marcia, I think you are right to worry about this situation at your school
brad - The little weather thing to the side said it got to 23 today
cavey - I'm definitely worse !!!
Kim/1/Ca - Yes, is that good?
judy3ca - Marcia, I agree with cavey--worth worrying about.
Jan - Oh, good! Warming up, I see!
Mrs. J - 9 degrees here most of the day
Kim/1/Ca - Hey Grace.......kiddos having a time with WH words.
Marcia/1st/GA - cavey, it's the reactiveness of it. There is absolutely no reason to do this, that I can see.
brad - Judy, I was telling a colleague how I really think third is my level, but I want another crack at second next year
cavey - That is exactly my point Marcia, what's the rationale?
Marcia/1st/GA - I am really concerned about the teacher's ability to do balanced literacy.
brad - Not really, Jan. We've been hovering in the teens with only overnight getting into single digits
Kim/1/Ca - Good for you, Brad.
brad - Windchill of course is another story
judy3ca - Good for you, Brad. I've been in a lot of grades--but third does seem just right for me right now.
Kim/1/Ca - rationale? reactiveness? clue us in.......
Mrs. J - My district is talking about putting a committee together to study elementary block scheduling
Mrs. J - We currently have it at middle school and high school
Marcia/1st/GA - she did say that she would let them decide. I found out the other night, she is actually thinking of starting it in a COUPLE of wEEKS! Can you imagine tyring to organize a schedule like that in a couple of weeks.
diane - hi everybody!
Grace/IL - Wh is tough. The have to reverse the sounds. I was thinking of that today, sort off whoo-uh
judy3ca - Yeah, what is reactiveness?
Kim/1/Ca - Of course, a committee. The administrative placebo.
judy3ca - Hi diane!
Sharon - the 15K good? well... i think my tuition runs around 2000K a semester so so far i'm in for about 10K with more to come
cavey - ((little d))
Mrs. J - Know what's prompting it? @#$%ed off elementary teachers who are mad that the high school and middle school teachers get 90 minutes of planning a day when we get 45
Kim/1/Ca - it's more of a noun than reactivity...
Grace/IL - (((diane)))
diane - judy, my 2nd grade buddy and i have to thank you!!
Marcia/1st/GA - Jan should know more, but I have heard/read ther is no hard evidence of its effectiveness on achievement. Hey what happened to Jan?
judy3ca - cavey, my rats are still alive
brad - Mrs. J, that sentiment has been echoed in my district as well
judy3ca - diane, for????
Grace/IL - A committe is a group that keeps minutes and wastes hours.
diane - we used your idea for creating a rubric for walking down the hall...the kids understand sooooo much better now!! fabulous idea
Marcia/1st/GA - I love it , Grace. LOL
cavey - Judy, rats are like cockroaches, you can't kill them
brad - Get this--despite the research we've been reading, 4, 5, and 6 HAVE to departmentalize next year
Mrs. J - I feel like the Lone Ranger sometimes--Nobody else seems to care what is best for the KIDS
judy3ca - diane, thanks, I'm glad it worked for you. Just think, now I'm worth copying--how cool.
diane - cavey, lol, one of my hissing cockroaches died yesterday...do you think that signals the end of the world?
Marcia/1st/GA - Brad, I would love to see some of that research if it's on block scheduling.
Kim/1/Ca - Hard too, Grace, is the fact that many of the /wh/ on the list have no meaning for the kids. Whiz? Ha! They all wrote wiz. Whit? Ha. wit. whack? wack. whelk? oh lordy...........
cavey - Michikim, this is what prompted the idea in my former school, less prep for teachers
diane - judy, you've always been worth copying...
judy3ca - cavey, LOL, however I was shocked today when the kids told me we'd need to bathe them occasionally. This seems entirely too much to ask.
brad - I have never seen block scheduling in the elementary
Grace/IL - Expanding vocab, Kim LOL
diane - hi erin!!
Erin - Hi everyone. I"m back in the land of the living...finally
judy3ca - (((diane)))
Marcia/1st/GA - this is what our principal is promoting-smaller group sizes--we only have 20 kids in a class, for crying out loud!
cavey - Judy, I think they're self cleaning. They are actually quite smart and clean.
Kim/1/Ca - Now, Cavey, cavey, cavey........they are God's creatures after all. And yes, Judy, they should be bathed. For their ratly dignity.
brad - I think that's what it is. Less prep. Anything to make the job "less work" right? (Sorry, I'm a little snippy with unprofessional colleagues today)
Grace/IL - Diane is stunning in lilac.
judy3ca - (((Erin))) Are you better?
cavey - (( Erin)) our little sick friend!
Grace/IL - (((Erin)))
Erin - Yes judy...I laid in bed for 4 days...what a nightmare
judy3ca - cavey, thanks! I see them cleaning up--I really do not want this to be a project.
Kim/1/Ca - ((((Erin and little d)))) (cavey is being a poop so steer clear of her)
Jan - Hi, Erin
Sharon - give em showers, judy.... squirt squirt from a spray bottle
diane - why, thank you, grace... i should really be in slimming black...i'm living a little, i guess
Marcia/1st/GA - Erin, I am glad you are feeling better.
cavey - Oh Brad, did you have a teacher's lounge moment?
judy3ca - Erin, we're so glad you're back!
judy3ca - Sharon, are you serious?
Erin - Thanks everyone
Mrs. J - I don't know, Brad, I think there are some well intentioned people out there--specializing in an area does sound like a good idea--they just don't think it through all the way
diane - judy, i never bathed my baby hamsters...of course, they've all since died...hmmm...
Sharon - that's what i do for cookie
Kim/1/Ca - WARM water, judy.....
brad - (dripping with sarcasm) Oh MUCH better than that, cavey. . .
judy3ca - diane, LOL
cavey - For Pete's sake Kim, you can have the orangered back!!!
Kim/1/Ca - I don't WANT it back NOW. (stamp stamp)
judy3ca - Well, Sharon, if you just spray them, what good does that do?
cavey - Tell us Daddyo!
Marcia/1st/GA - I don't know,Michikim, cavey said it best " I would rather specialize in my students" or something to taht effect.
judy3ca - Okay, a reading story....
diane - cavey and kim...i've had to separate bickering girls all day...do i have to separate you two as well??
Grace/IL - Everybody's wearing different colors tonight. It's really confusing me
brad - Marcia and Michikim, the research just repeatedly advocates self-contained with young students to capitalize on relationships with ONE teacher
Kim/1/Ca - It gets them WET, judy, sheesh.
Sharon - don't take me too seriously, judy... i've just read the watsons go to birmingham-1963 and started a wrinkle in time....have to finish tomorrow in order to read more research ... eyes are crossing
brad - A little later when we're not archived, cavey. Never know who's listening
diane - lol kim
Kim/1/Ca - And it isn't the COLOR diane..........she nah nah nahed us about having a snow day.
Marcia/1st/GA - I need the research articles, though, Brad. I believe you. I want hard evidence.
Jan - Brad, why would you expect anyone to pay attention to the research?
diane - GRRRRR....somebody had a snow day!!!!!! GRRRRR
Kim/1/Ca - Wrinkle in Time? OOOOO loved it.
judy3ca - My kids learned to do a choral reading about MLK this week. I was worried on Monday (prodigious, curvaceous, Alleghenies), but they pulled through...with expression. The principal said that it was more like a production than a reading.
Marcia/1st/GA - How was the Watsons? I like the title.
cavey - Gotcha brad, spies are everywhere!
Grace/IL - Marcia, did you try an ERIC search?
Kim/1/Ca - AND diane, she nah nah nahed about it. (huff)
Mrs. J - Research? What's research? Why do you need THAT?
cavey - I only nah nahed after Jan gloated
Sharon - it was an ok read... didn't enjoy it as much as it was hyped up
brad - So true, Jan, so true (on research)
judy3ca - Sharon, do you like Watsons? What grade do you think?
diane - good for them, judy
Marcia/1st/GA - Jan, what is your take on parallel block scheduling? Do you know anything about it?
Kim/1/Ca - Alright, JUDY!
Mrs. J - Nothing on EBSCO?
diane - sharon, have you read bud, not buddy? i LOVED that one...same author
Sharon - we're reading it as young adult fiction... 6th and up maybe?
Marcia/1st/GA - no, I am not sure how to do an ERIC search, Grace. I suppose I should ask my 11 year old daughter how......
Kim/1/Ca - Oh, now you're blaming JAN?
Jan - I don't, Marcia. I noticed your posts on the board about it.
judy3ca - ROFL
cavey - Kim, may I offer you some wine, or maybe valium?
Kim/1/Ca - yes, please, cavey.
diane - i have to confess...i don't know what EBSCO is...someone enlighten me??
Marcia/1st/GA - It can't be good, then, if Jan doesn't know about it. Evidence enough, right?
Kim/1/Ca - .....and some cheese to go with the wine.
Sharon - when do you start classes kim?
Kim/1/Ca - I mean WHINE. Those dang /wh/ words
brad - ebsco is that search engine where sharon and kim are getting all their research
cavey - I'll even bring it on a fancy little tray
Sharon - and brad
Kim/1/Ca - I am procrastinating right now sharon....i can start anytime, i think.
diane - thanks, brad, how do you access??
Jan - I basically choose not to read anything with the words "block" or "schedule" in it!
Kim/1/Ca - actually, sharon finds it. i haven't found it yet.
brad - EBsco was my life for one brief lost weekend, but I emerged
Marcia/1st/GA - well, I can see why. The kids are moved around like cattle during the day
Sharon - judy i was a little disappointed in my first b. martin jr book
Kim/1/Ca - my kids did it, marcia.
