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Kathy/NY2 - Hello
Kathy/NY2 - This is my first year in grade two, so I could use some pointers
Eagle - Are you in New York?
Kathy/NY2 - yes, western NY
AP~ - I just started chatting a week or so ago. It's fun. I am from Michigan
Kathy/NY2 - brrr...cold up there I imagine
Eagle - Hi AP. I'm in Arizona
AP~ - Where are you from Eagle?
Kathy/NY2 - Nice and warm there? or chilly?
Eagle - It was 83 yesterday here
Kathy/NY2 - wow...we're having a bit of a warm up here... may be 40 tomoroow
AP~ - Eagle you wouldn't happen to be from a school that uses the Spalding Method would you?
Eagle - So did you teach another grade previously, Kathy?
AP~ - It's warmed up a bit here, 34 degrees
Kathy/NY2 - yes... I've always taught third and fourth (looping)
Eagle - AP, I want to use Spalding...I used it in some schools here as a substitute
Kathy/NY2 - not sure what Spalding method is
Eagle - I have some Spalding phonograms I've been introducing to my class.
AP~ - Cool. I've always wanted to know how well it's working in the state where it's author was from.
Eagle - I think it's a great program
AP~ - Spalding is a total language arts program that is phonics based
Eagle - It works VERY well in this charter school I spent a lot of time at.
AP~ - So Kathy why did you switch to 2nd
Kathy/NY2 - oh... I have been trying to use the four blocks framework
Eagle - AP, you use Spalding?
AP~ - I have a few of the 4blocks books. I just need to take a workshop. I think Spalding would fit in well
Kathy/NY2 - we're also expected to use guided reading as Fountas and Pinnell
Eagle - How many kids do you guys have in your classes?
AP~ - Yes I am using Spalding as part of my program
Kathy/NY2 - I have 17 this year
AP~ - Not sure how I feel about FP. I heard there is a diff. between FP and 4 BLOCK
Eagle - What about math? Do you know much about Saxon or Singapore?
Kathy/NY2 - yes... Four Blocks and Fountas/ Pinnell are quite opposite...in some ways
AP~ - I have 16 but with budget cuts I will have more next year
Eagle - I had 17...now 18. What a great size.
AP~ - Ohhh. This is exciting. I want info on Singapore. I've been telling the admin. that they should look into it
Eagle - My class is actually a 2nd/3rd grade mix
Kathy/NY2 - sorry I missed your question about switching to second...I needed to be out of the looping situation for a while
AP~ - We currently use Addison-Wesly and Investigations
Kathy/NY2 - Eagle that must be tricky
Eagle - I've been reading about Singapore...It seems great other than the fact it doesn't use American money or measurements.
AP~ - Did you like Looping? I've thought about it
Eagle - What's looping?
AP~ - Oh, hmmm. Now that is interesting
Kathy/NY2 - looping was great, except I had a very difficult "bully" for two years
Kathy/NY2 - looping is staying with your class from one year to another
AP~ - Do any of you teach in a title 1 or high needs school?
Eagle - What type of schools do you guys teach at? I teach at a charter school.
Kathy/NY2 - we have a low income base in our district, with quite a few title 1 students, but not an "official" title 1 school
Eagle - I'd love to have some of my kids for another year...but others...no thanks.
frances2 - I'm from Illinois
AP~ - I teach in an inner city school.
Kathy/NY2 - my school is a public rural district.. four/ five sections of each grade
frances2 - My school is a public shortly to be suburban
AP~ - Well frances I'm your neighbor from Michigan
frances2 - Nice to talk to you!
AP~ - Wow. That's a lot of sections Kathy.
frances2 - This is my first year in second grade. I love it!
AP~ - How does that work frances?
Kathy/NY2 - but only one elementary building... we have the biggest district as far as area goes
Eagle - This is my first few months teaching, period. I love it so much.
frances2 - Our school is on the outskirts of the Chicago suburbs. We are called a collar county.
Kathy/NY2 - second grade seems to be an enjoyable grade level
Eagle - So no one uses Saxon for math?
AP~ - I've subbed in all grades, and I've had my own 3rd and 4th grade classrooms, but I like 2nd best
Kathy/NY2 - it was hard gearing down from a fourth grade which I had last year
frances2 - How are you all dealing with subtraction with borrowing?
