Join a Mailring at the
Teacher Mailring Center
http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
Kent - Are you a new teacher or a student teacher?
Buce - how's it goin?
Buce - this is my 3rd year
Kent - I am going to be student teaching starting aug. 26th....
Buce - we are going to a new reading program this year
Kent - I am pretty nervous.. my last experience with a cooperating teacher was not so good.. she was pretty mean...
Buce - called for blocks
Buce - you'll be fine
Buce - where ya from?
Kent - That is what my cooperating teacher sent me to look up when I stumbled upon this chat room...
Kent - I am from Ohio... Kent state Un.
Buce - four blocks?
Buce - how old are you?
Kent - Where are you from?
Kent - The four blocks approach to reading is the latest.. we have be learning a lot about it in class...
Kent - I am 27
Buce - is your name Kent also?
Buce - Im from Texas
Kent - What grade do you teach.. Buce
Buce - my typing stinks sorry for all the mispellings
Michelle - kent - where are you from?
Buce - i even mispelled my name
Michelle - ohhh, i see
Kent - Teacher to be where are you from?
Buce - its supposed to be Bruce
Kent - I am from Ohio... kent state U.
Buce - I teach 5th grade
Kent - I though that was your name Hhheee
teacher to be - buce in my languege means kiss lol'
Michelle - how many yrs has everyone taught?
Buce - where ya from teacher to be?
teacher to be - i have math degree but i try to find a school who can accept me with out sertiticat
Kent - I am getting ready to start student teaching in the fall
teacher to be - i am arabic
teacher to be - kent it is wonderfull to be teacher
Buce - this is my 3rd year
Kent - How long have you taught teacher to be
teacher to be - i tought like more than 10 years in my country
Kent - Michelle how about you... is anyone else a beginner like me.. I feel kinda weird.. I am only going to be a St.
teacher to be - but it is so hard on me to get in school here so i wanna teach in any school just to get familiar with the math vocabilary in english
Kent - Wow thats a big challenge teaching when you are from another country.. but what a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn from you.
teacher to be - lol kent i underestand what u mean but really trully i am a good at teaching and i am so resposibal
hal portner - Anyone here being mentored?
Buce - i am teaching 5th grade for the 3rd year
teacher to be - i used to teach the 9the grad
Buce - we were on the Success for All reading program
Ros - whats goin' on guys?
Beth - I teach preschool
teacher to be - i feel so depresd when i work at conveniece stor with my degree
Buce - no we are going to four-blocks
Somebody - Buce--Four-blocks as in a block schedule or is that a reading program too?
Kent - Ros where are you going to be st at
Ros - cool, kent! what state will you st in?
Ros - kent- shawnee mission ks
Kent - Four blocks in a approach to reading...
Kent - I am from Ohio.. kent State Un.
Buce - Four-Blocks is a method
Somebody - Kent--Ahh. Guess I've been out of the El. Ed. lingo for awhile.
Ros - kent- what are you going to st?
Kent - I only know because I am still in school though I graduate in Dec... Can't wait
Buce - anyway i am looking forward to it ,,although its a lot of work
chrispo - Where will you be student teaching Kent?
Ros - me to- i cant wait either
Kent - Bruce there are a lot of great sites to look at to get info on the four blocks method..
Somebody - Kent--I graduated only a couple of years ago in El. Ed. but have been teaching high school ever since....thus my surprise at not knowing about four-blocks
Buce - it is really a balanced literacy program
Kent - In a second grade in Kent Oh.
Somebody - Kent & Buce--In what state are you teaching?
teacher to be - any way god bless u all it is so wonderfull to remind me of my friends and my old days
Ros - i'll st am history and world geog this fall
chrispo - How long is your placement?
Buce - I am just real uncertain
Ros - hs
Kent - 15 weeks
chrispo - Buce, why are you uncertain?
Somebody - Buce--Ah. Balanced Literacy is a very familiar buzz word.
Buce - SfA was very scrpted it was easy to teac
Ros - 12 wks here
Somebody - Four-blocks is Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking then?
Kent - What is SFA?
chrispo - Kent, will you be in that placement for the whole 15 weeks? That's a long time, but how cool.
Buce - yes it includes a lot of writing ,, discussion and phonics also
Buce - Success for All
Kent - Yes I am in the new ed program I student tought in the preschool setting two semester ago and now in primary
chrispo - And now, you'll be doing the four blocks program? Have you checked out the four blocks chatboard on here?
Somebody - In my experience, student teaching was much more stressful and demanding than having my own classroom
teacher to be - am i welcome if i wanna visit this room again?
chrispo - Somebody, I agree. Student teaching is a lot of unknowns and playing by someone else's rules.
Somebody - teacher to be--It seems to be a public room so I would assume so. Good luck!
Buce - no ,,,i guess that would be worhwhile
teacher to be - even it is public but it seems that u r all one groop
Kent - I agree 100% it is hard to develop as a teacher when following the rules of someone elso especially if you don't agree
Ros - kent- went to a district meeting for new teachers the past couple of days- the vice principal at the hs i'll st at is a great lady!
teacher to be - bye all and good luck in ur filds
chrispo - I wish I could help you Buce, but I teach 5th grade, and we don't do Four Blocks, but I know a lof of people on here do, and they are great resources.
Somebody - During my student teaching experience, I had an awesome mentor teacher, a great group of students (5th/6th grade), and pretty good professors...and it went well, but once you have your own classroom things are quite different...and in my experience, better too.
chrispo - I'm about to start my third year teaching, and I feel like I finally have a clue what to expect.
Kent - Ros...I have heard from my cooperating teacher and she seems really nice I am just nervous...
Somebody - I'm off on my search for webpage hosting resources. Good luck to you all!
Kent - Bruce still there?
chrispo - Bye Somebody!
Ros - i met my mentor- he said that he will go over my lesson plans every day, but he is going to leave it up to me so i can start to develop my own teaching style- hes like me, serious about teaching, but has a real goofy personality
Ros - kent i understand that- me to
chrispo - That's a really good plan Ros. What will you be student teaching?
Kent - ros.. sounds like you are going to have a good experience.. that is soo great
Ros - chrispo- hs am hist and world geog
Kent - Hs would be soo hard for me to teach I like the little one...
chrispo - Oh, I'm jealous. I teach fifth grade, and until this year taught American History. It's hard to leave out stuff for fifth graders.
chrispo - Kent, I always thought that I wanted to teach the little kids, and I love fifth grade, but I think I'd love to teach hs at some point.
Kent - Chrispo how long have you taught.
Ros - i respect you guys- never would be able to teach the little ones
chrispo - I'm going to start my third year.
Ros - i was a para for elem behavior disorder kids this summer- good experience
Buce - im back
Kent - Where did you go..
Buce - i teach 5th grade because its the oldest group i can teach all day long
chrispo - Wow, Ros, that must've been an experience. We had some kids last year who belonged in a self-contained room, but were on our team instead. It was never dull.
Buce - i love having the same kids all day and teaching them everything
Kent - Any advice for me going into student teaching
Ros - i'll bet!- one of the kids took a swing at me and hugged me the next day saying how sorry he was- the bd teacher suspended him for the rest of summer school
chrispo - Kent, the best advice I can give you is to have fun.
Buce - what grade are you teaching Kent?
chrispo - Student teaching is honestly the hardest thing I've ever done. It came close to teaching the first year, but at least then, I made the rules.
Kent - It's going to be hard I have to work also so I am kinda nervous fitting st. working and four classes in
Kent - second grade
Kathleen - Hi everyone! I'm here from Teachers.Net with a message...
chrispo - Wow, that's a LOT of stuff to do while you're student teaching. We weren't allowed to work, and we only had to attend a seminar during student teaching.
Buce - i came out of student teacher in mid year and got hired immeadiately
chrispo - HI Kathleen.
Ros - i'll have to attend a seminar to
Kent - We have four classes for the first 5 weeks then one class during the last 10 weeks but we still have assigments due all semester long..
Kathleen - The announcement I sent out about this chat was (apparently) a bit confusing. "Thursday August 8 - 9pmE in the Meeting Room" meant on the 8th at 9pmE. LOL, but this works out fine. I just wanted to alert you that some will be arriving at the top of this hour. You can stay for the second hour.