Kim/1/Ca - which one, sharon?
judy3ca - Sharon, oh no! Which one?
Sharon - swish!
Marcia/1st/GA - Kim, you were at a school with parallel block scheduling?
Grace/IL - Marcia, one argument is "lost time on task" during transition time.
Kim/1/Ca - oh. not familiar... i love barn dance
judy3ca - Is that the title or a sound effect? My kids are discovering sound effects in their writing.
Marcia/1st/GA - gotcha, Grace
Sharon - i guess it was an ok one... only two kids had schema for a basketball game and they took on the expert roles
Sharon - it's mostly sound effects... they might like it
Sharon - barn dance is my favorite too kim... 2nd is ghost eye tree
judy3ca - Um, that would be (((nan)))
Kim/1/Ca - my boys were at a school started with a grant for an orchard year round plan. there were five tracks.....a-e. the teachers were on all the time..... 222 day work year. more money.........the kids tracked on and off...always one track gone.
Sharon - ((nan))
diane - i recall being shuttled to different content area teachers as a kid....overwhelming as an 8 year-old, as i recall
cavey - Terry, you must be from the mosaic group
brad - As a parent, how did you like that, Kim?
judy3ca - Sharon, mine would love it then. I'm telling you, even the girls are working sound effects into their sweet stories.
diane - brad, how do you access the EBSCO search engine?
terry3fl - yes i am, bilscntsa on there
Kim/1/Ca - 6 wk common vacation in summer....anyway, one track was always "catching up." the teachers "team taught" and kids moved around all day. lots of lost transition time.
brad - ask Nan, she forever sentenced me with her password
naneb - HI!!! Erin, Grace, Jan, Kim, Marcia, KimMI, Sharon, Brad, Cavey, Diane, Judythrika, terry
Kim/1/Ca - (((nan!)))
cavey - I can't keep everybody straight on that group
Sharon - judy, sound effects for making a basket (swish), dribbling, lots of technie basketball phrases too
Jan - diane, I just did it through Google. Type in "EBsco."
brad - Perfect for mine Sharon (b-ball book)
judy3ca - Sharon, that sounds right up our alley.
Jan - Hi, Nan
diane - thanks!! i've decided (mostly for sure) that i will do national board next year...will be handy...of course, handy now too
Sharon - i read sister anne's hands today... i actually started crying as they questioned, wondered, and built off of each other's ideas
Kim/1/Ca - there was a teacher in the book club on monday who said she "hears" her reading and doesn't "see" it. she shared the sounds that punctuation makes. really wild.
naneb - I am not staying long, falling asleep
judy3ca - Sharon and Marcia and Kim--guess what! I'm slightly a first grade teacher again! I have one firstie (the cutest thing you ever saw) for math.
Marcia/1st/GA - Wow, Judy!
Grace/IL - Marcia, teacher expectations play a big part in school success. How will teachers coordinate expectations in block scheduling?
cavey - Sharon, my kids have actually started asking which kid will need to finish a book for me
diane - awwww...cute judy
Kim/1/Ca - they asked me today if there is a Dog Heaven. Now, I ask you.............was that PERFECT or WHAT? One of the Rylant books i had NOT read yet........and they knew nothing about it!!!! OMG
judy3ca - Sharon, I ordered Sister Anne's Hands on your recommendation--it's on the way.
Sharon - diane... i got my paperwork for nat'l boards grant... the new literacy certification isn't on it and i don't know what to do about that
diane - is that the ford foundation grant, sharon
diane - is that the ford foundation grant, sharon?
cavey - Little giftie Judy?
Mrs. J - It's hard enough to coordinate expectations with TWO teachers. I don't think you can
Kim/1/Ca - So did we make a CONNECTION folks, or WHAT?
Sharon - no it's a state scholarship
Marcia/1st/GA - I haven't heard about Sister Ann's hands...
Sharon - diane are you looking at the new certification... literacy for the early and middle childhood?
Marcia/1st/GA - yes, I think all of this scheduling becomes such a nightmare, time is taken away from planning lessons
judy3ca - cavey, giftie? I'm slow tonight--long week.
Sharon - marcia, it really is a great book
Kim/1/Ca - I have a kinder in the mornings....... little cutie and a sibling of former students. big brouhaha though........stupid politics.
cavey - You go Kim! connections, connections, ooh ooh connections!
Mrs. J - Sharon, was it you or Kim complaining about your governor?
diane - sharon, i haven't decided between generalist or literacy...i'm thinking generalist, however
brad - Michikim, it's being switched up so ONE teacher has the literacy/science right? That's just so backwards to me. Should be sci/math... Anyway, I just think that literacy is such a large chunk of the day in primary that whoever has that subject will never be satisfied with the time of the block
cavey - Not in the Burns sense Judy. A gifted kid.
Marcia/1st/GA - I am taking notes-Grace's suggestions and book titles as they come up
Sharon - not m, mrs. j
judy3ca - The Money Tree is a great book, too--who recommended it? I owe someone a big thank you!
Kim/1/Ca - It was me complaining about the white collar stupid no good for nothing criminal.......why do you ask?
Sharon - awwww... it sure would be nice to have a few peeps here to be interested in the literacy one
diane - you're going for new certification? are you in the middle of it now?
Sharon - i ordered that one, too, judy
Sharon - and white socks
brad - Sharon, I told you I'm interested. When are you doing?
judy3ca - cavey, duh, I am slow. Yes, a giftie--and a giant pain in the #$% in first grade. He's fine in third because he has to really work.
terry3fl - sharon it interests me, not sure i am ready though
Marcia/1st/GA - The Year of the Moon is a great book. I read it this week-very timely with our full moon this weekend. This book has a name for all the full moons and a poem written about it
Kim/1/Ca - i don't know, sharon........national boards or ed.d..........?
Mrs. J - I have my third graders only half the day and teach language arts and social studies. My other half does math and science
cavey - Sounds like what he needs Judy
Marcia/1st/GA - Let's all do national boards next year!
judy3ca - Sharon, I loaned White Socks to the teacher next door and she used it for Q today and they loved it.
Sharon - i can't find out FOR SURE that it will be available this year or when it will be available this year... i'm trying to find out
diane - marcia...that would be great!! we'd have our own support group...i'll be alone in my geographic area
Grace/IL - Marcia, the connections thing may make a good argument. How will students make connections as easily if they're in different environments for part of the day?
Mrs. J - Kim, our new DEMOCRATIC, FRIEND OF EDUCATION, governor just announced massive budget cuts to balance the budget--of course to education
Kim/1/Ca - White Socks? Sister Anne? DARN YOU ALL to the bank.........(sigh)
terry3fl - nan you have it right, who else here has it?
brad - (Brad never learns when he's taken on too much)
Marcia/1st/GA - Sharon, where are you getting all of these titles. YOu have been holding out on our list--shame on you!
Grace/IL - Has anyone read Willa Cather's stories?
Sharon - white socks was judy... money tree was someone on our ring... sister anne's hands was just one of those finds
Marcia/1st/GA - Grace, I have a list of arguments. County has made a commitment to balanced literacy instruction with balanced literacy planner guiding our instruction in LA
Kim/1/Ca - He musta talked to Gray "just cut education because I don't know what else to do" Davis. He is SO corrupt it boggles the mind.
Mrs. J - $557,000 dollar cut to our district this year, and 1.5 million next year\
Jan - California can take the prize for governors!
Marcia/1st/GA - Our school has made a commitment to learning communities studying MOT with connections, etc.
diane - lol, our compassionate governor just offered to donate 5% of his salary to the state fund for education
Marcia/1st/GA - Not to mention they are redistricitng our school next year and everyone is up in arms about that (parents mainly)
cavey - Well Marcia, what in the world are they thinking?
brad - I don't think anyone can top my exciting news though, eh, Kim?
diane - we are looking at 300 million dollars of deficit
cavey - I mean about the scheduling mess
naneb - terry, I have what?
Sharon - another baby, brad????
Grace/IL - Every state is having budget troubles. IL just changed governors. The new one promised no new taxes and guess what he's thinking of this week -- taxes on services.
Kim/1/Ca - aw, how sweet, diane.....(wiping tear)
judy3ca - Our cutbacks are starting now. We have to pay for our laminating and copies over a certain amount. More cuts to come.
Marcia/1st/GA - I have good arguments--just looking for research. However, I don't think there is anything out there that supports it conclusively
cavey - Brad, what is with you and the teasers tonight . spill it buddy!
brad - LOL, NO Sharon, that's been taken care of, thank you very much
terry3fl - national board certification, sorry
Marcia/1st/GA - Brad, you are going to be principal
diane - speaking of budget, we're looking at taking 6 days off of our school year...not as bad as the 12 i had been told previously
naneb - Yes, I am NBCT 2001
Kim/1/Ca - Your wonderful day, Bradley?
naneb -
Kim/1/Ca - Congrats, naneb
Jan - Taxes on services is being talked about in CA, too, Grace.
brad - LOL, No cert yet for that Marcia (still have some classes to take to finish)
naneb - thanks
judy3ca - Brad?????
Marcia/1st/GA - so what is it, Brad?
brad - Yes, and well, heck with it. If spies are reading this and haven't figured out who I am by now, who cares?
cavey - Well Brad?????
Sharon - that doesn't matter in alabama... they'll put you in admin while youre working on it
diane - c'mon brad, spill it
Marcia/1st/GA - he's changing schools next year!
judy3ca - Well, Jan, I hate to say it but I'd rather they tax services than send property taxes up--ours are high.
brad - The paper came out the other day with the headline that my school district was "THE Worst in the STATE"
diane - ouch
Marcia/1st/GA - oh, no, Brad!