Eagle - I hope I can always stay in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
AP~ - On the main chatboards there have been posts for and against Saxon.
frances2 - I taught fourth last year also!!!
Kathy/NY2 - we're just starting subtarction... I skipped to measurement to fit with a Science unit
Eagle - Frances...lots of repetition.
Kathy/NY2 - woops...sorry about my misspelling
AP~ - Subraction with regrouping?
AP~ - You said it frances.lol
frances2 - Some kids have it, others have no clue!
Kathy/NY2 - frances2 we have the same problems I bet
Kathy/NY2 - yes... about some being clueless
AP~ - Oops. I meant Eagle
frances2 - Yes, AP, some call it borrowing, regrouping, and our new series calls it trading in.
AP~ - Hi santa! Where are you from?
santa - hi everyone
Kathy/NY2 - they rename the process to make it tricky for parents to figure out what we're doing
AP~ - I know it's crazy. I use all three terms.
Eagle - LOL, I always wondered about that. Regrouping means the same thing as borrowing?
frances2 - hi Santa!
Kathy/NY2 - then there's renaming for carrying
AP~ - Yes
santa - I am from philly
santa - been teaching second grade for 25 years
Kathy/NY2 - now...trading in and whatever
frances2 - I also try to use all three. I figure if they are familiar with them, maybe they will understand!
AP~ - Does anyone else have pacing guides?
Eagle - I'll stick to borrowing
Kathy/NY2 - you're the expert then santa
Eagle - Santa...what do you know about Saxon?
AP~ - Philly! One of our new teachers was from Philly last year.
Ann/2/CA - I see we are talking about math. I use all three terms as well
santa - this is new to me
AP~ - It's new to some of us too, santa
frances2 - Are you doing anything special for Chinese New Year?
Kathy/NY2 - santa... I mean you are the expect second grade teacher... this is my first year in second grade
santa - I never heard of Saxon
santa - sorry my posts are really slow tonight
Kathy/NY2 - ve been working on Chinese dragonmasks
Ann/2/CA - well I have taught 2nd grade for 5 years now. We were told to use regrouping, but I always tell the parents it's borrowing and carrying so they can help their kids
frances2 - hi chef
Kathy/NY2 - finish them tomorrow
AP~ - No. I used to, but now that we have pacing guides, I have no time
Eagle - Okay, never mind then. What do you use for math?
Ann - How do you teach regrouping, Santa?
Ann/2/CA - we cut out tangrams and made shapes
Ann/2/CA - we use Houghton Mifflin math, anyone else?
frances2 - Good idea Ann!
santa - I haven't even gotten to regoruping in addition yet..that's tomorrow
AP~ - cool! did you read Grandfather Tang to them?
icats - hi everyone
Kathy/NY2 - we're seeing a theater production of Tikki Tikki Tembo on Tuesday
Ann - We've been using Math Trailblazers
frances2 - No we use Everyday Math
AP~ - No. We use Addison-Wessly and Investigations
Ann/2/CA - yes they loved that story
AP~ - Hi icats!
Ann/2/CA - We used to use Investigations. I don't like it. Too much teacher prep
santa - boy am I stupid..these posts are coming down..I've been reading them up
Ann - Frances, does Everyday Math have any tricks for regrouping?
Kathy/NY2 - we use Scott-Foresman, but I really stress problem solving to get kids ready for state assessments
chef - We use Houghton Mifflin math. We also use the math software from Compass Learning.
AP~ - I have a friend that uses trailblazers in her district. Says it's hard
icats - me too, santa!
Kathy/NY2 - hehehe santa... this is a weird situation
santa - we use Sadlier Math
Ann/2/CA - chef do you like the Math Steps?
frances2 - None that I have found so far!!!
Eagle - I think we use Houghton Mifflin...but I don't really like the text book
Eagle - I think I want to switch to Saxon
Ann - It is hard. They move to a new topic before the kids have mastered any of the concepts.
chef - I don't teach math,just reading.
Kathy/NY2 - oh my... I just noticed we have two Anns
santa - we use the ILA Program in our dicese
Eagle - Hey Frosh, where are you at?
Kathy/NY2 - what about writing
AP~ - Just reading at the second grade level?
frances2 - I really like the series. I have never had kids understand math so thoroughly. Our test scores are way up!
