judy3ca - Hi Grace, I loved your tote bag explanation.
Sharon - or should we call you the "totebag lady"?
judy3ca - Jinx.
Grace/IL - What's that expression -- the bag lady?
judy3ca - You're far from that, Grace.
debra - hidehoo
Sharon - sounded very organized to me!
judy3ca - Me, too.
judy3ca - I'm just relieved to know others suffer the "stuff" problem.
Sharon - looking forward to thanksgiving break, judy?
Sharon - how many days do y'all get off?
Grace/IL - While I was waiting here, I was working on a piece of counted cross stitch on a black background. Maybe I need a tote bag for new eyes.
judy3ca - Yes, and I'm almost there really because we just have 2 days of conferences (M-Tu) with Wed off.
Sharon - my sight has gone all downhill in the past year
Sharon - we have a two day week too
judy3ca - I used to do cross stitch, Grace.
judy3ca - No kids.
Sharon - but then it's off to florida to be with hubbie's family for holidays
Grace/IL - Many of the schools here get the whole week off. They have conferences for two days, then saved up their usual Veteran's Day holidat for this week.
Grace/IL - Many of the schools here get the whole week off. They have conferences for two days, then saved up their usual Veteran's Day holidat for this week.
Grace/IL - Many of the schools here get the whole week off. They have conferences for two days, then saved up their usual Veteran's Day holidat for this week.
Grace/IL - Many of the schools here get the whole week off. They have conferences for two days, then saved up their usual Veteran's Day holidat for this week.
judy3ca - But now I just have another kind of work--cooking and cleaning. These days, I'd much rather teach.
Grace/IL - Many of the schools here get the whole week off. They have conferences for two days, then saved up their usual Veteran's Day holidat for this week.
judy3ca - Sharon, do you like Florida?
Grace/IL - Judy, I took up cross stitch only after I retired. My, what happened to all those updates? Horrors!
Sharon - i love the beaches... but he's from a little bitty town called kingsley lake... between jacksonville and gainesville
judy3ca - Grace, I did cross stitch after my second child was born and I stayed home.
Sharon - did i ever tell you how i met my husband of 26 years, judy?
judy3ca - No, Sharon, and I would LOVE to hear.
Erin - Hi judy, grace and Sharon
Sharon - he was my high school teacher
Sharon - hi erin
judy3ca - ((((Erin))))
Grace/IL - Daughter Judy gave me this piece. I may disown here for it.
judy3ca - Oh Sharon, I'm gasping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sharon - lol!
judy3ca - Grace, I think I'd disown over black background.
Grace/IL - Oh, Sharon, how romantic
Grace/IL - i Erin
judy3ca - What subject, Sharon???? And did you fall in love with him as a student?
Sharon - the roughest years were the first few years of our marriage... suddenly all my old teachers and administrators were my social peers!
Erin - Was he much older than you Sharon? Or a young high school teacher?
judy3ca - Yikes! Did you marry young? Did you go to school as a married woman?
judy3ca - C'mon, let's pepper poor Sharon with questions.....
Sharon - he was a high school pe teacher and football coach... and we didn't date till after i graduated... two whole weeks later was our first date... we married a year later... i was 19 he was 29... first marriage for him too
Erin - This is good stuff judy...
judy3ca - No kidding, Erin.
judy3ca - Oh, Sharon, what a wonderful story!!!!!!!!!!!!
Erin - Great story
Erin - I met my husband while working at Vons grocery store. How about you judy?
Sharon - lol.... i still remember the days when we were first dating... his football players would hit on me and then gasp in horror when they realized that they had hit on their coaches' g'friend
Sharon - did you both work there, erin?
Erin - LOL Sharon
judy3ca - You must have been very mature, Sharon. My daughter (18) thinks older guys are icky. Her band prof winks at her and she's constantly complaining about it.
Erin - Yes I was a checker and he worked in the meat department. He wooed me with cow and chicken hearts from time to time
judy3ca - Boring....I told you I was boring....I met my husband at UCLA.
Sharon - that's not boring!
Sharon - lol erin!
Alta Rose - Hi everyone.
judy3ca - Erin, ROFLOL
Erin - When I was 18 I went out with a guy who was 28...until he started mentioning marriage and children
Sharon - cow and chicken hearts will do it every time!
judy3ca - Hi Alta
Grace/IL - I met my husband through Great Expectations -- he's more than I expected LOL
Erin - Hi Alta
judy3ca - I met my husband when I was 18.
Sharon - lol!
Erin - cavey...my filing/piling friend
judy3ca - Hi cavey!!!!!!!
cavey - Hey girls!
Erin - I met mine when I was 20 ...married at 21
Sharon - we were babies, judy!
Sharon - hi cavey
Grace/IL - This is confession night, gals. Lots of good stories.
judy3ca - Sharon, LOL, you were a baby--we didn't get married for 5 years.
cavey - OOO are we talking romance?
Sharon - how we met our husbands, cavey
judy3ca - cavey, jump in!
Erin - Yes, cavey...let's here it!!!
judy3ca - Erin, you were a baby, too!
cavey - What do you want to know?
cavey - B
Erin - I like how Sharon switches from romance to "How we met our husbands" LOL
judy3ca - How did you meet your husband?
Sharon - lol!
Grace/IL - Married the first time at 21. Met him on a blind date.
cavey - Worked at the same convenience store in college
Erin - I obviously don't know my homophones here/hear Sorry
judy3ca - Phew, another college romance.
Erin - A blind date...tell more Grace
Sharon - chicken and cow hearts at the convenience store too?
Sharon -
Alta Rose - I was introduced to mine by his best friend...
Sharon - a blind date, grace!
Erin - No, I think slurpees and hot dogs
cavey - No Sharon, hot dogs and six packs
Erin - I was close
Grace/IL - My college girl friend was engaged to his brother. They set us up.
Sharon - awww
Alta Rose - But I was still going to university (B.C.) and he was already in Alberta, so we only saw each other at Christmas and summers for a few years.
cavey - We were friends first, I was dating someone else
Erin - How long have you been married cavey?
Sharon - friends first is GOOD
Grace/IL - Girl friend (sister-in-law) still is my friend. Both husbands are long since deceased.
cavey - 15 years Erin!
Sharon - did you marry again, grace?
cavey - How about you all?
judy3ca - Gosh, I just did the math, we'll celebrate out 28th next month.
Erin - 13 years here!!! And I'm only 25
Sharon - 26 years, cavey
judy3ca - Erin, more ROFL
cavey - Very funny blondie!
Grace/IL - Yes, Sharon, I met my second husband through Great Expectations. It was worth all the effort.
Alta Rose - 15 years for us, too.
Sharon - how long have you been married, grace?
Erin - If you've followed the clues tonite you can figure out my age
cavey - But Sharon, in my cyber mind you're only 30!
judy3ca - Erin, not to mention that you once told us, LOL.
Sharon - lol... i'm 45 cavey... and feeling every bit of it tonight!
cavey - Gracie, my mom met her beau on the internet
Erin - Oh, yeah, (blushing) I forgot
Grace/IL - Married 8 years now. Telling you the length of my first marriage will REALLY give away my seniority here.
cavey - She tried Great Expectations first
Sharon - do tell!
Michelle - hey, everyone!
cavey - Hi Michelle!
Erin - Give us some clues Grace
Sharon - hi michelle
judy3ca - Oooh, I love guessing games.
Grace/IL - Great Expectations doesn't work for everyone and it's expensive.
judy3ca - That's not an official clue.
cavey - Grace, can you be my guest speaker on the Great Depression?
Michelle - I tried Great Expectations...I hated it though. I can't stand blind dates. What was I thinking?
Grace/IL - Erin, clues? Grandkids are anywhere from 22 down to 7
Erin - I figure I stick with my husband because who else would have let me go to law school, nursing school, credential classes and now my admin credential classes
Michelle - all my friends had run out of men to set me up with, though
Erin - God bless him, he's a saint
Sharon - lol... grace... my schema really did that one in... is great expectations a match-making service? i thought you meant you met him in a book club!
Grace/IL - Yep, Cavey, I can.
cavey - My mom didn't like Great Expectations either, 1500 down the drain
Michelle - any man I marry will have to be able to keep me in books.
cavey - Michelle, I've got a great brother in law in North Carolina!
Erin - Well Grace if you married young the first time and had kids right away you could be....
Michelle - me too!
Michelle - but, he's married to my sister.
judy3ca - Michelle, ROFL!
Erin - LOL Michelle
Michelle - stationed at Cherry Point. maybe I'll visit NC this summer
Sharon - jerry springer show material?
cavey - Think Charlotte Michelle
Alta Rose - Is that show still on?
Grace/IL - Well, that little envelope came from Great Expectations, I sent it in and went in for the interview, thinking my $$$ would be down the drain too. I did like the service though. Knew a lot about Hubby before I met him. We met first for lunch at a place called the Old Mill Inn -- where the song, "Down by the Old Mill Stream" was written.
cavey - You weren't around when it was written were you Gracie?
Erin - Where's brad? I'd love to know his story!!
Michelle - I met a lot of great people through GE, but just wasn't comfortable.
cavey - Brad could be in the maternity ward
Alta Rose - Is that through the internet? (Great Expectations)
Michelle - I met my son's dad in a bar. I should have known better.
Erin - Oh yeah, I forgot!!
judy3ca - LOL, Michelle.
Grace/IL - Well, we went to see Tuck Everlasting last week. He was 104 when he met the young lady.
Erin - My brother met his wife at a dance club/bar 12 years ago. We thought "Yeah right, she's not going to last" Well we were wrong
Erin - Were you alive when they drank the water Grace? You need to give us more clues
Michelle - GE is not Internet. It's video.
Alta Rose - Was that a good movie, Grace?
Grace/IL - No, Alta, Great Expectations has locations in major cities around the US. Don't know about Canada.