Buce - the class had 2 teachers that had quit on them in the first half of the year
Ros - the only assign we have is to finish the final draft of our portfolio
chrispo - Thanks Kathleen. I thought it was just me.
Kathleen - I'm happy to see such an enthusiastic and supportive group here.
chrispo - How did that work out Bruce?
Ros - hi kathleen!
Buce - it worked out fine thanks to a lot of prayer and patience
Kathleen - I'm sorry for the confusion, but you guys seem to be happy, you warmed up the room for those who will come for 9pmE. Don't forget to come again next month!
Ros - thanks kathleen- much appreciated!
Kent - Hi Kathleen this is my first time this is great..
Buce - i had just read Alfie Kohn's book as an assignment of my senior seminar
In_sask - Hello
chrispo - Bruce, I bet. We had a new teacher come in mid-year and it was AWFUL. The other teacher retired, and really, had probably retired a few years ago for all intents and purposes. The new teacher did a great job, considering everything he was up against.
Kathleen - Bye for now. Have a great school year! And don't forget to read the Teachers.Net Gazette every month for the terrific teaching ideas and advice. http://teachers.net/gazette takes you to the current issue. There's a link in it to back issues. bye!
Ros - hi sask
Buce - its funny that when i wrote about it i did not agree with it
Ros - bye kathleen
Kent - We have so much to do on top of student teaching I feel that we really can't fully enjoy th experience because we have class work to do as well
Buce - but when i tried it it worked great
Ros - kent - my college requires you to be done with all classes before you st
chrispo - Yeah Kent, that is weird. My school was adamant that you do nothing else, because student teaching was so much work.
Buce - the population i teach is very racially diverse and low income'
chrispo - Bruce, where are you located?
Buce - talk to your students
Buce - Texas
Buce - we are a itle 1 school
Kent - I have a handbook that says nothing else to do but students teaching but apparently the prof.. did nto get one
chrispo - Ohh, bad prof.
chrispo - A lot of my kids are also low income, I think our school is about 48% free and reduced lunch.
Kent - How about parental involvement that is also a big topic for my classes.
chrispo - I teach in a city district that is surrounded by a fairly affluent county. I love working in the city way more than I would out in the county.
Kent - bruce do you have a lot
Buce - Title 1
chrispo - What about parental involvement, Kent?
Ros - i had a lot of great ed and hist profs, but the rest were egomaniacs
Kent - Is there a lot of support or not?
Buce - ours is 88%
Buce - i had 3 parents show up on meet the teacher night
Kent - How do you keep the parents interested in their child ed.
chrispo - We have two very distinct populations in my school (we are a college town), the kids whose parents work at the university and the kids who live in the projects. So, we have an uneven amount of parental involvement.
Kent - how many students do you have
Buce - anyone have advice on getting parents to show up?
chrispo - Not surprisingly, the university kids' parents are very involved, the other set? For the most part, not involved, but that is also a gross generalization.
chrispo - Bruce, our school division tried sending out school buses to get parents to show up, and still we got nothing.
Ros - be back soon guys
Buce - i had 28 my 1st year
Kent - I have heard from a lot of teachers that they would rather not have the parents involved what do you guys think?
chrispo - Kent, I teach in a school that is departmentalized, so I teach social studies to the kids on my team, which is about 63 kids this year, and then I also teach a language arts class, and I have 19 kids in that class.
Buce - well in general our district is very well off
Buce - we are one of the few low income scholls in the district
chrispo - Parental involvement is mostly a good thing - unless you have the crazy parent, and we have plenty of those.
Buce - in some ways lack of parent involvement makes your job easier
chrispo - Really Bruce? I would think that parents would yell all over the place to make schools in the same district to be mostly equal. Our whole district is generally poor. Whereas the county is generally affluent.
chrispo - I think lack of parental involvement is a bonus when you're just starting out. It's probably not very PC to say that, but there it is.
Buce - if you dont grade a paper right away its no big deal
Kent - thats what I have heard..
Kent - It is rediculous how many classes we have taken that involve ways to involve the parents in the classroom and also diff. cultures
Buce - Texas is unusual
Kent - it had been helpful but also very redudant
Buce - i had none
Kent - I have a friend who teaches in Texas
Buce - our school diticts are locally funded
chrispo - That's really important Kent. I'm sometimes at a loss as to how to talk a parent down who thinks I have no idea what I'm doing because I'm not of the same culture.
Kent - I really think that you have to be faced with parent situations you cannot learn about what you would do.. until you have to face it..
chrispo - If you ever get a chance to see Ruby Payne speak, you should, especially if you are going to be teaching in an area that has a lot of poverty.
chrispo - Oh definitely. I had a parent go nuts on me on the third to last day of the year in June. Thankfully, we'd had the foresight to have a principal in the meeting.
Buce - we've had parents pull out guns because of their position in the afternoon pick up line in the parkng lot
Kent - I don't know what I would do when a parent does that to me
Buce - but our principal is very hands-off
Kent - What...
chrispo - Okay, whoa, my district isn't quite that bad.
chrispo - I have to admit, my principal rocks. He is the best.
chrispo - We've had parents threaten, but so far no weapons, at least that I know of
Kent - That is one thing we do have to worry about unfortunately is guns .. what a sad sad thing
Kent - chrispo what do you teach again..
chrispo - I teach 5th grade social studies and language arts.
chrispo - Hi Stanley.
Kent - How long have you taught
Kent - Hi stanley
Stanley - Hello, all!Everyone a new or beginning T?
chrispo - I'll be starting my third year, and I love it. I went back to get a teaching degree, so I was a career switcher.
Kent - what is your story? stan. and gb
Kent - I am starting my student teaching
Stanley - I also, chrispo. Got my credential @ 49 [ulp!] & am just completing my 6th yr of subbing……
Jasmine - This is my first year of teaching - 3rd grade
gb - Hello, I'm student teaching Kindergarten starting this month
chrispo - Wow, gb, I admire you. Kindergarten kids scare me.
Kent - I am student teaching in second grade starting this month in Kent Oh.. where are you from
Jasmine - gb, I student taught in kind. also, and it was a blast!
chrispo - Stanley, where are you located?
Stanley - Jasmine, you mean '02/'03 is your 1st yr, & you've just started?
Jasmine - There are a ton of web sites out there that have great lessons and ideas
gb - I've already attended their pre-planning sessions and we are now going into our 3rd day
gb - the little one are so adorable!
chrispo - My district has asked me to be a mentor to a new teacher at our school. I'm a little freaked out.
Stanley - chrispo, San Diego, though I'm virtually certain I'll relocate to Los Angeles for '03/'04. How about you?
Grace - Kathleen requested that some veterans sit in on the chat so here I am -- retired from first grade.
Jasmine - yes, Stanley. This Sep. will be my first teaching job- I'm really psyched, but also very apprehensive
Danielle - Hello...anyone teaching HS
Kent - jasmine where are you from?
Buce - im back again
chrispo - I'm in Virginia. Hoping some day to relocate somewhere near a beach.
Kent - bruce why won't you answer my question
chrispo - Hi 2va
Danielle - I'm teaching tenth grade English in Florida
Jasmine - I'm from Minnesota, how about you?
Kent - I am from Kent oh...
Grace - chrispo, how long have youbeen teaching?
2va - Hello. I have a large collection of story books that I got from the previous teacher. Any suggestions on how I could make good use of them in my reading program?
Stanley - Jasmine, T.Net probably has more than **ANY** of us could ever "properly" cover, no?
chrispo - I'm about to start my third year.
Lata - Hi everyone! I am Lata
Kent - hi lata
Grace - Jasmine, I'm a native Minnesotan -- eons ago
chrispo - Hi Lata
Danielle - To the veteren/more experienced teachers: Do you have any tride and true advice for the first day?
chrispo - I'm totally loving it.
Grace - 2va, at what grade level?
chrispo - Fake it till you make it.
Lata - Hello everyone
2va - I'm teaching grade 2.
Grace - Danielle, oooh, 10th grade. Set your rules straight from day one.
