Join a Mailring at the
Teacher Mailring Center
http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
Tina - Are you waiting for tonight's chat?
solson - hi there, how are you?
Tina - good, you?
solson - Ok, just trying to figure out how this works
Tina - are you new to this site? i've only discovered it this week myself
solson - yes, I decided I better start collecting some ideas. My 1st day is coming up quickly!
Tina - mine too
Hockeyrabbit - What grades do you guys teach?
Hockeyrabbit - this will be my 2nd year of teaching
solson - I'll be teaching 6th grade core--language arts and social studies
solson - what about you?
Tina - i will start teaching 9-12 sp.ed. next month
solson - wow! Thats great!
Hockeyrabbit - cool..I will be teaching a 12-1-1 room..Spec Ed with kids from K-2
Hockeyrabbit - I couldn't handle HS kids these days
solson - I am so nervous...
Tina - i think i will be fine with them when we get to know each other; the first couple of weeks kind of spook me a little
Hockeyrabbit - solson-I minored in HISTORY at school..what kinds of stuff will you be teaching?
solson - well, I was planning on doing elementary. Im actually student teaching 2nd grade in summer school but this job came up and I took it. Will be quite the jump from elementary to middle!
Tina - hi, angie; what do you teach?
solson - Ya know, Im not sure hockeyrabbit. I just was told that they wanted me on Sunday. I know they are doing ancient civilizations and there are some large units on Egypt, Greece and China
Angie - I'm going to be teaching 4th grade.
Hockeyrabbit - what kind of content do you have to teach in 6th where you live?
Tina - will this be your first year too?
Angie - yes! I subbed for 2 years, but this will be my first full time position.
Hockeyrabbit - 4th..I student taught last year in 4th..HATED it..sorry
Hockeyrabbit - it was the teacher..not the kids
solson - hehe--way to encourage her!
Angie - ouch, that's not quite what I wanted to hear
Angie - ok, that's better, lol
solson - isnt it always?
Hockeyrabbit - solson..COOL!! Lots of neat things you could do with them
Tina - i student taught in 5th grade last spring and really liked that age group
Hockeyrabbit - Angie-the reason why I had such a bad experience in 4th was b/c the teacher did ALL WORKSHEETS ALL DAY with the kids..it was horrible
solson - Well the funny thing is my 2nd graders are doing Egypt as their theme so thats given me a lot of background at least
Angie - I have the most experience with K-1, so I am really nervous about teaching 4th.
solson - I hear ya Angie!
Hockeyrabbit - Angie-I teach K-2 Spec Ed..cool
solson - I think 4th is an awesome age though
jill - hi all- anyone teaching hs?
Hockeyrabbit - are you going to write the parents a letter about yourself?
Angie - I'm glad you think so solson, I need to hear that!
Tina - i'll be teaching hs sp.ed.
Hockeyrabbit - Angie- I didn't mean to be harsh..it was just MY experience..the kids were GREAT though
jill - how do u feel about going from 5 to hs?
solson - So have you all decided what you're going to do about rewards/discipline? Any creative ideas?
Angie - I'm not sure what I'm doing yet, I need all the help I can get!
Tina - i feel good about it; i used to be a para k-12 before i got my certification and have worked with hs before. also did a middle school practicum for my sp.ed. cert.
Tina - jill, are you going to teach hs?
Angie - I may just write up something for open house. We have that the thurs. before school starts.
jill - kewl... i just finished my first year and i loved it
Hockeyrabbit - Angie-my teacher had a sad face on one side and a happy face on the other..if the kids had to change their face that meant they lost recess time..it worked with the 4th graders
Angie - yeah, I bet that was effective...the situation I'll be in is totally different from what I'm used to. I'm going from major discipline problems to very few. I am in a very affluent Catholic school now with very little discipline problems. The problem is going to be challenging the kids enough.
Tina - Would anyone recommend writing a letter of introduction to parents of hs students or do you think they'd think that was 'hokey'?
Hockeyrabbit - has anyone used the building blocks program for K here?
Hockeyrabbit - tina-probably hokey
jill - i sent home a syllabus; that was sufficient for me; if you have caseloads like out sp ed teachers i'm guessing you'll become more acquainted with them
solson - I dunno, I think for 9th that would be effective (first year anxiety) but maybe not 10-12
Stanley - Tina, you might want to post your question on the chatboard to see what people think about the letter in HS. [I'm elementary myself.]
Angie - I'd probably pass on the letter too Tina.
Tina - i'm sure i'll have a lot of contact with parents (iep meetings, etc.) but kind of thought it would be nice to make some kind of intro.... kind of wondered about the letter though myself
Linda929 - You might post introductory "stuff" on a website connected to your school, and mention the URL in your syllabus.
senorita - tina, instead of a letter, you might want to require parents to sign whatever you give the kids regarding your expectation, procedures, etc.
ria-j - hello everyone!
jill - tina i taught bio and chem last year, this year just chem
Stanley - Angie, how is your new situation totally different from what you're used to?
Angie - Hi ria...what do you teach?
Tina - senorita, good idea... i'll talk to my mentor about that possibility; thanks
ria-j - I teach third.
Stanley - srta, I like your idea of getting a parent signature!
Angie - Well, I have subbed the past 2 years in some low income areas of the district. Most of my time was spent with discipline problems and trying to lower the level of the work. Now I'll be working with very few discipline problems and children who read at the 5th grade level and beyond.
solson - So anyone have any sort of do's and dont's list?
Tina - i've been told many times by many teachers that one of the first things you want to do is get to know the janitorial staff and secretaries; they know where everything is and can help you get it
Hockeyrabbit - has anyone started setting up their room?
Stanley - Angie, I'm a sub in San Diego, working MOSTLY low income areas, but not entirely. Why did you decide to go parochial?
Angie - no, I just started buying stuff for mine this week...I have no idea where to even begin! It doesn't help my school is 2 hours away and I won't move down there until the weekend before I have to be there.
senorita - re: custodians & secretaries, definitely. they're the people who know the nitty-gritty stuff.
solson - Wow Angie, thats going to be a crazy week!
senorita - have you seen your classroom yet, angie? if not, try not to spend too much money yet!
Stanley - solson, what do you mean my a do's & dont's list?
