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ev - third here
Wren - Yes, third grade!!!! no idea of the usual topics! First time in this room
Cindy - How long?
ev - Any good homework ideas that are not paper and pencil?
ev - Looking for a project, I suppose.
Wren - family time line
ev - like dates for important events?
Cindy - Math fact flash cards
Wren - use family photos, dates and sentences about the event
ev - That would fit in with our graphic organizers etc.
Wren - can get as in depth as you'd like. Draws other family members into it too.
ev - The ever present Multiplication! Oh yes.
Cindy - time line sounds interesting...think I'll read more..type less
ev - no cindy you have a good one too
Wren - Neat way to tie in with ancient civilizatons
ev - Oh, I now have a use for that white roll of paper.
Cindy - you have a white roll of paper!!!!!
Wren - sugar cube pyramids are neat too! Legos good also!
ev - My kids are excited about valentines day
Cindy - Mine too...we're having a book exchange this year.
Wren - mine too! have a sub that day (conference - no idea whos bright idea the date was!)
Wren - What a great idea Cindy!! Can I use it next year?
ev - we are having our party the day before
ev - will every child bring a book?
Cindy - Better to be out on Valentine's than Christmas-I shudder to remember the aftermath!
Wren - ours is on Thursday - inservice friday
Cindy - Be my guest...I got it from someone else.
Wren - I'd have to be DEAD to miss before xmas! I shudder imagining it!
Wren - thanks!!!!
Wren - party ideas???
ev - is the sugar cube idea for ancient pyramids?
Wren - yes...kids loved it!
Cindy - I have just recently cleaned out my classroom library and had books to get rid of. If the kids bring in any, they can take home as many as they brought in.
Wren - one even spraypainted it gold
ev - glue them together? or icing?
Wren - whata great idea for getting new books in the room!
Wren - e worked well - but icing could be used
Cindy - Is the study of ancient civilization part of your regular district curriculum or is is something you do on your own?
ev - we don't study ancient civ. Maybe I'll make up an excuse.LOL
Wren - glue worked! jeez so sorry about the typing!
Wren - geometry!!!
ev - awesome ideea
ev - that's my next math unit after money
Wren - ancient civ. is part of my curriculum
ev - wow what state wren?
Wren - also get to do ancient Greece and Rome andmiddle ages
Wren - Sunny FL
ev - My kids have trouble with the concept of state, local, national government!
Wren - its a lot of fun once you find third grade material! Talk about a challenge!
Cindy - The best laid plans came about through excuses....just lost my internet connection mid sentence but I'm bck on now-I think
ev - hurray cindy
Wren - mine too - wasn't my idea to drop back 5000 years! (-:
Wren - what else do you study?
Wren - do you do a lot w/ graphic organizers?
ev - national holidays, national symbols, rural vs. urban
Wren - neat much more age appropriate
ev - we are trying to determine which ones each grade will use so we don't be so redundant or miss any
Cindy - We'ew stuck in national government, state government too. We did Ancient Egypt one year, had an Ancient Egypt display at the art museum that the kids whent too. Did a dance to Steve Martin's King Tut for the talent show too. Hand fun
ev - They will remember that dance!
Wren - we went thru that too. Especially w/ science!
Wren - LOve steve's dance! We did to - in our parent night play! kis were great!
Cindy - So will I...all wrapped up in tiolet paper. Kept janitor busy that day.
ev - I love science, but hate to get materials ready to teach it
Cindy - Glad to hear you have taste in the great state of Florida.
Wren - I could teach science all day! pain in rear getting organized though! you are right!
ev - I should teach more science
Wren - thanks Cindy!
Cindy - We use FOSS science kits...material storage a night mare.
Wren - we're doing simple machines now!
ev - we need one science person who goes around to all the rooms and does nothing but that!!!!!!!!
ev - A dream
Wren - need a science lab - send kids there!!!
ev - Better yet
Cindy - Kids love it though and really I do too.
ev - You can do so much reading and writing with it then
Wren - kids go nuts! we're using the lego kits to do the simple machines
Wren - will use all kinds of learning skills!
Cindy - We had that set up last year, but the teacher was a grant teacher who went around to different classrooms to teach science. Not this year though
Wren - and they don't even know it!
ev - That's the problem with grants
Cindy - We're doing a sound unit...kids seem to be very adept at that.
ev - That's the problem with grants; usually once and done
Wren - sos ad cindy! I hope they get that person back some day! What a great thing for the kids!
