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Mary/PA - Welcome to this evening's Reading Recovery Meeting here at Teachers.Net.
Mary/PA - Hi Gigi!
Gigi/MO - I'm here, Mary!! On time for once!! How are you doing?
Mary/PA - I'm doing fine. I am on jury duty for the next two weeks, so my schedule is a bit messed up.
Gigi/MO - Oh, wow, Mary!! That's a LONG time!! Why SO Long??
Mary/PA - If we get done with one case we'll get assigned to another
Mary/PA - Today I was assigned to a case, but the trial doesn't start until Thursday. So I'll go to school tomorrow and Wednesday, but be off Thurs. and Fri. and maybe beyond that...it's a day to day thing.
Gigi/MO - We had a bad Ice Storm 2 weeks ago and were out of school Wed., Thurs., and Fri.-Jan. 30-Feb. 1!! It was a crazy time with trees and lines down and people with out electricity!!
Mary/PA - Oh, Gigi, that is so awful! I hate when that happens. That's a long time to be without power.
Gigi/MO - You'll make it through just like we did but it's rather crazy at times!!
Mary/PA - We've been dodging the really bad stuff this year...so far
Mary/PA - Have you started with your new kids yet?
Mary/PA - yet
Gigi/MO - I know one teacher that was out of power for 8 DAYS!! Personally, I was only out for 4 days!!
Mary/PA - Oh, Good Lord!! that's way to long!! How did you keep warm?
Gigi/MO - Hopefully the bad stuff is over here for awhile!! I started 2 new ones before Christmas because I was fortunate enough to get 2 discontinued before Christmas!! I had NEVER gotten anyone out before Christmas in 6 years and then I had 2 this year!!
Mary/PA - Nice going!! I almost have one out before Christmas, but I changed my mind and wanted to see how he's do with so many days off. As it turned out he was fine, so I discontinued him in Jan
Mary/PA - I discontinued another a few weeks ago. I'm now in lessons with one, Roaming with another and trying to get started with 5 more.
Gigi/MO - So, I'm in my 7th week with 2 kids and then I'm just this week releasing my other 2 kids and sadly enough they are on levels 8-9!! Heat wise--we used candles, blankets, went to other houses that had heat! Fortunately, we had hot water so that was nice and relatives close by had heat plus we got a generator to heat up the house the last night we were without!!
Gigi/MO - Where is everyone else?
Mary/PA - I keep telling myself to get a generator. My brother has one, it sure does help. I can't even run water when the electric is out...I'm on a well system.
Mary/PA - The others must be busy with things.
Mary/PA - I almost forgot about this meeting myself! I was busy working and forgot what time it was.
Gigi/MO - Good for you getting yours out also!! How many students do you take? I think we are going to get a generator also!! We had a friend that loaned us one!! They are very nice when you need them!!
Mary/PA - Can you believe this? One of the new kids that I'm going to be working with is at level B!!! This time of year and that level B
Gigi/MO - OH, WOW, Mary!! I was just going to tell you my new ones' text levels but I'm scared to now!! HA-HA!!
Mary/PA - I started the year out with 8 kids. But I had to drop back to 7. There just wasn't enough time to get 8 in. I was trying to start lessons before classes started each day, but it was next to impossible.
Gigi/MO - I'm sure that is right!! How do you stay up on them all!! I guess you'd have to keep REALLY good records so you don't get confused!!
Mary/PA - Another child I'm going to be working with was in my kindergarten class last year. I was concerned about him, but he tested at level 3 and was way to high...compared to the others. I tested him again in Nov. he was still at a level 3, I tested him last week and he is now at a level 4. He sure didn't make much progress in his first grade classroom so far this year.
Mary/PA - I don't usually get the kids confusedI was doing well with keeping up with my paper work and records, but I have fallen behind a bit now. I have to get back on top of them soon!
Mary/PA - The other 3 new students are coming in at level 3. Sure do have a low bunch....lots of work to do.
Gigi/MO - One new one that I'm taking is on a level 9 and I've done text levels on 8 other kids and they are ALL at level 12 with over 90% accuracy and 6 of them were OK on a level 14 TODAY--I didn't have time for the other 2 but I think they can do at least a 14!?!
Mary/PA - I wish our first grade teachers would through out those blankety blank workbooks!!!
Mary/PA - Gigi, are there many kids in the first grade group who are already IEPed for resource support?
Mary/PA - Those are great levels for this time of year...and those are the low kids!!! That's amazing!!
Gigi/MO - Good luck and work hard!! I guess I'll go up to a level 16 and see what they all can do and then I'll talk to my TL about what to do!?! Our 2 first grade classes use Guided Reading and we think that it works pretty well!!
Mary/PA - It must!
Mary/PA - Every time I go to a class to get a child for a lesson they are working in workbooks! I don't know when any real instruction takes place.
Mary/PA - How many kids are in each class?
Gigi/MO - We have 2 in first grade that have IEP's!! The 8 kids that I've been reading with to see who I should take into RR are mostly ALL in my EL groups!! 2 of the kids I've been reading with aren't in my EL groups but I think they will either be there or in RR!!
Mary/PA - Do you meet with your EL groups every day?
Gigi/MO - We have 18 in each first grade class!!
Gigi/MO - They use the Fountas and Pinnell GR groups!!
Mary/PA - That's a nice size. We have around 25 in each of ours.
Gigi/MO - I try to meet with my EL groups every day but if something has to go, it is EL NOT RR!!