Lata - Hi Buce. I see that you are in TX
chrispo - The kids won't ever realize you're nervous, as long as you pretend not to be. I thought I was going to throw up during my first day.
Kent - 2va I am student teaching in the second grade in a few weeks
Stanley - chrispo, so you're in "inland" VA? Danielle, I've an elementary credential, though my supplemental in English would allow me to teach MS. [Yeah, right……]
Grace - 2va, the storybooks will come in handy for your classroom library or for individualized reading.
chrispo - Ohhh, middle school, I'm not sure there's enough money in the treasury for me to teach middle school.
Danielle - I don't know that I would ever teach middle school...it takes a really special person
Lata - TX
chrispo - Even my kids, in fifth grade, get bitten by a hormone bug around about spring break which makes the last few weeks of school a drama, I can't imagine a whole year of that.
chrispo - And yep, Stanley, I'm about 3 hours west of a good beach.
Kent - what is your story lata?
Stanley - chrispo, I'm just hoping I don't get funnelled into MS for my 1st assignment……
Danielle - I've got the rules down...but I've also got the "school diseased" youths called performance base...not sure what I'm going to do with them or for them...I'm nervous about that
serena - Hello Grace
Grace - Hi Susanne
Lata - Thanks for that tip. Fake it....
SusanneTurtle - Hey Grace
serena - Today was my 1st day of school. . .
chrispo - Well, Stanley, if you do...take a deep breath and pray REALLY hard.
chrispo - How did it go Serena?
Kent - how are we making the smiley faces
Danielle - How was it Serena?
Maestra - Hi all, I'll be starting in NYC at a Bronx Middle school, why are some of you not crazy about Middle school?
SusanneTurtle - I still have a few weeks
serena - first period bombed but the rest went great
chrispo - Stanley, ar eyou going to be subbing this year?
serena - I was really nervous
chrispo - Serena, that's great!
Danielle - Maestra, you are a special person who has a quality many of us wish we could emulate...good luck to you!
gb - hi serena, what grade are you?
SusanneTurtle - what do you teach serena?
Stanley - chrispo, several yrs ago I had some, uh, VERY "social" G-5s for a long term @ the tail end of their school yr. So, I **DO** hear ya'!!
Lata - I am hoping to get a teaching job when I enroll in the class to get my certification.
chrispo - Maestra, I just don't have the patience for all the hormones running rampant through a middle school.
Maestra - Why do you think that, Danielle?
Grace - Everyone goes through those first day jitters, serena
Danielle - Serena, sounds like you had a good day! Congratulations. It makes me have hope.
serena - thanks chrispo, I teach 10th grade American History on block
chrispo - What are you going to be certified in Lata?
gb - anyone here in Kindergarten?
chrispo - That sounds like fun. I love American History.
Maestra - Are 6th graders that bad???
serena - I woke up late b/c I fell asleep so late stressing out
Hockeyrabbit - I was just going to ask that..I'm K
SusanneTurtle - First
serena - It's my favorite of the social sciences.
Stanley - Maestra, Dónde estás? Estoy en San Diego.
SusanneTurtle - I couldn't sleep for the first few weeks my first year
Danielle - MS was really hard for me and I can't imagine how hard it would be today. So many students in middle school feel out of place, body, mind, family, etc...many of us couldn't handle MS and couldn't imagine teaching it...I'm sure you will be wonderful if that is what you want to teach and you have a passion for the children.
serena - I enjoyed interning with sixth graders--they were still eager to please
chrispo - Mine too. They switched our curriculum, and I'm in the middle of reading "Don't Know Much about the Civil War", We didn't spend much time on it in NY.
Maestra - Soy en Nueva York
chrispo - Oh 6th graders aren't so bad. Maestra, will they be the youngest kids in the school?
Maestra - I sat in with 7th graders, and only one had that 'attitude' the rest were just struggling through
Stanley - Maestra, ask me about G-6s AFTER tomorrow. As a Sub tomorrow I'm apparently escorting 50 or so to their new MS! Hmmmmmmm...
Maestra - Chrispo - yes, they'll be the babies
Lata - Math. That is what my degree is in. I was hoping for generalized
serena - wow, Stanley, good luck
Buce - why?
Maestra - Good luck Stanley - I guess it's better when you've got a relationship with your kids....
Grace - Lata, your math major should make you very much in demand.
chrispo - See, now, this probably isn't very nice, but they're going to be a bit scared, use it to your advantage. My kids (fifth graders) are the babies in my school. I use that fear to my advantage and by the time they forget to be afraid, they're trained just the way I want them.
Stanley - Maestra, do you teach biligually? If so, from what countries do the parents/Ss tend to come from?
Buce - yes San Antonio
Maestra - not only will mine be the youngest, but they'll be the only ones in self contained classes. The 7th and 8th will be moving around
gb - hockeyrabbit - are you a student teacher, or new?
Lata - You are right in a way. But if you want to get more info it is better to be in the room
Hockeyrabbit - I'm new..well taught spec ed for 2 years and now K
Danielle - Maestra, that's cool that you'll really get to know them and have them all day!
Stanley - serena, I'm just HOPING I'm not the **ONLY** T with them! I've subbed over 1,100 days, & I've YET to have an assignment quite like THIS one appears to be!
Maestra - Stanley - that's the dream. I don't speak Spanish fluently, but being a native NYC'er I can get the gist of almost any conversation. The plan is to learn Spanish in spain when I've completed my 2 years with the NYC teaching Fellows...
chrispo - Stanley, that sounds moderately scary.
serena - well with all that experience I'm sure you'll be fine, Stanley
Maestra - Danielle - Yes and no. My cert. is in Sec English, and I'll be teaching that AND math (I hate math)
Lata - Thanks Grace. This is why I like these chat rooms. It makes me feel that I am needed.
Kent - I hate math also
Danielle - I do as well...but I had a teacher who related certain concepts to the real world and I didn't have such a hard time...find a high school math teacher (I have found the women teachers to be the most likely to make the real world connections best) and use them as a resource.
serena - It's funny--10th graders really balk at what my colleague calls "wongism"
Maestra - Stanley - My kids will be mostly Dominican and Puerto Rican, tho, so I'll get good use out of my NYC base
chrispo - I'm so glad I don't have to teach math. I would not be very good at it.
Stanley - Maestra, I'm not fluent enough for a bilingual credential. However, I've **NEVER** had a T complain about my Spanish! But, let me tell ya', teaching biligually is **DIIIIIIIIFICULT**!!-(
serena - I don't have the patience to teach math
Danielle - Serena, what do you mean "wongism"?
Maestra - Danielle- that's what I've been planning to do, but I've got such a phobia against it - UGH!
Maestra - Stanley - I'd love to do that any day over the Math thing
serena - If you walked into my class you could look around and point out about 10,000 ideas I got from the Wongs' "First Days of School
serena - If you walked into my class you could look around and point out about 10,000 ideas I got from the Wongs' "First Days of School"
serena - sorry, can't drink and type at the same time
Kent - What is wongs?
Stanley - chrispo, I considered cancelling when I learned the details today. However, that school had done me some **BIG** favors, why NOT me?!? [I.e., SOMEONE's gonna do that job……
Maestra - I've heard of the Wongs. are they really t hat good?
chrispo - The First Days of School is by Harry Wong
Lata - Does anyone like Math? Please this will be my first teaching job.
serena - Harry Wong and his wife wrote that book which many consider the "bible" for beginning teachers
Grace - Teaching is a wonderful way to learn. I used to sub and one day I had a 7th grade math class. I studied over a hundred pages the night before so I could explain base numbers.
Danielle - I'm in the middle of an orientation based on Wong's book...I plan on using many of his tips for my first days and beyond
chrispo - Maestra, I think they're really good for my age group, it's all about the procedures you have in place.
Maestra - Lata - maybe you can convince me...
Kent - Is it a good book do you recommend a student teacher getting it
serena - It condenses many tried-and-true management ideas into a nifty book
chrispo - I would definitely get it Kent, especially considering you'
Lata - I am. But sometimes it is hard. Especially since I am changing careers
Danielle - and, on Serena's coattails, the book is easy to follow and readable
chrispo - Ack, whoops, especially considering you're going to st in 2nd grade.
serena - definitely make the investment
Stanley - There are **LOTS** of articles by the Wongs archived in the Gazette. Plus, I believe there is at LEAST one archived chat!