Angie - Stanley, I was so ready for my own classroom, and since I was Catholic that made me look into Catholic schools. There were so many more openings in Catholic schools in this area.
Angie - yes, I have seen it...I am just buying bulletin board stuff, general decorations
Tina - I've been trying to think of something interesting to do with my room. If I have room, I want to try to set up a kind of reading area in a corner, like bean bag chair and reading lamp.
Stanley - srta, I agree with your suggestion to see the classroom first!
Hockeyrabbit - I am messed
Hockeyrabbit - Angie-is the pay the same with Ctaholic and Public schools?
Angie - very nice Hockey! I will have to make some more trips down in a couple weeks
Stanley - Angie, is the pay difference large between parochial & public?
Angie - no, but I will only be getting about 3,000 less than public, which isn't bad I thought...I know I will be happy at this school though, money isn't that important to me I guess
senorita - what will you all be teaching this year?
Hockeyrabbit - what is starting rates where you live? In NY its around $27,000-30,000 depending on the area
Tina - Angie, sounds like you've got your head in the right place! You should definitely teach where you are happiest.
Angie - I'm starting out at 23,000...starting in the town I'm in now is 24,500
senorita - maryland - $32,000
Stanley - 3k/yr less doesn't strike me as being much, Angie. Are there other differences in benefits/"tenure?"
Tina - in Missouri, 24,500-26,000 generally, but cost-of-living is relatively low
jill - senorita what part of md i'm in northern va
Hockeyrabbit - wow- and I thought NY was low..I have REALLY good benefits too
Stanley - Angie, that seems low in general. Here is San Diego one can earn about that by subbing 200 days/yr.
Angie - actually, this school has awesome benefits, I get a pension package after 1 year of teaching, all the regular medical benefits, tuition assistance if I want my kids to go here some day
Tina - where are you at, angie?
senorita - i'm in northern maryland, baltimore county
Angie - I guess I didn't say where I was...I'm in Iowa/Nebraska...the cost of living here is pretty low
jill - kk i applied there
Tina - angie, i thought it sounds midwest
Stanley - Starting in San Diego is, I believe, normally around 34-35K. Of course, we've a HIGH cost of living...
senorita - i'm moving. c-o-l here (mid-atlantic) can by outrageous!
Angie - yeah stanley, that's a lot of money around here!
lesia - DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO GET INTO THE MISSOURI DESEA SITE.
Tina - abolutely
Stanley - In general CA is HUNGRY for out of state Ts because they tend to be cheaper to hire.
Angie - that's what I hear Stanley
Tina - lesia, here's a link http://www.dese.state.mo.us/index.html
Stanley - srta, are you bilingual (Spanish)?
jill - senorita i agree. that has a lot to do with why i am where i am. i teach in frederick county over by winchester. decent pay and much cheaper col then on the 95 corridor
senorita - pretty close to it!
Angie - what will you be teaching Julie?
Stanley - Angie, the SECRET in CA is to come from a state where student teaching is done as PART of your undergrad degree in ed. Here we must go a 5th yr, & we therefore get aced out by the 4 yr states.
Angie - oh, well in NE it was part of my undergrad.
Tina - is anyone else still waiting for their certification to come through? i just wondered if missouri is slow on this compared to other states
Julie - actually, this will be my 5th year teaching Kindergarten. I feel I am between a "beginning teacher" and the next level
Stanley - srta, if you could pass a district's bilingual exam [assuming they have one], you could probably land something in most areas of CA.
Tina - julie, are you working on your master's?
senorita - it took baltimore county about six months to get my certificate.
Julie - yes, I just started this summer working on my masters of early childhood
senorita - wouldn't that be fantastic? someday...
Stanley - Julie, in San Diego I don't think 4 yrs of experience would be considered "beginning!"
Tina - srta, so did you begin teaching before you got your certificate then?
senorita - yup. i started mid-year, and i think my certificate came through in june.
Tina - i saw on the news tonight that there are some states so desperate for teachers that they are hiring non-certified people just to fill the vacancies
Julie - Maybe not Stanley, but I don't feel I have taught long enough to be qualified as "experienced" LOL...I'm somewhere in the middle.
senorita - you bet they are.
Julie - Tina, I live in Georgia and that is exactly what they are doing here
Tina - julie, it looked like they were giving them some kind of crash courses and putting them right into the classrooms; scary, huh?
Stanley - Tina, I just did my first 5 yr re-cert. Doing it thru our County Office of Ed issued a waiver which satisfied all my districts. [I'm a sub.]
Fir-Grade - this will be my third year
Julie - VERY SCARY! It is a four week course to teach, according to the news reports, "how to set up a classroom and write lesson plans." What about management? What about understanding how kids learn...oh, I could go on and on. Certified teachers in this state find it HIGHLY insulting to our profession. Basically they are looking for warm bodies to fill the classrooms.
Tina - i know that here in MO, we can get the waiver one time without a hassle, but it's supposed to be a major thing to get it the second time.
Fir-Grade - Tina-where in MO are you?
Stanley - Here in San Diego there is a fair backlog of "plain ol'" elementary English.
senorita - non-certified teachers are a trade off: do you want to spend your planning period covering a class that doens't have a teacher?
Angie - We're definitely not having that problem here...except maybe in some of the specialty areas of high school. There's still 100 applicants for every elementary job here.
Tina - julie, that's what i thought it sounded like. we're pretty hard up for teachers here too. i was offered a contract at the third-year salary level because sp.ed. are so hard to get. but i ended up signing with another school.
Tina - fir-gr, i'll be teaching in hamilton (very small district about an hour away from KC)
Stanley - Julie, your situation for contracts sound much like ours for subbing, except NO training HAS been required for that. [A couple of local districts may be changing that, however.]
Julie - angie, I don't think many of these people will go in elementary (except perhaps the inner city schools). Most of them will be in high school, but once again...they won't be in the suburbs. It will be very eye-opening for them i imagine
senorita - no training for subs here either, and good subs are so hard to come by.
garf - I live in Georgia, too
Julie - where in Ga garf?
stephie - hi room!!!!! anyone in here teaching in NYC or NJ?
Tina - The placement fairs I went to before graduating really highlighted the shortage. Schools were recruiting hard!
garf - Atlanta area
Stanley - Tina, you've a SPED credential?