Mary/PA - Ours are supposed to be using the 4 Blocks, but I never see anything that looks like 4 Blocks going on. All I ever see are those darn workbooks
Mary/PA - How long do you meet with your groups...how many mins.
Mary/PA - Hi Becky
Gigi/MO - How sad and boring!! Our teachers also use 4 Blocks but they use the GR way of F&P if that makes sense to you!! I meet with 2nd graders for 30 min. and 1st graders for 40-45 min.!!
Gigi/MO - HI, Becky!!
Becky - Hi
Becky - I teach second grade
Mary/PA - That makes sense. I can see how it is more workable with the smaller class sizes
Mary/PA - Becky, are you a RRT?
Mary/PA - Oh, I see that you are not.
Becky - No, am I in the wrong chat
Mary/PA - What is your interest in Reading Recovery, Becky?
Becky - I thought this was about Powerpoint.
Gigi/MO - Mary-What did you asked about---Darn, how about---, that should be?? I didn't answer that question!!
Mary/PA - Well, I'm sorry about that, Becky
Mary/PA - Oh, that's been postponed
Mary/PA - It will be on the 18th
Becky - I think I shouldn't be here. I have worked with RR teachers last year. I had a couple carry-overs, but not this year.
Mary/PA - Gee, I can't remember... hold on, I'll look.
Gigi/MO - We like the GR by F&P because it is in small groups rather than whole class!!
Becky - We use GR also.
Gigi/MO - You're welcome to stay, Becky!!
Mary/PA - It was the number of kids in the first grade classes, you answered it.
Gigi/MO - Mary--OK!!
Becky - We have a big controversy in our District about whether we should report numbers or letters on the report card. What do you think?
Mary/PA - Letters
Becky - That
Gigi/MO - Becky--Numbers as in text levels?
Becky - That's what I thought. Actually, all the teachers feel that way and most of the administrators, but we still have to use numbers, even though they aren't real beyond 20.
Becky - It really ticks me off.
Becky - Yes, text levels
Mary/PA - If you have your choice. Numbers are too confusing for parents. When it comes to reading and writing, anything below 90% is not good, but that's hard for some people to understand. 90% looks good
Becky - It's a political thing. Nobody wants to make an executive decision to clear up a bad decision.
Mary/PA - Oh, I'm not understanding you. I should have asked what kind of numbers.
Becky - They are on a consistency kick. Every school in the District has to use the same thing. So we will all use numbers even though no one wants to.
Gigi/MO - We tell parents the text level their child is on throughout the year!!
Becky - They took the GR letters and divided them up to give them numbers.
Mary/PA - For second grade that gets a little difficult
Mary/PA - The levels aren't broken down very much
Becky - Our school has been using leveled texts for a long time, but other schools in the district use basals, so they don't understand.
Gigi/MO - I guess we haven't seen a problem with it!! I'm not sure I'm understanding the controversy but I know that it's hard to type out everything!!
Becky - Thanks for letting me vent!
Mary/PA - Oh, I see, they created their own numbers. I wonder how other districts figure out what they mean when a child moves.
Becky - It just seems easier to use letters. The range is more natural for second grade.
Gigi/MO - Oh, I see!! I was still thinking first grade and they go up lots of levels in first grade!!
Becky - I have wondered that too.
Becky - They say that next year we can use letters.
Mary/PA - I can't see it working in first grade, but not beyond
Becky - There are so many different leveling systems out there.
Gigi/MO - Sometimes, sadly to say, we just have to play their games whether we like it or not!!
Mary/PA - Well, that's better than nothing. Just keep your fingers crossed that they don't change their minds.
Gigi/MO - There is a chart that compares RR levels to the letters to the basal!! Have you seen that??
Becky - I know! I liked it better when they just let us do our own thing. It's hard to get three elementary schools with different administrators to agree.
Mary/PA - Basically report cards are for parents. Parents want to know how their child is doing...a system that the parents can understand and one that is meaningful to them is what should be used. Don't you think?
Mary/PA - Has anyone asked the parents what they would like to see?
Becky - Yes, but it isn't complete and when F&P says level J they don't say whether it is 18, 19, or 20. We used letters in the classroom, but they want us to report out with numbers.
Becky - The report card is a work in progress. Parents understand that we are struggling to find the right way of reporting out.
Mary/PA - Does your district have a report card committee?
Becky - I agree with you that it should be meaningful to parents.
Gigi/MO - I see how confusing that can be!! Maybe the admin. needs to get together and decide on something together!!
Becky - Yes, it's the report card committee that did this. They made a decision and they won't fix it. They want to let us use the new report card, collect feedback and meet at the end of the year. They all know they are wrong, but they won't budge.
Mary/PA - Teachers and parents should be in on the development of a reporting system.
Becky - I thought we had an administrative decision, but he is still mad because we rejected the report card he proposed.
Mary/PA - Administrators and offer guidance, and have input, but the teachers are the ones who have to make it work and the parents are the ones who have to understand what it means.
Becky - He doesn't want to get involved. It's really an amusing situation.
Becky - It will work out eventually, but not this year.
Becky - Egos get in the way of logic sometimes.
Becky - Well, thanks for letting me vent. I need to get to bed now.
Mary/PA - Well, I have to go now, I have much to do before I hit the hay. Thanks for coming this evening. Good luck to you both.
Becky - Goodnight!
Mary/PA - Just keep plugging away at it. Never give up!
Gigi/MO - Gotta go too! See you next time!!