Maestra - Grace - that's how I became a pretty good tour guide in NYC, I'm hoping my study skills will work for teaching too.
Grace - I once heard Harry Wong speak. His opening statement was "Two Wongs don't make a white."
chrispo - Lata, we have the BEST math teacher at my school - she changed careers and because of that, she is able to relate math to the real world in ways many of our teachers can't.
Danielle - Grace, we are watching his videos in my orientation and he is a fantastic speaker, very funny, easy to follow and mesmerizing
serena - that's hilarious Grace! It reminds me of yesterday--the school board brought in a motivational speaker
Kent - purchase the book at like a borders or something
Jane - Does anyone teach English?
Maestra - Chrispo- sorry, what's your age group?
Lata - Convince you to like Math? I doubt that.
Danielle - I teach English, Jane. What grade?
serena - a joke: why are married women fatter than single ones?
Maestra - Lata - what are you changing acreers from?
Jane - 6-8th grades
Grace - Harry Wong also spoke of his potty pass. He suggested having students carry a toilet seat when they asked to leave the room.
chrispo - Maestra, I teach 5th grade.
serena - single women come home, see what's in the refrigerator and go to bed
serena - married women come home, see what's in the bed, and go to the refrigerator!
Danielle - I was going to use a "fun" potty pass to decrease students' need to go in my class
Stanley - Grace, ROTFLMAO re the Wongs' opening!!Say, are you the Grace that has posted on the MainBoard for [at least] several yrs?
Maestra - Grace - that's the best advice I've ever gotten!!!!!
chrispo - LOL, That's funny Grace. One of our teachers has her kids carry her old license plates to the bathroom.
Grace - See, sometimes we really DO remember those motivational speakers.
Danielle - I'm teaching 10th grade.
Lata - You know what Chrispo? I heard it from more than one person. Someone in the school district said the same to my friend.
Jane - I have to say that Harry Wong's discipline plans in his book did not work in middle school. In fact, the students seemed to take advantage of the plans generosity.
Grace - Stanley, yes, one and the same.
serena - I painted a huge piece of wood with a tweed hanger
chrispo - Lata, I think if you can get kids to understand why math is important, you've already won half the battle.
chrispo - How so, Jane?
Maestra - I have a license plat I'm going to pull out of a drawer
Kent - Is it a good book do you recommend a student teacher getting it
Lata - Guess. IT of course. My friends were asking me to take classes to improve my IT experience. But I have given up hope in that
Jane - Did anyone have success with Wong's discipline plans? If so what age group & if you could articulate why they worked.
serena - yes Kent, BUY BUY BUY
Maestra - Will you use IT in school - can y ou?
Stanley - Well, Grace, I've downloaded **OODLES** of strands that contain your comments! Thanks for hangin' here with us "newbies!"
serena - I used it last years with my 10thers, it worked great
Danielle - Kent, buy the book...used if you can get it...it's a bit pricey new
serena - I think they were taken off guard by the structure
Grace - Why, thank you, Stanley.
Danielle - Serena, do you teach 10th grade?
Bogey - What is so great about Wong's book for high school?
Kent - What is won
Kent - What is won
Buce - my first degree
Stanley - Jane, yave you considered using a money system with MS?
serena - yes, 10th, American History
chrispo - I don't recall, off the top of my head what Wong's discipline plan consists of, so I can't tell you if I'm using it, sorry.
Danielle - even high school kids need structure and routine...it helps them feel safe.
Lata - I don't want to. Anyway schools need PC based IT and I am a mainframer.
Danielle - Serena, sorry...I'm getting everyone confused...I remember now, today was your first day.
serena - no prob Danielle/ it's easy to do that
Stanley - I have "The 1st Days of School," though, as a Sub, I've devoted very little "time" to it.
Grace - Another great discipline plan was submitted several years ago by Sweathog. You might ask someone on the main board to repost it. It's really a "no nonsense" approach.
serena - Danielle, when do you start?
chrispo - Grace, I think the Sweathog thing is in the lesson plan bank, but I could be wrong.
Danielle - on the 19th
serena - yes, Sweathog rules! His plan is posted under "Other" lesson plans
Jasmine - Sorry, I had to leave for a few minutes. Is there a way I can see what I missed, or if anyone asked me any questions?
chrispo - http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts//337.html
Danielle - Next week is "planning" week...not that they have left much time for planning.
Maestra - The Wong book ISBN: 0962936022
serena - is it your first classroom?
chrispo - That's the link for sweathog's plan.
Ros - hi guys
Stanley - chrispo & Grace, Sweathog's plan is **DEFINITELY** in the plan bank!
Danielle - Yes, it's my first classroom and I'm soooo excited!
serena - you get a whole week! I only got 3 days and I am still stressed out from it
serena - what will you be teaching
Kent - Thanks for the ISBN number... I will have to get the book
Jane - Thanks chrispo for the website.
Stanley - Jasmine, in a few days they'll probably post a transcript to the archives……
serena - plus my building got flooded over the summer--they're still repairing! (I got new ceiling tiles at 6 pm last night!
Maestra - Is anyone familiar with 'scripted' teaching?
Danielle - I've been planning all summer and already had a rough outline of what I want to cover and some lessons included under that outline...I've had my room for about a month now, but have done nothing but put the couch in there.
chrispo - No problem Jane
Lata - Bye everyine. Hopefully I will get to chat again in the near future?
Danielle - I'm sure I will still be stressed out from this week and next week when we start on the 19th.
Kent - No Idea I am not a big chatter I just was browsing and find this chat room
Maestra - Good luck Lata
Ros - serena- i understand the stressed feeling- i went to a district meeting for new teachers- i met all the big dogs in the district- wondered what kind of impression i was making
serena - bye Lata!
chrispo - We get a week to plan, but I've been up at school getting my room ready way ahead of schedule.
Grace - maestra, there is scripted teaching and there's scripted teaching. You don't have to do it word for word.
serena - don't worry Ros--one of the greatest things I realized (and this was in the interview I won with 10 competitors) was that admin are people too!
serena - they were goofing off and I got caught up in it!
Danielle - Ugh! Sounds like you really have had a stressful time...I'm counting my blessing for having a pretty smooth transition, but I'm knocking on wood as I type this.
Maestra - it seems like our district sends in people to see if you're on schedule ' literally' by the minute
Ros - the head of social studies let me come even though im just st- he is a great guy- very supportive
Stanley - I took a Time Mgmt Class for Ts from a Dr. Scott Purdy. I believe his web site is http://www.writetimepub.com
serena - I thought I blew it with my immaturity
serena - oooh Ros teaches ss like me?
steve - May I ask, what does cv stand for?
Maestra - curriculum vitae = resume
Ros - yeah, buddy! i'll st am hist and world geog
serena - awesome! I love SS!
Stanley - Grace, do you feel the "pendulum" is swinging towards scripted teaching? I know that the 2nd & 8th largest districts in the country are heavily into "Open Court!"
serena - what grade Ros?
steve - ok M thanks
Jasmine - bye everyone
Danielle - What is scripted teaching? I've never heard of it.
Ros - 9-12 gr
serena - Danielle, what will you be teaching?
Danielle - Bye, Jasmine.
chrispo - Bye Jasmine
steve - ANyone teaching in China?
serena - gotcha--block or traditional Ros?
Maestra - Can anyone rec. a book like Wong's for Math teachers???
Grace - Stanley, I don't think the pendulum is swinging that way. I do think, though, that for a lot of first year teachers, it may be helpful.
Maestra - Scripted is literally a script of lessons and time limits
serena - Maestra--his book crosses all curricula
Danielle - I will be teaching English.
Stanley - steve, you're in China?!? Or considering going there?
Grace - d teaching means the teachers' manual is there for you to read to your students verbatim.
Ros - block?
steve - Thinking about next year for short time.