Mrs. J - Congratulations, Brad
judy3ca - OH NO!
brad - Literally of all the school districts in the great state of Ohio, mine is the very bottom of the barrel
Grace/IL - Ooooh, Brad. That's not good.
cavey - That's quite a distinction brad
Kim/1/Ca - NINE percent sales tax. Increase in car fees. MASSIVE education and health care cuts. All because he can't manage money or his legislature. The jerk.....with his fleet of SUVs and no CUTS in his salary.
Mrs. J - What happens now?
Sharon - congrats, brad... my hubbie inerited the worst district in our state a year ago... no where to go but up now!
diane - you know, the answer will somehow become more standardized testing
brad - I think so too Cavey. I want to have t-shirts made up
naneb - Look at it this way, There is lots of room for improvement!!
judy3ca - Very sorry, Brad. I'm sure everyone already reminded you of the old adage: there's nowhere to go but up.
Grace/IL - But you'll make a difference and bring it up to snuff
brad - That's what my tshirt will say, The front--I'm the BEST teacher in the WORST district in Ohio The back, "Nowhere to go but up!"
naneb - we just added more tests, these we give in March, Geez!! when do we teach?
Kim/1/Ca - Yah, nowhere to go but UP, right Brad?
judy3ca - Sharon, GMTA
Sharon - are the state people coming in to *gag* "help"?
cavey - LOL Brad, I love it!
diane - lol brad...
Jan - News in CA---Governor has proposed that 24 programs be block-granted to districts. Everyone up in arms around here!
brad - Sharon, I think they will next year. Rumor has it that they are sending in spies when we give state testing in March for fear we'll cheat just to lose the "status"
judy3ca - Jan, do you really think that's such a bad idea?
Jan - I like it, Brad!
Kim/1/Ca - Oh yes, they are coming in (gag) to smack us around. Never mind that our demographics are LOWER and test scores HIGHER than any district in our area.........minority scores fell 2 points so we are BAD and must be PUNISHED.
diane - sadly, brad, i bet there are some teachers that will cheat
Sharon - ooooooo... so they think you're INEFFECTIVE and IMMORAL?
terry3fl - brad are all schools posted and where they stand?
cavey - How do you get to be a test spy?
diane - i know that we have some in my district that do
Jan - Judy, it will hurt a lot of programs. BTSA will be ruined and this is not the time with credentialing their responsibility.
Marcia/1st/GA - that's a possible job change-test spies. I wonder who hires for that?
brad - yes, terry, this distinction comes from our state report cards which are based on "passage" rates of state testing and attendance and graduation rates
Sharon - yeah cavey... i wanna be a spy!
judy3ca - I'm almost glad we're getting a new standardized test this year because we keep driving the scores up--but it has to end sometime.
diane - what is meant by "block-granted"
brad - Which test, Judy?
terry3fl - like us in fl, we get a grade and it is aired in the paper
Kim/1/Ca - you go to test spy school, cavey. check the back of any magazine.
naneb - how can you cheat? our testing rules are so strict, We don't eve nsee the test until the day we give it and then it is locked up after testing until the next day, no way to even sneak a peak
diane - hi michelle!!
Marcia/1st/GA - It would be exciting--living life on teh edge.
judy3ca - Jan, good point, BUT--don't we all feel that way about the programs we like--and a LOT has to go, right?
Mrs. J - Our state report cards start this year
brad - Kim, is that the one where you draw the little turtle from the matchbook as an aptitude test?
Kim/1/Ca - they give you your money in building blocks. the arches are my personal favorites.
Mrs. J - You can help them while testing, nan
Jan - Block grant - money goes in chunk to district for it to allocate. Financial people will do the allocating!
judy3ca - shoot, fellow Californians, what standardized test are we getting?
cavey - Hi Michelle
Grace/IL - I knew a teacher once who just walked around the room and told the kids to change their answers -- waited until they had them correct.
Michelle - one school in Oregon seems to have cheated a few years ago.
diane - nan, there are teachers that would walk around and point to the right answers...are forms aren't locked up immediately either
judy3ca - Hi Michelle! I didn't see you come in.
Mrs. J - Yup, that's what I mean, Grace
naneb - we have proctors in the room to make sure we follow the rules and admin checks through the windows, lots of rules
Michelle - one school had 100% of it's 3rd graders pass the test. In fact, it's a school I went to in 2nd grade.
diane - michelle, are you marching on salem on monday?
Mrs. J - Our tests came shrinkwrapped last week with a big label not to open until day of testing
brad - Are you kidding? Supposed to be locked up, but mine stay on my desk overnight sometimes. Also we can have whatever on our walls even though we're supposed to coverup
Sharon - i've heard a teacher next door read part of the test to the kids (firsties) and i'm sure they did well since her voice emphasis on the correct answer was loud enough for me to hear in another room
Jan - Hi, Michelle...
Mrs. J - Who are the proctors, Nan?
Michelle - I was thinking about it...but not really planning to. You?
brad - LOL Sharon
judy3ca - I begged for proctors last year--my principal does not want to hear there's a problem.
brad - I wouldn't want to Gamble with the Proctors (ba-dum bum)
naneb - parents, navy personnel, anyone who will volunteer, every class has a teacher and a proctor
judy3ca - Sharon, ROFL
Michelle - Our tests are supposed to be locked up, but realistically I could take mine home over the weekend and no one would know the difference.
judy3ca - ouch brad
Mrs. J - We are testing our kids one on one this year
Sharon - *rolling her eyes*
Kim/1/Ca - <<<(groaning at BAD Brad)
diane - michelle, i definitely wanted to (after the legislater crap that i had to listen to in my district office last week), but i have a doctor's appointment i have waited a month for...big hairy rats
judy3ca - We have to sign ours in and out--by time.
Sharon - proctor and gamble joke... ewwww
cavey - Brad is bad, very bad
Marcia/1st/GA - hey diaper guy-you are the only one who would have thought of P & G joke!
brad - Hey I don't want to hear it. You lousily governed Californians don't even know what test you're getting
Michelle - We had a good laugh in math today...
Marcia/1st/GA - Brad is a bad dad on a diaper fad.
naneb - the counselors deliver the tests in a plastic tub with all needed material, we have to sign for them and then they pick them up at the end of testing each day, tests must not be left alone without a teacher and a proctor
brad - Marcia, I'm just north of Cincy, P and G's a MAJOR deal around here
judy3ca - ROFL Brad--you can see how much I care about testing--I can't even remember the name of the new one.
Mrs. J - What are they afraid will happen? Do they think a kid will swipe a test and study?
diane - do tell, michelle
Kim/1/Ca - Yesterday.......Steven and Cheyenne came in during lunch to write in their journals. Cheyenne says, "I'm gonna write about an indian."
Jan - nan, that is the way districts here do it, too. Proctors used in every class.
Michelle - In Investigations, there's an assignment in third grade where you have to write down the names and ages of your pets, then you graph them at school and compare the ages of the oldest pests our class has to the oldest pets in the Guinness Book...
brad - Is there an armored car, Nan??
naneb - I think they expect teachers to keep a copy and teach it to the kids
Kim/1/Ca - Then she adds, "I'm half Indian." Steven looks over and says, "YEAH? me too!"
Marcia/1st/GA - are you telling me you are geographically enriched then?
naneb - practically Brad
Sharon - tests can come up "missing" and they have
brad - We have previous versions of the test we're supposed to "teach" to our students
Mrs. J - Is it the SAME test every year?
diane - how so, michelle
Sharon - yep... until they change like this year
Kim/1/Ca - So I ask, "which tribe?" and Cheyenne looks puzzled. "Which side?" she repeats.
brad - If by that, you're asking, "Is Prell half-price?" then No, marcia
Michelle - Well...the oldest cat belonged to Sierra's grandpa. Sierra's grandpa's cat's name is Pooper. So we had to compare Pooper's age with the guinness age. I had to say Pooper so many times...
Mrs. J - Our test is different every year
Michelle - It was hard to keep going.
naneb - we have given the Mississippi Curriculum test for three years and I don't know if the version is different each year, I have never given the same test two years in a row
brad - In the Non-important years (the ones not on state report cards) it is the same test each year. Switches about every 4-5 years, so we hve the last version
Kim/1/Ca - Steven looks up. He points to the left side of his face. "It must be THIS side," he says seriously.
diane - pooper??
judy3ca - Michelle, ROFL
Marcia/1st/GA - Michelle, that is so funny.
Sharon - rofl
Marcia/1st/GA - Kim, lol
cavey - Lol at kim and Michelle
Sharon - kim... he DIDN'T!
Michelle - yep. I finally had to ask Sierra about the name. She said that when it was a kitten "all it did was eat, sleep, and poop"
Grace/IL - Oh, Kim, half and half --LOL
Mrs. J - Right now, language arts and math are tested in fourth, seventh, and tenth
terry3fl - Our Florida Curriculum Test is different and with the same strict rules and protection on it.
Mrs. J - Social studies and science in fifth, eighth, and eleventh
Marcia/1st/GA - I love those moments. And just think, their parents never know what a joy they can be, do they?
naneb - my 8th graders were all in an uproar becasue I said a s s, I was talking about an animal
Kim/1/Ca - So, then Steven says, "when i'm a dad, i'm going to get a big dragon tatoo on my stomach."
Sharon - lol!
Grace/IL - Michelle, just like babies -- eat, sleep, poop
Marcia/1st/GA - Kim, the ambition!
Kim/1/Ca - I pause and then say,"well, steven....that might hurt."
brad - OH, Nan, mine flip if you're talking about a dam. Makes it a bear when you're studying beavers or water conservation
Kim/1/Ca - He looks thoughtful. Then he says, "Nah...I'll do it myself!"