Wren - have you done the string phones?
Cindy - Correctamundo!
sheil - sometimes the teacher's centers will give you money to keep those things going
ev - We don't do sound, or machines
sheil - i got a grant this year for $700
Cindy - That would be great.
Wren - MAgic school bus has a good book too FOR SOUND
Cindy - Where did you get the grant from?
ev - You mean you couldn't find a teacher for $700?LOL
sheil - i am using it to create take home supply bags so they can do experiments at home
sheil - well i ALMOST had one hahaah
Cindy - $700? Only in the state of Arizona
sheil - I live in NY and we have Teacher Centers
Cindy - That is a great idea. I was thinking about doing that with math manipulatives.
sheil - They will finance any good idea
sheil - a friend sewed the bags
ev - In PA a teachers center is a place to go and make things out of posterboard, lamination etc.
sheil - dents can check them out a night at a time
Wren - even in another state???
sheil - i don't know about that
Wren - (-:
Cindy - Here Teacher's Center is a school supply store...you have to pay
sheil - you can check with your union
sheil - they are fererally funded so you should have them
sheil - federally
Wren - we don't have teacher centers here
sheil - how about through BOCES
Cindy - I know the NEA has grants....aren't the applications due in March?
Wren - hey! Federally! I'm going to look into that then! lord knows I can spend money in the classroom! mine as well be someone else's!
sheil - i think so
Cindy - What is BOCES...boy am I in the hick country or what?
Wren - i'm w/ Cindy !
sheil - Board of Cooperative Extensions
sheil - it is a county organization of schools
Cindy - Boy do you guys back east use big words!
sheil - they share services
sheil - hahaha
ev - I never heard of BOCES either
sheil - there is also a ton of grant money available on the Internet
Wren - i hear sarcasm Sheil!!!
sheil - do a search on Google
Wren - must do more digging in my spare time - hahahahahaha
sheil - ecially if you teach in a poor area
Cindy - Here it would be known as the place where dem teechers to ta get them thingamajigs. LOL right!
Wren - seriiously - good ideas sheil! thanks!
sheil - good luck
Cindy - I have never applied for a grant, sounds like I need too.
Wren - me too
sheil - no one usually does
Cindy - I guess I just like to spend my own money.......
sheil - is why the money is easy to get
Wren - ain though it sfinding the time - but if its important I'll make the time
sheil - ve never been turned down
Kim - Grants are wonderful...they are lots of work though..but well worth it..got one for 4000$ last year
sheil - l them howmuch your students would benefit
Cindy - AHSO young grasshopper....now I SEE THE WISDOM...these fake fingernails are getting the way of my typing again
Wren - LOL!
sheil - if you can show how the poorer students will benefit, you will be a shoe in
Cindy - This I am definitely goint to look into. What is the socioecnomic make up of your district or school
sheil - we are about 45% free lunch
Cindy - See...I dun did youse big wurd...
Wren - Kim what did you write a grant for/
ev - Sorry guys, didn't mean to drop out, but was chatting on Instant Message with daughter in college
Wren - welcome back!
Cindy - We are at 80% free or reduced.
Kim - Wren...I wrote it to coincide with our zoo's new arctic exhibit
Wren - awesome!
Cindy - I have kids in college too.
sheil - me too
Kim - our zoo's ed. staff put together a program around it..took the whole school for a day..buses
Wren - did you tie it to math and science and lang. arts?
Cindy - Writing grants looks good in portfolios too
Kim - it was an interdisciplinary plan
Kim - bought books, cd roms, digital camera
Wren - thaqose are great! I like to brng everything together like that.
Kim - paid for the buses
Cindy - WOW!!!!!
Wren - impresive work!!!
Kim - kids did power point presentations and more for a program
Kim - It was awesome
sheil - are you doing it again this year
Kim - have written other grants for things too
Wren - sounds like everybody learned!
Cindy - Kim...do you use a lot of technology in your roo?
Kim - did several for the underground railroad
Cindy - Oops...room
Kim - sheil, the materials are available for the teachers
sheil - great
Kim - yes, Cindy.
sheil - We created tee shirts using the computer last year
Kim - My fourth graders just did power points on the Revolutionary War in Ohio
sheil - the kids illustrate using adobe
Cindy - I think that is great!
Wren - I've enjoyed the chat and the tips! Thanks all! nite!
Cindy - Sounds like it is time to bring things to a close. Thank you for an enjoyable first expreience!