Angie - oh I'm sure it will be Julie
Angie - the subs here have to be certified, no questions asked on that one
Tina - stanley, yes... mild-moderate cross-categorical disabilities (hard to fit all that on my ap's... ha ha)
stephie - garf - do they pay teachers well down there?
Stanley - stephie, I'm on the other "corner" -- San Diego!
garf - I think so. With a masters you can make 38 without expereince
stephie - Stanly - i have a friend who is moving to CA next year to teach - do you recommend San Diego?
Fir-Grade - not the same in all states...in parts of IL there seem to be no problem with finding teachers...plenty of applicants
stephie - Fir-Grade - where are you in IL?
Julie - stephie, it really depends on where you are in georgia. The atlanta area systems are pretty competitive with each other starting at just over 30K on average
Julie - That's without a masters/no experience
senorita - for sped, can you focus just on the learning disabilties side of it, rather than the more severe disabiliabilites?
Stanley - Tina, well, you'd CERTAINLY have no problems in San Diego! I'm **POSITIVE** City Schools will have unfilled positions in Sept.
Fir-Grade - southern IL (Belleville area)
Tina - Stanley, same here. I went to four interviews and got four contract offers. Of course I realize that SPED isn't for everyone
stephie - Fir - is it hard to find a job in your area?
stephie - There's an article in today's newspaper that they need 8,000 new teachers in NYC for this fall - can you imagine?
Stanley - stephie, San Diego has *VERY* high cost of living. However, if your friend has no or minimal post grad units, he or she SHOULD be in an admirable position!
Tina - senorita, there are different credentials to choose from in MO at least; you can just do LD if you choose, but schools here (esp. small ones) prefer a wider range
stephie - STanley - i didn't know san diego had high cost of living - seems all of CA is high
jill - i read that article about nyc... i wish them well finding that many teachers 1 1/2 months before school starts
Tina - senorita, i will be working with only mild/moderate, no severe
stephie - Isn't that the truth! I just finished my student teaching in NYC, and subbed in the public schools
garf - Severe is very much in demand now adays
senorita - i thinking about getting my masters in special ed, but i'd really like to use what i learn in the regular classroom - all kids benefit from it!
stephie - and this fall will be in a first grade classroom - I'm getting my experience and then heading out to the 'burbs
Stanley - stephie, & apart from San José [I believe] & Frisco, I believe San Diego is the worst!
jill - what do u teach stephie
stephie - Tina - are you in a mainstream classroom?
stephie - will be first grade this fall
jill - ah kk...one of the suburban ny districts called me for interviews but i decided to stay around md
Tina - senorita, totally agree. in fact, i will be doing two class-within-a-class classes where i will be going into the reg. rooms and working w/ all kids.
stephie - Jill - which one? how did they get your name?
stephie - Jill - where in MD are you?
Tina - steph, i will have my own resource room for some of my classes.
stephie - Tina - oic
jill - clarkstown was the name of it i think...i'm actually in northern va now...frederick county out in shenandoah valley...grew up in md around annapolis however
stephie - STanley - are you from CA?
Tina - anyone else going to be doing block scheduling? it's my first experience w/ it
jill - they were at a job fair i attended while getting my masters in teaching
stephie - Jill - my husband is looking at jobs in DC - are there plenty of teaching jobs in MD/VA?
senorita - frederick's a great school system, jill.
stephie - Jill - where did you get your masters? I'm working on mine at Bank Street College
stephie - Senorita - where do you teach?
garf - I do not think I would like block schduling.
jill - i am tina and i despise it...from what i hear sp ed kids have a lot of trouble with alternating blocks because of the time off...i hope your's isn't set up that way
senorita - i've never taught on the block, but know people who do. You need to have a mess of different activities to keep the kids interested. (a bit a planning a nightmare is what i'm told!)
Stanley - Tina, whenever I've subbed resource I've enjoyed it. However, I'm **VERY** concerned that so many SPED Ts soon leave it. Moreover, I've NO desire to return to school -- heck, @ 54, can you blame me? {G}
jill - jobs are us around here stephie...i got my masters at chapel hill...but there are plenty of programs around here
jill - i like it a lot senorita...it's rural but not so rural that we can't get stuff...the best of both worlds
Tina - jill, i'm a little worried about that too, but maybe it will be nice to have them for longer periods since i will be helping them with other class work as well
stephie - Stanley - you are retiring?
senorita - i teach in baltimore county - arbutus middle school if you're familiar with the area. what about you?
jill - i've been spending a lot of time coming up with extra activities...we test beginning of may though so we are already crunched for time...what town is that in senorita
garf - My first teaching job was in Montgomery County(right out of DC)
jill - garf what will u teach
stephie - Senorita - NYC
stephie - Garf- did you like it?
garf - I teach special ed
garf - it was ok.
Stanley - stephie, I'm in San Diego & "I've Only Just Begun!" [A song title UNDOUBTEDLY before your time! {G} ]
Tina - stanley, i worry a lot about what i hear about burnout in sp.ed. too, but i'm hoping to be different (aren't we all?)
jill - yeppers montgomery tried hiring me but i didn't like not knowing what school i was going into...i knew i wanted to teach rural so i went where i knew that would happen
senorita - montgomery county is supposed to be the gem of maryland public school systems. do you agree?
garf - yes, it is but it is hard to get into.
Tina - garf, what age level do you teach?
jill - it's both good and bad... great benefits but you can easily get bumped from school to school
stephie - Why is it the "gem"?
garf - they are the highest paid system. and good schools. excellent sped services
jill - stephie it pays really well...i started out around $32...they were going to start me just under $40
stephie - ah
stephie - wow! that would stink about getting bumped
garf - I am certified in K-12, I have taught everything from infants and toddlers to high school
stephie - garf - what do you like teaching best?
jill - yeppers i heard that from a teacher there this year...3 schools in 3 years...grosssss
Stanley - Tina, I get a bit irritated that you **NEVER** hear the press mention that the shortage is NO in SPED credentials, but in those who choose to USE their credentials!
garf - K-6. I will do middle school this fall.
stephie - Jill - do you get bumped once you get tenure?