Sharon - i've got that beat, kim... i had a little boy who wanted a tutu... when i asked why he said cuz his dad had one on his arm and it was cool
cavey - LOL Kim
brad - Jan, when you say 24 programs, what do you mean?
Mrs. J - humps is what gets mine (as in camel)
Michelle - that's funny, kim.
Kim/1/Ca - SO later on.......we are writing letters to our pens pals in Iowa. I ask them how to start the letter since they don't know their pen pal's name yet. we agree on "Dear."
judy3ca - Nan and Brad, yup know the feeling, when I taught middle school I learned to say, "Now please turn to the page after page 68."
judy3ca - tutu--ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Jan - Brad, they are the state-funded categorical programs---ELL, mentoring, staff development, etc.
Kim/1/Ca - I ask, "Dear..........." waiting for a kid to pipe in with "friend." NOTHING.
Marcia/1st/GA - NO, Judy!
Kim/1/Ca - So I say again, "DEAR.........." with hands waving around. Scott looks up and says, "Dear.....Customer."
diane - i have a sweet writing story...my 2nd grade buddy and i started writing the "i am" books with our students this week (book i learned from alma flor ada conference)...one of my lowest kids stated boldly "i am a genius"
brad - LOL, lately for writing, I've taken to calling their writing, "a piece." The other day for whatever reason I said, "If you are getting a piece. . ." As soon as I said it, I kind've paused, but thankfully, no reaction! Whew (and that's surprising with my sexed up crowd who laugh if you mention taking the "balls" out to recess.)
Michelle - still LOL, kim
Marcia/1st/GA - Kim, write a book. I'll buy a copy if it has a pretty cover.
judy3ca - Kim, ROFLOLOLOL
cavey - ROFLOL
Kim/1/Ca - Oh yes.....Grace's spelling program provides hours of fun word moments. Like.........Dick.
Sharon - getting a piece! rofl!
Grace/IL - Kims' a good listener -- connects with her kids.
Jan - Second grade and beyond, they take the "equipment" out to recess, brad.
brad - The other day, India innocently says, "Mr. Johnson, what do you want me to do with your balls?" Had to bite my bottom lip. Lucky no one acknowledged.
Mrs. J - Read The Sweetest Fig to my class this week. You know the picture where he's taking her tooth out?
judy3ca - Diane, that sweet story reminds me...just last week a kid struggling with math said, "I am brilliant" when she got it. Another kid jumped all over her for being conceited.
Michelle - my kids are way more innocent than brad's
diane - lol, brad
Sharon - lol!
Marcia/1st/GA - Judy,e ven equipment could cause a stir
naneb - I had a teacher come in my class one day and ask me if I had any mouse balls, my whole class fell on the floor laughing and she did not get the joke!!
brad - ROFLMAO NAN
Kim/1/Ca - Oh, they were just HORRIFIED and appalled when I said it, Grace....... After all the explanations, I say, "if you don't want to write it, you don't have to." Essence looks at me seriously and says, "If you say so..........I'll write it."
cavey - Still ROFLOL at you guys
Mrs. J - One of the kids asked why he was "all up on her like that" everyone snickered and somehow connected that to sex
diane - judy, one kid chose to start her book with "i am katie" used a technique of beginning and ending the same...except the end was "i am katie, and i am proud of it!" ohhhh...i could hav cried
Grace/IL - Obedient little gal, that Essence
naneb - we should write a book!!
Michelle - I wouldn't dare in my class. I have students who aren't allowed to write the word witch, even.
judy3ca - diane, that is darling!
Marcia/1st/GA - Gee, I feel kind of left out. My kids have just been acting smart all week....
brad - Nobody EVER says my kids are darling! ROFL MAO
diane - sad brad
naneb - Why is it when you set a video camera in a classroom the kids turn into idiots?
Grace/IL - Gee, Michelle, how are you going to teach 'tch'?
Sharon - your kids are dahlin, brad
Sharon - now you can't say that no one ever says it
diane - lol grace....
Michelle - dunno, Grace.
Kim/1/Ca - Oh, Lordy......... some of my kids are SO affectionate. Today several of them are just cuddling up against me in line outside. Stephanie has her hands all over my ............. chest. Very innocently. I catch the teacher next to me just biting his lip to keep from laughing out loud.
naneb - I tried to video our questioning discussion and they all acted like fools!
diane - i have to say, i'm in love with my kids today...maybe not on tuesday, of course... :-;
Jan - LOL, Nan...they do act like idiots when they see the camera!
Mrs. J - itch, pitch, um.....ditch, glitch
brad - Nan, if there's video going, I try to set it up for a few days and pretend it's running. After a while they ignore. At first, though, it's "Make Me Laugh"
judy3ca - Okay you guys, here's my favorite story: I was teaching second grade. Parent conference. I said to the dad, "Harry is a wonderful boy...blah, blah, and the speech teacher is going to reevaluate him." "Speech problem, what speech problem?" says the dad. "Well, you notice he pronounces his Rs like Ws, so his name is Hawwy?" The father slammed his hand down on a desk and exclaimed, "Dam, I knew I should have named him Bob."
diane - oops...that was supposed to be
Sharon - do they reach up your skirt to rub your nylons when they're on the floor, kim?
Marcia/1st/GA - I had an impromptu questioning lesson today that just ROCKED. I wish I had been videotaped
Sharon - my kids are fascinated with nylons
naneb - LOL!! Judy !! too cute!!
Grace/IL - batch, hatch, catch, latch
Kim/1/Ca - they rub my calves and my pull my socks up for me.
diane - judy that's hysterical!!
Sharon - erm... when the KIDS are on the floor... not your nylons
Michelle - LOL Judy.
brad - Marcia, ain't that the way?
Grace/IL - ROFL, Judy
cavey - OOh Sharon.. Connection.. mine always did that!
brad - Mine love to talk about my gray
diane - i have a kid that likes to trace the patterns on my wild socks...when i wear ribbed tights, she'll track those tights all the way up....ALL the way up...
naneb - Marcia, the one we had the day before the video was unbelievable, I wanted to tape them but, no such luck, it was awful
Jan - LOL, Judy!
judy3ca - Even my third graders rub my legs and shoes.
Marcia/1st/GA - Oh, I finally thought of a story. The worst Christmas present ever I got this year---
brad - And boys are just fascinated with the bearded area. Not a lot of males at home with my population, I guess
Michelle - when I taught 1st grade, they would run their hands on my calves. I made sure I shaved all year.
judy3ca - And one kid told me that
judy3ca - And one kid told me that
judy3ca - And one kid told me that
judy3ca - And one kid told me that
naneb - my kids do not rub my legs, I would send them to the counselor if they tried!!
judy3ca - oops......
Kim/1/Ca - LOL naneb.....
Mrs. J - LOL, nan
Marcia/1st/GA - I received Bath and Body Words trial size hair products---for color treated hair!
diane - yes, marcia?
naneb - Judy, is stuttering
Marcia/1st/GA - I thought I was keeping it a big secret too!
Kim/1/Ca - You guys remember the Megan story? Or did I tell you that one? My little autistic girl?
diane - too funny, marcia
naneb - Ha!! Ha!! Ha!! marcia!! ROFLMAO!!
judy3ca - Marcia, ROFL, that's like my kid who was angry that I took my glasses off for the picture--she liked me better with them on, LOL.
Kim/1/Ca - Do they call you "gramma" by mistake, Marcia?
Marcia/1st/GA - Kim, at least they call me Mama
naneb - even my big kids will call me mom
Grace/IL - LOL, marcia
diane - i have a christmas gift story...i have a boy with a sister in the first grade
Michelle - Judy...one day I was so happy because I had gotten up early enough to really fix my hair and put in my contacts. A couple students told me they liked me better with my glasses.
cavey - Gotta go. Pinewood derby tomorrow. the boys have worked hard.
diane - he gave me the most god awful snowman sculpture thingy...we're talking absolutely hideous.
Kim/1/Ca - all the time........they laugh and laugh.....especially when the big boys do it........LL
Grace/IL - Didn't hear the Megan story.
Marcia/1st/GA - oh, and I received a beautfil assortment of gifts this week...
judy3ca - Michelle, right! What they know well....
Jan - Night, cavey. Enjoy your snow!
Michelle - cavey....Us Too!
Kim/1/Ca - Lotsa luck, Cavey.......
Michelle - Pinewood Derby....
diane - his sister gave one to her teacher and then proceeded to tell the whole class that she and her brother had a fist fight the night before...
judy3ca - Night darling cavey!
Michelle - have fun!
terry3fl - bye cavey
Sharon - i had a little girl bring a beautiful basket of cookies.... i ate one and told her that they were delicious... she said, "They were better with the powder sugar on them but I licked that off."
Grace/IL - 'Night cavey
naneb - ewwwwww!!!
cavey - Night all!
Marcia/1st/GA - a M&M figurine, a pen and an eye shadow assortment----with used brushes!
Kim/1/Ca - Well, Megan was autistic and very very interesting. She was rocking on the floor looking off into space while I am drawing and talking about a "winter tree."
judy3ca - Sharon, ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Marcia/1st/GA - good night cavey. have fun
brad - ROFL Sharon
Jan - Signing off...big day tomorrow. Night, all.