Frosh - Hi I'm a grad student observing chat rooms
santa - welcome frosh..so am I part time in the evenings
chef - Me too.
Ann/2/CA - Which series, Frances?
AP~ - Why?
Kathy/NY2 - what do you use again for Math frances2?
frances2 - Everyday Math used to be called Chicago Math
Eagle - Frances, sorry, what series?
Kathy/NY2 - oh...okay
santa - publisher?
Ann/2/CA - Oh yes. I have heard of Everyday Math
frances2 - It is really hard to get used to as a teacher, but this is my third year, and I love it
Eagle - Do you give them math homework every night?
Ann/2/CA - So have you all been teaching 2nd grade forever, or any other grades?
Ann - Frances, do you have any tips that you could share with the rest of us?
santa - forever!
frances2 - I have taught 7th, 8th, 4th, 3rd, and now 2nd!
Kathy/NY2 - I taught 3 and 4 (looping), first year in second
AP~ - There were a group of parents in a nearby affluent district that had a letter negative writing campaign against Everyday Math. I wonder why?
Ann/2/CA - I have taught K, 1, and 2 with a variety of combinations in there. I like 2nd
frances2 - Maybe because it is so unfamiliar. We had many math nights when we first began with it.
AP~ - I have had my own classroom since 1985 and most of my years have been at 2nd although I've taught 3rd and 4th too.
Ann/2/CA - wow lots of teaching vets!
santa - gee, I sound llike the grandmother in here!
frances2 - The series uses a lot of math games. I pair lower with higher. They learn a new game with each new concept.
Ann/2/CA - my 7th year and I still feel like a newbie
Kathy/NY2 - no santa... I've taught 24 years
santa - thank goodness
AP~ - Does anyone else feel like we are asking too much of these little ones? I feel like I am teaching them concepts I used to teach to my 3/4th graders.
Kathy/NY2 - hehe
frances2 - 15 for me!
Ann/2/CA - ABSOLUTELY AP!!!!!!!!!!!
AP~ - 18 years this fall, plus a year of subbing
Kathy/NY2 - I feel we don't have enough time
santa - we have raised our standards.the problem is there is too much for themto truly master
Ann - I've taught 13 years.
frances2 - For us we have to keep up with state testing
Kathy/NY2 - after coming from fourth and the state assessments, I feel I am psuhing my kids
frances2 - Sorry about the poor grammar!
AP~ - True! It's so hard to relax!
Ann/2/CA - Our district is telling us that we have to have the kids in 2nd grade read silently at their desks for 45 minutes at a time.....yeah right
santa - yes, and the sad thing is that we are teaching for state testing which is different from our textbooks
Kathy/NY2 - that's suppose to be "pushing"
Kathy/NY2 - s get worn out after 24 years I guess
santa - Ann, an adult can't read for 45 minutes! That's ridiculous
Ann/2/CA - so we are teaching to the test, right?
AP~ - How can we get through to the politicians that they are ruining the public school system?
Eagle - We do 15 minutes, max.
Ann/2/CA - Our literacy experts SWEAR we are supposed to do this! I think they are nuts
Kathy/NY2 - not teaching to the test, but trying to teach strategies to perform better on the test
Ann - We have AR in our district and my kids do read for at least 30 minutes silently each day.
Eagle - We're not teaching to the tests.
santa - not to change the subject but has anyone read the book Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer
chef - No Child Left Behind will only make it worse.
frances2 - Absolutely!! Soon our salary will be attached to how our students do on this new national test. Scary!!
Kathy/NY2 - Hi Marcia
AP~ - Hi Marcia!
santa - hi Marcia
Kathy/NY2 - big cutbacks in state funding here in NY
Ann/2/CA - no, is it good, santa?
AP~ - Now that's crazy and so sad, frances
Marcia - Hi guys...it's been so long since I was in the chatroom... I teach first...but finally the chat is at a time when I can listen in..
Ann/2/CA - yes we have cutbacks, too. nothing drastic yet
santa - excellent to re-evaluate your concept of teaching and why you are there? Very thought provoking
AP~ - Ann/2..What I missed what your literacy expert said.