Stanley - jill, can you explain more about the bumping??
jill - from what i understand it is a lot harder...if they have a legit reason they can pull off, they can still pretty much do anything. i took over a 10 yr teacher's chemistry classes this year because her scores were so low and she kept losing her gradebook...they may not be able to fire you but they can make you miserable!
stephie - wow
jill - i don't know about the tenure bumping the woman i met hadn't gotten it yet...she just said they moved her between schools every year for 3 years (i forget which ones) until finally they left her be...why then i don't know
Tina - stanley, i knew from the beginning that i wanted to do sp.ed. i've spent the last 5 years training just to get INTO sp.ed.
Stanley - jill, you've a degree in Chemistry? If so, you *WOULD* be offered a contract in San Diego!
Tina - of course i had some background in the area before i started having been a para for several years
jill - i have degrees in biochem, chem, and a masters in teaching...my certification is in general science...i'm one of those freaks who got to choose jobs, but irregardless it is a ton of work!
stephie - go Jill!
stephie - Jill - I bet you get a lot of job offers
garf - that sounds like me. I have certification in visual impairments, physical impairments.
Stanley - Tina, I've enjoyed subbing in SPED, & I've Ts said they'd help if I wanted to pursue an emergency credential. I've not TOTALLY ruled it out, though I think the odds are heavily against me deciding to go that route...
jill - i just got lucky that i love what i teach...and that it is needed...i got 3 and the lucky one was #3...i decided though that things have a way of working out regardless of your certfication
stephie - Stanley - what will you be doing this year?
garf - I have school systems who just call and see if I am looking for a job.
stephie - Jill - what do you mean by your last statement "regardless of your certification"?
Stanley - jill, being easily hireable & landing a "cush" job **CERTAINLY** aren't one in the same, are they?
Tina - stanley, well it's not for everyone of course. do you sub for a specific district or work a larger area?
jill - i just think that the job you are looking for will come along as long as you are willing to try other things and are patient. i started looking early and that helped a lot. you have to know what you will give on and what you won't, and i just kept hunting until i found that. just my situation.
stephie - JIll - i agree
Stanley - stephie, one of my districts allows me to "bid" on open jobs. However, I **WON'T** be interviewed if any contracted T bids on one of MY bids. The bids closed early Mon AM, so I'm currently waiting to see if I get called to interview.
stephie - Stanley -good luck. how did you like subbing? i did it this past year
jill - i'm not sure what you mean by cush job; i knew i wanted to teach both bio and chem my first year out because i knew it would be harder to pick up bio later. by no means did i expect my job to be 7.5 hours a day; i worked close to 15. but that's how i work- i want things done the right way and i'll keep at them until they are...i think that probably was the most helpful thing for me last year.
stephie - JIll=what grade do you teach?
jill - 10-12...high schoolers o what joy
Stanley - Tina, stephie, if no contract for '01/'02, I'll continue subbing in 2, possibly 3 districts. Not a HORRIBLE "gig" because at least I average upwards of 200 days/yr.
Tina - stanley, so you are planning to teach full-time this year?
stephie - wow! are the teaching jobs competitive there?
Tina - stanley, that sounds like full-time to me
jill - hey tq, hey heather: either of you teach hs?
TQ1 - HS science
jill - yippee! i taught chem and bio this past year, just chem this year
Stanley - stephie, I greatly enjoy subbing, & seldom is there a day when I DON'T have a chance to work. [In Y2K I logged 237 days, though something like 102 of them were under a leave replacement contract.]
TQ1 - 9th grade honors bio and regular physical science
Tina - anyone ever have a sp.ed. teacher come into your classes to work with included sp.needs students (class-within-a-class)? if so, how did that work?
jill - kewl when do u all start
Stanley - stephie, was the "competitive" question directed to us here in San Diego?
senorita - i did...and i thought it was kind of distracting at times. teaching spanish, i need to be able to hear what everyone is saying, so i'm a bit of nazi when it comes to talking out of turn. sometimes, i'd think it was a kid talking to another kid, when he or she was actually talking to the resource teacher.
TQ1 - jill, we begin (with students) 08/15
senorita - but i did get used to it.
jill - wow that's when we go back to plan...do you feel prepared?
Tina - senorita, i'm glad you told me that; i'll be sure to talk that issue over with my reg. teachers; i've got two classes that i will be teaching that way (phys. science and LA)
Tina - but i really hope to do the CWC classes more like team teaching and less like me working one-on-one with "my" students
Stanley - Tina, my experience has been much like srta's. Moreover, I've been on the other end while subbing for a RSP. I tended to try to supplement what the classroom T did. I think we BOTH loved it!
senorita - tina, i think that would be a better approach. have fun doing labs!
TQ1 - jill, not completely, but that's my problem. i've been living/working at the beach this summer, so I'm no accomplishing as much as I need to. luckily it's my second year, so I'm improving, no starting from scratch.
Tina - stanley, that was kind of my vision too, supplementing what the reg. teacher does
jill - ah ok...where are u at
TQ1 - jill, I teach near Birmingham, AL. You?
Stanley - Tina, the assignment where I did that was an odd one: When I'd go to pick up my S, I could sense the T didn't want her to go. So, we just stayed. However, I contributed to the classroom discussion &/or helped OTHER Ss, depending upon what was being don
TheQuietOne - <It's still TQ1... my computer froze and I was locked out.>
Tina - stanley, sounds like you had a great reg. T to work with too
jill - cute name tq i teach in va
Stanley - TQ1 -- clever acronym! I'd certainly NEVER have guessed it!
TheQuietOne - jill, how big is your school? And your classes?
TheQuietOne - Thank you, Stanley.
jill - my school is around 1100-1200...my bio classes were around 18, chem classes around 23. it was pretty wild
senorita - 18? 23? i'd be in heaven! my classes a bit bigger than that.
TheQuietOne - My classes last year remained "small" (for my school) - between 23-26. Other ninth grade teachers had some physical science classes with 31 students! The lab room is only set up for 24, so that's really wild.
jill - they try really hard to keep them under 25...i've heard some of our honors bio classes this year are going to be in the upper 25's this year though
Stanley - Tina, acutally she appeared to be under a LOT of stress. However, I **KNEW** she cared about the Ss, so I took a chance by occasionally raising my hand to "flesh out" a point or make a connection. [We were roughly the same age, so I think THAT helped...
jill - yeppers...the chem cut off now is 24 because of the lab requirement...we kind of told the guidance head we were breaking laws by having more than that, so she lowered our cut off
TheQuietOne - My school was at 2800 last year, though we've opened up a new high school this year and should be a bit smaller.
jill - wow! sounds like the high school i went to...when i graduated it was 2500 , now it's around 3500
Tina - my largest resource class so far (i've been told i get all the new IEP students) is 10, but that's a lot when you consider that they're all working at different levels on different goals and obj's
TheQuietOne - Supposedly (because we haven't had official registration yet) our classes should be "maxed" out at 24 this year, and often closer to 20! I'll be very excited if that actually happens.