Michelle - ewwww, sharon. so gross...
diane - apparently they fought because she wanted the good snowman to take to her teacher because the one he gave me was "butt-ugly" (her words, not mine)
brad - big day??
diane - apparently he cried that i wouldn't like such an ugly thing
Marcia/1st/GA - I need to go also. good night all
Kim/1/Ca - (This was in Kinder, 2 years ago). I am asking the kids WHAT kind of tree this is, looking for "winter" and one of the boys shouts out "it's NAKED!" to big laughter........of course. In Kinder, all you have to say is "naked" or "underwear" and they go off. But I digress........
Michelle - When I taught first grade, I was going through my Christmas presents after school. I took a bite of a wonderful-smelling cookie. Turned out to be a cinnamon-applesauce ornament. Nasty!
Sharon - correction... nekkid
brad - (Kim this speaks to your issue) For some reason, my kids like "Black-eyed pea" Very odd.
terry3fl - good night marcia
judy3ca - I have a big day tomorrow, too, and I just started a great book (The Piano Tuner, Brad).
naneb - I am packing tomorrow!!
brad - Night Judy (said the boy who just started Emperor of ocean park)
terry3fl - good night judy
diane - night judy...happy reading
Michelle - good night, judy!
naneb - night Judy, Marcia and Cavey
Sharon - i'm going to read a chapter in a wrinkle in time so i can try to finish it tomorrow and get my papers written.... night all
Grace/IL - By the way, Brad, are you reading Pressley's book? Am I next on the list for it?
terry3fl - nan you must be so excited
Michelle - I was thinking of you, nan...leaving on the 21st, right?
Kim/1/Ca - So, I quiet them down and say, "yes, this is a WINTER tree...." and Megan shouts out........"YES! Mommy and daddy were in the VAN.......and they were NAKED."
diane - night sharon...
brad - OH, shoot, Grace, I completely forgot. I'll send it. Just keep emailing me until I email you I've done it
Grace/IL - Good night to all the early leavers. Sleep well!
naneb - Yes, Michelle
Michelle - oh, man. She picked up on that
terry3fl - night sharon
Sharon - brad reading the pressley book?
Grace/IL - ROFL, Kim
naneb - I am exhausted from trying to get school stuff ready but, Yes I am excited
Sharon - what chapter are you on, brad?
brad - Hey Kim, was that the van where I left off the gas cap?
brad - Sharon, Grace is talking about the Comprehension book edited by Pressley
Michelle - we have the next four days without students. Anyone else?
Kim/1/Ca - I thought my parent helper was going to lose her coffee.........she had to run outside because she KNOWS Megan's mom. Dad had just gotten back from a business trip. Megan yells out, "I kept seeing mommy's elbows........"
Sharon - oh i see
Michelle - mini-vacation, it seems.
Sharon - okie dokie... night all
brad - I'm still depending on the kindness of strangers until (hopefully) the end of this month
terry3fl - i go back tuesday
diane - i go back tuesday as well
Kim/1/Ca - musta been.........was that YOU in the van with mommy?
Michelle - I know, brad. It will be nice to buy groceries again.
brad - tuesday for me, but today was records day with no students
Kim/1/Ca - Tuesday....plus progress reports due. Grrrrr........
brad - I cannot tell a lie, Kim. . .
diane - groceries would be good...
Mrs. J - same here, brad--records day, no school monday
Michelle - we have staff inservice on Tuesday. We are going to discuss MOT
diane - i can't wait for my husband to be done with school and finds a job
brad - if the van's'a rockin'. . . \
Grace/IL - groceries are bad for you. They put on weight.
brad - Under your lead, Michelle?
Grace/IL - At least that's what Hubby says.
Michelle - well, I've already lost 10 pounds....so groceries sound good!
Mrs. J - We have a staff inservice on presidents day. A bunch of us are offering "sessions" on writing. I'm doing writing conferences for K-2
Michelle - no, but my classroom will be a peature presentation.
Michelle - feature not peature
brad - I'd like to come Michikim.
diane - lol, grace...actually i have lost 34 pounds since august (okay, so that is really SHAMELESS bragging)
terry3fl - our staff inservice is going to be a ropes course, to build team building
naneb - way to go Diane!!! go ahead and brag!!!
Mrs. J - There are four different sessions and then we repeat them so teachers can go to two--each an hour and a half long
Grace/IL - I've lost 8 since summer but it's slow going.
Michelle - I'm getting a little "bonus" check this month, too. Retroactive pay, since we signed our new contract.
Mrs. J - Now I just have to figure how much I can cram into an hour and a half
diane - terry...i have done that twice with my staff...it is AMAZING
Kim/1/Ca - OH, no, terry........NOT THE ROPES COURSE.........(running screaming from the room)
terry3fl - i have done it with juvenile delinquents and it was amazing
Grace/IL - Special K says one can lose 6 lbs in 2 weeks.
Kim/1/Ca - AMAZING?
Michelle - terry, we did that when I was in restaurant management. It was fun.
Mrs. J - YUCK!!! That wouldn't help me build a relationship with my team
terry3fl - with my team, it WILL be something!
brad - <-----thinking of what he could do with his staff and a length of rope
diane - kim...you found it to be less than amazing??
naneb - Michelle, what restaurant?
Mrs. J - juvenile delinquents...teachers...should work
Michelle - I don't think our staff really needs it, though.
Michelle - Burger King.
diane - ROFLMAO, brad
Grace/IL - Oh, Brad -- groan!
Kim/1/Ca - I find it to be silly. sorry, diane........... i'll shut up now.
naneb - my husband worked for Hardees
Mrs. J - It's REQUIRED?
Kim/1/Ca - LOL michikim........juvenile delinquents, teachers, ropes...........hee hee hee........
Michelle - Our franchise owner had a warehouse with the ropes course all set up. It was fun (a lot more fun than running a restaurant.
terry3fl - Well I saw it change a group of kids, but our team, it will take a miracle
diane - our staff is soooo small that things like that really work for us...
brad - Hey, don't blame me. There IS a reason we're the lowest in state
naneb - hard work isn't it?
diane - mostly though, it's just really personally challenging (high ropes)
Kim/1/Ca - My husband works for Sport Chalet. Their doofus asst. manager made them all do it and they were less than thrilled. Most were very annoyed.
Mrs. J - I don't go to work to exercise, I think I'd feel the need to be ill that day, LOL!
terry3fl - ours will be high and low
brad - <----thinking of various ways he can p--- his staff off next week
Kim/1/Ca - WE had to build our team by passing HULA HOOPS around a circle without touching it with our hands.
Michelle - Teaching is nothing compared to restaurant management!
Mrs. J - So when are you going to tell us what they did, Brad. Or was it just the worst school thing?
Kim/1/Ca - Let me help you think, brad...........hmmmm.........
terry3fl - we are going to a camp, Mrs. J most of my team will probably not show either
naneb - I agree, Michelle 70 hour weeks and no pay!!
brad - I need no help in that area Kim
diane - we went sea kayaking this year...good, but not nearly as good as ropes and zip line
Grace/IL - How about building team by passing lifesavers on toothpicks (in one's mouth)?
brad - I can be a very malicious person
diane - ewwwww...grace
brad - Too close for comfort Grace
Kim/1/Ca - I tells ya.........I felt so close to them all after THAT.....(wiping a tear)
Michelle - yuck, grace
Kim/1/Ca - Oh, no, GRACE! say it ain't so........
brad - How about building a team by EXAMINING STUDENT WORK TOGETHER??? Hmmmm
Grace/IL - Old party game
Michelle - brad....we tried that....spent one hour on one paper.
naneb - we just go out to dinner and a night at the casinos!!
brad - or having a PROFESSIONAL BOOK CLUB?
terry3fl - actually that's what our january inservice was about brad
Michelle - and that's just my grade-level!
Mrs. J - Now that sounds more like it, nan
Kim/1/Ca - How about building a team by acting like professionals.........not nit picking and tattling, and back biting little jealousies............
brad - From what I read, that's how it goes, Michelle
Kim/1/Ca - Yeah, a BOOKless Book Club.
brad - (standing O for Kim with polite clapping) Bravo!
Michelle - we have a professional book club, and a fiction book club.
Mrs. J - Sing it, sister Kim
Michelle - gee, my school sounds pretty good.
diane - i think i'm glad that our staff is so small...it's hard to be back-biting...you'd look like a total jerk
brad - With a school like that, though, diane, I think that situation could be even worse than in a large school
brad - small town mentality and all
Kim/1/Ca - I'm singing it, Brad.......actually, that torks people off. I should'nt be singing with my kids.....wastes time. "Who has that kind of time?"
terry3fl - mine too michelle, ut there is always a few who want to remain the same year after year, I happen to be on their team. I have a lot of other support at school though.
Grace/IL - Our staff was small. By springtime everyone was fighting like siblings. By fall, couldn't wait to see each other.
brad - No singing??
diane - true, brad, but...we've been lucky to hire like-minded professionals. it is strangely idealic...now, the parents can be difficult, but they mostly think we're doing a good job...even if school looks different from how they remember it
Michelle - we have a large staff. It's not too hard to avoid negative people, unless they are on your grade-level team.
Mrs. J - no singing, no recess, no bathroom, no lunch, time on task ya know
naneb - I just stay out of the teacher's lounge
naneb - and......... LOTS of Testing!!
diane - no bathroom? are they all on catheters?
brad - It goes up and down the halls too, Nan. So keep your doors closed
Kim/1/Ca - And then.........this second grade teacher today......."My professor wants us to document how we teach writing. In a 30-45 minute block." She is clearly horrified. Her table mate says, "Oh, yeah, like you're going to do WRITING in JOURNALS." (rolls eyes) She responds, "Oh yeah, like i can even get them to WRITE on their worksheets.So I'm gonna fake it."