Maestra - I'm less afraid of the script than most, I think. Since I've never taught before, I can build myself up from it...
serena - I do that scripted thing already--if I didn't I'd be a wreck!
Danielle - Ugh, scripted teaching sounds awful.
Grace - Oops, lost the "scripted" there.
Maestra - Thanks Serena - I'm just nervous about math and the lessons I'll have to teach
Jane - scripted teaching sounds as if it lends little flexability in the classroom
serena - what grade, Maestra?
Kent - I did some student teaching in a school that used Saxon math it was completely scripted for me I loved it because math is my least favorite subject..
Maestra - Almost no flexibility, but for us newbies, it's something to draw from
Ros - serena- ya mean block scheduling?
Stanley - Grace, I agree about the helpfulness. Even with [at least] #s 2 & 8 going "that way," you feel that doesn't indicate a pendulum movement?
Maestra - Thanks Kent - that's what I wanted to hear
chrispo - Kent, I had the same experience, I student taught in first grade and we did Saxon math, it was a great way to start out.
Danielle - Do you use someone else's scripts or do you make your own? I think it sounds like a drag...there's no room for creativity and you know how us English teachers love our creative outlets.
serena - yes Ros--I only have three classes and one planning
Jane - What state is everyone from? Me - NY
Maestra - What's Saxon math?
Stanley - steve, would that me mainland or Taiwan? Also, you'd be doing TESOL?
serena - sunshiny FL here!
Kent - I agree it really gave me the cofidence to know i had something to lean on and by the end of the semester I rarely used the paper but I knew it was there'
Maestra - Me too, NYC
Grace - Jane, I have a more or less scripted program to teach first grade spelling but I encourage teachers to pick and choose the words they'll use. A benefit is that scripted programs are pretty well laid out in sequence and overall coverage of what needs to be taught.
Maestra - Sorry, I seem to have the hiccups
Danielle - Serena, you only have three classes? Do you guys operate on a more semester based block schedule? And are you in Florida?
steve - Mainland, yes teaching english
Kent - I agree it really gave me the cofidence to know i had something to lean on and by the end of the semester I rarely used the paper but I knew it was there'
Danielle - Where in Florida? I'm in Vero Beach
Ros - serena- we will do block two times a week
serena - In Florida and my HS has four 85 minute blocks--each T has one for planning
Danielle - Steve, what grade are you teaching?
Maestra - Are there any Fellows out there?
Tatum - Anyone know of any good sites for BBoard Ideas?
Grace - Danielle, you'd never want a scripted program for 10th grade. They're more helpful in the early grades.
steve - now, not teaching,
Stanley - Maestra, I've worked some with Saxon math. It's a scripted program -- PARTICULARLY @ G-3 & below. I enjoyed it, though some call it "drill & kill."
serena - I'm in Flagler County--10 miles north of Daytona Beach
Danielle - Serena, cool..I'm from Orlando.
Maestra - Grace - I'd think that 6th grade is about the cut-off point.
Danielle - Grace, thanks, I feel better now not knowing about scripted teaching
Jane - Stanley there is something that can be said for repetition in learning.
specialedteacher - kids hate scripts
Maestra - Stanley - like the military
Maestra - Most individuals hate scripts too, but for me it'll be a place to start.
Grace - Danielle, will you be going to the IRA convention in Orlando next spring?
Kent - Tatum I am a member of this book club it is called primary teacher.. book club they have many helpful books I think it is expertbooksonline.com
serena - FCAT FCAT FCAT FCAT
specialedteacher - rote learning is easily forgotten and not much use for going higher on Bloom's
Ros - serena?
serena - dirtiest 4 letter word in Florida
Danielle - Grace, what is the IRA ( International reading association?)...I haven't heard anything about the convention, but I'm a newbie.
Stanley - steve, any idea what the compensation would be for a China gig? Also, Tatum, I may have some downloads re bulletin boards.
Danielle - Yes, FCAT FCAT FCAT...We are even having a 90 minute FCAT prep class this year b/c my school did so poorly on the reading portion.
Jane - however, when scaffolding knowledge students need the bottom of Bloom's taxonomy to enable them to reach the higher levels.
Tatum - Stan what kinds of BBoards
Danielle - Stanley...can you post the BB downloads to the chat room
Buce - FCAT sounds like TAAS in Texas
serena - mine did too. . .but somehow our school moved up to a B
Grace - Danielle, yes, International Reading Association. The convention will be the last week in April and into the first week in May. It's in Orlando this spring and I'll be there.
specialedteacher - maybe but rote learning is not the same as comprehension
serena - exactly Buce
Jane - rote learning is on the path to comprehension
Danielle - I'll check into it...I'm not sure how good my district is about letting us attend conventions, etc.
serena - "must pass FCAT to graduate HS" aaaaah
specialedteacher - really?!
Buce - Which will now be called TAKS
Ros - serena- i met my mentor teacher today at the district meeting- he is a great guy- very supporive!
Danielle - But, Buce...at least at my school...we don't "teach to the test" as much as I've seen done in TX
specialedteacher - memorizing something and understanding it are 2 different things
Grace - sped tchr, perhaps rather than call it rote learning, we need to think in terms of automaticity. We need to have certain processes on automatic before we can expect kiddos to work on higher level skills.
Jane - I'm not saying that one spends a large chunk of time on rote learning, but rather as a means to an end.
Buce - Bush brothers products
serena - that's awesome Ros--it's good you were hooked up with someone--I sought out my own and received so much support
Jane - Grace - good point of articulation
Stanley - The downloads are things I've accumulated from T.Net over the last several yrs. They're on my hard drive, though I'll send them as E-mail attachments to anyone who's interested. Just send me your E-mail addresses as a personal message.
Danielle - Serena, I'm glad you're school has a B...we're at a C and our superintendent intends for us to be the first honor roll school in Florida...we have our work cut out for us!
Buce - TAKS will not really allow "teaching to the test'
specialedteacher - okay but what about some of my kids who have problems with short term memory? memorizing stuff is not something can do. what are you going to do for my kids
Grace - This morning as I was driving to work with my little tutee, I though about how my knowledge of the road enable me to focus on other things. It's the same with reading. If children are automatic decoders, we free their minds to focus on comprehension.
Danielle - that's good, Buce...at least, maybe, the kids will be learning the concepts instead of how to pass the test.
Ros - the vice principal at my school took me around and introduced me to all the big dogs in the district- i was so nervous, yet really excited!
serena - Good luck Danielle--our goal is to be an A. I'm the leader of the social studies team to implement reading strategies into our curriculum. what fun
Buce - it is designed to assess higher order thhinking
Maestra - Grace - that makes so much sense!
Danielle - Serena, don't they assign you to a mentor teacher? I thought that was a requirement for all school districts in FL to have a mentor program.
serena - like these veterans want to listen to me
Stanley - Also, please put whether PC or Mac. If Mac I'll send in ClarisWorks; if PC I'll do as a pdf file.
Danielle - Wow, Serena! That's awesome. What an undertaking.
Grace - sped ed tchr, have you read "A Mind at a Time" by Mel Levine?
serena - they said they would but I found my own before they had the chance and told them not to bother
specialedteacher - yes! Why?
Jane - spec ed - perhaps you should think about what you want you students to realistically get from thier education. What can they realistically do? etc... and focus on their strengths.
Grace - Serena, I'm glad your school is recognizing the need for every teacher to be a teacher of reading strategies in content areas.
specialedteacher - what about Inclusion? What are you all going to do to modify your lesson plans for my kids to be inclused?
specialedteacher - sorry I meant included
serena - It is important Grace--unfortunately my strong stand on that is what made me a leader of people with oodles more experience
Ros - i dont believe that weaknesses even exist- just challenges for the students
Bev - spec.ed.teacher-who do you teach?
specialedteacher - have any of you ever taought a child with learning disabilities?
specialedteacher - Resource specialist K-12
Stanley - Grace, reading strategies are **REALLY** being pushed in San Diego City Schools.
chrispo - specialedteacher, it can be done. I work on a team where we are teamed up with the resource teacher, and for the most part, her kids DO succeed in our classes.