Ann/2/CA - santa I am going to read it. sounds good
Ann/2/CA - AP-that 2d graders should be reading for 45 minutes quietly at their desks while I teach small group
santa - I am taking a course now and its the textbook...got it at BandN
Kathy/NY2 - what did you learn santa... about yourself?
Eagle - Are any of you going to talk about the Space Shuttle disaster with your classes tomorrow?
frances2 - Have to go! Let's do this again! Bye all!
santa - only if it comes up
AP~ - At their desks for 45 min?? Wow!!
Ann/2/CA - Eagle, yes I was wondering what to say
AP~ - Yes. Probably during the morning meeting
Kathy/NY2 - same here santa
santa - that I teach to a whole child..whatever baggage they bring
Eagle - I was in emelentary school when the Challenger blew up, and I remember our discussions in class had a big impact on me.
Kathy/NY2 - have a very emotionally challenging class
Kathy/NY2 - Hi Oscar
santa - t I may be their only stable force in their lives..
santa - oh I can go on.but
santa - I was in florida when the challenger went up..we were watching with the children and the teachers knew that someting was amiss...
Ann/2/CA - I probably will let the kids take the lead and see what they want to talk about
chef - I was teaching during the Challenger disaster. The children were worried that the teachers in their school were going to die.
santa - got themall inside right away and we were 100 miles alway!
Kathy/NY2 - I remember the day also santa
Kathy/NY2 - ited to think a teacher was onboard
AP~ - Yes. Wasn't Christa McCauliff the teacher?
Kathy/NY2 - yes
santa - in our paper today, there was a story about Christa 's substitute
Kathy/NY2 - I'd better get going also
Kathy/NY2 - y the chat
santa - how she was trained for that fllight
Kathy/NY2 - enjoy
Kathy/NY2 - enjoyeeeks
santa - how she was supposed to be on this flight but they changed it to a medical flight
AP~ - Bye kATHY!
Ann/2/CA - So, maybe we could have the kids write something?
santa - and how she is being prepared now for a November launch
santa - if I were she I would reconsider!
AP~ - Like???
Eagle - Ann, good idea
Ann/2/CA - I would love to discuss how to get 2nd graders to be good writers..
AP~ - Me too, Ann/2
Eagle - Do you have them write every day?
santa - they can't write well until they begin to speak well\
Ann/2/CA - maybe this is not the appropriate subject. But, we have a narrative assessment coming up in March
AP~ - Does anyone use 6 Traits?
Ann/2/CA - Yes my kids write for 30-40 minutes
Marcia - oh yes. writing is my new target..... I'd love to know how you all do editing with your students..
Ann/2/CA - yes 6 traits
santa - a day?
Ann/2/CA - hardest one for them is Sentence Fluency
AP~ - Well, with some of my kids, santa, that will take forever.
Ann/2/CA - yes, four days a week, Santa
santa - really..with all our skills in our reading series, I am lucky if I can get them to creative write once a week
santa - we are doing an informational article right now
Ann/2/CA - we have to do 60 minute Reader's Workshop and 60 minute Writer's Workshop every day
santa - started it in January. In partners..working on one penguin and now I will show them how to put it together
Eagle - I love reading the things they write. Those papers are by far the most enjoyable to correct.
AP~ - Do you mean the ability to write a complete sentence when you say sentence fluency?
Ann/2/CA - I taught personification last week. Some kids really got it and loved it.
Eagle - Ann, what do they do in the reader's and writer's workshops?
AP~ - Is that based on Mosaic of Thought, Ann/2?
santa - when we are finished that, then we do a compare/contrast paragraph..I do dinosaurs
Ann/2/CA - No, AP, I mean making the sentences flow from one to the next and changing the order of words, etc.
AP~ - What reading series, santa?
Ann/2/CA - No it is from a book called Craft Writing or Craft Lessons (I can't remember and it is at school).
santa - may I ask how many hours do you teach reading, etc
Cher/2/CA - Hello...sorry am late..wanted to meet some grade 2 teachers! Hi!
AP~ - Like enumerative writing?
santa - We use the 2000 Harcourt
santa - Hello Cher
Ann/2/CA - Reading? 1 hour and 20 minutes a day
Eagle - Hi Cher
AP~ - (((((Cher))))
santa - we do 3 hours which includes, language arts, reading, cursive handwriting, phonics and spelling
AP~ - If we get the Reading First grant we are suppose to have 120 min. of uninterrupted reading instruction
Cher/2/CA - ((((((((((((((((((AP)))))))))))))))
Cher/2/CA - HI Eagle!