Grace/IL - But no singing? How will the kiddos ever memorize what they need to know?
terry3fl - my best support is found on the mosaic ring though.
brad - (another standing O with polite clapping) Bravo, Nan!
naneb - I am a sped teacher so I can avoid 99% of all of the spit and fury!!
brad - (shuddering from Kim's information)
Michelle - no way, kim. wow.
diane - oh god, kim, that's absolutely painful!!!
terry3fl - in fact i talk about it so much, my tec rep told me today she is going to see if my time spent with you all can earn me inservice points!
brad - I confronted my lit coach today and point-blank asked her what "passes" for reading instruction in first.
Michelle - my mouth would be hanging open, just hearing that.
diane - off topic, but i am absolutely starving...where's my husband with dinner???
naneb - I am using y'all as part of my porfolio for my evaluation
Grace/IL - Those teachers need to peek into Kim's room.
Mrs. J - ooh, what did she say?
Grace/IL - Brad -- and she said?
Kim/1/Ca - Tell me.......I just stood there and looked at her, perplexed. This is the same teacher who proudly showed me a SHELF of books she uses. But her kids aren't allowed to touch them. NO time to read actual books.......they have the basal you know.
diane - good for you, brad
Mrs. J - dinner? what time is it there? Isn't it 9?
Kim/1/Ca - diane.....he called and said he hit traffic at that intersection.
brad - She said that she really didn't feel she could speak to it, because she's never been able to stay for a whole lesson. She says she catches snippets of good teaching when she's in there testing, but. . .
naneb - He ate yours too so, he had to go back for more
brad - I think she was hesitant. It's a new position and she's new to building
Kim/1/Ca - She raised her eyebrows at me and I just decided I had to let it go........I have to regroup for that one.
naneb - brad, see if you can go observe a class
diane - sadly, kim, it is 9:00...i don't usually eat this late...last time i tell him to bring dinner after school...i think i got his schedule mixed up and forgot that this is late class night...oops
Mrs. J - she's a coach and she's not sure what the first grade teachers are teaching?
Michelle - kim, that reminds me of the dude I student taught under. Had an entire bookshelf full of great books, but wouldn't let the kids touch them. They could only read the basal or books they checked out from the library.
Grace/IL - What does she consider good teaching? Ask her to elaborate.
Mrs. J - Or how?
Michelle - why have the books if they can't touch them?
Kim/1/Ca - OOOhhh........snippets!
naneb - I just ordered more books from Schholastic
brad - I just figure the opposite of what I'm doing (cause they can't handle what I ask and expect from entering second graders) is worksheet teaching. But I'll be dipped if they can't truly figure out a worksheet without help either, so I'm not sure what in the h they're doing
diane - brad, do you have the opportunity to observe others at your school?
Kim/1/Ca - time to make a sandwich, diane.........
Mrs. J - OK, I have a confession. I have some books I won't let the kids touch
naneb - diane, just order Pizza
brad - You know, the observation thing has been mentioned as an option since we have the lit coach this year. I don't think anyone's taken up on it yet, but I just may
naneb - I have my picture books that no one can touch untril I have read them for a lesson
terry3fl - ana i just ordered from bookcloseouts, and the train story from buy.com
Kim/1/Ca - So do I, Michikim....but I have MANY MANY MANY more they can touch.
diane - low carb, no bread...will have to eat big hunk of meat....lol
naneb - I got the train story from Scholastic and Because of winn Dixie and biographies too
diane - of course, brad, you may be horrified by what you observe, but it might be a good way to understand more fully where your school's "issues" are
terry3fl - i still have books i haven't put on shelves
diane - nan, my kids absolutely adored winn-dixie
Mrs. J - What grade would you recommend Because of Winn Dixie for--as an independent read?
Grace/IL - Y'all made me hungry. Need to go get some popcorn.
naneb - listen to this, my lowest kids who started the year as virtually non-readers just finished a 3.0 book and all of them got 100 on the AR test woo hoo!!!
Mrs. J - Mmmmmm, made me think of that kettle corn that
Kim/1/Ca - i can look it up, kim.........hang on
Mrs. J - n the pantry
terry3fl - nan do you do certification levels with ar?
naneb - 3rd or 4th grade probably
diane - mrs j, i have kids that read winn dixie as third graders...certainly not all of them, but enough
Mrs. J - oops--sitting in the pantry
brad - I was doing a sort for /ie/ sound last week. (This was the situation I presented to lit coach) It was a list of words to cut out and manipulate into two columns, /i/ and /ie/. They COULD NOT even read many of the words (very simple one-syllable words) to do the sort and it ended up being a lesson on blending and segmenting and phonemic awareness to "hear" the sound of /ie/. That, to me, is uncalled for. Am I being unreasonable to ask that my kids have some decoding knowledge when they enter second
Michelle - I finally got official approval to not do Into English anymore! Yay!
Mrs. J - Try third, Brad
naneb - we are just beginning AR so I have not done that this year, I am not wild about AR, my kids read more willingly last year when they didn't have to take a test
Mrs. J - That's how I feel this year
Michelle - Now I don't have to write it in my lesson plans every week. (I already wasn't teaching it)
brad - lol michelle
diane - LOL, michelle
terry3fl - well the first level is independent reader. my asperger boy jordan made it this week. You should heard him hooting and hollering!
Mrs. J - How many of you have to turn your lesson plans in to someone?
brad - here, michikim
naneb - good for him, Terry
Kim/1/Ca - I wish I could get that same reprieve, Michelle.........sigh. So I just WRITE it down.
Michelle - We do. It's a district requirement.
diane - not here, mrs j
Grace/IL - Speaking of AR, locally the point winners got picked up and taken to school on the fire truck.
naneb - we have to have them in a notebook on our desk, last year we turned them in
Kim/1/Ca - Our principal supposedly comes by every monday to check them........she hasn't been in since before Christmas.
naneb - brb
terry3fl - he was a non reader last year, we have worked hard, he is reading up a storm and loving it
diane - nan, i would HATE ar
Mrs. J - end of week or beginning of the week Brad and Michelle?
brad - Friday by noon
brad - for the following week
diane - ahhh...cheese...
Mrs. J - You have got to be kidding, Brad?
Kim/1/Ca - we still have to write down everything.....i complained bitterly about documenting the standards and got the approval to color code........"langaage development" "phonics and spelling" "math," etc.
Grace/IL - Sirens blaring and all
Michelle - I don't like AR. Our school has a big incentive program, just began this year..without teacher input. The point goals are so high that very few students reach any of the "levels" for the rewards.
Mrs. J - Maybe that's why you are the worst school!
brad - why, michikim. i don't think that's unreasonable.
Michelle - I only have a handful of students who actively participate. I don't push it at all. It's completely up to them.
brad - color code how kim?
Mrs. J - My principal got a flier on AR. She held it up and started to ask me what I thought about it and I didn't even let her get the words out of her mouth. She threw it away
naneb - we focus on percent correct and not points, we have a class period for AR, if they have 85% correct it is a 100 A
Michelle - LP's must be in by Monday morning.
Grace/IL - Teachers were waiting at the door to cheer them as they walked in.
terry3fl - it is a program that can be easily misused and worthless
Kim/1/Ca - I use markers.....put little dots next to what I am doing to show what it is........in my opinion, they are for ME and nobody else.
diane - well, of course, we wouldn't want the kids to be motivated to read by the sheer joy of it, would we grace??
Mrs. J - You are expected to have your lesson plans turned in on Friday for the following week?
brad - You can't TELL what it is otherwise, Kim??
brad - Yes, Michikim
Kim/1/Ca - Amen, terry and michikim.........a FIRE TRUCK? Oh brother........
Mrs. J - Full lesson plans or just a sketch?
Grace/IL - I agree, terry. I saw it used as the primary reading program in one school.
brad - full
naneb - I set my kids point goals really low and give them a book if they meet their goal
naneb - but I expect them to have at least an 85% average percent correct on the tests
terry3fl - I set goals and individualize it, i have class goals, and it has been very successful for me
brad - if by sketch you mean "Read 'when relatives came', do comp. q's p. 28
Grace/IL - It HAS made a difference for mony students here, though.
Michelle - I have several kids who don't like to take the tests. That's fine with me. I'd rather they spend their time reading and responding how they like.
Mrs. J - OK, I am preparing to be blasted here, but I don't see the point in that. I have a plan for the week, but I plan in depth a day ahead based on what I learned about the kids and their needs that day
Kim/1/Ca - I certainly CAN but I have to SHOW it. She does make OTHERS put in the standards but I think she knew if she pushed me on this I would go back to my old district. It is wheel spinning and time consuming. I am competent. I shouldnt' have to waste my precious, precious time.
diane - maybe it's because i don't have to turn in any lp, but it seems that it would at least hold some teachers more accountable? am i way off base?
Grace/IL - many, not mony
naneb - our AR coordinator prints out reports and circles students below 85% for you to work on, geez, some of these kids will take test on other kids numbers if they are mad at them it is a big pain
Mrs. J - I would have no objection to turning in my plans on Friday for the week I just taught
Grace/IL - I agree, michikim
brad - Okay, here's my thing with this (and it always shuts up teachers for some reason and no one responds, but I want them to): If, as you should, you are using standards to plan anyway, how much harder is it to write them down
diane - we have one teacher that has been doing...gasp...dioramas (okay, so we have one of us that isn't quite with us)...would love to see her state which standard she is addressing...
terry3fl - i am sure it's different at your level, i see a big difference this year from 2nd to 3rd with the same kids
diane - these aren't shoe boxes either...they're big cardboard boxes....
Mrs. J - Write the lesson plan down or the standard?
Kim/1/Ca - Oh, no, diane! LOL
brad - standard
naneb - we have to have objectives, benchmarks, procedures and assessments for each day on our plans
Grace/IL - Never had to turn in lessen plans. I was lucky!