Alta Rose - I haven't heard of it. (Mind you, I haven't exactly been looking lately...)
Michelle - I think I would be disappointed in the movie version of Tuck Everlasting. I like the book so much
Grace/IL - Loved the movie. Of course, we can't go to anything that isn't PG rated. We're too young.
Erin - I love the book. My students love it also
cavey - Me too Michelle, I had one little girl who couldn't stop crying after she read it this year
Erin - LOL Grace
cavey - Sadie!!!!
judy3ca - cavey, that happened to a little girl in my class 2 years ago over Charlotte's Web.
Erin - Judy I sent away to Write Traits and they sent me the third grade kit for free!! I did the first lesson on Ideas this week. The kids really liked it and so did I
Grace/IL - Where's Kim? I think she must be snowed under with work. She's been quiet all week.
Sadie T - Tuck Everlasting is a remake, right? I'm sure I saw a movie version years ago.
Alta Rose - That shows how the kids really connect to those books.
cavey - Okay Grace I'm in for 1931
cavey - Am I high or low?
judy3ca - Erin, cool, I'm so glad you liked the kit. That's great! Which lesson did you do?
Erin - I'll say 1935
Grace/IL - Cavey, you're close, too close for comfort!
Erin - The first part where they go over the rubric and then look at those three different paragraphs about "Woofer". They relly did a good job of telling why one was better than the others
Erin - Another teacher is going to try to get a kit and my partner wants me to do the lesson for his class. I hope this catches on
judy3ca - Erin, that's super!
cavey - Okay, what is Write Traits?
Michelle - do any of you have an Ed. Assistant with you during the time you teach reading?
Erin - It's the writing program that goes with Six Traits
judy3ca - Do you see what I mean that all the lessons can easily be done on overheads?
Alta Rose - No.
Sharon - no assistants at our school
Erin - Vicki Spandel helped to write it
judy3ca - Michelle, not me.
Alta Rose - I have two assistants, but they work with the special needs kids.
cavey - Okay, can I get a sample?
Erin - Yes I love it. It's what I've been killing myself trying to put togehther and there it is ...all tidily put together.
Michelle - I can never figure out how I best like to use her. It's so hard to get her to understand exactly what I want her to do when she's working with small groups or individuals. That's what we are supposed to use them for.
Erin - Yes, cavey. Its the Great Source website I think. I just told them I wanted to pilot it because our school was considering it and I got it for free....$135 value
Alta Rose - Do you do GR groups, Michelle? Can she work with a group?
Erin - No assistants at our school except special ed
Alta Rose - Sorry, didn't read your last comment closely.
Sharon - alta rose... have you gone into SI yet?
Michelle - yes, alta. I guess it's just that it takes so long for me to write out the lesson plans for her...to explain exactly what I want her to do and teach the kids, that i was wondering what other people do.
cavey - I loved having an aide in Kindergarten, but don't think I'd want one now
Michelle - Fortunately for me, she is a certified teacher. She just chooses to be an Ed. Assistant because she got tired of all the work after 2 yrs teaching middle school.
Erin - Good point cavey. The aide in K was a blessing
Alta Rose - Just starting, Sharon. One of my students brought in a book he'd purchased at the book fair called "What the Animals were listening For." Beautiful book that takes place in Africa. It had lots of SI.
Erin - Michelle, couldn't she be responsible for one group? Do you have to write the lessons out for her?
Alta Rose - Thought I'd try calendar pictures as I don't have painting.
Michelle - And she's read In the Middle! I'm excited because I just checked it out from our school's book room.
judy3ca - Michelle, the Resource Teacher pushes into my room every day for 30-60 minutes (I still don't understand how long she's supposed to be there) and, as far as I'm concerned, she's pretty worthless.
Erin - Someone at my school was giving the old edition away today. I thought "How could someone leave this with a FREE sign on it?"
Michelle - but I'm responsible for the kids' learning. Maybe I'm too controlling. I agree, it would be easier not to have her.
cavey - Resource for reading Judy?
judy3ca - Erin, ooooh, MY version!
Michelle - I'm reading the old edition, but it's worth the price.
Alta Rose - Michelle, could you write out a "framework" that she could follow with any GR group?
judy3ca - cavey, resource for writing--for 1 kid.
Michelle - you all will just have to fill in the details for me about what's added to the new edition
cavey - Well, Judy, I'm sure that's really helpful...
Erin - For one thing the cover looks very different
Michelle - no...each of my GR groups has completely different needs. I only have half my kids in GR groups right now, with 4-5 groups at a time. Each group designed for specific needs. Like i said, I'm too picky.
judy3ca - cavey, I need to see your face as you say that...
cavey - Are we done with Graves?
cavey - You know what my face is saying Judy.
Erin - The Graves thing did kind of go away didn't it?
judy3ca - ROFL
cavey - Was Graves too much preaching to the choir for us?
Erin - And that Results one got way out of hand for me...too much in my life to follow all those links and more articles to read.
judy3ca - I'm nowhere near done with Graves. I haven't even picked it up since I last talked to you, cavey, I think that was chapter 6.
cavey - Okay, so what about a nice Danielle Steele?
Erin - It felt a little basic. I'd like to revisit Wondrous Words later...now that i'm doing the workshop thing
Alta Rose - I meant to try and borrow it from the college library, but was too busy lately with reports and conferences.
judy3ca - Not preaching to this choir, I like the Graves, I just have no time (probably because I'm here).
Erin - I was thinking more in depth cavey....Mary HIggins Clark, perhaps?
judy3ca - Hi Brad
Michelle - brad in basic black tonight.
cavey - Well, there he is, not in the maternity ward after all
Erin - I liked some parts of the Graves book. Like I told judy...it helped me in the way I converse with my students and conference with them
Erin - (((brad)))
brad - depth and Mary Higgins Clark do not belong in the same sentence
Alta Rose - We thought maybe you were a new daddy tonight!
brad - we have about 3 weeks until that day
Grace/IL - Brad, I've been waiting to hear from you.
brad - Anything specific Grace?
cavey - That's what you think Daddio!
Erin - Let's take bets....
Grace/IL - You were going to email me.
judy3ca - Sharon, so glad you're back!
cavey - I'm in for D Day!
Erin - Sharon...and brad stole your color while you were goine
brad - Sorry Grace. Refresh my memory
Erin - gone, duh
Michelle - Dec. 4 would be good...or Dec 6
Grace/IL - You want to write books.
Erin - Dec 4 is my mom's birthday...a wonderful day
Michelle - those are my and my son's birthdays, respectively.
Alta Rose - I say Dec. 7th. (Daughter's birthday.)
brad - OH, yeah, yeah.
judy3ca - Yikes, Alta, that's a sad day here.
Alta Rose - Isn't it fun to have a kid's birthday so close to Christmas, Michelle?
Sadie T - Wow, there are a lot of early December birthdays in this group!
Sadie T - Wow, there are a lot of early December birthdays in this group!
Michelle - my son was my birthday present to myself. the gift that keeps on giving
Erin - Brad if people have to remind you that you want to write books...?
Grace/IL - Dec. 8 or 9 would be nice (Brother and Father's birthdays.)
Alta Rose - Yes, I know, Judy.
brad - I do hope it's early December. I really don't want it that close to Christmas.
Alta Rose - She was born 49 years after Pearl Harbour.
Michelle - I never liked having my birthday close to Christmas. My son doesn't mind, though
brad - LOL Erin, What I want to do and what I have time to do are two different properties
Grace/IL - He's preoccupied with that little one coming
judy3ca - Alta, I'm glad it's a happy day for you and your daughter.
Alta Rose - I mean hectic as parents!
brad - This weekend I'm preoccupied with interms (didn't I just send out report cards and have conferences?)
cavey - My sister is due on the 7th
Alta Rose - It's sometimes hard to plan birthday stuff as there's so much other stuff going on around Christmas.
judy3ca - Brad, what are interms?
Sadie T - Cavey - you mean your sister is pregnant, or your mother is? LOL
brad - They come halfway between report cards; they're just progress reports
Michelle - oh, yeah...but at least it's not during conference week...that's next week.
cavey - If my mother is, hold on to your hats, it's the end
Sadie T - LOL cavey
Michelle - lol cavey!
Alta Rose - We just finished conferences. Thank goodness!
cavey - Do y'all mean interims?
Michelle - I have to go into school this weekend to finish report cards.
judy3ca - We started conferences today and I forgot how much I like them.
Michelle - no....this is the end of our first trimester here.
Erin - I have to do mine also...they're on a CD. I haven't even had time to load the CD to see if it works
brad - ????
Alta Rose - I want to do student-led next time. It'll be the 4th time I've seen those parents!
Michelle - conferences wear me out! I can hardly speak by 8 pm the second night.
brad - Do you like trimesters Michelle?
Erin - Who are the ??? for???
Michelle - those 13 hour days just can drive you bonkers.
brad - Judy Likes Conferences???
Michelle - better than quarters, brad
judy3ca - Michelle, conferences tire me and envigorate me at the same time.
Erin - Brad, it's judy we're talking about!!!
brad - why is that michelle?
judy3ca - Brad, I would even venture to say I love conferences.
Sharon - i like conferences, too... just wish they would allot time for us to have them
Erin - We have trimesters also
judy3ca - Erin, I thought you were my friend!
cavey - Judy, you are not of this world are you?
Michelle - more time for growth...and right now I'm thinking, fewer reporting periods.
Erin - JUdy, you are my friend, but I cannot tell a lie
brad - Conferences can be so frustrating here because you can't "count" on anyone. Plus those 13 hour days.
Michelle - we have to teach all day and then have conferences all evening. very exhausting
Michelle - if we could just confer, it wouldn't be so bad
judy3ca - Wait, we do get time off for conferences--would that make a difference to you?
Erin - We bargained for one full day for conferencing. Makes a difference
brad - That's what I was thinking Michelle. I think so many of us are frustrated with all the "reporting" and "assessing." There's just no time for teaching.
cavey - NO!