Tina - stanley, she probably really did apprec your being there; i've done a little team teaching and i enjoy it a lot!
TheQuietOne - Were you a first year this past year, jill?
jill - i hope it does...i loved my small bio classes this past year...i went by guidance today to discuss grades with a student, and the guidance head told me i had 12 i one class so far....however she assured me it would go up
jill - yes tq
Stanley - Tina, the RSP subbing job I mentioned only had about 8 on the rolls when I did it. However, when a friend subbed there in the spring her rolls had roughly doubled. [This was a K-3 school.]
TheQuietOne - Did you find yourself spending a LOT of time with two preps?
jill - ummm.... yes! i'm so psyched to only have 1 this year!
Tina - stanley, i would think 16 k-3 under those circumstances would be plenty
TheQuietOne - I chose to have two last year... and this year. I really want the Biology, but don't mind the Physical Science. Also, by having the two preps, I get HONORS Biology, which really is a whole different beast.
senorita - two preps was tough - but it got easier as the year went on.
Stanley - Tina, I'm sure she did! This was @ 1 of our district's "Focus" schools where the District might "takeover" the school if test scores don't improve over the next couple of years.
jill - yes it is...i'm glad i've done the 2 preps now because my mentor during student teaching wouldn't let me...but i'm a chem freak so i'm really happy about just having chem. i'm sure after this year though i'll want 2 again!
TheQuietOne - senorita, I always felt I was neglecting one or the other. Typically, unfortunately, it was Biology, as I had only one class (versus four PS).
TheQuietOne - At least you'll know both sides, jill.
jill - true...i tend to let bio go too (2 versus 3 classes), but i also had it every other day so that made it easier to let go.
Tina - state testing has become a major concern in missouri as well; many teachers are nearly frantic to get the scores up; very stressful for some
Stanley - Tina, while subbing with 8 I was able to see the kids 1 on 1. However, with 16 they were having to be grouped, per my friend in the spring.
senorita - tq1 - i definitely agree. i had 4 spanish 1 classes, and my poor spanish 2 class always got the shaft.
Tina - as a para, i worked with some groups but only about 6 kids at a time; that was a great number
TheQuietOne - We had this funky rotating block, so I didn't see Bio on thursdays. Wednesday nights were very relaxing (comparitively).
Tina - TQ, are you still teaching on block sched?
Stanley - Tina, the "FOCUS" schools that I mentioned go 24 additional days each yr. However, since the District can't FORCE contracted Ts to teach those days, many go to subs. That's why I was there, & my friend in the spring when I was doing intersession @ anoth
Stanley - ...@ another school.
jill - hey math u at hs or ms
TheQuietOne - Tina, it wasn't really a block - it's really complicated and different this year. 1st & 6th periods were fixed - the ones in between rotated (B-F) so one didn't meet each day and one had an hour and a half (because of lunch).
Tina - stanley, do you think that is working out with the focus schools then if the contracted t's hand the baton over the last 24 days?
Stanley - teachmath, at what level do you teach?
teachmath - ms
teachmath - this will be my first year
TheQuietOne - hi, teachmath
Tina - teachmath, i did a practicum in a middle school for behavior disorders; i really enjoy that age group
teachmath - hiya quiet
senorita - teachmath, middle school kids are so neat.
senorita - (i'll take 7th graders over 8th graders any day, though!)
jill - good night all and good luck everyone...time to go play with my kitten for a bit
Tina - TQ, wow how did the kids get used to that?
teachmath -
Tina - 'night, jill; nice to meet you
senorita - watch out for the girls in the spring - the hormones are a-raging!
Stanley - Tina, the 24 days are interspersed, e.g., 2 prior to Thanksgiving, 9 in Jan, 12 in the spring. Moreover, attendance is down because the parents still view it as vacation.
TheQuietOne - Tina, the kids were probably more flexible than the teachers. It's a big mess.
teachmath - senorita, are you from GF?
Tina - TQ, not sure i'd like that either; i'd need a big schedule for myself to know where i was supposed to be
TheQuietOne - One of our teachers who's only been teaching there 5 years has been on a different schedule 4 out of 5 years. Now we're going back to another model. It's a mess!
senorita - gf?
teachmath - hormone......I know.....my niece is the same age and boys is allshe thinks about
Tina - stanley, oh that makes more sense; i thought you meant tagged onto the end (silly me)
Stanley - Tina, Note: These schools are all yr around schools, so the "FOCUS" days come during what are "traditionally" vacations.
teachmath - grand forks......guess not....thought you were someone I already knew
TheQuietOne - Tina, I also FLOATED, so not only did I have to figure out what students were coming, what subject it was, but also WHERE I needed to be!
senorita - no worries - actually in maryland.
teachmath - Maryland is a good state!
Tina - stanley, we don't have too many all year schools in MO yet; think KC is trying out a couple
Stanley - But your question is still a **TERRIFIC** one, IMO, Tina. I don't think the Educrats thought thru their brainstorm! {G}
senorita - floating is miserable. i only had to do it for a week, but i didn't think i'd survive.
Tina - stanley, i think that's always a problem in ed; the powers that be put plans into action that may look great on paper, but don't play so well in the real world
Stanley - Tina, moreover, can you believe our entire STATE is considering doing much the same thing @ MS? Once again, SNAP decisions without [apparently] doing the research...
TheQuietOne - senorita, I guess I just got used to it. I'll probably still be doing it this year.
senorita - you're better than me!
Tina - stanley, i know that the certification process is being revamped almost yearly here; we had to do these huge certification portfolios and then the state came in and looked at them and said, "what have we done?"
TheQuietOne - It's so typical at my school that I guess I never considered any other option than acceptance and enjoyment.
Stanley - Tina, I give them credit for trying to do SOMETHING, though the test score emphasis needs to go...
