Join the Reading Recovery Mailring listed in the English Center at the
Teacher Mailring Center
http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
Mary/PA - Good evening. Welcome to tonight's Reading Recovery Meeting here at Teachers.Net. Tonight we will have an open chat. We can discuss anything pertaining to Reading Recovery that is of interest to you.
Mary/PA - Hi didi
didi - Hi everyone
didi - Hi I'm just roaming what a refreshing time
Mary/PA - didi, today was our first teacher day
Mary/PA - so I haven't seen any kids yet
Mary/PA - Hi Gigi
Gigi/MO - Hello, everyone!!
didi - So you are back did you have a good break
Mary/PA - Oh yes, breaks are always good
Gigi/MO - I started roaming with one student today and plan to start hopefully the other three tomorrow!!
Mary/PA - When did you start school, Gigi?
Gigi/MO - Teachers went last Mon. and Tues. and the kids came on Wed.!!
Mary/PA - You got everyone tested very quickly, Gigi!!
didi - My highest at L5 is already writing better than some I just referred off programme and he's only in roaming
Mary/PA - didi, how many weeks do you left in your term?
didi - That's quick for the start of the year Gigi
Gigi/MO - We try to test all the first graders before school starts!!
didi - We have 4 weeks including this week to the semester break. We are off to a RR conference. i put down for Is it Marg Watson's tutorial I know I've seen the name here
Mary/PA - Gigi, it's nice that you can do that
Gigi/MO - We still had to test about 10 students after school started but we did most of those after school on Thurs. and Fri.!!
didi - One of the big names under Marie Clay
Sadie - didi, do you mean Barbara Watson?
Gigi/MO - I think it is Barbara Watson, isn't it? I saw her last year in Chicago!!
Sadie - I just finished session 6 of roaming with my 4 kids
Gigi/MO - Hi, Sadie!!
Sadie - summaries done.... predictions of progress..... whew!
Gigi/MO - You go girl!!
Sadie - Do we have a topic tonight?
Sadie - I can't stay very long.
Mary/PA - No topic, whatever you want
Sadie - Gigi, how do you test the 1st graders before school starts?
didi - Your good Sadie I'm still trying to get my records in for the kids I just exited and do all the other summaries
Mary/PA - I haven't started yet. Today was our first teacher day, kids start Wed.
Sadie - didi, are you year round?
Sadie - or did you do a summer program?
didi - No I'm an Aussie and this is our 2nd semester so 2nd round
Sadie - Mary, are you the only RR teacher at your site?
Mary/PA - Sadie, we have another half day one this year
Sadie - gotcha, didi! Our speech path. is an aussie too.... though she has been in the US for many years.... love her accent!
Sadie - All right, Mary! Is the first year that you are not the lone star?
didi - Mary can we have moving to and through sound boxes in writing for a topic some time
Gigi/MO - Sadie--We have a team of 3 teachers, 2 of us are trained RR teachers, and the third teacher was trained in giving the OS!! We schedule 3 students per hour and the go to all 3 of us and we all do different parts of the OS!! Hope this makes sense!!
Mary/PA - The year before last I was half day and the RRT who is going to be half day this year had her training year at my school. Last year she was a another school and I did RR all day.
Mary/PA - This year I'm still all day, plus now we have her half day program as well...we should really be able to get to everyone this year
Sadie - Yes, Gigi. Do you get compensated for the extra days? Of do you do this out of the goodness of your heart?!
didi - At present in roaming I'm modelling stretching and encouraging them to say what they can hear but I haven't done anything with sound boxes
tapplunk - Hi ..I am new...to Reading Recovery and this chat...I am looking for advice
Mary/PA - didi, we can talk about it right now
Sadie - ask away, tapplunk
didi - when and how do you intro sound boxes
tapplunk - I have just finished testing 18 kids...but can you tell me more about roaming
Mary/PA - Hi tapplunk! and Welcome!
tapplunk - Thanks
Mary/PA - didi, I usually do it in the first lesson.
Sadie - didi, I'm doing the same in roaming. I remember last year at our annual conference having an "a-ha" about something that I did incorrectly with sb and roaming...I'm going to have to check my notes. Can't think of what the a-ha was!
didi - My roaming lessons are not too fancy as I've found in the past then they balk at time when lessons start
tapplunk - didn't mean to interrupt didi's conversation
Sadie - well.... I gotta go. enjoy the rest of your chat.