Sharon - absolutely, judy!
Sadie T - Erin, that's a great idea - full day for conferencing
Michelle - it would make a huge difference, judy.
Sadie T - Alta, you're twins!
Erin - I don't mind conferencing except when you spend an inordinate amount of time with the parents and stepparents of one child who is extremely low and they still don't do anythign at home
Erin - Hypothetically speaking of course LOL
brad - We have conferences one evening after school, and then a half day the next morning, and get the afternoon off. It's just that you can't plan on who's showing up and who's not, so you hate to get started on something in your room and then someone shows, because they just come whenever; they don't really respect times. . . . . . .
judy3ca - We teach til 12:30 on the Friday before Thanksgiving, then have conferences. Then we have pupil-free days on M-T for more conferences. But that's not why I like them, LOL.
Alta rose - That's how I always feel, brad. It's nice to get back to teaching again!
Michelle - sounds like here...once you can finally decide someone's not going to show...it's too late to start on anything in your room
Alta rose - We had conferences on Wed and Thursday night, and then had today off.
Sadie T - How much time do you get off at Thanksgiving? I get Thursday and Friday only.
brad - Exactly Michelle. (I had such plans. . . .)
brad - I think everyone's feeling the need for a break here.
Erin - We get Th/Fri only
Alta rose - I sure am, brad.
brad - I need one good workday to be in my room.
Erin - I need a break badly
Michelle - we used to have to conferences on Mon and Tues night, after teaching all day, and still have to teach all the rest of the week. This year, we are getting a better deal...
judy3ca - I need a break!
Erin - Oh brad, the report card nightmare still goes on and on and on
Alta rose - This "clustering" of special needs kids has had a real affect on me and my family.
brad - Erin, I"m sorry to hear it. I was b----ing about it again today in the lounge.
cavey - Amen to the workday!
Erin - My assistant superintendent called my today to tell me I have to take Dec 17 off to help her meet with some of the grade levels who are giving her problems
Michelle - we will teach all day monday, confer from 3-8 monday night, and then come back for conferences 12-8 on Tuesday. Hopefully, it will work out better. We will have Weds. completely free.
Sadie T - Hi Diane!
Alta rose - Hi diane!
cavey - little d!!!!
diane - hi everybody
Erin - The 4/5 teachers can't seem to adjust to our standards based reporting system. It is driving me nuts
judy3ca - Alta, we 'clustered' the resource kids for the first time this year. I got talked into taking them by the wonderful Resource Teacher, and then she quit. I still have the kids.
diane - how is everyone?
Sharon - hi diane
judy3ca - Hi Diane!
Michelle - hi, diane!
brad - Erin, I know something similar. I presented the math curriculum guides we designed over the summer to all the math specialists last night, and well, it wasn't exactly met with enthusiasm.
cavey - Oh Erin, sounds like fun! Can you read my face?
Sadie T - Erin, how did you end up being the one to help with that?
Alta rose - Do you have any other assistant, Judy?
Erin - What's that saying. No good deed goes unpunished
Alta rose - I'm not talking resource kids. I'm talking autistic kids.
Erin - I "volunteered" because I needed a field work for my admin credential. It has turned into a year long project with no end in sight
judy3ca - Alta, just the new RS teacher who has no clue what she's doing....for about 30 min a day.
Erin - OF course it will look good on my resume. If I live long enough to ever need another one LOL
judy3ca - Oh, Alta, that's much tougher than what I have!!!!!!! Poor you!
cavey - Erin - you have a field study in old battleaxes?
Sadie T - Alta and Judy, what is the reason for clustering special needs kids? Since they have different special needs....
Sharon - judy... your school has a literacy coach AND a rs?
Erin - I feel like it was a field study in babysitting some of these teachers...
Michelle - Last month when I got my little paper from Social Security I got some good news...I'm finally earning the same amount of money that I was earning when I left Burger King! Finally!
Alta rose - The kids are great. I have one T.A. position to work with them, It's the hours of paper work that's got me stressed.
judy3ca - Sadie, that's the $64,000 question!
Alta rose - Money, Sadie, Money.
Sadie T - LOL Michelle! Are you serious??
Michelle - ours does too, sharon
brad - lol michelle
Erin - We cluster the special needs kids so that the Resource Teacher doesn't have to run all over the school
Erin - LOL Michelle, Come on it's not that bad is it?
diane - so sad, michelle...
judy3ca - Sharon, yup--they don't have anything to do with each other.
Sharon - we have neither, michelle
cavey - You must have been a manger Michelle.
Michelle - We have a Literacy Coordinator, 4 Reading Resource people, a Resource Specialist, a TAG specialist...on and on
Michelle - I am serious!!
cavey - That would be manager!
Alta rose - Last year, all of our special needs kids (autistic, downs) had their own aide. NOw we have no money for that. So I have 2 autistic boys with one T.A. to work with them.
Erin - What's a reading specialist and literacy coach???????
judy3ca - We clustered for the sake of the RS teacher, too.
brad - LOL, Cavey. She held the baby Jesus and all!
Michelle - but I was the head manager...
Sharon - at one school, michelle?
Erin - You beat me to the punch line Brad
judy3ca - We have a Title I teacher, too.
Erin - Well tomorrow I start stripping....
Sadie T - Michelle, you're still a head manager. You manage what information goes into kids' heads.
cavey - Oh Brad, I knew I'd get your attention with a caveyism!
brad - Erin, don't you dare take my corner. I need the money with my new addition!!!
Erin - Wallpaper that is LOL
Michelle - Reading Resource, I guess I mean. I can't keep all the title straight
Michelle - yes, sharon. At one school of 600 k-5 students.
Alta rose - Our resource kids are pulled out by our resource teacher in the morning.
Erin - LOL brad
brad - did we lose grace?
Alta rose - brb
brad - has anyone seen miss kim
diane - michelle, is there any talk in your district of taking days off of this school year?
judy3ca - Alta, pullout is frowned upon at this very moment in time at my location.
Erin - Brad I was just asking the same question to you
Michelle - no diane, I seriously think we are the most financially stable district in the state this year.
Erin - Our RSP teacher does some pull out /some inclass
brad - That's good to hear Judy (or is it?)
diane - i thought we were...then found out otherwise...
Michelle - we get tons of federal funds
Grace/IL - She's here monitoring and stitching -- on that black background.
cavey - Gotta go loves! See you later!
judy3ca - Oh, yes, Brad, I detest pullout.
Erin - Bye cavey, you wild thing!!!
brad - nite cavey, away in a manger
Michelle - bye, cavey!
Sadie T - Cavey, so soon?
diane - night cavey
cavey - Keep that piling and filing thing going!!!
Michelle - diane, did you see my note on the board about the scholastic warehouse sale?
Erin - What's the black background, Grace?
Alta rose - I don't know....My class lessons are far too difficult for my resource kids, even with the support they'd get.
diane - no, michelle, is it coming already?
Erin - Sorting Cavey, for the last time!!!
Alta rose - They are much happier this year.
brad - I really think that some of the most severe cases do need pullout, but most just need extra help within the regular classroom
Michelle - yes, dec 7-14.
Grace/IL - Black aida cloth -- doing cross stitch.
Alta rose - Not my two, brad. They are really weak. The ones that need just an extra "boost" get it through Early Literacy.
diane - oh man...i have the school's all day fund raiser on the 7th...out of town on the 14...that stinks. i've never missed one before...):
Erin - Got it, Grace, I think. The extent of my sewing is ...well there is no extent to my sewing since I don't do it. My mother in law has to sew my son's patches on his cub scout uniform
brad - So erin, why are your 5-6's barking?
Alta rose - brb
judy3ca - Erin, you mean you never tried sewing school?
Sadie T - '
Erin - Brad, they don't want parents to be upset when their child only earns a 2 (progressing), which is what most students will earn. A "3" is mastery of the standard, many of which cannot be mastered until the end of the year
diane - so...we had more weirdness in our area this week.
Erin - LOL judy. After I cringed,but then got the joke.
brad - Hey I came in on the tail end of the Graves talk. Did we dump it, was it preaching to the choir. . . .?
Michelle - yeah, the last couple times, I've taken comp. time and driven out there right after school...but that doesn't leave a lot of time for shopping
Erin - We hadn't determined brad
diane - the remains of a missing man were found on the property of one of my students...
Sadie T - diane, what weirdness?
brad - Erin, if the standard was taught though, shouldn't it be able to be mastered. (Of course I'm thinking in terms of Ohio Standards)
judy3ca - Brad, I like Graves--I'm not dumping it. And I'm only on Ch 6; I'm learning a lot.
Erin - Our scholastic sale is Dec 4. I asked my principal for money so I could go
Michelle - erin...I've given up on those patches. I've got spare patches all over the place. sometimes i use safety pins to get them on.
Sadie T - Wow, diane, how horrible!
Grace/IL - Not good!
diane - lol, judy, i'm having a hard time getting into the graves
brad - (I'm still looking to sew on my patches on my high school jacket. Grace? LOL)
judy3ca - Erin, is your principal going to give you the $?
Erin - Yes, but the report card doesn't list every single standard. Some are lumped like REading Comprehension/ literal. There are a lot of "sub strands" under that that will take the whole year to cover. Also it is judged on an end of the year proficient students
judy3ca - Diane, this is a tough time of year for extras, isn't it?
Grace/IL - Don't like sewing on patches.
Erin - Michelle, yeah I'm not the only sewing challenged person
brad - Why not "block out" the uncovered standards for that reporting period?
Erin - Judy, she said she could probably scrounge some up
Michelle - there was a nice story on the news about my school district
judy3ca - Erin, that's wonderful. Now I'll have to investigate when our sale is.
diane - it is, judy...plus i'm reading the marilyn burns "about teaching mathematics" for school book study
Michelle - about how it used to have the highest dropout rate in the state and how we've gotten it completely turned around, with 80% of our seniors college-bound
diane - michelle, what was the news?
judy3ca - How do you like Burns, Diane?
brad - what do you think of the burns diane? I don't see how someone could do a book study on it though.