Mrs. J - Nothing ever shuts me up Brad (except maybe sleep!)
Kim/1/Ca - naneb.......I could never do that. When could you actually TEACH? That is just awful.
terry3fl - i agree somewhat brad, but what if your using curriculum that state adopted and the standards are in there, don't you think that is redundant
brad - I'm supposed to Nan, but I kind've fudge assessmsent and just say, Anecdotal record or Observation
Mrs. J - You can teach the standards without teaching every child the same standard at the same time.
diane - like i said, i don't have to do them, but the big complaint that i have heard about it is the resentment at not being treated as professionals...
naneb - It is just a little box, for each part, I write really simple things
brad - Explain, Terry
naneb - Brad, that is what I do, in fact I hardly ever change that column
brad - Me too. Like nan. Not that hard. (PA) B2. Phonemic Awareness.
Grace/IL - Heading out. 'Night all.
Michelle - g'night, grace.
brad - I don't have to change the standard column much because it's usually the same standard all week
Mrs. J - I've never had to turn them in either
terry3fl - We have a state adopted reading series, the standards are listed for each lesson. If it is there, do I have to put the standard in my plans too?
naneb - we write the objective on the board and kids write it in their planner, what gets me is when I go into another classroom and see questions page 27 as their objective
Kim/1/Ca - Absolutely, Terry! That is IT exactly and that is the argument I used. If the board has adopted certain curriculum, then it is IMPLIED that the standards are addressed. Plain and simple. Redundant is the word.
brad - The Florida standarxs are in your readiang series?
Mrs. J - ugh, cranky children in Michigan
terry3fl - yes
terry3fl - and SCI and SS
terry3fl - actually Math too
brad - HOW?
terry3fl - In the TE's
Mrs. J - Did your state just use national standards?
terry3fl - But when I use other curriculum I list the standards I am addressing
brad - First of all, my district's standards and the state standards are the EXACT SAME.
naneb - no one ever checks my lesson plans, I don't think they have been in my room except to ask me a computer question, It is so nice to be ignored
terry3fl - no Florida's Sunshine State Standards
Kim/1/Ca - What do you mean, brad, HOW? The state has standards. The textbook publishers have to be approved by the state. So.....they have to meet standards. SO.......it is only logical.
brad - And I know Kim doesn't use adopted curriculum materials ALL THE TIME/
terry3fl - my districts are the same as the state too of course
diane - i agree, nan...i'm the only one of us that get's ignored...i love that
Kim/1/Ca - Yeah, well.........your mama wears army boots.
Mrs. J - Yes, but they don't make a different text for each state
Michelle - Sometimes I wish to go back to the good ol' days of being ignored. New teachers have been in my room all year, off and on, to observe. Sometimes I get tired of it.
brad - OH, In ohio, we do not have state adopted textbook series. It is an individual district decision
naneb - Brad, I have started using Rewards with my 6th graders and they are doing it, I am so excited to see their progress
diane - same with oregon, brad
Mrs. J - same here brad--and we don't have one (a reading series)
Kim/1/Ca - Oh yes.....California's are HARDER because Governer Jerk has mandated HIGH STANDARDS.
Mrs. J - or a science text
diane - seems to me that i have a basal somewhere and maybe even a health text, but i haven't used either of them...never have to use textbooks
Michelle - No, the state has textbook adoptions...several...and the district may choose from those.
terry3fl - Well the curriculum is district adopted, by our Florida standards are right in there, and come with a computer disc too that we can print with the standards matched to the lessons
naneb - my Superintendent sent me an email and he wants a copy of my national board videos, Yikes!! I did not expect anyone else to ever see them
brad - But I don't agree. No textbook series will ever cover all of your standards, it's just impossible. Anyone using the textbook series as their curriculum is doing their students a disservice. JUst my Ho
brad - Okay, now I know what you're talking about because our math series has that same CD
Mrs. J - But the standards addressed in the TE wouldn't be identical to your state's would they?
diane - michelle, at our math text caravan, we were told our district could choose any, just get it approved by state if it wasn't on the list
Kim/1/Ca - OF course, Brad... you the teacher make sure needs are met. But we should not have to document STANDARDS next to lessons in the plan book that are based on ADOPTED curriculum.
brad - Maybe the standards in Ohio (which are indicators by the way) are better set up and more easily understood than those in other states, but it's really no sweat off my back to write them in my plans
terry3fl - Well they have to be all in there. But I do use other things and do write the standards then
Michelle - OK, I guess that's what I meant....state Approved texts. Oh well.
brad - (NS) C3. Addition facts up to 18
brad - Took me five seconds
Michelle - after all, Investigations is approved by Oregon, but many of the Math standards are completely unaddressed.
terry3fl - Are your standards online, I'd love to compare
brad - Um, yeah, www.ode.gov I think
Mrs. J - I'm confoozled--the textbook companies actually have separate TEs for each state?
naneb - I bet almost every state follows the NCTM standards for math
brad - No, I don't think so, but some of the bigger states have particular books geared to them. I know with our math series there is a "testing practice" booklet just for Ohio
Kim/1/Ca - Yes, they do........California's are usually "harder." Which is why so many school kids don't "meet the standards."
brad - There's also one for Cali and Michigan, states with big populations
terry3fl - Another thing I did one year was copy all the standards and date when I used them and place that document in the back of my plan book
naneb - http://marcopolo.mde.k12.ms.us/frameworks.html
diane - okay, i've gotta run
Kim/1/Ca - ours too.....cde.gov, i think....
Mrs. J - My district uses Investigations and we have to use it page by page and we have a pacing guide--same with science, so I wouldn't feel any obligation to write the standard in
terry3fl - Mrs. J text books company want to make their money and I think with standards based ed they are doing it now
diane - night all!!
Kim/1/Ca - Gotta run too.......very very tired. droopy, even.
Mrs. J - Which math series do you use, Brad
terry3fl - night
Michelle - michikim, do you do anything else outside of Investigations for measurement or probability?
brad - Kim, you party pooper. It's the great standard debate and you're wimping out
Kim/1/Ca - good night all........
brad - harcourt
Michelle - bye, kim.
brad - You mean, what series does my district use?
brad - lol
Kim/1/Ca - I am not wimping out. I am too tired to argue standards....can't think coherently.
Kim/1/Ca - eYou later, alligator........
Mrs. J - We address it more in science (the measurement) Nothing else for probability
brad - Michelle, last year in 3rd, I had to supplement because Investigations doesn't talk about weight or volume in measurement
Michelle - here's my whine...my arms are so tired, I can barely type. just returned from the gym before logging on here.
Mrs. J - The district is realizing we have some holes though, so we might have something to supplement soon
Mrs. J - LOL, Brad
Michelle - Investigations sure misses a lot in measurement! Our state test has a lot of questions regarding probability, so we have to suppliment that section too.
brad - I'm glad you brought it up Michelle, reminds me of Bridges LOL
brad - I don't like how I'm handling Math this year.
Michelle - well...I need to go. Basketball game and Pinewood Derby both tomorrow.
terry3fl - brad do you think the standards help you or hinder you as a teacher?
Michelle - see you later.
brad - help. Nite michelle
Mrs. J - Night
brad - what about you, terry?
naneb - terry, are you going to the workshop in Birmingham?
terry3fl - night michelle
Mrs. J - I'm going to go too. Hockey, American Girls meeting, and swinging by the school
naneb - nite Michelle, nite Kim
terry3fl - brad, once i became comfortable totally helped me
brad - I like standards. I see them as a good thing.
terry3fl - nan, i am trying my best i really want to
terry3fl - I agree
naneb - I sent my money in to go
brad - What I don't like is all this FREAKING testing
terry3fl - my teaching became more focused and my expectations
brad - with more coming down the pike
terry3fl - I HATE the testing
brad - And I don't like my district's reporting system. It's not standards-based AT ALL
naneb - I agree Brad, we jsut added Standards Mastery from Rennaissance Learning we are going to do it 3 times a year
terry3fl - is that star nan?
brad - WE have benchmark testing in reading and writing every month plus standardized in Fall and Spring, plus state testing in March. ANd then there will be monthly testing for math next year. Plus above 3rd, they have trimester science benchmark testing
terry3fl - oh that is bad!
brad - I was just saying to my hall partner today, "yeah, I suppose we better halt all this testing and administer that third benchmark sometime soon
terry3fl - assess assess, and when do we teach??
brad - Halt all this TEACHING I mean
naneb - no, it is a new series of test that supposedly test the state standards, if a student scores above a set score 2 times in a row you mark it mastered, scantron test run through the Accelerated Math scanner and the computer records results and mastery of objectives
terry3fl - actually i remember hearing about that nan
brad - I tried and I tried when i was on that math committee (and the head of dept. agreed with me) to make the math testing "down and dirty" and something you could incorporate and still have time to teach a lesson that day, but the board wasn't having it.