Gigi/MO - Sadie--We do get compensated next July!! I'll try to explain!!
didi - see ya sadie
didi - Your Ok tapplunk we can talk 2 things
Mary/PA - didi, I agree, roaming shouldn't be too different looking from lessons...it gives the kids the wrong impression of what they will be doing later.
didi - Do you use pictures first mary or start with words
tapplunk - I am taking classes...and start roaming next week..my first class is tomorrow night..On ROAMING but so far I am clueless
Gigi/MO - We have a program called Career Ladder here in MO and we get paid for certain hours that we do over and above our contract!!
didi - Mine got to do 1 painting and one turn of typing on the computer. I use Doug's rainbow letters a lot
Mary/PA - didi, it depends upon the child. If they know a word, I will demonstrate with a known word, and have them try
Mary/PA - If they don't know any words, then I use just pictures.
didi - By classes Tap do you mean your training classes
didi - That sounds good Mary
tapplunk - yes
didi - I'm teaching behind the screen next week so I'm hoping to take my highest child he'll only be lesson 14
Mary/PA - For the ones who do know some words I use both, but I also jump in writing when the opportunity comes up
Gigi/MO - tapplunk--TRY not to be overwhelmed!! Just do what your Teacher Leader tells you to do when she tells you to do it and TRY not to worry about other things she hasn't told you!!
tapplunk - ugh..and I dread that teaching behind the screen.....scares me
Mary/PA - This is when lessons are started, not in RAK
tapplunk - I guess that is prob the best..I am one of those that worries that I won't do it perfectly the first time
tapplunk - how long have you taught this? Do you really believe in it? I have taught first grade for 12 years...and I do miss my classroom
Gigi/MO - tapplunk--This is my seventh year teaching RR and I can guarantee you that I don't do everything perfect YET!! I'm saying that to encourage you!! My motto is--Do the best you can with what you have at the time!!
Mary/PA - tapplunk, this will be my 11th year in RR. I taught first grade for 23 years before this...Yes, I really believe in Reading Recovery!!!
tapplunk - Thanks..The other lady who is doing this with me..we share a room...has taught 24 years..she will be thrilled to hear that...haha
Mary/PA - I spent 23 years searching for a way to help the lowest of the children, and Reading Recovery really does do just that...more than anything else I have every seen or heard of or taught
tapplunk - do you do literacy groups?
Gigi/MO - RR is a wonderful program--lots of work--but great for TEACHING YOU how to teach kids to read!!
Mary/PA - I'm teaching RR all day now
Mary/PA - I taught kindergarten in the AM and RR in the PM for 8 years before
Mary/PA - before doing it all day
JAG - how many students do you see Mary?
Gigi/MO - I do Early Lit. groups in K-1
didi - Sorry just side tracked I'm hoping it will be really useful when I go back on class next year
tapplunk - what do you do in the literacy groups
tapplunk - what do you do in the literacy groups
kat - Hi, all! Tap, are you in training year? This is my training year, too.
tapplunk - Yes..I am....
tapplunk - do you have a million questions too? haha....
Mary/PA - I can only fit in 7 kids. Last year I tried 8, but I had to start before classes started, and it just wasn't working...there just isn't enough time.
Gigi/MO - Are you having to do Lit. groups too?
didi - there's the 1st bell I'd better go soon
kat - You bet! I'll be the 4th RR in my building, so I'm counting on support from them!! We are doing the lit. group also.
tapplunk - yes..I WILL ...she wants us to work with 4 students this year and do literacy groups in the afternoon
Gigi/MO - Have a GREAT day, didi!!
tapplunk - This is my schools first year for RR and I have no support on site..so it is a little scary
JAG - I'm glad to hear you say 7 although 8 fits the hourly frame it never works with entering and exiting time
didi - 8 would be impossible I have 3 Year one kids for 3 days a week as part of our learning support time as they will be too old by next year to even to be tested
Mary/PA - Our day with the students was shortened by a half hour a few years ago we were suppose to get that half hour back this year, but there was a problem with bussing...maybe next year we'll have the extra time...I'll be able to get 8 kids in then
tapplunk - FIRST BELL??? Didi..where are you?
kat - But tap, you'll have support from your TL all year, don't forget that!
tapplunk - oh yes..I know that...and she is very nice...I guess I just wish I had someone on SITE
didi - Australia and this is the end of our lunch hour and with your Daylight saving it fits well
Gigi/MO - tapp--So you are the only RR teacher at your school?
tapplunk - OH COOL..I am in Arkansas....