Sadie T - Michelle, that's great!
Alta rose - That's neat, Michelle.
Erin - You can asterik some if they haven't been assessed, esp in Math. But the point of the report is to show that Reading/Writing are end of the year standards and that all the parts will be taught. You can't block it out becasue you have taught part of it. A "2" is where you want your child. They are doing what they need to do at this point in the year
Grace/IL - I'm trying to follow this standards thread. We used to list competencies and checked them off as being introduced, then mastered.
Sadie T - Has your district done anything specific to make that turn around?
diane - judy, i use marilyn burns replacement units quite a bit, since we don't really have an adopted curriculum...i love those. i do have some questions with the opening of this text, however
Grace/IL - Michelle, where are you. I read about a school like that but much closer.
brad - Okay, I see, erin. That makes a little more sense to me. But I can see how some parents might get upset that their gifted aren't truly gifted. LOL
Erin - That's kind of how this is Grace. A "2" means you will meet mastery at the end of the year if you continue as you are and all the content has been taught
Michelle - In Oregon, Grace
Erin - They're upset that THEY can't brag about little Johnny and his straight A's
judy3ca - Erin, do you have a 3 point scale?
Sadie T - That is really a tough one... "introduced" is what the teacher does, "mastered" is what the student does - "introduced" isn't a grade....
brad - I"m interested in how you plan to educate your parents, erin. I think that's an issue for having one go over here in our district.
Grace/IL - Parents should be really happy with the "2"
Alta rose - I guess you have lots of explaining to do to these parents, erin?
Michelle - One of the reasons for our dropout rate is the high percentage of Russian Old Believers. But they've started staying in school, too.
Erin - It goes to a "4" exceeds grade level standard...to be used with discretion
Sharon - i have a real off-topic question... do any of you have time clocks that you punch into each day or do you just sign in?
diane - brad, the beginning of the book discusses a perspective regarding math instruction...the second part will be more difficult to discuss as it takes on the strands individually and presents sample lessons
Alta rose - Neither, Sharon.
Sadie T - What information are parents given about the meaning of the grades?
Grace/IL - Isnt' that a riot? Parents gain their own self image over the "A"s their children get.
judy3ca - Sharon, we don't even sign in.
brad - Okay, I remember it now. You're right, I suppose the first part might lend itself to a discussion. But she has so many better ones for discussion.
Michelle - none of the above, sharon. we just show up
Sadie T - Could they be told that "2" means "appropriate progress for mid-year" or something?
diane - congrats on your news, michelle
Erin - To all of you...it has been a nightmare because we did it A** backwards. We had no assessments or rubrics in place and developed a report card first.
Sadie T - Sharon, neither, I just show up.
brad - We sign in Sharon
judy3ca - Erin, if it's a 4 point scale, how can a 2 be acceptable?
diane - yes, brad...this is just the text our district has multiple copies of, lol
Erin - Sadie, that's what a "2" means "approaching grade level standard"
Sadie T - LOL Michelle, I just saw that we said the same thing about showing up.
Michelle - thanks, I was happy because our town doesn't land on the news much...and rarely for anything good
Alta rose - We just changed ours. Exceeding curriculum Expectations, Meeting C.E., Meeting C.E. Minimally and Not Meeting C.E.
diane - sharon, we just show up as well
brad - PErsonally in my classroom, a 4 is exceeds, a 3 meets, and a 2 comes close. a 1 is needing improvement to meet standard
Erin - Because we don't teach above grade level standards, we teach to the grade level standards. A "4" is reserved for a GATE or accelerated class in certain areas. or that exceptional studet that comes along
Sadie T - Yes, Erin, but "approaching standard" still sounds below appropriate level doesn't it?
diane - lol, michelle, my school's town seems to only show up for mayhem...of course, they always call us "banks" so nobody hears the real name of our town. nobody knows where it is...
Alta rose - But some children (not many) achieve above grade level, even if you don't "teach" it.
Michelle - a "4" is meeting grade level expectations here.
judy3ca - I forget what we call a 1, but a 2 is developing, 3 competent, 4 strong. HOWEVER, the rubric is so TOUGH that you have to be a college graduate to get a 4.
Erin - Sadie, that's where all the discussion is about. Perhaps it's the terminology
Alta rose - Oh, sorry, Erin, I didn't read the end of your post clearly enough. Sounds like what we do.
brad - THat's what I was thinking, Erin. PErhaps it's the word "approach" that gets them
diane - judy, your rubric sounds like mine...our 1 means emerging
brad - "Developing" wouldn't work either
Erin - Sadie, they can get a "3" in "contained" areas like "Masters multiplication facts to ten" Addition facts
Grace/IL - But how can you grade what hasn't been taught?
Erin - We might change approaching to "progressing'
brad - What about "progressing to standard?" Just throwing out ideas here
Sadie T - Yes, I like "progressing" better
brad - LOL, what I just typed
Erin - Great minds Brad
Alta rose - We have reading assessments that show if children read above grade level, grace.
judy3ca - Right, Diane, I should know, but I find the only kids who get 1s are the kids who are below grade level AND making no effort.
Alta rose - brb,
judy3ca - Brad, developing is just an idea--the rubric is VERY specific.
Erin - This is definitely a "work in progress" "blind leading the blind" and a "thorn in my flesh" LOl
diane - i agree, judy, i have never given a 1.
brad - judy, that's what I find too. I even tell my students, "My class is fairly easy if you're trying and paying attention."
Sadie T - It sounds like it would help to have a distinction between standards that should have been met and standards that won't be met until later, doesn't it? Parents don't know where their child "should" be or how they are really doing, if they don't know which standards have been covered and all are on the report card
Michelle - yes, it pretty much takes effort to get a 1 here. It's hard to get a 1 unless you are dedicated to doing nothing.
Erin - I have students this year who are a "1" in spelling. Can't read a word they write
Alta rose - Oh, to discover the perfect report card!!
Sharon - what grade, erin?
Grace/IL - Back to the "introduced" - - it wasn't really a grade, just letting the parents know we'd started covering that material.
Erin - Sadie, We explained it at back to school night and conferences. We do have an * for those standards not addressed that trimester
brad - ERin, I'm just trying to think of a standard that wouldn't be met until the end of the year. Can you give an example?
Erin - Third grade
Sadie T - The parents get a 1 in "paying attention to the explanations about the report cards"
judy3ca - Sadie, ROFLOL
Alta rose - Lol, Sadie!
diane - lol, sadie, you're right
Grace/IL - Sadie, I love it!
Erin - I don't have my standards right here but there is one about vocabulary and all that it entails. On the report card it says vocabulary but in the standards it delineates each part of it. Wouldn't be mastered probably until it had all been taught
brad - Judy are those rubrics you sent the TOUGH rubrics you're speaking of
Erin - Thank you Sadie!!!
Alta rose - Sounds like you have lots of specifics on your report card, erin.
Erin - If the student was mastering each part as they went along they would get a "2" and then a "3" when it was all mastered.
Alta rose - brb, daughter just came home.
brad - Goshdurnit, Erin. Don't you carry your standards in your hip pocket?
judy3ca - We give the parents copies of the rubric at this reporting period--all of mine were grateful for 3s today when they saw the rubric (this report card is different than the one we use K-2).
Erin - If anyone would like a copy so they know what the H...I'm talking about I can send you one
judy3ca - brad, yes, don't you think they've got high expectations?
brad - I'd have to look at it again.
Michelle - our rubric is printed on the back of the report cards...but it can be confusing. it's not well written
Erin - See what I"ve had to deal with at school, and work and family and classes
judy3ca - Michelle, LOL, unless you have a GIANT report card, our rubric would never fit--we're wordy.
brad - To be "Strong" Judy, yes, it would take a miracle for most
Erin - This is the project that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends, some people started writing it not knowing what it was, and they'll continue writing it forever just because this is the project that never ends...
Michelle - it is a giant report card. but, there are only about 5 criteria listed for each number
Michelle - but, i've seen your mission statement, judy, so i can just imagine..
judy3ca - Right, Brad.
Sadie T - lol Erin
judy3ca - Michelle, LOLOLOL
Erin - Judy I'd like a copy of your rubric if you can send me one Pretty please with sugar on top
brad - Do you have to "grade" Judy and how does that coorelate with your rubric?
Alta rose - We just changed ours this year. When parents saw that 4 meant "Exceeds" they were happy when their child got "3s."
Erin - If you're talking to me again that is
Michelle - i give judy an A . but I don't normally grade judy
diane - brad, i don't "grade"...just use our rubric
brad - See Judy, I could see how my anecodatal records could be used to support your rubric, but not a numerical grade.
judy3ca - Sure, Erin, but we really want to do what you did--write a standards-based report card (which are actually called ASSESSMENT REPORTS) in my district (more letters I guess).
Michelle - but it doesn't correlate with my rubric
Erin - We are really trying to get parents to understand that the grade level standards as written by the state are "rigorous" and will take hard work to achieve
judy3ca - Michelle!!!! Thanks, LOL.
Erin - I give judy a "4" exceeds the standard
Michelle - but our report card has 4 spelling errors on it!! I'm so embarrassed.
judy3ca - Yes, Brad, we give 1234 on the rubric.
brad - Judy=4 ,fer sher
Erin - LOL Michelle, I would be too
Coyote/3/ca - a hoi hoi!
diane - ouch, michelle
Erin - Don't start brad
Coyote/3/ca - judy what district are you in eh?
Sadie T - Yes, I give Judy a 4 too. Definitely!
brad - but not A, B, C, D?
Sadie T - And Erin, too. Actually, all of you.
Grace/IL - Someone posted definitions of "rigor" on one of the chatboards. Maybe that ought to be a point of discussion.
brad - Interesting, Grace. What did they say of "rigor?"