Jane - sped ed - isn't it your job to make the modifications? After all you have access to the students modifications.
serena - spec ed--last year total 14 and 6 ESOL
chrispo - Jane, I don't think it's just the special ed teacher's job, not with inclusion, it is everyone's job to make the modifications as specified on the IEP.
specialedteacher - no, remeber you are part of the IEP team. You have the same information I do, because I gave it to you and explained it.
Bev - What state-spec.edteacher?
Maestra - I sat with a child this summer who was obviously LD, and I didn't know what to do with him. Only stayed positive and aloowed him time to catch up with his thoughts. Poor thing was so frustrated!
Grace - I guess it's all in what one considers learning disabilities. It was always my goal to teach first graders in ways that prevented learning disabilities to occur.
specialedteacher - CA
Danielle - I subbed in a room full of VE kids for a month...it was more like a circus than a classroom, but we managed.
specialedteacher - you can't prevent learning disabilities
serena - the sad thing is most high schoolers DON'T WANT to take advantage of the modifications
serena - or they use their disability as an excuse
Maestra - NYC schools this summer was sending Sp.Ed students to mainstream classes without notifying teachers. is that legal? They learned very little this summer and the teachers thought initially that they were just not paying attention
specialedteacher - teh definition is a psychological processing disability
Bev - Are they actually using true inclusion anywhere? Not in GA
chrispo - Serena, I know that we sometimes have that problem in 5th grade - kids don't want to go to another room to take the test, even though they need the absolute peace and quiet with no distractions.
Ros - serena- how true! i used my dyslexia as an excuse for the longest time- its why i want to be a teacher
Grace - Perhaps my little tutee has learning disabilities. She scored at K, 3rd month during the 3rd month of first grade. I think she's going to be well prepared to go to 2nd this fall.
Maestra - specialedteacher - who were you referring to?
specialedteacher - what is VE, Danielle?
serena - I don't blame them chrispo--it brings negative attn to them
Danielle - Serena, I too have noticed that HS kids would rather claim their disability as that the in-ability to do anything.
Stanley - Danielle, what are VE kids? [Not familiar with THAT acronym…
serena - VE=varying exceptionalities
Grace - I prefer to call them learning differences. That's why multi-sensory instruction is so important.
Danielle - Varying exceptionalities...a room full of kids with varying disabilities some emotionally and behaviorally challenged.
specialedteacher - it's not an IDEA classification
Ros - grace- i couldnt agree more!
specialedteacher - learning differences is good.
Grace - We need to help these little ones at the primary level. By the time they get to 4th and up, they've given up.
chrispo - I agree Grace, it's hard to get it down for a class full of kids, but it's so much fun to watch a kid who hates school, and who struggles get excited because you're doing something that they enjoy - making up a song or a skit, etc.
specialedteacher - but trying to teach my sweeties rote memorization with teacher based instruction is a receipe for disaster
Jane - I agree. They just get frustrated and they think why bother.
Stanley - Wow…varying exceptionalities! Can you believe, I don't think that term has made it to CA yet!
serena - all right folks--must rise at 5 THIS time. Loved the chat
Ros - i was lucky to have a strong support system- so many of these kids fall through the cracks so easily
specialedteacher - who's fault is it that they gave up?
Bev - grace-I completely agree. I have a special needs child and am going into early childhood ed. to keep kids out of spec.ed as long as possible.
Jane - Chirspo-I agree. even my reluctant readers love the ousiders.
specialedteacher - hate to tell you folks, but it is ours as teachers.
serena - goodnight all!
Jane - spec ed - you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.
chrispo - specialedteacher, I think that for some things, they need the automaticity, I don't think you can categorically say that rote memorization doesn't work for an entire population of kids.
specialedteacher - Bev, that is against the law!
Bev - goodnight Serena
Stanley - Nite, serena!
Grace - They've become so accustomed to failing, they don't even believe they can succeed anywhere.
Bev - How?
Danielle - Yes, VE is a very tough place to be with some very rough kids who you have to crack open, literally, to get to the soft places in their hearts..they are wonderful kids, just full of anger at being labeled.
Grace - Bye, serena
specialedteacher - right because we didn't create a system they could succeed in
chrispo - Bye Serena
Jane - spec ed - how long have you been teaching?
specialedteacher - Ladies and gentleman you are responsible for following the laws of IDEA
Ros - bev- no offense, but keeping certain kids out of sp ed is hurting them- my sp ed teacher made believe in myself- if it wasnt for her, i never would have gone to college
Grace - It's been a great chat. I'm heading off to check the other boards.
Danielle - I have to run...another early morning of more experienced teachers lecturing us during our "first days" orientation...thank you for the conversation...I'm so glad I joined in the chat.
Danielle - Night, all.
chrispo - Our resource teacher pushes in to our classes, it is very rare that the kids in the class know which ones are hers, she keeps an extra eye out for her kids, but helps everyone in the class. It seems to really make a difference, because anyone can get help from her, and most of the kids dont' even realize she's a special ed teacher, they think she's just another teacher in the room
Maestra - goodnight Grace and Danielle
Stanley - Grace, enjoyed "meeting" the person! Keep up the posts, ya' hear?
specialedteacher - wow! Crispo, that's the way it is suppose to work!
specialedteacher - do you collaborate and co-teach
Bev - Ros I agree but sometimes helping a student to be successful out of special ed can make a difference to.
Stanley - chrispo, here in San Diego RSPs usually only work like that @ the MS or HS levels.
specialedteacher - Jane, I am starting my 2nd year as a teacher. But, both of my children were in spec ed and very successful
Maestra - OK, I've lost my way - g'nite and thanks for all the input.
chrispo - Yeah, we do that at both ends of the spectrum. We cluster group our kids (I team teach), so the sped teacher can push into the class with the highest concentration of her kids and the gifted specialist can push into the other class. Mind you, last year, I had the resource teacher pushing into my gifted class as well because I had quite a few kids who were double identified.
specialedteacher - our daughter is a Jr @ tulane University and our son is starting community college in the fall
Jane - does the administration in your district support special ed? In my distict they are rather old fashioned and there is only so much a teacher can do.
chrispo - G'nite Maestra. Good luck!
Stanley - spec, why do you think so many Ts leave SPED? [IMO the "shortage" is not in credentials, but in those who still which to UTILIZE their SPED credentials.
specialedteacher - Jane, unfortunatly many districts don't understand IDEA
Stanley - Maestra, hasta luego!
specialedteacher - because we are on overload and because we have no respect from gen ed teachers and because we have no support from administration
Stanley - spec, so, generally speaking, you feel it's administrative issues rather than the kids themselves?
specialedteacher - also,because gen ed teachers get mad at us because they think we are increasing their work load by expecting modifications
chrispo - Hi nikki
specialedteacher - p and gen ed issues
nikki - can anyone tell me the difference between a title one 2nd grade and a regular second grade
Stanley - chrispo, that must have been interesting with double identified kids. Ever have any GATE with BD?
Jane - I have another job interview & are there any "must know" buzz words?
specialedteacher - there are many kids with LD and/or ADD who are gifted
chrispo - Stanley, I've never done that before. Last year was a lot of gifted with ADHD, but also a girl with a non-specific reading LD
specialedteacher - Jane what position ar eyou interviewing for
Stanley - nikki, GOOD question! Wish *I* could answer……
Stanley - spec, what's a "p issue?"
Jane - a higher paying english teacher position
specialedteacher - itle 1 is a grant for kids who are behind usually 2nd language issues and lower SES
specialedteacher - sorry YUP
specialedteacher - you know are esteemed presidnet's No kids left behind
Stanley - spec & chrispo, from subbing I **DO** about the intersection of GATE & ADHD!
Jane - shouldn't collaboration with the sped.ed. teacher be the most beneficial for the student to modify an assignment or assessment?
specialedteacher - t are you willing to collaborate?
chrispo - Jane, I think there has to be collaboration, but you need to be aware of the modifications that need to be made in class, they're entitled to them. If that means you have to look at the kid while give directions (that was one modification this year), then that's what you have to do. The sped teacher can't be in there all the time.