naneb - Now, our pirnicpal told everyone that they are going to write an IEP for eachstudent who scored minimal in any area last year
naneb - boy I cannot type
terry3fl - we have iep and then aip
brad - that sounds like the district where my kids go Nan. They have to do that for the bottom five in their class
naneb - these are not sped kids, this is for regular ed teachers
terry3fl - IEp is for ESE and AIP is for at risk (academic improvement plan)
brad - Each teacher. reg ed
naneb - I am glad my kids already have an IEP, it is one thing to write one but another thing to follow one when you have a classfull of kids
brad - It's paperwork out the wazoo
naneb - it will be just another folder to keep track of
terry3fl - but all i all, i must say i still love my job! I love teaching, come what may
naneb - my kids are doing great, but I don't know if they will show that same improvement on the tests
terry3fl - my curr specialist has been working with my kids for a couple months now
terry3fl - she was telling me how they apply the strategies when she works with them
terry3fl - but ended with, "but they won't pass that test"
naneb - that's what I am afraid of too, I am going to start working on test type questions and test format
terry3fl - yes i need to also
brad - futility
terry3fl - the state comes down hard, they changed the law this year
naneb - probably
terry3fl - if they don't score a 2 on the FCAT test in March, they are retained in 3rd grade
brad - its hard to be energized though in this kind of environment
naneb - we have the same thing Terry
naneb - need to score basic, we have minimal, basic, proficient and advanced
terry3fl - looping with them I have seen so much growth, it kills me that it comes to this
brad - What is it?? do you think.
naneb - we have this big Test Prep Kickoff Pep Rally
brad - Why can't they "pass" these tests?
terry3fl - some of them need to be retained, some can't read proficiently
terry3fl - some of them can't take tests, they freeze
terry3fl - the tests are HARD, I think too hard
naneb - we get kids, and not sped kids, in 6th grade who read on a 2nd grade level, why are they in 6th grade? they have never been retained at all!
brad - But retention doesn't work. Research shows
naneb - the tests are so different from the things they do in class
terry3fl - I hate retension, but sometimes I guess it needs to happen for that very reason
naneb - but they need to be able to read 6th grade material too
terry3fl - oops retention
terry3fl - what do we do brad, what do you think ?
naneb - they need more help and earlier
brad - as far as retention?
naneb - passing thme on is not the answer either
terry3fl - as far as they can't read, what do we do with them?
naneb - these are the kids who will drop out of school
brad - Focused intervention at the point when they first struggle
naneb - I agree
terry3fl - nan, the ones we retain?
naneb - and not more of the same old stuff either
naneb - the ones who can't read
terry3fl - but what do we do now brad, that didn't happen for them, i think we are doing that more now, but it is too late for these caught in the loop
brad - And, I'm sorry, focused intervention doesn't occur in a reg classroom with just one teacher. I believe in inclusion when it's sped, but what these kids are missing is individualized instructions they didn't receive from having a literate home life
terry3fl - exactly
terry3fl - or a bad school year can do it too
naneb - I agree, Kinder neds to be phonemic awareness and reading readiness instead of learning to read, I think we are trying to do too much too early
brad - I was just saying the other day to a third grade teacher, "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to pass up at least 3 who aren't going to be able to read." I just don't have the time that those 3 students need in order to recover what they've lost PLUS give them what they should've received this year. I just can't
terry3fl - I took mine up, hoping one more year, knowing htem, and they have grown in leaps in bounds, but they are not where they need to be
brad - I think that sometimes Nan. But here's how I look at it. It's like we're not holding up higher standards of what children CAN do, but somehow, we're asking them to do too much. It's hard to explain.
naneb - why is that do you think Terry?
brad - Children in K should be "reading" and driting. They should be involved in literary activities.
terry3fl - because of family life, no literacy or support at home
brad - Terry's right, if the home life isn't there. . .
terry3fl - the ones who had that support are now ok, one is being tested for gifted now
naneb - I agree Brad, it needs to provide literacy activities with lots of print and lots of stories
brad - Then what do you mean by "too much too soon"
naneb - I have kids who have never had a book at home until I gave them one
terry3fl - and that's where my big ? is, how do I fill that gap of home, I can't
naneb - I think some kindergarten classes go right into teaching kids how to read and not providing time for them to learn what a story is and that listening to stories is fun
brad - Okay, I can see that
brad - I think K is so nutty about letters they forget the sounds
brad - lol
brad - And that it's all for nothing without a story
naneb - Like sharon's class, she expects those kids to come to her already reading but why shoud we expect first graders to be reading when they enter first grade, some are but many cannot read yet
brad - There's no meaningfulness, so there's nothing holding it all in their mind. It's just drivel and they end up hating school
terry3fl - brad have you taught younger than 2nd?
brad - no
naneb - I don't mean that sharon is wrong, but just that the curriculum is being pushed down from grade to grade too much
terry3fl - that;s happening with writing in our school, it is SO scary
naneb - it is hard to teach everything when the kids have no foundation to build on
brad - it's a house built on sand, I agree
brad - or when they have poor instruction
brad - priorities are screwed
brad - they're so worried about finishing the book . . .
terry3fl - brad you would probably enjoy looping
naneb - like my 6th graders, when I showed them how to find the parts of a word by finding the vowel sounds they were like this is it? I can do this! They finally got the whole concept of syllables
terry3fl - with the right class that is, LOL
brad - I am going to loop K-6. That way I know they have good instruction and a firm foundation
terry3fl - That would be cool, tough but cool
naneb - now, they come to me to show me how they decoded a word in their book
naneb - lots of curriculum to learn Brad
brad - i was doing the find the vowel and underline vowel pattern (word family) with my seconds last week and from this normally rowdy bunch, you could hear a pin drop. Of course, I let them use highlighters. LOL But I had a feeling I was unlocking a door
terry3fl - nan were you taught to read with phonics?
naneb - I started Rewards with the 6th graders and they are doing great
brad - could you imagine actually looping all that time.
naneb - the 8th graders are reading the passages which are about 9th grade level and graphing their results so far so good
terry3fl - I don't think I'd want to
naneb - sounds like an old one room school to me
terry3fl - 2-5 maybe
brad - what are they graphing when they graph nan.
naneb - my mom taught in one, 1-8th grade all in one room
naneb - words read correctly per minute
naneb - average is around 12- 130 wpm
naneb - oops 120 -130
brad - off topic, but Nan, don't you think the "poetry" books at raz have really dropped in quality since that pasta one?
naneb - yes, I don't like the new ones at all
brad - I was really excited about them too
naneb - hopefully they will get better
brad - It's like they found some 18 th century Mcguffey reader and made pictures to go with
naneb - that was the main reason I joined again
naneb - maybe i will email them about it
brad - My kids would be so clueless about the names of flowers and they're not exactly phonetically regular. No schema for greenery
naneb - did you get Sims to work?
brad - Nan, your graph reminded me that I wanted to do some of the progress monitoring from DIBELS our first full week
brad - There's so much I want to do. Spaghetti teaching again
naneb - I agree, it is hard to get to everything
brad - Sims works, but like I said, I'm not getting it. There was no tutorial, was there?
naneb - I don't know didn't the manual help?
brad - Well, I want to do the progress monitoring with DIBELS, (kind've like what you're talking about) but the only time I can squeeze that in is during SSR conferencing. However, I still want to keep the conferring I've got going now. . . no time
naneb - I will look for some help for it
brad - I didn't get a manual. Have you sent?
naneb - I thought I emailed it to you
naneb - I will do it again
naneb - maybe I just meant to do it
terry3fl - well guys I can't believe I made it until 1:00 am, but I am glad I did. nan I always enjoy chatting with you and brad, I am glad I had a chance to get to know you better, Goodnight.
naneb - night Terry
brad - night terry
brad - nan, I'm surprised you made it
naneb - me too, I was asleep on the couch for awhile so the nap helped
naneb - I have the house to myself all weekend and then we leave on tuesday!!
brad - I'm excited for you
naneb - I am dreading the 8 hour flight though
brad - plenty of time for reading
naneb - my husband will sleep but I know I won't sleep at all
naneb - I am going to take some Tylenol PM and hope it puts me to sleep
brad - crap hit the fan at work today
naneb - I will probably have so many emails when I get home, I guess I will sign up for the digest for the week
naneb - what happened?
brad - LOL, I know what you mean. When I signed back on after moving (3 days) I had over a hundred emails
naneb - I have 30 -40 everyday
brad - to make a long story short, some people are jealous and I'm the target.
naneb - why are they jealous?
brad - apparently I (and my partner) get away with things the others couldn't do
brad - lke plan together. . . or NOT use the reading series. . .
naneb - oh well! just keep your head up and let them stew
naneb - we call it the A faculty and the B faculty
naneb - I am on the A faculty
brad - I've offered and I've offered, but, you know. . . I said to my partner, If I really let them in on all I truly know, then they'll really think I'm a know-it-all
naneb - I do what I want because the principal knows that I am teaching
naneb - I am the only NBCT at my school so, I keep my door and my mouth shut
brad - that's how it is with me, and the principal spoke to me about it and said, don't worry, they should be the ones worrying
brad - After all---WE'RE LAST IN THE STATE!! rofl
naneb - exactly, that is why they are jealous because they know that you are doing what they should be doing
brad - Honestly, I think it takes some special acheivement to receive that honor
naneb - I think my principal is worried, we had a big increase in test scores last year and then we went to the block schedule so, he is worried that we won't have another big increase
naneb - what honor? being last in the state?
brad - yeah. You have to laugh (before you cry)
brad - Now that you've worked out kinks, what do you think of block?
naneb - It is all just statistics!! meaningless most of the time, I had a class in writing surveys and they taught us how you can use statistics to prove whatever you want
naneb - I love it for teachers but hate it for kids, I feel like i teach everyday in isolation
brad - why?
naneb - 8th graders are fine with it but 6th graders are awful
naneb - too long between classes, we see kids every other day and they just don't remember everything and they forget homework etc
brad - I see. Well I should get off here. It is late
naneb - I like 90 minute classes and I thought I would hate them but now I don't have enough time
brad - I'll prob'ly see you Sunday before you're off to London
naneb - me too, I can't believe I am still awake
brad - nite
naneb - I am planning on beig in the chatroom on Sunday
naneb - nite

 
 

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