Michelle - we don't do letter grades either. Just the rubric scores.
Erin - Good point Grace.
judy3ca - brad, nope, numbers for academics. BUT, we didn't want to make it sensible, so on the "behavior" side of the assessment report, we give zero, check, plus. Very annoying.
Sadie T - Coyote are you in California or Canada?
brad - So everything is 1-4, no letters or percentages?
Coyote/3/ca - I had a parent come in today, and she was crying because she though that a "3" was very very bad....
Coyote/3/ca - California
Grace/IL - I can't remember all the definitions but they quoted several dictionaries. My Norton program was checking all my files so I was trying to read behind that screen.
Erin - We give E S N on the behavior side
judy3ca - Grace, I had such a different picture of rigor that I looked it up immediately--only to find the poster was right.
Erin - What did the poster say?
Michelle - we do plus, dot or N on "that" side
brad - Where was this discussion?
Erin - "that" side, I love it!!!
Sadie T - In Mexican schools when they give letter grades the scale is one to ten... three is very bad
Erin - I love "that" side, because it's easy to fill out
Michelle - since a check might be considered negative in some cultures. We have to be culturally-sensitive, you know.
Erin - A dot???
Sadie T - I wonder if parents might think ours is also 1-10, particularly families that are from Mexico?
Coyote/3/ca - I had to explain to her that we go 1-4, she was used to the schools in Mexico where the grades are 1-10 so she was very relieved when she learned that her daughter was doing very well not very bad
judy3ca - harsh inflexibility in opinion, temper, or judgment : SEVERITY (2) : the quality of being unyielding or inflexible : STRICTNESS (3) : severity of life : AUSTERITY b : an act or instance of strictness, severity, or cruelty
Michelle - yep, a dot. Check mark is Bad!
Erin - Maybe that's my problem... all these teachers are from Mexico and are confused. LOL
Sadie T - LOL Erin
Erin - OOOHHH Judy, doesn't sound good does it
Grace/IL - My dictionary: rigor -- harsh inflexibility in opinion, temper, or judgment, 2) the quality of being unyielding or inflexible; strictness 3) severity of life: austerity, an act or instance of strictness, severity, or cruelty, etc.
brad - hmmm, and what started this discussion. More complaining from hand-turkey teachers?
Erin - Not you guys, teachers, the ones in my district.
Grace/IL - Judy, you're quicker on the draw
judy3ca - Right, Erin, and here I'd fallen right into the Ellin Keene description.
Michelle - wow, judy, that's not how I thought of it at all.
judy3ca - Me, neither, Michelle.
Sadie T - Where'd Coyote go?
brad - Judy, I don't remember if you mentioned this, but will ellin be publishing anything on her work in the lower SES schools?
Erin - Does rigorous have a different meaning? It has a different connotatiion for sure
judy3ca - She didn't say, Brad.
Michelle - right, that's what I was thinking of, erin.
judy3ca - Right, Erin and Michelle, that's why I looked it up. I thought, like Brad, that it was one of the turkey in a can complainers, but I found the same definition and NOT one like I wanted.
Grace/IL - Rigor: a tremor caused by a chill 3 a condition that makes life difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable, RIGIDITY, STIFFNESS b: rigidness or torpor of organs or tissue that prevents response to stimuli.
Sadie T - rigorous 1) characterized by rigid severity 2) severrely exact; precise 3) extremely inclement; harsh 4) logically valid
brad - "Precise" and "Logically valid" sound good
Erin - All right, But what do we do. It's written in our state framework
Erin - Wait, how about the part that says "precise, logically valid" I'm grabbing onto straws here
Sadie T - dictionary also says synonym for rigorous = strict
judy3ca - Sadie, well, I wouldn't mind being logically valid, but I don't think I have it in me. I thought rigor had to do with the way we work--I guess I'll have to use diligent from now on (if I'm using that correctly).
Erin - Or in Grace's there was "challenging"
Michelle - my dictionary lists "stringent" as a synonym for "rigorous". That sounds closer to my personal definition
Alta rose - How is it written, erin? (Roughly)
Erin - I like challenging
brad - I think by rigorous, I think more of vigorous, as in, "a vigorous workout" as in, when you're done with the lesson, you feel up for new challenges.
Alta rose - Right, brad.
Grace/IL - Rigorous 1: manifesting, exercising, or favoring rigor; very strict 2 a: marked by extremes of temperature or climate b: HARSH SEVERE 3 : scrupulously accurate: PRECISE
Erin - Sorry, I don't recall. Like my standards, my framework is not in my back pocket, I will check at school and post
Michelle - brad, I think the same
Sadie T - diligent is good! dictionary says "constant and earnest in effort and application; attentive and persistent in doing something"
brad - what kind of ESIA member, are you Erin? is your schmoker in the trash, too??
judy3ca - I like scrupulously accurate.
Erin - (((Glenda)))
Glenda 1st TN - Hi Everyone
Sadie T - Vigorous, that's it, they just spelled it wrong! With an r!
Erin - All right now brad...them's be fighting words
Sadie T - Hi Glenda!!
judy3ca - Thanks, Sadie--then I'm going for diligent.
Glenda 1st TN - Why is everyone writing definitions?
diane - funny, brad...
Grace/IL - Hi Saint Glenda
judy3ca - Hi Glenda
brad - how about "arduous?"
Erin - All right , vigorous they are!!!! Parents still don't get the rubric
diane - the thought of schmoker in the trash made me think of character in a can
diane - hi glenda
Grace/IL - Someone mentioned "rigorous" standards.
Erin - I love that my character in a can has become an icon here on the board.
brad - LOL, diane. I think everyone thinks of standards as being rigorous it's like "new and improved"
Glenda 1st TN - Oh, thanks Grace. And trust me I'm no Saint.
Erin - And to think I actually did one five years ago
Sadie T - Arduous?? "requiring great exertion; laborious; using much energy, strenuous; hard to climb; full of hardships
brad - "Rigorous standards" is like the "Must See TV" of education
diane - erin, i'm watching our 4th grade teacher do similar projects...
Erin - Sadie, that's what I want, my students using "much energy" instead of me
Michelle - there's a good word, sadie. but I hate having to define words for the parents, and I doubt any will have heard that one before.
Grace/IL - Oh, Sadie, I gave up and put my dictionary back on the shelf.
brad - which reminds me, "where is that letterhead?"
Sharon - night all... bedtime for me
brad - how 'bout "soul-sucking standards?"
Sadie T - Brad, they are printing the letterhead
diane - funny...we had our annual "turkey lunch" today...talk about arduous
brad - g'nite sharon
Michelle - I'm still waiting for someone from the DO to come and quiz me on our district's mission statement so I can win that dinner!
Alta rose - Goodnight, Sharon.
Sadie T - Good night, Sharon!
judy3ca - Hold the door, Sharon! Good night, friends!
Glenda 1st TN - Good night Sharon.
diane - night sharon
Sadie T - Soul-sucking standards?? LOL
Sadie T - Judy, you too??
diane - you too, judy? night
Alta rose - Take Care, Judy!
Michelle - we had our turkey lunch yesterday. yum, yum, turkey cubletts.
brad - oh, judy!1 Nite
Michelle - cubelettes, I mean
diane - michelle, we invite families, do you?
Glenda 1st TN - Good night Judy.
Grace/IL - 'Night Sharon
Erin - Good night Sharon and judy
Erin - BLECH Michelle
brad - It's not the standards so much. It's the soul-sucking assessments they think need to accompany them.
Michelle - no, but we had "Student of the Month" lunch, and those kids' families were invited.
Glenda 1st TN - We invite families to our school thanksgiving meal at school, too.
Grace/IL - 'Night Judy, I'm heading out too.
Michelle - LOL, erin, all the teachers bought the lunch, too! It's tradition!
Erin - We have a teacher at the other elem school that generates rubrics by the "reamful" (my new word)
Sadie T - Brad, Brad, Brad... don't get me started
Erin - Oh Grace, bye
Alta rose - 'Night Grace.
diane - we had 300 for lunch (keeping in mind we only have 100 kids)...the kids get so wound up...
Glenda 1st TN - Good night Grace. I can't believe everyone is leaving. I just woke up.
Sadie T - LOL Erin, I like that word, "reamful"
brad - erin? who's this reamful teacher?
Sadie T - Good night Grace!
brad - Nite Grace. Email me to remind me to email you. lol
Michelle - we have 600 kids, no room to accomidate all those parents!
Erin - Just a teacher with far too much time on her hands and a computer program for rubrics
diane - came back from lunch to find that one was sobbing and another had thrown up on my carpet...this after having to explain about the dead body this morning...sheeshhh....what a day
Alta rose - Do you all have lots of specific assessments that you have to grade? How much say do you have as to what's on your report card?
Erin - Brad, you're writing a book, don't forget
Sadie T - Brad, what's your book about? Or do you need to check with Grace to find out? LOL
Glenda 1st TN - Diane, A dead body???? What have I missed
brad - yah, yeah, "Soul-Sucking Standards: How Reamful Teachers Manage in the New Millenium"
Michelle - We don't have too much. We have lots of say in our math and writing samples. The only thing they are real picky about are the reading work samples.
Erin - What bothers me is the teachers who don't assess for learning. They give the beginning of the trimester reading assessments and never listen to their children read again
brad - Reading work samples? How does that work michelle?
Alta rose - ((((((Kim)))))
Sadie T - Soul-sucking assessments,Brad, don't forget.
Erin - (((KIM)))
Michelle - wow, kim! you are like a ray of sunshine!
brad - KIm, you little sneak!
Kim/1/Ca - (((smooches....TGIF)))))
Sadie T - Hi Kim!
diane - glenda, the remains of a missing man were found on the property of one of my students yesterday
brad - anyone for Tang?
Glenda 1st TN - Hi Kim
Michelle - DRA-style assessments each term.
diane - hi kim
Sadie T - TGIF, definitely!!