Jane - yes, but not having a strong background in special ed. I would feel more comfortable collaborating rather than redesigning.
specialedteacher - good! But, that means I also teach in your classroom
Stanley - chrispo, almost 3 yrs ago I had a boy who I'd lay odds was BD & GATE, albeit uncomfirmed in both. WHAT a handful!!
chrispo - I agree Jane, I don't know what I'd do without our resource teacher who tends to look at me and say 'Nope, that's not going to work, let's try this."
specialedteacher - I teach part of a lesson and you teach part
Jane - yes, chrispo I agree, but shouldn't the special ed. teacher be the specialist?
chrispo - Wow Stanley, I can't imagine what that must be like.
Bev - sounds like you are as irritated with regular ed as I am with special ed. Think it depends a lot on your experiences. We had some difficult exp. with spec.ed with my child.
Jane - collaboration is the most beneficial for the student. so if a teahcer has pride issues s/he should get over it.
Stanley - spec & chris, THAT type of collaboration virtually **NEVER** exists here in San Diego!
chrispo - Sure, but part of my job as a teacher is to differentiate assignments, I shouldn't need the special ed teacher to do that for me. For instance, I tend to have at least 2 levels of reading material - same topic, but different reading assignments depending on their reading level.
specialedteacher - good night everyone, I have a midterm in the morning! Thanks for the chat!
Jane - right now I teach in a catholic school and we do not have a sped.ed. teacher. I feel like i'm in the dark alot of times when i have special needs students. i want to help but not be an enabler.
chrispo - Jane, do your kids have IEPs?
Stanley - He was suspended for, I believe, about 5 of the 11 days I was there. I just wish I could have worked with him 1-on-1, e.g., outside of the school environs.
Jane - chrispo, as a secondary teacher that would be virtually impossibl e to have multiple levels of reading material in the classroom all at once.
chrispo - That's hard Stanley, and really part of it is that as a GATE student he can think through his actions and the consequences and then figure out a way around them.
chrispo - What do you teach Jane?
Jane - chrispo-not all but, there are some which need to have an IEP. In my school, if a parent does not consent to testing, it does not happen. I have been through many conferences with several parents that I have the best intentions for thier children, but thier too worried about thier kids being "labled."
Stanley - spec, whenever I've subbed fro RSPs @ elementary we pulled out. However, in one lengthy assignment, I worked with my 1 girl right in the class itself. & then I DID get involved with other things!
Jane - I teach 6-8 english
chrispo - See, now in my district, parents are clamoring to have their kids tested, more help.
Jane - are they hiring? - just kidding. I have difficulty understanding why parents do not have their children's best interests at heart
chrispo - Well, I think that makes it harder, I imagine you have specific novels you need to get through. We group our kids for reading instruction by ability level. And then I tend to have 2 different readings, one for kids reading in the 5/6 range, and then a reading on the same topic at about the 2/3 reading level, but that doesn't happen every day.
Jane - in a perfect world varying reading levels is beneficial, but it's just not practical. what i do is vary the material. usually the novels are easier and the short stories more difficult. i schaffold knowledge to ensure everyone is on the learing train. it seems to work.
Stanley - Jane, it's the STIGMA of SPED for the parents, I'm afraid -- so from THEIR perspective they **DO** have their kid's interests @ heart. ;-(
Kent - Pam where are you from
Jen/2nd/PA - question....how do you do "Problem of the Day?"
Stanley - Hi, Jen! Coyote, you post in Room 1 a lot, right?
Jane - i hear you stanley, but i think the parents need to swallow their pride. no one knows if they have an IEP unless they or the students says something.
Coyote - yes I do.. whats the topic here?
PamDi/2OH - Hi... I'm from Springfield
Jane - in NY i can't legally make modifications on the ELA 8th grade english test. so i tell the parents that if their child needs help on the test i have to legally say sorry do your best. i want them to know just what their doing to their children.
Jen/2nd/PA - Jane...let me guess....parents who don't want their son/daughter identified?
Stanley - Jane, I invariably work in inner city schools. E.g., I've "heard" that SE Asian cultures are *VERY* ashamed of special needs. THAT type of a background will be TOUGH to overcome, me thinks……
Jane - yes jen.
Jane - the district I work in is white middle to upper middle class.
Buce - mmmm well ild start with a sweet kiss
Jen/2nd/PA - I been there before! Taught learning support for 2 yrs
Stanley - Coyote, this is carryover from Beginning/New T. I think we've MORE than 1 thing goin' down here. [Multitasking, ya' know……
Jane - getting back on topic....what buzz words have any new teachers come accross.
Stanley - Jane, then I agree about swallowing their pride! However, I've heard parents complain about how SPED kids [sometimes THEMSELVES!] were "treated" once identified.
Jane - good point stanley.
Stanley - In San Diego's largest district the buzz words will **ALL** be literacy oriented.
Jane - could you articulate stanley?
Stanley - Sure, Jane :: guided reading/conferences, shared reading/writing, strategies, classroom environment [i.e., CHARTS!!!]…… GOOD stuff, but the PRESSURE?!?!?
Stanley - Got bumped, huh Jane?
Jane - just looking around the website and got lost
Stanley - Jane, did you say you teach MS? Also, whereabouts?
Jane - English 6-8 in western NY area
Buce - youre kidding?
kat - anyone from toronto, canada
Stanley - The gentleman who is "pushing" the literacy movement came out of NYC, Jane.
Jane - whom?
Jane - What do you mean by the literacy movement?
Stanley - kat, what do you teach, & where? I'm starting my 7th yr of subbing in San Diego, anticipating a move to Los Angeles for '03/'04.
Stanley - Buce, ?!?!?
kat - i just completed my student teaching at the faculty and am looking for work in toronto
Jane - how does one retrieve private messages?
Stanley - Perhaps literacy "emphasis" would have been a better choice of words. His name is Dr. Anthony Alvarado -- I forget WHICH NYC "mini-district" he "transformed!"
Stanley - Jane, I just sent you a "PM." Did you see it?
Stanley - kat, in what grade did you s/t?
kat - grades 1, 6 and 2/3
Jane - yup, i'm clicking onit and nothing is happening. should it?
kat - stanley..what grades have you taught
Stanley - Jane, I'm on a Mac using Netscape 4.6. I can cop the message to my clipboard, if THAT's what you mean……
Stanley - kat, so you had 3 different assignments? How long for each, & were they all in the same schools?
kat - one month each...3 different schools
Stanley - kat, taught as a Sub?
kat - not yet...
kat - how is subbing? Ive thought about doing it this first year to get my feet wet
Stanley - kat, I WAS going to ask if you had subbed. However, what I POORLY phrased was, did you mean in what grades have I subbed? Other than about 100 days as a G-4/5 "leave replacement" T, I've "only" subbed 1,100 days……
Jane - kat - long term positions are great & they look good on resumes. everyone can have a different view of subbing. if you are good on your feet you'll like it. try it out to see if you do, after you finish student teaching
Stanley - kat, I wasn't worth a "bleep" as a T prior to subbing. So, I'm not exactly an unbiases source……
kat - jane...where and what grade do you teach
Jane - NY 6-8 english
kat - yeah..subbing really prepares you for the real thing huh Stanley
Stanley - Jane, I would have THOUGHT I'd have been a miserable Sub. However, I've **NO** problems with it…… other than the compensation
Jane - I've heard that people have loved or hated it. subbing does help one with classroom management - in general. yes, the pay is not great.
Stanley - **YES**, kat! I think it is **PARTICULARLY** valuable to have subbed or worked as a T/A prior to student teaching.
kat - teachers, unfortunately are all underpaid and overworked
kat - wouldnt you all agree?
Jane - amen sister
Stanley - Jane, I'm one who needs to "see" the "BIG picture" to make "sense" of it all. And, T.Ed didn't help me with that……
kat - you really need to love working with kids and have a passion for the profession in order to be able to stick it out it seems
Jane - to love kids and see their lightbulbs glow is definitely the payoff.
Stanley - Agreed, kat. However, in SOME parts of the US Subs barely make minimum wage -- & without benefits OR [commonly] the ability to work more than 180 or so days/yr.