Stanley - certification portfolios, Tina??
Tina - yes, it is part of the process here for certification; it's supposed to show how you meet the state teacher standards
TheQuietOne - G'night all.
teachmath - we had to make portfolios in ND too
Tina - teachmath, did you do webportfolios or traditional hardcopy?
Stanley - Tina, so you mean certification of Ts, not schools? [P.S., I'm going to change colors.]
senorita - adios!
teachmath - hardcopy......those who went above made online versions
Tina - stanley, yes teacher cert
teachmath - I actually found my portfolio useful during interviews
Tina - teachmath, we had to do at least part online (my college considers themselves on the cutting edge of technology..hee hee), but i went ahead and did it all since it was in place anyway
Tina - teachmath, i used mine too; i did a hardcopy version to take w/ me to interviews; schools seems to apprec having something to thumb through
teachmath - that's nice having it ready....I knew someone that handed out CD copies to employers
teachmath - yeah! They love the pictures too!
Tina - teachmath, i never did put mine on CD, but could share the website w/ them
Stanley - I graduated from T.Ed 5 yrs ago. The portfolio drove me BONKERS! I've scarely looked @ it since! [Of course, neither do I have a contract... {G} ]
Tina - yes, the pics are real selling points
teachmath - I like the website idea.....then anyone can get it, anywhere
teachmath - Stanley, where is T.Ed?
Tina - stanley, we've been told to update ours because it will be reviewed periodically, so i guess it's an ongoing process (and it drove me nuts too)
teachmath - I think it drives everyone nuts!
Stanley - Tina, teachmath, here in San Diego virtually *NO* one pays any attention to a portfolio!
teachmath - so how do you land your dream job?
Tina - it was not difficult here in MO (vast teacher shortage; esp. in SPED) but i actually enjoyed the interview process
Tina - i started sending out letters of inquiry in march
teachmath - I started looking in Jan.....was nice to have picks
Tina - my supervisor had told us to hold off til march so our letters wouldn't get buried on superintendents desks
Stanley - teachmath, you're asking ME about landing a dream job? {G} I'll be lucky, @ age 54, if I land anything, & it's not likely to be a [pleasant] dream! LOL
teachmath - Stanley, 54 is still young! You can still find your dream job!
Tina - i'm almost 38 and just got my first teaching job (and while i think i will like it, i'm not sure it's my "dream job" yet)
Stanley - teachmath, I said a bit earlier how, in certain scenarios, subs can bid on jobs. I'm waiting for the results on about 20 of those right now.
teachmath - Tina, I was finished with school in Dec. so I was looking for something whenever it opened
teachmath - But nothing full time came up so I substitute taught for the rest of the year
Tina - teachmath, i knew a couple of dec graduates; they had trouble finding anything that time of year too
teachmath - Stanley, you've got the inside scopp then....you're bound to get something you like!
teachmath - scoop
Stanley - Your 1st spelling was probably more accurate, teachmath!
teachmath - spelling.......my weakness....that's why I have spellcheck
teachmath - Wow! Stanley, you've been through a lot!
teachmath - u must be a good sub that they don't want to lose
Tina - stanley, what is your preference to teach?
teachmath - Tina, sounds like you had great advisors, where did you go to school?
Stanley - I've a self-contained or elementary credential. I've had< 10% of my jobs @ MS, with <1% @ HS.
Tina - a fairly small, semi-local (only had to drive an hour to school) college Missouri Western State College
Tina - for a midwestern college, their ed program is nationally recognized
Tina - and they never let us ed majors forget it.... ha ha
teachmath - sounds like a school near hear too....but I chose another
teachmath - i went to the University of North Dakota
Stanley - Tina, I probably no longer REALLY care. Age wise I like 4th & 5th. However, I'm leaning towards 3rd because here in CA it is the oldest grade with class size reduction.
teachmath - didn't know I was going to teach
Tina - I was kind of limited in my choice of schools; family didn't want to relocate
Tina - stanley, i think third would be fun; i did my junior experience w/ 3rd grade
Janny - I teach 3rd Grade
teachmath - that's very understandable, but it sounds like it was a good choice anyways!
Stanley - Tina, & if I'm in a school where the experienced Ts are leaving, I probably want the smallest classes I can get! {G}
teachmath - Stanley, I student taught in 4th grade, I loved it!
Tina - stanley, smaller class size is always preferable; a friend of mine just started last year (2nd grade) in a tiny room with 23 students; it was kind of suffocating to me
Stanley - Janny, where is it you teach? I'm in San Diego, just completing my 5th year of subbing.
Janny - I'm in South Berwyn, a suburb of Chicago
teachmath - Tina, 23 is average class size around here.......maybe even large......I once subbed in a class the size of 5!
teachmath - but 5 is very small and rare..........
Janny - 23 is small here. We had class sizes from 25 to 30!
teachmath - that's what I'll be teaching next year (25-30)
Tina - 23 is pretty normal here too, but i just don't think i was cut out for reg. ed.; don't get me wrong, i love the kids, but i prefer smaller groups (guess that's why i chose sp.ed.)
teachmath - I'm moving from North Dakota to Colorado
Janny - You can do it!!
Janny - Big move teachmath!
teachmath - Tina, good for you! I like smaller groups too.
Stanley - K-3 is supposed to be a max of 20 in CA. However, other grades can go into the low 30's. One school where I frequently work serves more homeless shelters than any other school in the County. A G-3 of even 15 there can be, uh, "challenging..."
teachmath - Yes, very big and all my family is in or near ND........
Janny - What takes you there?
teachmath - but I'm very excited about going to CO!!
Tina - when i was growing up (very small district) my class held the record for class size; one year, there were 36 of us
teachmath - a teaching contract for grade 8 math..........
Janny - Wow Tina
Janny - ic
teachmath - hee, hee! Tina, my class was the smallest at 28
Tina - we only graduated with 25, but that same district now is dwindling average class size is more like 14
teachmath - class sizes are decreasing in ND too.....it's really very sad
Stanley - teachmath, my grandfather used to live in ND.