Ann/2/CA - Well I guess I want them to get away from "My dog is big. My dog is brown. My dog is nice."and have them say "My big, brown dog is nice."
Eagle - Where are you at, Cher?
Cher/2/CA - 2 hours of lang. arts..
Cher/2/CA - Eagle...near San Diego...
santa - this is new to me as I am a catholic school teacher....our requirements/curriculum is different from the public school districts
Cher/2/CA - santa..we use Harcourt also..love it!
Ann/2/CA - We do 1 hour of Reading Instruction, plus I do 20 minutes of silent reading. Plus 1/2 hour of Phonics/Skills, Plus 60 minutes of writing every day. So that adds up to about 3 hours
Cher/2/CA - plus guided process reading books...wright etc..
santa - for our children it is the best Cher...what story are you on?
Marcia - I have had to model til I am blue in the face to get away from "list" stories... Finally I started.... I like cats ....because.... and they had to write two more supporting sentences...
Ann/2/CA - good idea, Marcia
AP~ - Are any of your schools taking part in that grant?
Cher/2/CA - Santa...too many tamales! We go until June 20 th though!
Ann/2/CA - They need to get away from I like mom. I like dad. etc.
AP~ - Marcia how do you keep them from writing something like what you've written?
Ann/2/CA - I LOVE Too Many Tamales
Marcia - then I started calling the "because" part....the topic sentence... about 2/3 of my kids got it...but of course, I teach first not second...
santa - You are using the series before the newer one. Our is called Connections. We are just starting the 2-2 reader with Jimmy's Boa as the first story
Cher/2/CA - Writing is the hardest..I feel developmentally they should be expected to be READERS ..in 2nd...writers in 3rd...
AP~ - We have Too Many Tamales in our HM series. Love that story
Marcia - at first I let them....but only the very low kids copy mine and I figure that at least they are practicing the pattern....
santa - Our schoools are consolidating so wer are finished the 5th of June...much to cram in before then
Cher/2/CA - Ann..yes..it is a great story we just finished...we took time doing that Rabbit/Tiger play for other classrooms!
Ann/2/CA - Reading and writing go hand in hand tho
AP~ - Harcourt and HM have similar stories, hmmm.
Marcia - Every day I write another because story...and sometimes I start with I like to go to the park because........ and they come up and add a sentence... I tell them it has to tallk about the park...
Ann/2/CA - We are getting Houghton Mifflin next year. We are STILL using Literature Works (yuck)
Cher/2/CA - Ann..yes..but when they are not even ABLE to read...I hit the sight, phonics...and shared reading pattern! heavy! then expessive writing
santa - yes but Houghton Mifflin is harder/ skills wise
Ann/2/CA - Thank you Marcia for training 1st graders to use "because". That is a hard part in 2nd
Eagle - Ann, how do you teach phonics?
Marcia - AP I just started a support group for HM...it's at yahoo...we'd love to have your join in..it's for all users ..the new and the old..
Ann/2/CA - Oh, right Cher...I did not mean they should be writing when they can't read.
AP~ - Marcia, could you post your daily schedule sometime on the primary board?
Ann/2/CA - Eagle, we use the Hampton Brown Phonics and Friends. I supplement with McCracken
Marcia - schedule of what...my class...?
Cher/2/CA - we JUST adopted..HM! how does everyone like it? Open Court did not "fly" at all at any of our 16 schools
santa - has anyone started multiplication tables yet?
AP~ - If we get that grant, we are to get rid of the HM '98 series and buy the 3rd edition HM. Now how much diff. can it be?
Cher/2/CA - Ann...we use Hampton Brown.but for our ESL students to supplement!
Eagle - Santa...yes. We're up to 5
Marcia - Well Ann, (we are friends) you know I love phonics and friends as long as I don't have to sing the songs
Ann/2/CA - I have a couple of kids who can't read very well, so for writing I ask them to draw a picture and they have to write TWO complete sentences about it.