tapplunk - there is 2 RR teachers...but we are both in Training first year
Mary/PA - didi, have you been able to get the word out about your Australian RR meetings here at Teachers.Net?
didi - Kat how many children are in the year level you draw from
Gigi/MO - didi--Are you going to be chatting tomorrow?
kat - Well, we are a large k-2 school, 15 first grades!
didi - Not yet the rr e-mail thing is not responding
Mary/PA - tapp, you'll be able to support each other
kat - 4 RR teachers are barely enough to service them all.
didi - When Gigi
Mary/PA - Someone has to be the trail blazers!
tapplunk - yes...that will be the nice part..just having someone do this with me
Gigi/MO - I think it was what Mary was talking about?!?!
didi - I usually struggle to remember these meetings
kat - Also, we are doing literacy support(aka BSI) and we lost a BSI instructor this year.
didi - I'm hoping we get a 2nd RR next year as 1 for 100 kids is impossible
Gigi/MO - I think they are trying one tomorrow AM for us and evening for YOU!!
tapplunk - can you guys give me some insight in to roaming?
didi - There is a time set aside for Aust/NZ teachers but we aren't having much success getting the word out we have a new RR web site going up for Queensland so maybe there's an avenue there
didi - We have a tutorial next week so will try again. I'll try to remember tonight between watching the swimming
Gigi/MO - didi--I think it would be 7:00 AM for me and like 8:00 or 9:00 pm for you!! Mary help us!!
didi - Your right Gigi
didi - I must go the second bells gone and the staff room is deserted
Mary/PA - tapp, stick with what the child knows don't try to bring anything new into the picture...if the child can't handle level one books, write texts for him that use his name or any other words he may know, Model writing, share the writing as much as possible, but never have the child do something he can't or isn't sure about.
Gigi/MO - Don't know if I can do it or not!! I think the only way I could is to be at school at 7:00 AM and that is REALLY early for me!! I'm NOT a morning person!!
tapplunk - THANKS!!!
didi - See you
Mary/PA - The time set for the Aussie chats would be 6 AM our Eastern time
Mary/PA - So I guess that would be 7 AM for you Gigi
tapplunk - well thanks guys...this has been nice...is this a nightly thing?
Mary/PA - Last time I figured it out, it was a weekend day for us
Gigi/MO - tapplunk--When I trained, I was the ONLY one in my building but there was another teacher from our district but about 15 miles away!! We kept the phone lines hopping let me tell you!!
Mary/PA - tapp, we meet every other Monday
tapplunk - Whew..I bet that is true...I would have had to have a hot line to her...lol
tapplunk - okay thanks...
Mary/PA - Well actually it's the 2nd and 4th Mondays
tapplunk - is there anyone here..from Arkansas by some slim chance
Gigi/MO - tapplunk--You will get pretty close with your training class because you REALLY get to know each other when you see each other every week ALL year!!
kat - NJ
tapplunk - i am sure that is true. It is easy to stand in front of kids all day long..but adults is different..but I am sure I will get used to it
tapplunk - well Kat..i would love to hear from you...my e-mail is tapplunk@iocc.com
tapplunk - since we are kind of going thru the same thing
Gigi/MO - Mary--So is the Australia chat TOMORROW morning!! I'm a little confused--Sorry!!
kat - I'll keep in touch. Maybe talk to you here next time! Good Luck, tapp.
tapplunk - okay thanks...
Mary/PA - Gigi, I don't know...let me go check
tapplunk - thanks everyone..this has been enlightening!
kat - 'night, tapp!
Gigi/MO - Hang in there, tapp!!
tapplunk - oh i will..thank you guys SOOO MUCH
Gigi/MO - kat--So you are training also?
Mary/PA - Gigi, it looks like it is going to be tomorrow morning for us
Gigi/MO - Do the best you can with what you have at the time!!
kat - yes. just finished 7 days of the OS.
kat - Intense, but I enjoyed it. Especially when we got to work with live students!
tapplunk - one last question what is OS
Mary/PA - kat, does your TL select the students you will work with...ours did in our training year
Mary/PA - For first round
Gigi/MO - How draining and confusing, right? All the numbers start running together after awhile, don't they??
kat - Observation Survey, tapp.
Mary/PA - OS is the "test" ...the Observation Survey
kat - Well, I'm not sure. I guess when we start next week, we'll pull kids from the alternate ranking list to screen. I'm hoping the TL will help us pick from there.
tapplunk - Oh well let me tell you the funny story for that...we tested 18 kids..and we thought we had to write up an OS for EVERY CHILD..about the time we got half done..we found out we didn't!! haha
Mary/PA - Has anyone seen the new OS book?
