Join a Mailring at the
Teacher Mailring Center
http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
meeha/ece/tx - Welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
Pescha - Hello from New Zealand
meeha/ece/tx - WOW! What's the weather like over there, Pescha? Here in Texas I'm smack dab in the middle of a (relatively) mild summer!
Pescha - its cold and wet
Pescha - i just stubbled on this site about 15 mins ago
meeha/ece/tx - Well, I guess we get to "trade-out" in a few months!
Pescha - looking for resources
Melissa - we will hit 95 tomorow
meeha/ece/tx - Pescha, welcome to teachers.net -- it has to be one of the friendliest sites on the internet! If you have a question about education, this is a good place to come to find answers!
Melissa - pescha it is great, and you will be quickly addicted
Pescha - lol
Pescha - early childhood educator working with 24 children, 4 under 2's
meeha/ece/tx - I am a teacher, I get to work with preschoolers with special needs. In may I finished up my Masters of Science degree, behavior intervention, at the University of North Texas. Now I'm looking toward starting a Ph.D.!
meeha/ece/tx - Pescha -- 24 kiddos -- do you work alone or do you have a teaching assistant?
Melissa - I teach kindergarten
Pescha - im doing my diploma in teaching, done 45 papers, 15 to go!!!
Pescha - we have 3 others
meeha/ece/tx - Pescha -- keep up the good work!
meeha/ece/tx - That is good -- it would be a LOT of work for one person!
Pescha - The ratio is 1:5
meeha/ece/tx - Pescha -- that is a GREAT ratio!
Pescha - yip
Jaime - Hello all.
Pescha - hi jaime
meeha/ece/tx - What would anyone like to talk about this evening? The topic, as I understand it, is "open to general discussion".
Pescha - got any ideas for extending language?
Melissa - hi jaime
meeha/ece/tx - Extending language ... as in taking a book and extending activities from it ... building on children's activities to build language ...
Jaime - This is my first time in the chat room.
Pescha - and what different types of lanuage are there?
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime -- you're doing great!
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime -- you're doing great!
Pescha - we are in the same boat jaime
Pescha - both
Melissa - hi sue
Jaime - I teach first grade and am looking for new and innovative ways to get kids to write across the curriculum.
meeha/ece/tx - Pescha -- when you read a book you are sharing language ... when you talk to a child you are using a different level of language, singing is a level of language, play develops a LOT of language ...
Pescha - doing a paper where i do anecdotal obs then say what type of language it is then say how to extend them
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime -- have you looked at KID WRITING and BUILDING BLOCKS as a basis for writing?
Melissa - both great resources
Jaime - Actually am doing research for my Master's now on writing.
meeha/ece/tx - Pescha -- it has been a long time since I've done that level of language ... there are quite technical terms to describe the different types of speech we use -- I don't recall those terms!
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime -- what area are you studying in?
Pescha - yes same and trying to think how to write it down
Molly - jaime...I was just reading today about creating Big Books with kids.
Pescha - do it daily without thinking
Pescha - do u know any sites?
Jaime - That sounds like a great idea? Where were you reading this at?
Jaime - Writing across the curriculum is my subject area.
meeha/ece/tx - Pescha -- I"m sorry, I don't. Books that come to mind are by patricia cunningham ... words they use, phonics they use, Marie Claire has some good research ...
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime -- have you looked on the BB board here? There is a chatboard for BuildingBlocks (I think FourBlocks, too) here at teachers.net. I know in the archives at http://www.teachers.net/archive you will find several meetings (like this) that are archived there -- where topics are Building Blocks, Kid Writing, etc.
Jaime - Thanks Meeha, I will check that area out.
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime -- you can also check out the gazette here at teachers.net -- there is a monthly column on writing with primary grade kiddos!
J.F - thanks for the archive
meeha/ece/tx - The archive here is priceless! There is a wealth of information to be found in there!
Jaime - Does anyone use Building Blocks in their class?
Pescha - how to extend and what types of lanuage is there
Melissa - yep I do
Pescha - im here looking up sites
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime, I'm working with preschoolers with special needs ... not ready for that level yet.
Jaime - I think I am going to start off the year by reviewing with predictable charts. Does that sound like a good idea?
Jaime - Meeha, it sounds like you have a tough job.
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime, every way you can get them reading and writing! I like predictables and use a few of them with my children with speech impariments as they begin responding verbally more and more.
Melissa - yep
meeha/ece/tx - I have a WONDERFUL job! Can't imagine doing anything else!!!!!
Lisa - Thanks. I have been teaching first grade but next year I will switch to Kindergarten.
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime, do you use music to incorporate group reading and writing? How about the rhythm of nursery rhymes or poetry?
J.F - envy you, meeha. what's it?
meeha/ece/tx - Hi Iris -- Welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
J.F - Hi Iris
Jaime - I did an observation at a preschool in FL last week 3 and 4 year olds. I don't know how the teacher did it. I thought I had to be on my toes constantly but man she was busy.
Iris - I have been teaching Kindergarten for six years and one year of first grade. What about everyone else?
Iris - Thanks Meeha!
pez - 23 years in K
Malinda - 7 in 1st
Melissa - four years of k
J.F - I have no experience in children
pez - 22 1/2 actually
Pescha - I'm from new zealand and I have been a early chidhood educator since 1999
Jaime - She made so many transitions to keep them interested. I am thankful for my 1st graders attention spans.
J.F - but I am interested in this topic
Melissa - three years of pre-k
meeha/ece/tx - Iris, I've been in a special needs preschool classroom for five years. Before that I taught kindergarten for one year, Pre-K/Head Start for about six.