Ann/2/CA - LOL Marcia
Cher/2/CA - santa..we JUST finished subtraction with 3 digits ...need one more week of practice.then multiply
santa - I still have tables, addition and subtractin with regrouping...
santa - am I behind!!!!
Marcia - ooooohhhhhhh tons and tons of materials... I am piloting it for the remainder of the year.... socked full of phonics...
Ann/2/CA - santa not multiplication yet. We have district assessment in March. Mult. is not until 3rd trimester
Cher/2/CA - Marcia.are you refering to HM?
santa - I am starting concept for addition regrouping tomorrow...
Cher/2/CA - Ann..yours is like ours..trimester up end of this month..then X's begins sincerely
santa - using pretzel sticks!~
Ann/2/CA - we are doing our Chapter test on addition with regrouping (2 digit) this week. Then we are doing measurement for a week and then subtraction with regrouping and back to measurement. All because it has to be taught by the district assessment date (March 11)
Marcia - yes..We have the Ca edition...Legacy of Literacy
Ann/2/CA - santa good idea.
Cher/2/CA - Ann...your schedule is similar..but testing is lst of May for us
santa - yeah, then they can eat their manipulatives..no cleanup!
Ann/2/CA - 1st of May is STATE testing (CAT6)
Cher/2/CA - santagreat idea!
Ann/2/CA - our district does testing 3X a year
santa - Terra Nova is March 13th
Cher/2/CA - Ann..yes..and also district testing every trimester
Ann/2/CA - yep, cher. That's California for you
Marcia - is teachers net giving you fits AP?
Cher/2/CA - hardest part I am having is getting them to write like the reader wants to "bite" into it! ugh!
santa - I really have to go..will you have this room opened again soon?
Ann/2/CA - well ladies and gentlemen, I need to go run some errands. Good talking to you all. Later
Cher/2/CA - not sure if this meeting will occur again?
AP~ - Hopefully santa. Would this time work for you in the future?
Marcia - I am starting letter writing this week. Our school has set up WEE DELIVER.... and some of the kids got mail last week from other classrooms....any good ideas how to get started
santa - this has been so inspiring for m
AP~ - Yes it is Marcia
santa - yes..I am in school right now...I can only get onto my computer at home later...others are on it
Cher/2/CA - Marcia..I start by writing to the their former teacher...telling what is going on..
Cher/2/CA - then writing to the principal.....asking for something or some change
AP~ - I'll ask Kathleen if we can set up another chat
Cher/2/CA - AP.that would be great!
santa - thank yo so much..I feel like I have made new friends
Cher/2/CA - santa...same here..and nice to know we are all in the same boat!
santa - if anyone wants to e-mail me its Santat2@hotmail.com
santa - yes...and I learn so much from all of you...
AP~ - Great! Bye Santa!
santa - night everyone!
Cher/2/CA - need to get long "descriptive" sentences out of them..
Marcia - I found some nice templates for letters and I put one on the overhead...I thought I would start there..
AP~ - Matcia, my students write a letter to their parents every Friday.
Cher/2/CA - Marcia..for starters I label the template and draw the lines.. 2nd part is lines.and no labels or commas .....3rd part is lined paper only
Eagle - AP, what do they write? What they've done that week?
Cher/2/CA - AP.oh...I like that! sounds wonderful for assessment too!
AP~ - Yes. We make a class web and then we write it together. In Jan. they start writing their own letters.
Cher/2/CA - AP.if we meet again...would sure like some ideas on writing sentences and getting longer sentences...ugh!
AP~ - It's hare at first. I also have the kids that like to list.
Cher/2/CA - more descriptive sentences..use of ? and ! the usual!
AP~ - Good idea. Cher. Maybe we can all prepare and share
Cher/2/CA - oh..mine just like to copy the web..it is save..and that is the usual...ugh!
Cher/2/CA - oops..safe!
Cher/2/CA - yes.this writing has them in a tizzy..
Marcia - one of my best tools is sharing after writing..especially when my more mature writier's share....kids can really see that others can do it..
Eagle - That's a great idea
Cher/2/CA - Marcia..yes..and using a microphone..to read it!
AP~ - By the way, are you Cher that was rooting for the Super Bowl team that lost?
AP~ - Yes. Sharing is soooo important.
Cher/2/CA - AP yuppers...of course...always gray and black!