Mary/PA - Oh, I guess the teachers in training have...but I haven't
kat - That's what we used last week.
kat - Tapp, that's what some of us thought, too! Thank god it's only the 4!!
tapplunk - whew..for real..but i guess i got lots of extra practice
Mary/PA - Gigi, have you seen the new OS?
kat - I've use the old OS (brown one) in a grad class, the new one is more "user friendly".
Gigi/MO - Mary--I wish my TL still chose my students!! The 2 lowest are fairly easy to figure out but the other 2 seem to be harder!?! Ones are low in certain areas and others are low in other areas!! It gets to be perplexing to me after awhile
kat - not written in "columns" and she has edited it quite a bit. It's much thicker!!
Mary/PA - Gigi, do you use the selection grid?
tapplunk - okay guys I am leaving...THANKS so much..I have enjoyed it...
Gigi/MO - Mary--We saw the new OS last week at our beg. of the year continuing contact class!! Our TL talked through some of it!!
Mary/PA - Here is a copy of the selection grid that we use - http://teachers.net/mary/select_matrix.htm
Gigi/MO - Mary--Thanks for the grid!! I used one that our TL gave us that had priority 1 kids and priority 2!!
Gigi/MO - I'm going to go look at yours real quick!!
kat - Well, I am looking forward to starting and getting myself organized. Do you use separate binders for each student's papers?
Gigi/MO - Mary--WOW!! What do you do? Are only the Dictation and CAP scores on there?
Mary/PA - kat, I use 3 ring notebooks with slash pouches for my kids...one for each
Mary/PA - Gigi, yes, just dictation and CAP...it works pretty great...I have spent a lot of time trying other ways of selecting, but this one seems to do the job best
Gigi/MO - kat--I use regular folders for each student!! I used binders for the first year or two but they are SO bulky to take home so I've chosen to just use pocket folders!!
kat - That's what I was thinking would be best. thanks, Mary.
kat - Yes..those binders can get bulky, especially if you need to bring them to class!
Mary/PA - dictation goes down the side and Cap is across...we get a number for each child and the ones with the lowest selection number are the ones we start with
Mary/PA - I like the notebooks because they have enough room in them to keep all the papers for a child in one place. I have I difficult time keeping things straight when things are kept in different places...The notebook keeps everything together
Gigi/MO - WOW!! I'll have to try it!! Thanks!! So you find their dictation score on the left and then find their CAP on the top and go down and wherever they meet--that is "their" number and then you take the lowest numbers into RR? Am I thinking right??
Mary/PA - I think you have to try different things to find what works best for you
Mary/PA - Gigi, that's how it works
kat - Mary & Gigi, thanks for the tips! I can't wait to get started and will definitely be back to chat! 'night!!
Mary/PA - I don't know who developed it, but I'm pretty sure it came from OSU
Gigi/MO - WOW!! That seems pretty easy!! I spent 2 1/2 hours yesterday trying to figure out the ones I should take!!
Mary/PA - kat, we will be looking forward to chatting with you as well
Gigi/MO - Night, kat!! Glad you came in tonight!! come back!!
Gigi/MO - I work with 2 first grade rooms and I REALLY like taking 2 RR students from each room to keep things kinda fair and also for scheduling!! Hope it works out that way!!
Mary/PA - Gigi, I know...I've sorted kids in so many different ways...using the grid seems to be a good measure of who needs to be taken first....It doesn't work for second round, but it's great for first
Gigi/MO - I can't really imagine doing RR ALL day!! I'm too afraid that I'd get mixed up!!
Mary/PA - Good luck with that, Gigi...it doesn't work that way in the school I'm in. Last year I had to take 3 out of one room
Gigi/MO - How many first grades do you have?
Mary/PA - It's easier than doing Kindergarten and RR...for me any how
Mary/PA - 3
Gigi/MO - That's good!! I've worked with 3 before but it is easier to keep in touch with 2!!
Mary/PA - I'm looking forward to starting...but I hate to test kids during their first day of first grade...I don't think it's a good measure...they are so overwhelmed that day
Gigi/MO - Guess we better go for now!! I should work on an Obs. Summ. but...
Mary/PA - Yes, you better get busy on those...I'll see you next time...Happy writing
Gigi/MO - Our principal didn't want us to test the first day so I did other stuff!! Have a BLESSED year!!