Jane - for me Stanley subbing was beneficial but not a necessity.
kat - teacher's college here in T.O hasnt really prepared me either I dont think...
Jane - thanks for chatting goodnight!
Stanley - I **LUV** the "excitement" that IS part of children!!
kat - i majored in early childhood education for 4 years and it seems teachers college was a repeat of those years
Stanley - kat, I think MOST s/ts feel that way, kat.
Stanley - How long was your T.Ed? One yr?
kat - yeah..i know most of my colleagues would definetely agree
Stanley - So, for YOU, the "question" is something like, "How MUCH of what I feel is 'natural,' & how much is TRULY being 'unprepared'"?
kat - yes..one year...how long is it in U.s?
kat - exactly...that is the BIG "QUESTION"
Stanley - The US is **ALL** over the lot, as the individual states determine this. CA is in the midst of **MONUMENTAL** changes. However, PRIOR our system was much like yours: I.e., a 5th yr.
kat - what i keep hearing though is that teachers ed never really prepares you for the "real world" and that "teaching" is something you "learn" how to do as you go along
Stanley - kat, in your area how many new hirees come out of the "sub pool?" That is an important question, believe it or not.
Stanley - kat, for ME that was **DEFINITELY** the case, & I have also heard that cliché.
kat - do you mean how many actually end up subbing before they land a full time position...most I believe
Stanley - However, I changed careers @ age 48, so you need to take what *I* say with a LARGE grain of salt!
kat -
Stanley - So, Subs are not looked DOWN upon when it comes to hiring? [In much/most? of the US, that appears to be the case……]
kat - thats too bad
Stanley - In much of the US being TYPECAST as a "Sub" is the kiss of death!
kat - why is that though?
Stanley - EXCELLENT, kat! Then, if your finances will allow it, by all means start off subbing!
kat - i would have thought employers would prefer the experience gained from subbing, especially in terms of classroom management
Stanley - kat, I don't think anyone knows "why." A Principal [married to a Sub] once told me administrators feel Subs can't plan & don't keep "current" with educational "advances."
kat - yeah..subbing just means I have to live at home for a while longer..but I dont mind...in no rush to move out on my own sorry "butt"
Stanley - kat, TRUST ME, Education is a MOST "peculiar" culture, if you will. And the general public has **NO** idea……
kat - whats ironic is that subs have probably seen it all and may be more experienced than your average first year teacher
Stanley - kat, do you often read the T.Net chatboards?
kat - oh I agree..and if I here one more person brag about how we get the summers off I will deck them...I swear...it gets me so angry
kat - this is my first time chatting
Stanley - I agree about the experience factor. Personally, I've toyed with the idea that someone like myself "scares" site administrators because I may have "SEEN" & **PONDERED** more than they would have liked……
kat - true
Stanley - kat, I'm not talking about "real" time chatting -- like this. T.Net calls what I mean ChatBoards, though others might call them message boards.
Stanley - For me the "answer" will probably move to an area of GREAT need -- like Los Angeles.
kat - oh...then..i have tried to read the messages posted on boards..just recently started though
Stanley - kat, IMO reading those boards, subbing, & REFLECTING are as **GOOD** a confidence boosters as there are!!
kat -
kat - If I had a dollar for every time I heard that word this past year in teacher's college..I would have retired as a millionare by now and forgotten all about teaching
Stanley - Why, did they beat that one to death in T.Ed -- as they did with us in '95/'96?
kat - chatting with fellow teachers and reading those boards are the best medicine therre is
Stanley - Hi, TE!
TFrazier - hola
kat - yeah..it is something we probably all do, naturally, as teachers
kat - hello T
Stanley - kat, but you THINK about those interactions, right? Bingo: REFLECTION, at least as "Mr. H" here understands it!
Stanley - Tu hablas español, TF?
TFrazier - I had 5 years of spanish
Stanley - ándale, pues! Do you teach, &, if so, where & what? [I'm a 7th yr Sub in San Diego with an elementary credential, working on my GATE cert.]
kat - im actually tutoring a grade 2 student at home right now and I come home and "reflect" and "ponder" how I can help her comprehension skills and reading style..pretty scary? all that for $12/hour...her parents are completely mistified..shocked at my level of commitment i guess
Stanley - kat, is her primary languate English? Also, she decodes but doesn't make sense of what she "reads?"
kat - dont know what i'll do when I actually get my own class....with 30 students all needing help in different areas
Stanley - Will you have 30? Here in CA K-3 "generally" have 20 or less, & that's where one "SHOULD" have to give the MOST 1-on-1.
kat - yes primary language is eng and yes..she focuses/gets too caught up on pronunciation/decoding that she misses the whole comprehension aspect
kat - here in T.O average class sizes in Primary range
kat - In my Grade 6 practicum, I had 28 and in my Grade 1 I had 27
Stanley - Well, when she's reading to you, can you stop her & ask things like, "What do you think will happen next?"
kat - quite high if you ask me..too high for individual attention
Stanley - **AGREE** with you "too high" comment -- at LEAST for Primary or 2nd lang learners, which is the **BULK** of what I see.
kat - yes..thats what I have been trying..to stop every so often and ask those q's...have also tried simpler books...that has helped also I think
Stanley - If that's foreign to her, perhaps try doing a "shared" reading with her in order to remove THAT "burden" from her.
kat - shared reading is when she reads a bit and then I read a bit too...right?
Stanley - Do you know, was she not read to "enough" as a child? It sounds as though [perhaps] she doesn't have much sense as to what a story "is."
Stanley - The way *I've* seen shared reading defined is YOU read while she has her eyes on the text -- either, literally, sharing your copy, or with her own, or following a "big" book while you point to the words.
kat - dont know...it seems though as if she tries to rush through reading...often making simple errors and missing punctuation marks
kat - sometimes she also adds letters that are not there in words or omits letters..causing mispronounciations
Stanley - Stop her, & ask, "Hmmm… does THAT make sense?" You know, MANY kids, unbelievably, don't even "KNOW" that reading is **SUPPOSED** "to make sense!"
kat - well...thanks for the tip..will do that
Stanley - Once you start getting "some" comprehension, you might want to fill out a story frame or web with her. I.e., setting? character? problem? solution?
kat - i myself love reading and developed that love in Grade 3 it seems, I was always at the library checking out more books than I could read, I want to help her develop that joy too because reading should be FUN
Stanley - kat, those are some of the "strategies" that San Diego City Schools are emphasizing. However, today, in another district [without direct strategy teaching], I got a G-1 girl to admit that what she'd just read didn't make sense to her. THEN we started to
Stanley - (((go, kat !!))) Share YOUR excitement over stories YOU like -- @ her "level," of course. Very likely **NO ONE** has done that with her before!
Stanley - ooops……… "…then we started to troubleshoot."
Stanley - Were you here a bit earlier when I described my subbing job tomorrow?
kat - no..
kat - what are you up for tommorrow
Stanley - Well, I "MAY" have 50 some G-6s all to myself, my "charge" being to take them over to the MS to which they have just graduated, apparently for some sort of orientation.
Stanley - Check on the SubBoard, say by the middle of next week, & I PROBABLY will have posted something about THAT!
kat - FUN
Stanley - I'm "HOPING" I'll not be the only T with them, though from talking to the Secretary, that was not clear.
kat - 50...thats a lot
kat - good luck with them tomorrow
Stanley - That site did me a **HUGE** favor 2 yrs ago, & I consider them friends. Otherwise, I might have cancelled -- particularly since it appears as though it's a bit less than a full day's work, too!
Stanley - I agree re the # -- which is why I think/hope I might not be alone……
kat - must get going to sleep...past midnight here...
kat - good luck tomorrow
kat - nice chatting with you
Stanley - I hear ya'! I need to call a friend who is supposed to have flown in from Boston this P.M.
kat - good night
Stanley - Did you get my E-mail address?
kat - yes..thanx
Stanley - Best of EVERYTHING to ya', kat! If ever you see a "Stanley" on 1 of the Boards, it is probably yo!
Stanley - ((( Nite! )))
Stanley - Going, going………
kat - thanx..we'll chat sometime soon ..good night
Stanley - I'll look forward to it……
Stanley - ((( 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...