Marcia - I have one boy that's not afraid to write stuff..of course it's all inventive writing but the others don't know... they see that he has written like he talks
AP~ - Cher
Cher/2/CA - I have been piloting a 6weeks writing project using alphasmarts in the classroom
Cher/2/CA - something I cooked up...
AP~ - I wish we had a microphone. My daughter's teacher has one and the kids love to use it.
Cher/2/CA - have to report the results..in a week!
AP~ - alphasmarts???
Cher/2/CA - AP.I use a kareoke I bought with mike!
Pecos - I'm just a third grade spy attempting to get some good ideas.
Cher/2/CA - AP.yes...go to google.com and type in alpha smarts..you will see it...wordprocessing ..can download to your mac or pc
AP~ - Great idea, Cher! Thanks!
Cher/2/CA - (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Pecos))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
AP~ - Hey there Pecos!
Cher/2/CA - pecos..the spy..8-) now I have heard it all!
Cher/2/CA - AP...looked for a used on!
Pecos - hey, I'm invisible...........ya can't see me
Cher/2/CA - pecos8-) okay!
Cher/2/CA - 8-)
AP~ - There were cheap ones on sale during the holidays. I should of picked one up
Cher/2/CA - AP.they will come on sale again..I also tape my spelling lists on Monday's pre test...for Friday's post test..saves time
Cher/2/CA - the kareoke comes in REALLY handy!
AP~ - Well maybe as a third grade teacher, you could share some thoughts on what you would like 2nd graders to do more of to be ready for 3rd.
Cher/2/CA - The spy that talks! yes pecos share?
Cher/2/CA - by Marcia..
Cher/2/CA - byeeeeeeeeeeeeee
AP~ - Marcia, you seem to know a lot about writing. Any other ideas?
AP~ - Oh, no. Bye Marcia
Cher/2/CA - okay...I am going here too..would love more writing ideas...but see Marcia left..maybe for next time? woo hoo?
AP~ - Eagle what is your school's focus since it is a charter?
Pecos - Gosh, AP! What an opportunity!!!! Howvever, I realize that second is just like third...................we're peddling just as fast as we can and still not getting everything done!
Cher/2/CA - ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((friends))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) until next time if there is one! thanks for the useful info!
AP~ - Bye Cher!
AP~ - Pecos, sad, but true.
AP~ - Well, Eagle. It's just us. Are you still here?
Pecos - If I only had have the requirements for my students.............I might accomplish something!
Eagle - Yes
Eagle - Sorry...our focus is the classics, American History, and Agriculture.
Pecos - AP, I must go. I truly appreciate you second grade teachers...............hang in there with us!
AP~ - Requirements? Please explain.
AP~ - Thanks Pecos! Bye!
AP~ - Eagle. Do you still have time?
Eagle - Well, along with Music, Art, Drama, and PE, they also go to Agriculture twice a week. They learn how to grow things, take care of animals, and ride horses.
Pecos - meant to has half the requirements.................what I meant is the "Texas Essential Elements of Knowledge and Skills..................just too much for the little ones.
Eagle - AP, yeah, I have time...you?
AP~ - Thanks Pecos. Tis true
Pecos - meant to say................"half the requirements. LOL
Pecos - EAgle, where are you?
AP~ - Sure. How did you land at a charter?
Eagle - Arizona
Eagle - I moved here to AZ in the summer from Virginia...
Pecos - Atiz??? Where??
Eagle - And I brought resumes to all the charter schools. I liked the concept. And this one called.
Eagle - Gilbert, AZ
Eagle - Suburb of Phoenix
AP~ - We have charters too, but so far they have not been very original.
Barb/2/NE - Howdy! Did I miss the whole meeting!?
Barb/2/NE - I forgot the time difference.
Eagle - Arizona has more charters and they are ranked higher than any other state.
AP~ - No. Not all, although quite a few left.
Barb/2/NE - So.....what did you all chat about?
AP~ - I noticed that with the Spalding data that was sent to us.
AP~ - A little of everything. What would you like to chat about?
Eagle - How many other second grade classes in your schools?
AP~ - If a disappear for a bit, it's probably computer problems and I'll be back in a sec.
AP~ - In our school, one.
AP~ - What's second grade like where you are, Barb?