Kim/1/Ca - We had to wait for the traffic to clear.........so we went out to dinner. YUM
Glenda 1st TN - Oh MY!
Erin - Everyone...Let the sunshine...Let the sunshine in
diane - michelle, what do you do for kids that pass out of the dra box?
brad - And as you sliced through your porterhouse, did you think of your little poor starving Brad-let, slaving away at a computer?
Kim/1/Ca - My rolling cart is full of stuff to do this weekend.......report cards, spelling assessments........sigh.
Michelle - we stop DRA after level 38. They have to do a written retelling of the horrible Beaver Pond story.
Erin - Yeah brad, I bet that's the first thing she thought of...
diane - oh dear god...i hate that story
Kim/1/Ca - Actually.......it was the seafood brochette.........but thanks for asking. And world famous Smoke House garlic bread (homer drool)
Alta rose - I did DRA one year. I found it very helpful but very time-consuming.
Michelle - If they pass that nightmare, then we move on to IRI's. 4th and 5th grade do IRI's each term, plus a reading sample at the end of the year that's like the state one.
diane - what do you do for assessment after level 38? i don't like ours...
brad - has anyone here used DIBELS?
Kim/1/Ca - I think we have DRA..........not sure.
Alta rose - DIBELS--No.
Erin - brad, I just downloaded DIBELS.
Kim/1/Ca - I have the little booklets used by Reading Recovery.........
diane - oops....sorry...typed too soon
Erin - I heard a presentation about it at CRA
Michelle - me too, diane. I'm glad I never had to do a written retelling of that story!
brad - are you going to use it, erin
Kim/1/Ca - What's a Dibel?
Glenda 1st TN - Does anyone use peer tutors at your school?
brad - Kim, it's reading assessments
diane - how about "you don't look beautiful to me"
Erin - We are using their test of Oral Reading Fluency in conjunction with our other assessments. I liked that they had multiple "probes" at each level
Alta rose - Can't Glenda--We Grade Twos are the oldest! Lol.
Kim/1/Ca - I brought home ALL of their writing journals............thinking I will have time to go through them and peruse and reflect.....................LOL
Michelle - I don't like the IRI's, but we don't have anything better right now.
Erin - Ours was missing those. Just had benchmark trimester assessments
brad - I did too, erin
Michelle - our Resource teacher uses DIBELS, I think
Kim/1/Ca - I am using a lovely Open Court Book.............."Wendell's Pets" to see where they are in comparison to each other...............
brad - How often do you use them, Erin
Alta rose - Kim, I have a couple of Grade One collegues who so resisted the rest of us who wanted to create a writing rubric last year.....
Michelle - I don't mind that story too much, diane. Right now, we are only using DRA at the end of the year, or for the level 38 book, for those who are ready to benchmark. During the other two terms, we use Rigby PM, Scott Foresman, or alternative DRA
Kim/1/Ca - I happen to have a writing rubric for grade 1 in my rolling cart this very minute..........
diane - explain dibels to me...
Erin - I'm only using them with my students who scored well below benchmark to show progress. I just downloaded this week so I'm not sure yet. How about you brad?
Alta rose - Why, all she does is put her journals into 3 piles, and VOILA! She has her highs, mediums and lows. My tongue is purple from all the biting!
brad - See, Erin, Kim, a TRUE ESIA member carries her rolling cart with her at all times!
Kim/1/Ca - LOL Alta Rose..................you are KIDDING me...........
Glenda 1st TN - Where is your rolling cart Brad?
Kim/1/Ca - You got it Brad..........piled high with all my good intentions.
Erin - DIBELS is a reading assessment for grades K-3 to show who is low performing
brad - I'm thinking of the time involved. I meet with my students to read to me once a week individually anyway, and It's everything I can do to cram that in. So they'd have to DIBEL on top of it.
Kim/1/Ca - Danny is home safe and sound. Dogs recognized him...........his biggest fear, I think.........
Erin - It starts with letter identifcation, phonemic segmentation, phonics using non sense words and tests of oral reading fluency.
Alta rose - No, Kim. That's what she told me last year, and she repeated it this year when I happened to mention it took me 4 hours to mark my Gr. 2's writing for this report.
Alta rose - She doesn't get it at all.
Glenda 1st TN - How often do they give the DIBEL?
Erin - brad, I agree. But I wanted something that an entire grade level could use that was standard.
Kim/1/Ca - Obviously......(snort)........ My team leader gave me a handy dandy little ditto for a "book report." I thanked her profusely.
brad - Benchmarked 3 times a year, but there are progress reports to do weekly if you choose. was my understanding, right, erin?
Erin - Glenda, I'm not sure. It's different depending on purpose. We aren't following the program but using it to supplement the assessments we have already
Erin - I think so brad.
Michelle - fortunately, we have a state writing thingy we use to score samples with.
brad - Kim, so did one of my colleagues. And then I saw two of my other colleague had them in the hall
Michelle - too tired to think nouns
Kim/1/Ca - Then I modeled for them a journal entry about how much I liked "The Cookie Store Cat" and WHAT I liked about it...........then they all picked their fave books and drew pics and WROTE .........some wrote more than others.
Erin - Kim can you send me the "ditto" I love dittoes!!1
Michelle - the only section I haven't done yet on report cards is the writing section. That will take all weekend
brad - Erin, are you coming out of the closet with me?
Alta rose - Just make your 3 piles, Michelle! (With sarcasm)]
Erin - Yes brad, this is a night of confessions. LEt's join hands as we announce, "WE LOVE DITTOES!!!"
Kim/1/Ca - Yeah, this is a third generation thingy...........you would just LOVE it to pieces, Erin
Kim/1/Ca - HEY! Don't diss the piles................
Michelle - if only i could do that and live with myself too, alta
Erin - OOOHHH KIM, is it faded in parts and really hard to read...Awesome
Kim/1/Ca - I have several piles in no fewer than 5 locations right now...............
brad - True Confessions:Alta, the 3 piles is how I grade handwriting. (slap me with a splintered ruler; YES I have to grade handwriting)
Michelle - what do you do with dittoes?
Kim/1/Ca - But because they are spread out, they appear small and manageable. I filed something today. Very proud.
Alta rose - Oh, I know Kim. My family has to eat in many different locations throughout the house during report card time!
Kim/1/Ca - I keep the dittoes I am given in a pile. After a reasonable amount of time, I let them SLIDE into the trash can. OOOPS
Michelle - I have some awards that are dittoes...faded purple ink printed on light blue paper. lovely
Erin - I pile because I am so visual...I have to see it to remember it. If I file it I will never remember to look for it
brad - I am PROUD, Kim. Judy was talking earlier about her rubric, and I knew in just waht pile right here I could find it. (and i did too)
Sadie T - LOL Kim
Alta rose - Well, brad, I think I'll let you get away with it for handwriting!
Kim/1/Ca - OH, yeah......Michelle, those "awards" are so meaningful.................
Erin - No, brad, YOu must have a rubric for handwriting. NO more three piles@@@
Sadie T - Good night, everyone.... got to go sort piles.
Michelle - I have to grade handwriting too, on the rubric-scale.
brad - (grr, frickin frackin', rabble-rubble, handwriting grades, mumble, mumble)
Michelle - but I fake it. No one cares.
Erin - Sorry should have been !!!
Erin - Bye Sadie!!!
Kim/1/Ca - Cheyenne made it to school 5 days this week. I told her to pick out a book I was so happy. She came to me later with the book, hugging it, and says, "Mrs Ling lings...........(can't say my name).......I LOVE school!"
diane - when i started in my district, i was relieved to have cross-district grade level meetings, since i have noone to plan with...i was so thrilled when i showed up for the first one and was given a reamful of dittoes
Glenda 1st TN - Night Sadie
Alta rose - You do handwriting in Gr. 2, brad?
Erin - LOL diane
brad - Our admin got a real hair up her ass last year for about a month about handwriting, and I thought I was going to have to go off. "Listen lady, with all the things going on. . . "
Michelle - I go through journals, determine how legible it is, and put the grade directly onto the report card
Erin - That's what some teachers at my grade think planning is...who will run off which worksheet?
Michelle - isn't that the name of a Panda, Kim?
Kim/1/Ca - ME TOO, diane! True story.......the dismay on my face was probably comical........... a ream full of Frank Shaffer dittos...............
Erin - Oohh Kim, the torture
Michelle - wow, 5 days! I have a girl who has never been to school more than 3 days in one week.
Kim/1/Ca - Why, yes, Michelle.........it is. My old principal called me Ling Ling too........common mistake.
diane - i am sure the holiday ones are coming, kim...
brad - LOL, Erin. So true so true. That's the thing about the meeting yesterday. I think some teachers were upset with me because I simply suggested that teachers not go through page by page in the textbook.
Kim/1/Ca - TELL ME ABOUT IT ERIN! Sheesh................
Erin - I am the attendance Nazi at my school. I am always in the office asking why the kid is absent
Erin - Brad...did they look at you like you were from another planet/
Kim/1/Ca - diane......the HOLIDAY ones are in my box right now! I just couldn't bring them back.........after all, I h ad just off-loaded all the Thanksgiving ones...............hee hee hee.............
Erin - When my partner and I started with Native Americans, I swear another teacher said, "How can you teach them about Navajo if you haven't taught the desert?"
Michelle - my first year teaching, 2 other 1st grade teacher gave me copies of their dittoes every week. Our class had lots of scratch paper that year!
brad - ERin, some did, "Um, so um, then how do we use this again?" and "Um, what are we supposed to tell those teachers who are doing it that way?"
Kim/1/Ca - This was the first week she had made it all 5 days.........come to find out that Dad leaves for work early and the teenagers can't be bothered. If she misses the bus, oh well.
Glenda 1st TN - Kim, In TN the parents can be put in jail if the students miss too much school.