Janny - It's booming in Berwyn!!
teachmath - I think it's a beautiful state but with farming going down the drain the jobs are here
Tina - some of the smaller schools in this area of MO are closing their doors and bussing kids to larger districts
teachmath - aren't here
teachmath - Stanley, what part of ND?
teachmath - Tina, that's exactly the same thing happening here
Janny - I've got to go! Good luck to all of you in the upcoming school year!!
teachmath - bye Janny, hope to chat again......
teachmath - good luck to you too!
Stanley - Tina, how long do kids have to ride the buses? Discipline amongst bused kids tends to be poor here.
Tina - some are about an hour or more
Tina - my children go to a conglomerate school (four little towns went together and built one school out in a pasture in the middle) and they ride about an hour because of all the rural stops
Stanley - That's the kind of time we see here, too, though it's because of numerous stops rather than outright distance.
Tina - my sixteen-year-old was so happy to get her license and stop riding the bus
Tina - guess i'm going to call it a day; that daughter is closing at mcdonald's tonight and it's time for me to start worrying about her driving home alone
Tina - nice chatting with you both!
teachmath - bye Tina, nice meeting you!
Tina - bye
Stanley - teachmath, Hebron, ND is what my 83 yr old dad just told me. [He was out of the home by that time.]
teachmath - stanley, it looks like the room is emptying!
teachmath - Hebron....let me think or check a map
teachmath - I've heard of it.
Stanley - We're of Volga German ancestry, & Grandpa was a Congregational minister who frequently relocated.
teachmath - oh sure, out by Dickinson!
teachmath - I live on the opposite side of the state
Stanley - Never been in ND myself, so you're speaking a foreign language to ME... {G}
teachmath - Northeastern corner, a very unknown Icelandic settlement area
teachmath - that's okay.......I was just getting excited
teachmath - Have you been to Germany?
Stanley - Well, must be Germans from the Volga region of Russia also, because Grandpa went from one German speaking community to another...
teachmath - i guess i don't know too much about Germans expcet that i love knefla soup (is that German or Polish?)
Stanley - Never been east of the Mississippi, though I've been about as far west as most would normally go -- Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Phillipines...
teachmath - were you in the service? Or were those vacation trips?
Stanley - I guess there are LOTS of Volga Germans in ND because the land much resembles what they fled along the Volga River.
teachmath - there are some German communities around here, but so many of them are mixed now
Stanley - USN during 'Nam, '67 - '71. I was a Dental Technician, so I was never in danger even though I spent a yr outside Saigon in '70/'71.
teachmath - if it was flat, grassy land, they hit it on the bull's eye
teachmath - wow........you must have a lot to share with learning minds
teachmath - my uncle fought in Vietnam but never talks about it
teachmath -
Stanley - Western KS, eastern CO, & easter WA were also areas where they settled. Lawrence Welk was a Volga German of whom many have heard -- arrrrrrgh, for better or worse! LOL
teachmath -
Stanley - I never once fired a shot, so it's a stretch to say I fought. BTW, I also did 2 tours aboard a helicopter carrier whose mission was to fly in Marines -- & then Medivac them out.
teachmath - did you do dentistry work outside of the service?
teachmath - even if you didn't fight, you still served, which is honoarble
teachmath - lost me with the Medivac
Stanley - My parents & visiting relatives were NUTS about him. [& did that ever make ME crazy about 40-45 years ago?]
teachmath - oh......medical evacuation?
teachmath - I've never had to "suffer" through Lawerence Welk.....he was off the air by the time I could take any interest/not
Stanley - I disliked the Sciences, so my teeth cleaning, etc., ended in '71. "Medivac" was helicoptering out the wounded: Across from our dental office was a Surgical Team & 2 OR's.
teachmath - i could never do that......I don't like seeing badly wounded bodies
teachmath - so what brought you to teaching?
Stanley - Did you major in Math? I've considered getting enough additional math courses so I could qualify for a supplemental credential. [That would allow me to teach MS math.]
teachmath - I double majored in elementary and math and middle school minor
teachmath - that qualifies me to teach 1-8, and departmentalized math 1-8
Stanley - My parents founded one of San Diego's oldest restaurants. I returned to work with them from '77 thru '93 when we sold because of lease problems. I've also enjoyed kids, so that's kind of how it happened...
teachmath - I'm glad you finally discovered the joy of teaching
teachmath - what restaurant?
teachmath - I have a "chef friend" that spend a semester working in San Diego
Stanley - Teaching is a 5 yr program in CA, so we don't have anything like a MS minor. However, your credential sounds like what I'm talking about. How much Calculus have you had?
teachmath - if you went for the math you would be a big interest to schools
teachmath - there are math shortages everywhere
teachmath - I've taken Calc. I........didn't need the second or third years
teachmath - but I want to go further and maybe some day hold a separate Math major
Stanley - I know about the math need. Our restaurant was called the "Hob Nob Hill." Do you know where your friend was?
teachmath - gosh, I can't remember the name of the restaurant now! i hate it when that happens.......I'll keep thinking
teachmath - Hob Nob Hill is a good name! What kind of food did you serve?
Stanley - I've taken 1 yr of Calc, though that was in '71 & I DOUBT I could go farther. I just don't know if I could pick up enough OTHER units for the supplemental. Since I've already a supplemental in English, I'd then have a **MOST** unusual combination.
teachmath - We sound "advertise" a 5 year teaching program but that tends to scare people away........I took heavier than normal class loads and made it in 4 1/2 years but that was with an extended major and a minor.......
Stanley - Both my parents are of Volga German ancestry, so the cuisine was Midwestern meat 'n potatoes stuff.
Stanley - So you student taught as part of your bachelor's?
teachmath - Yeah, English and Math is an odd mix.....usually English and History or Math and Science........but if you want to go for the math I think you should go for it!
teachmath - Yup, I student taught the last semester (16 weeks) before graduating with my bachelor's........that's not how it works in CA?
Stanley - I've also considered PE since there appear to be Elementary openings there! The supplemental is just a few courses, though I've currently not recovered all my vision from a detached retina!
Stanley - BTW, another ND town where my grandpa lived: Wishek.
teachmath - Did you make "German Sub"? That's probably not a real name but a friend of mine made them, they were like a white bread dough stuffed with meat(hamburger) and saurkraut
teachmath - I know where Wishek is too.....but I've never actually been there.....I think I know a Miller from there
Stanley - Yes, we ran those sandwiches as an occasional special: I tried to avoid them because, with our own in house bakery [which I supervised], they were a pain in the ___!! {G}
teachmath - but they are SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOODDDDDD!!!!!!!!!
teachmath - I tried making them once with frozen bread dough, but it was a flop, nowhere near as good
GTILFLM - Are there any middle school math teachers here?