Eagle - Barb, I assume you're female...you too, AP?
Barb/2/NE - Yes, I'm female, I'm in Nebraska
Eagle - I'm one of the few male 2nd grade teachers.
Barb/2/NE - I LOVE 2nd grade! We have 2 sections of 32 in our school. We are a K to 8 Catholic school
Eagle - 32? WOW.
Barb/2/NE - Eagle, My brother in law just moved to 2nd grade this year. He's enjoying his year!
Barb/2/NE - yes, 32! We use full time certified aides, in which I'm one.
AP~ - Yes, I am
Eagle - 2nd grade is the best
AP~ - I taught second grade my first year at a Catholic school. The best class I ever had. No discipline problems
Eagle - Do either of you have any serious behavior problems?
Barb/2/NE - Eagle, no, not really, we run a real tight ship. Our principal is the best! She runs a 2 hour Saturday school that helps keep the kiddos focused on school
Barb/2/NE - darn, my timer went off for my turkey roast!
Barb/2/NE - Got to run! Thanks for hosting this AP, will you do this again?
AP~ - No. You think we would since we are an inner city school.
AP~ - Yes. I'll talk to kathleen!
Eagle - AP, so do you run this web site?
Barb/2/NE - bye!
AP~ - No. I just thought it would be a neat idea and another poster told me to e-mail Kathleen.
AP~ - She found this time slot and I said sure!
Eagle - What would be a neat idea?
AP~ - To have this chat for 2nd grade teachers
Eagle - Oh...yeah, great idea. I hope they do it more.
AP~ - Do you miss Virginia?
Eagle - I just visited this site for the first time today.
Eagle - Yeah, sometimes I miss it...but I like Arizona more.
AP~ -
AP~ - I have only recently started chatting. I've been posting on the chatboards for about a year.
Eagle - This is great...I would love to chat with other teachers like this all the time.
AP~ - There are so many knowledgable teachers. I especially appreciate Grace/IL.
Eagle - Was she here today? I was in and out/
AP~ - Well, I let Kathleen know, and maybe we can get a regular time like some of the other chatters.
Eagle - What is Golden Apples chat?
AP~ - No. I invited here. She is a retired first grade teacher from Illinois.
AP~ - Golden Apples I believe is for retired teachers. Grace will probably join their chat, but I am not positive
Eagle - So have you always been a teacher?
AP~ - Sorry Eagle. My computer booted me off.
AP~ - As far as an occupation?
AP~ - As far as an occupation?
AP~ - After I graduated from MSU, I ran a gymnastics club while I subbed.
AP~ - How about you?
AP~ - Did you say you were a male?
Eagle - Yes
Eagle - I studied Construction Management, did that for a while, then went into computers, then decided to try teaching.
Eagle - Subbed for a year, then got hired.
AP~ - Phew. I thought you left since we were cut off so abruptly. So always a teacher for you or???
AP~ - Construction Management. That sounds interesting
Eagle - And now I can't imagine a job I'd enjoy more.
AP~ - Awww. That's great!
Eagle - It's the first time in my life I haven't looked forward to the weekends.
AP~ - Wish I knew more about computers. Do you use your knowledge of computers in your classroom?
Eagle - I love Mondays.
Eagle - Yeah, I teach them computer stuff sometimes.
AP~ - Really? I gen. do. I think I just need more sleep. Being a mom and working full time is tiring.
Eagle - Right now we're doing rockets in science...on Friday we launched a rocket...they throught they were in heaven.
Eagle - Yeah, being a parent on top of it would keep someone very busy.
AP~ - Well, I've got lesson plans to finish. I hope to chat with you again. I'd love to visist your school if I were ever to visit your state
Eagle - How many kids do you have?
AP~ - 16 in my classroom and a little over 200 as a school
Eagle - Very nice chatting with you. I'll check back for 2nd grade teacher chat.
Eagle - I mean as a mother...how many kids?
AP~ - Rockets! That's so cool. My son loves them. Oh, I only have two kids of my own. A boy and a girl.
AP~ - I would love to have the freedom to teach rocketry and horseback riding. Our curriculum is killing the enthusiasm for learning
Eagle - Sorry a bout that
Eagle - I'll let you go
Eagle - Hope to chat another time
AP~ - No problem Bye!!!