Kim/1/Ca - My favorite dittos this week were the piles of "native american" kids with little feathers that you had to color and match to the appropriate tee pee........
diane - when i received a transfer student this year i looked in her portfolio...her "writing sample" was a ditto she had filled in...grrr...
Erin - I'm so thrilled to learn that in March we will have training on our new reading series. We were told we would have our teacher's guides. "Now this is your teacher's guide. Turn to page A11 to see the vocabulary words?" This is going to be training. I'm already cringing
brad - "Um, b---- slap them and tell them they're teachers, not automatons for Chrst's sake!"
Kim/1/Ca - I told her to call the school and somebody would come to pick her up.
Michelle - we can't get anything done until the kid misses 10 days in a row. This girl's parents know that.
diane - ouch, kim...my native american husband would keel over
Erin - O.K. brad, I will tell them that b----- slapping is ESIA approved.
brad - Oh, Kim, Oh, Kim, Indians with feather headdresses? The ESIA would not approve.
Alta rose - brb
Kim/1/Ca - Oh yes, it gets better..........when they started talking "head dresses" and little "outfits" for Thanksgiving I spoke up............
Erin - That's painful Kim
diane - thank you for that, kim
brad - It's really hard though, to bring up to children (and of course other teachers don't support the notion) that YES INDIANS ARE STILL LIVING AND LIVE IN HOUSES AND DRESS LIKE YOU AND ME.
diane - yeah brad, i always tell them that my husband sleeps with me in an apartment in hillsboro
brad - You don't go home to your tipi at night Diane?
Kim/1/Ca - I spoke at length to a teacher in my old school who is Cherokee. I asked her.......... what is respectful and what is NOT? My guts tell me that paper towel tube tomahawks and "feather" headresses are NOT.............
diane - this, of course, after they see the turkey that our pe teacher dressed up in "indian garb"
Erin - And sleep on your buffalo skins, diane?
willow - hi all, i am getting my masters in elem ed, i have sub experience but that's the extent of it. When I go into a classroom, how much flexibility can i expect with curricula?
Michelle - my son is in 2nd grade...the 1st and 2nd grades at our school are doing a performance in december...the theme is "holidays around the world", with all the stereotypical dress included.
brad - depends on where you're at willow
diane - lol, brad, my mother-in-law does have a tipi set up...of course they are chinook and didn't use tipis...
brad - Willow, how much flexibility do you want and why?
Erin - LOL diane
willow - much flexibility, and am worried i may be over-restricted, i really have no idea what to expect
Kim/1/Ca - Flexibility is relative to WHERE you are teaching, Willow. The state mandates curriculum. The district adopts programs. The school site implements the programs. New teachers usually follow the "script" until they gain experience and learn to be flexible.
diane - willow...it truly depends on your individual location.
Erin - Usually Willow the curriculum is designed to help meet state standards. Some principals allow more latitude than others.
willow - this script you refer to, in your experience, how detailed was it
brad - If you're asking, "Do you have to follow a program?" It can depend on district and/or building within the district.
Erin - I would think about flexibility once I was comfortable with the state standards for my grade level
Kim/1/Ca - depends upon the program, willow..........Open Court and SAxon are VERY scripted. Complete with when you may exhale and how often you turn to face the children.
brad - Some programs, such as Project Follow-Through or Direct Instruction are just that, willow, sscripts you read word-for-word. Most places aren't like that
diane - my first year was the same year that my district adopted the new reading series...in some schools they would have dictated what page i should have been on and when...at my school i was told that if the principal walked in and saw all of my kids on the same page at the same time i would have some explaining to do
willow - just read an interesting study on japanese education, they have these frugal mandates that say simply, e.g., develop problem solving skills, etc., it sounded wonderful
Alta rose - Lol, Kim!
willow - their science texts for the year only cover eight concepts, ours 65
Glenda 1st TN - Brad, what direction instruction are you talking about?
Erin - But are those mandates rigorous? LOl
Kim/1/Ca - The places that ARE like that really need to hire technicians. They certainly don't need trained professionals and certainly don't appreciate anyone who actually THINKS.
Erin - The difference in Japan is they teach a concept to mastery and then do not keep revisiting it, unlike in the US
brad - If you land in a district, seek out a mentor (not necessarily one given to you by district) that has the same style and/or philosophy you do and support each other. Read research and stay true to it. There's not much anyone can say if you back yourself up with documented research, the more scientific the better
willow - they will spend 14 periods on levers for example, the kids really master it
diane - simply arduous, erin
willow - brad, i am worried about getting a crappy mentor for student teaching
Kim/1/Ca - not the "direct instruction" teaching method, glenda.......he refers to Direct Instruction. (<<<<<<<<shuddering).
brad - Willow, yes, much different, unfortunately, than the American way of education
Kim/1/Ca - It happens, Willow......... not often, but it does.
Glenda 1st TN - Thanks Kim.
willow - very lean, i loved it, however, there must be drawbacks somewhere, their suicide rate way too high
diane - willow...i had an awful mentor for my student teaching...learned a TON about what not to do. it was awful at the time, but i look back on it now realizing how much i learned from it
Alta rose - And if it happens, Willow, you will survive and you will come into your own...
willow - i wonder if teachers choose to take on student teachers to simply dump work
brad - Student teaching may just be a brunt you have to bear. My mentor was completely the opposite of me as far as style, but it ended up being a great experience, becasue she truly let me "take over"
Kim/1/Ca - some do, willow........most do not.
diane - no, willow, i don't think that's a fair assessment of motivation
willow - i will be sorely dissapointed if I end up with a worksheet-happy teacher
Erin - Not all willow. I don't take one on because I would have a hard time giving up the work I do and the control
Kim/1/Ca - Woo hoo, Willow! Good for you!!!
Alta rose - Well, I can't speak for all, Willow, but I would say no because taking on a student teacher makes more work in some ways. (Supervision, evaluations, conferencing with S.T. etc.)
willow - worksheets are a plague, i can't believe how often i come across them in class
Erin - Just know Willow that teaching without the worksheets is hard work as we can all attest to!
willow - good point alta
brad - I did, willow. don't pre-judge. My worksheet teacher didn't mind what I was doing. I didn't stray as far as I'd have liked because of my own inexperience adn knowing the students would have to go back to her ways. But in the end, my mentor said she really liked a lot of the things I had done.
diane - i was asked to take on a student teacher this year even though it's only my third year (not in compliance with state standards and practices)...i really didn't feel ready to guide someone else yet...not looking to dump
willow - i am sure it is erin, but i am up to the challenge, no worksheets, and hopefully, no homework
Erin - Same here diane. I kind of have one though (complicated situation) She's in the intern program, not an official student teacher
Michelle - my mentor teacher used a lot of worksheets too, but he was happy to let me do things the way I wanted.
Kim/1/Ca - Teaching is very hard work, Willow. Very rewarding and you always have to change, learn and grow. But if you have been "called" to teach......
Erin - I always save one or two worksheets for the day I come in feeling like crap. I usually do it once a year
brad - Willow, you will have to follow state standards (and you should). So you have no freedom in WHAT you teach, per se, it's the freedom in HOW you teach it, and that's where the artistry lies
diane - i had that situation last year, erin (same girl actually)...i didn't feel bad about that situation...i figured it would be of benefit for her to observe the beginning stages of a career
willow - i am completely in love with the constructivist model
Kim/1/Ca - And look how you can spend your Friday evenings............LOL
willow - lol
diane - lol, kim...
Kim/1/Ca - Yes, Teaching is an ART.
Erin - KIM, we're trying to turn her on to teaching. Not to be like us nerds here on Friday night
brad - Erin, tell the truth, I will. YES, I've done worksheets before. It's not the worksheet that's bad. It's in how you use it (correct that, some are horrid FEATHER HEADDRESSES)
Teacher's Aide - hi
willow - constructivism is HARD work
diane - hi t.a.
Teacher's Aide - hello
Teacher's Aide - hello
Erin - I agree. And sometimes, like Math practice, they need to do a worksheet. There is good and bad in everything
Teacher's Aide - how is everyone
brad - Mostly, though, Erin, I use them when I don't feel well or forgot to prepare or don't feel they're ready for what I had planned.
Kim/1/Ca - I gave Kwinzi and Shoppel a couple WORKSHEETS today while the others took the spelling assessment. They zippped through them and thought they were fun!
diane - lol, i read double trouble in walla walla today...double posting made me smile
brad - My kids like them too, Kim. It's sick isn't it?
willow - how does everyone handle vocab instruction
brad - It's what they're conditioned to (or not)
Teacher's Aide - what grade level does everyone teacher?
diane - brad, i think they like them because they feel like they're playing school
Erin - My problem with worksheets is that by the time you pass it out the high kids have it done and the low kids don't know where to put their names
Kim/1/Ca - pick important concept words needed for understanding.......not superficial stuff. they need to learn the words in context, over time.............
brad - Now that we've had a calendar routine (can't believe they're not doing one in first or K) my kids like to "play" calendar at the end of the day
Alta rose - No calendar time in K or first???
Teacher's Aide - well
willow - what do you think about having kids create their own vocab list every week with words they are interested in learning, anyone have experience with that?
Michelle - kim, i finally read that article on Vocab that you mentioned last week.
Erin - I hated doing calendar in K. Flashback
Teacher's Aide - i work with special education
Michelle - It made me think.
brad - I think two people do it in K, but just in terms of days and months, nothing "extra" like I do
diane - sorry, t.a., 3rd grade here
Kim/1/Ca - NO CALENDAR TIME? yikes.........(1st grade, T.A.)
Erin - 3rd grade
brad - 2
Teacher's Aide - i am 23 going to school to be a special ed teacher
Alta rose - second grade, T.A.
Teacher's Aide - now just being an aide
willow - i want junior high
Teacher's Aide - kewl
Kim/1/Ca - We cover a LOT of concepts in calendar............there's lots of "whoosing" and "whizzing" and stuff flies over their heads........like money. Hoo boy.........