Stanley - In CA you would major in Math &/or Liberal Studies with an Emphasis in Elementary Ed. Then you'd enter a T.Ed school for a POST GRAD 5th yr where you'd take methods courses & student teach.
teachmath - gee, you're in luck! I'm goind to teach ms math next year
teachmath - going.......
GTILFLM - Great, can I ask you a few qusetions?
teachmath - you can ask but I can't promise answers
GTILFLM - Ok. How many periods per day do you teach
teachmath - btw, what is gtilflm?
Stanley - I'm all ears as I "may" be doing that somewhere along the line...
teachmath - i will teach 3 90 min. blocks
GTILFLM - It's an acronym my fiance gave me... long story
teachmath - okay, fair
GTILFLM - Is correcting papers overwhelming?
teachmath - Stanley, that's sounds like what we end up doing in college anyways
Stanley - GT... as a sub in San Diego Ts often have 5 "1 hour" periods with 1 prep.
GTILFLM - Thanks Stanley
teachmath - don't know yet, haven't started....I'm hoping to keep the correcting at a doable level by "rotating due dates"
teachmath - I'll have a 1 hour prep, plus 45 for TEAM meetings
GTILFLM - Is this your first year of teaching math?
teachmath - plus at ms level they can do some correcting themselves
teachmath - yeah, I thought I said that....I'll start this year.........so I have high hopes!
GTILFLM - That's true. BUt can they be trusted?
teachmath - brb.....changing colors
Stanley - teachmath, yes but you'd be a **CINCH** hire in CA because, since those weren't POST GRAD units, you'd start @ perhpas 5K/yr less than I. Therefore, I'm at a considerable disadvantage...
teachmath - hmm......stanley, good point, then you're smart to fill up with some extras besides English.....have you thought about history?
GTILFLM - Does it take a lot of planning time to teach only math classes?
Stanley - teachmath, you can probably use classtime for self-correcting. [In Saxon Math that's factored in, pun unintended...]
teachmath - LOL!!
teachmath - I'll be teach from MathScape which is a user-friendly text
GTILFLM - I just got done teaching a year of 4th grade and I loved the Saxon book. What's the highest grade level it goes to?
teachmath - being my first year I expect to put in a lot of planning time but not because it's ms math, if I was teach elementary i think i'd put in MORE planning time
Stanley - History is in low demand here. I was a Psych/Social Relations major in the mid 70's. I LOVED it, but it's not something I could **HOPE** to teach...
teachmath - gtilflm......I just finished my student teaching in 4th grade.....it was great!
GTILFLM - Not my age, they also WHINED A LOT!!!
teachmath - there are HS Psych classes....it's possible for you!
Stanley - Saxon goes to at LEAST 6th, & I believe higher. I had a leave replacement contract in 4/5 for 100 days of '00. We used Saxon Math...
teachmath - but they have such excitement at 4th grade and yet they can still do more "grown up" learning
GTILFLM - Now that I think about it, I know it goes up to 8th at least.
teachmath - I taught math using Heath mathematics
GTILFLM - More power to you teachmath
Stanley - There is virtually **NO** demand for Psych in HS, I've no real desire to work with that age.
teachmath - does Saxon include hands-on learning?
teachmath - So demands are mostly math then?
Stanley - Virtually no hands-on in Saxon. However, since the almightly test scores were rising @ that school...
teachmath - test scores.......we shouldn't start!
Stanley - Math, hard science, SPED, bilingual... I'm reasonably proficient in Spanish, but I'd frustrate myself trying to teach kids nuances of Spanish.
SJTF - Hello. Is this still the New Teachers chat?
teachmath - hablo espanol, un poco!
teachmath - Hiya SJTF, yes it's still the New Teachers in here
Stanley - Hmmmm... could we say this is New Teachers overflow? {G}
teachmath -
teachmath - what do you teach sjtf?
Stanley - ¡Hay, qué tremendo! Hablo mas que un poco, pero ni modo como en inglés.
teachmath - Donde es el bano?
Stanley - I've never had a bilingual T reject my subbing services, though I **PRIDE** myself in English-related matters, & my Spanish is so, SO lacking in comparison...
Stanley - teachmath, my favorite question whenever I sub in a new school! {G}
teachmath - bilingual teachers love it when a sub can at least say a few things in the lang. and understand how it is set up
teachmath - stanley, that was my favorite question in Spain! That and cuanto cuesta!
Stanley - One of my districts doesn't hesitate to use me in their Language Academy, which is an immersion program. Next yr will be their first with G-5, so I might strike out @ THAT level... {G}
Stanley - teachmath, how much time did you spend in Spain? Where I swim there is a tennis player/swimmer, in his 70's, from Spain.
teachmath - i was only there for 10 days.....a hs trip when I was a Junior.......we traveled all around and had a blast! I loved Costa del Sol and how they all took siestas!
Stanley - My sister & bro-in-law did their 1st yrs of Med School in Chile. But they'd NO time for siestas!! LOL!!
teachmath - My spanish teacher was actually from Argentina. She didn't take siestas either!
teachmath - Thanks! Mine is mholand@hotmail.com
Stanley - If you ever want to E-mail me I post often on the SubBoard, & I virtually always leave a hot link!
teachmath - so nice meeting you! Good luck with the bidding!
teachmath - good night
Stanley - Got the E-mail addy. The bro-in-law I mentioned was born in Argentina, immigrating here when he was about 11.
Stanley - Likewise!! I'm still subbing tomorrow, so need to think about leaving myself!! {G}
teachmath - Small world.......Enjoy tomorrow!
one more thing - i got your e-mail too....so I'll be writing....bye
Stanley - Hello, don't mean to be rude, but I was just in the process of leaving [been here a bit over 3 hours! Gasp!] LOL
Stanley - Going...going... ((( poof !!! )))
Chatboards Lesson Plans K12 Projects Teacher Blogs Mailrings Classified Ads Teacher Jobs Live Chat Live Meetings Articles Harry Wong Printables
Other Chatboards in this Category...