Kim/1/Ca - You WANT Jr. High? God Bless You, Willow.
Alta rose - Don't worry, Kim....
Teacher's Aide - i worked middle school it's worse than High School
brad - Yes, Kim, but it all comes back on a daily basis, so that's okay. Stuff some are picking up now will not be picked up on by others until May.
Michelle - we use Curiosity Bait for our calendar. it's great
Kim/1/Ca - lots of teachers were aides before becoming teachers.....good background experience.
willow - i want to provoke minds that can think more abstractly, god bless you all with those little ones, sheesh
Alta rose - We've been doing money every day since first grade. They're getting it now!
diane - we call that whizzing sound "marinating"
Teacher's Aide - where is everyone from
Kim/1/Ca - You either ARE or you AREN'T (Jr. High). I definitely AREN'T.
brad - LOL, diane, good vocab word for willow
brad - Curiosity Bait?
willow - lol
Erin - Well you guys I'm going. Had a field trip today and I'm all done in.
Erin - Had a great time tonite!!!
Kim/1/Ca - good one, little d..........
Erin - Happy Thanksgiving to everyone
brad - nite erin
Teacher's Aide - has anyone found a good rubic site
Alta rose - 'Night, diane!
diane - thanks erin
Alta rose - Yes, T.A. Hold on.
Kim/1/Ca - yes i know.........
Teacher's Aide - ok
diane - lol, alta, i'm still here
brad - someone on here has a reamful teacher they can lead you to
Michelle - Curiosity Bait....comes in several "baits"...Shape Bait, Money Bait, and more
willow - in reality, do teachers really use reading strategies such as DRTA, predicting, brainstorming
Alta rose - Oops! That was Kim's fault!
brad - Michelle?
Michelle - the Shape Bait is wonderful...it's all about "baiting" the kids to figure out the month's patterns.
Alta rose - I looked at "little d" and it confused me! Sorry!
brad - definitely reading strategies willow
Kim/1/Ca - Well.........#1 Son needs the 'puter..........comes home for the week and takes over...........
diane - my husband says the same thing, alta
brad - Michelle, explain this before I go
willow - they sound great to me, but i recently wrote on a study that reported they are hardly used by teachers
Michelle - the kids really get the terminology down. Our kids who've used Shape Bait for 2 yrs score at the top of the charts in Geometry in State Tests
Kim/1/Ca - ((((((((smooches))))))I will see you on the board tomorrow.
Teacher's Aide - who had the rubic site?
Kim/1/Ca - Lots to share about GRAVES.
brad - It's true, willow, hardly used
Alta rose - Here's a rubric site, T.A. http://www.l2l4ed.com/9_2_8_rubrics.htm
Glenda 1st TN - Bye, Kim
Teacher's Aide - thanks
Michelle - because as they are trying to figure out the pattern, you are bringing up terminology, etc.
Alta rose - Goodnight, Kim!
Kim/1/Ca - If I have a minute...........report cards (ugh)
Michelle - so it gets engrained.
diane - i have to go too...listening to husband snore is making me sleepy
brad - Michelle, is this something you can send me, like the "twenty minute" thing. LOL It's probably what I'm doing, but if there's a method. . .
willow - i fear for my children's education sometimes, especially when i look at some of the dummies in my classes getting teaching certificates
Alta rose - Goodnight, diane.
brad - Willow--not nice (but true)
Glenda 1st TN - Willow, my daughter has said the same thing
willow - it is true
Michelle - I can send you the beginning part of shape bait. You can read it over. please email me your address again, brad
willow - standards must have been lowered when they recognized shortage
brad - willow where are you
brad - Thanks Michelle, I really really owe you now
willow - michigan, you?
brad - ohio, just down south a little
Michelle - I'll remember, brad.
brad - could you maybe post to board somehow or attach to email?
willow - pay is better up here, run into alot of ohio residents getting certificates up here
brad - vice versa willow
willow - glenda, lol
Glenda 1st TN - Brad, I have a book I bought last year that is full of ideas on using the calendar to cover various skills.
willow - when the kids notice, uh oh
Michelle - oh... I don't have it on the computer and my scanner isn't working.
Michelle - otherwise, that would be best.
Alta rose - I'd love to know the name of that book, Glenda!
brad - I'm sure I'm doing it with my calendar routine (actually the routine I'm using comes from something another teacher gave me which looks like something I saw on the Bridges site Michelle linked me to. It all comes full circle)
Glenda 1st TN - I'll check it out. I thought I had it at home, but it is at school. I'll post the name next week.
Michelle - I think I just need a new lightbulb for it. But i can't even figure out where the stupid lightbulb goes in this thing! I'm so computer illiterate!
willow - need a good science activity that is quick and fun, any specific ideas
Alta rose - Thanks!
Alta rose - What topic, Willow?
willow - anything science related, my science teacher doesn't care, giving a's to everyone, sheesh, she's just a stellar teacher
brad - My routine is a mixture of that and Every Day Counts and Jill Ostrow's book. I just took the "best of each"
Alta rose - What grade level, Willow?
Michelle - I like Curiosity Bait better than the other calendar stuff I've seen...but I'm biased because I've seen such great results with this personally
brad - Well, my Curiosity is peaked. I'll send you address.
willow - anything from K to 8
Glenda 1st TN - Brad, how long does your calendar routine take each morning?
Michelle - I brought out the clay yesterday. My newest student "accidentally" got his clay stuck on the ceiling. No more clay.
willow - lol
brad - It's actually in afternoon, Glenda. It can take 10-20 minutes depending on how many of the "items" I incorporate and how long I spend with each "item"
willow - see? no little ones for me, ha
Alta rose - Curiosity Bait--Sorry Michelle. I missed this. Is this the name of a book or a program?
Glenda 1st TN - Michelle, Please post more info on the Curiosity Bait. I'd like to read more
Michelle - It's a program. It comes in a 3-ring binder.
willow - instead, i will get to deal with bra-snapper's and the like
Michelle - I'll post some info, but it's hard to explain without "showing" it. I'll do my best.
Glenda 1st TN - Brad, my first grade teaching buddy for several years was placed in second this year. She feels like a fish out of water.
Alta rose - Thanks, Michelle.
Alta rose - Really, Glenda?
Glenda 1st TN - Oh yes.
Alta rose - When I went from first to second it seemed so easy. I just picked up where I left off.
willow - second grader's scared me, that's a tough grade to sub
brad - Michelle, haven't seen eilene lately. You need to get on her (and then find how she enjoyed the new HP)
Michelle - she really liked it too.
Michelle - I spoke with her last weekend.
Michelle - we both agree that Moaning Myrtle was messed up.
Glenda 1st TN - I think it is more adjusting to the curr. with the presssure on testing scores and being without a planning partner. We planned everything together. We bounced ideas off each other all the time. We really miss each other.
willow - would you all mind if i popped in to consult with you once in a while?
brad - she was "Squeaking Myrtle"
Alta rose - Oh, I see.
Glenda 1st TN - Alta, is Canda under the testing pressure that the states seem to be feeling?
brad - I should head off. Daughter to airport tomorrow
Michelle - did you take the whole family to see it, brad?
Michelle - you sending your daughter off?
Glenda 1st TN - Brad, your girls are so small. Are they flying
brad - Michelle, did not take 5 year old. Glad too, because I forgot how scary the second book could be (and they only get more in 3 and 4)
brad - Daughter is leaving for Thanksgiving. She's been flying alone since she was 6.
Michelle - my son loved it, but he's read all the books.
brad - He's 8 though, right?
Glenda 1st TN - I'm impressed. I've never flown alone. big Chicken here
Alta rose - Well, in Alberta we test in Grades 3, 6, and 9. Teachers handle the pressure differently. We aren't under any threats of "bring up your test scores or we'll close your school" or anything like that though.
Michelle - just about. in a couple weeks. but he is still afraid of the dark
Michelle - sometimes, when i hear about ESEA or NCLB, I want to run to canada.
Glenda 1st TN - In our system we test 1st -9th and then give Gateway exams for subjects in high school
brad - I purposely stayed away from #2 because I wanted to judge the movie as a movie. It had been a looong time since I read it. We joined the HP train before it was a phenom
Alta rose - Different provinces test in different grades. Not sure what the "pressure" is like there,though.
brad - I think I might bone up on the next two though before five is out. Three is my fave.
Michelle - me too. I read the books long before. And bought the British versions when I was in London.
Michelle - 3 is my favorite, too. I just finished rereading it.
Glenda 1st TN - I haven't read any of the HP books.
brad - Wow, Michelle. I just remember reading about it in some magazine and then Rosie mentioned it one day on her show and so I read them. Then a few months later, (this was right after they published second one) it was a sensation
Michelle - did you hear that Sotheby's is auctioning off clues to #5?
brad - I hadn't heard that
Michelle - they are cards with one-word clues
brad - I think they're waiting till the dust clears from #2 movie before they publish five
brad - Oh, well, do have to go now. Bye all
Michelle - yeah, it's late.
Michelle - glenda! you've been cloned!
Michelle - I was just about to go.
Glenda 1st Tn - I'm not sure, but I think I just got bumped off.
Michelle - Ny Quil's kicking in
Glenda 1st Tn - I kept waiting for new posts to come on the screen. When I refreshed. I was back to the log on screen.
Michelle - wierd
Michelle - weird
Michelle - well, I need to get some sleep. Lots of grading ahead of me this weekend!
Glenda 1st Tn - Perhaps. my computer is telling me it is time for bed. I fell asleep around 7:30 and woke up at 10:30.
Michelle - see you later.
Glenda 1st Tn - I'm turning in too. Good night all.
Alta Rose - My computer is acting crazy!
Glenda 1st Tn - Mine too
Alta Rose - Better just get to bed. Goodnight everyone!
Glenda 1st Tn - I agree good night

 
 

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