Iris - WOW,Pez!!!!!!!
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime, those transitions tough until the kiddos learn to transition with the teacher!
Jaime - Two years first grade, two years 1/2 split
Melissa - she deserves a medal
Lisa - This is totally random. Has anyone tried glitter paint? I really don't like glitter because it gets everywhere. The ad claims that the glitter paint will not come off.
Iris - Pescha - We have a teacher from New Zealand come and teach in our school last year. She is a hoot!!!!
Melissa - nope only glitter glue
Malinda - Wow Pez indead! I'm always amazed by people who stay with K-1 for that length of time
pez - LOL, try to learn something new every year. I'll be doing building blocks for my 3rd year this year
meeha/ece/tx - LIsa, I use fabric glitter paint. The only problem with it is that when it gets on clothes it STAYS!
meeha/ece/tx - I've not ever had a problem with glitter paint, but I have a high tolerance for "messes" when the kiddos work with art materials.
meeha/ece/tx - We mix glitter into regular tempra paint sometimes, too.
Melissa - I think that is a pre-req for early childhood
pez - What is the topic tonight?
Jaime - Pez, does building blocks better prepare them for first grade? What percentage of readers leave K?
meeha/ece/tx - My concern with glitter is when the kiddos go to rubbing eyes and noses ...
J.F - early childhood education
Lisa - I like all other kinds of messes but there is just something about glitter that gets to me.
meeha/ece/tx - pez, general, open discussion.
meeha/ece/tx - Lisa, a lot of times we dust the glitter into a tray with 3" walls, that kind of contains it for us.
meeha/ece/tx - at one point we even added glitter to our play dough!
pez - Jaime, I have several ESOL children in my room and BB really has helped them. Last year I had a great class with many readers, but I was most impressed with the progress of my non-readers. I on;y had 1 child not meet expectations
Lisa - Thanks for all the glitter advice.
J.F - how do you think about emotional intelligence?
Pescha - u can add glitter to play dough or clay
Pescha - plus u can add essences to dough too
meeha/ece/tx - Pescha, we've added it to play dough with no problems. don't know about clay
Jaime - Most of our K's come to first not even knowing letters and sounds. It is very disheartening.
meeha/ece/tx - I've not ever looked into the concept, J.F.
Pescha - we have with clay it must be moist clay though
Grace/IL - Hi all. I have a question. How many of you work with number recognition and/or coins in ece?
Jaime - I feel like I teach K for 1/2 the year.
pez - Jaime, our kinders are expected to go to first knowing at leat 9 out of 24 sight words
Lisa - It is the same at our school Jaime.
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime, one tool I use to help my kiddos learn letters is on a CD available from DISCOVERY TOYS (CD= SOUNDS LIKE FUN) song is "LETTER SOUNDS" ...
Malinda - Not knowing letters and basic sounds...yikes. As a 1st grade teacher that is not a good thing to hear.
Melissa - wow jaime,and you are in a public school
Jaime - Oh my goodness. I think our school has low expectations for K's.
pez - Jamie, and BB helps with that because I make sure I utilize the words in my morning message and predicable charts
Melissa - I do number rec. and coins in K
meeha/ece/tx - HI Malinda, Markie, Grace! Welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
Lisa - I do number rec. and coin rec. They do not need to add coins together.
Pescha - depends on the age for coins though
Malinda - Hi back...I haven't made one in a LONG time. Glas to make it tonight
Paulie - Gosh, I even had a bunch of Kinders reading good before first gr
Pescha - templates are good
Jaime - I ask for writing samples this year for my portfolio I am working on and I was told that , "Well they don't write much because they are not developmentally ready." I find this hard to believe when my 3 year old niece "writes"
pez - I think I had all but 6 children on a Level 3 Running REcord last year. Very unusual
meeha/ece/tx - LIsa, I'm using coins in addition to straws and numerals for my calendar this year ... we'll do "trading up" for bigger coins as the year gets longer.
Lisa - Does anyone have a woodworking center? If so what do you let the kids do?
Malinda - Same here Paulie. I get quite a few emergent readers
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime -- what state do you teach in? the Kinders at my school were writing PARAGRAPHS at the end of theyear!
Jaime - Pez, Melissa, When do you introduce lined paper to your students?
Pescha - there are a number of different resources u can use for number rec
Pescha - Lisa... we do
Grace/IL - I asked about coins because a little girl I tutor finished first grade without being able to identify a single coin. She's learning them this week though.
Pescha - e have ammers, nails, tacks, bottle tops
Jaime - I really think it is our teacher and not our district because I have friends who teach K and their students are reading.
Jaime - I think it is a philosopy issue.
Paulie - well I am getting no words now so will leave and come back bye
Pescha - hot glue gun for sticking smaller things on
Melissa - we don't do any lines in Journals, all blank paper
pez - Jamie, I had a parent that donated boxes of the composition books last year. I used them for journals, but didn't stress the lines. It depends on my class
Melissa - Use Zaner bloser phonics and start in October or November depeding on the group
Melissa - wow
pez - If that parent hadn't donated the books, i would have used newsprint
Lisa - Pescha - how about a screwdriver and screws?
meeha/ece/tx - My kiddos will be "writing journals" this year ... and we'll use sprial notebooks ... but we won't look at lines at all!
Pescha - yip those to
Jaime - Our first grade teahers feel we are trying to cram in 1 1/2 to 2 years in one year.
Pescha - cause its under very good supervision
pez - Jamie, sounds like it
Pescha - and no making guns or any types of weapons
meeha/ece/tx - Pescha, do you have safety glasses? saw? sand paper? tack cloth? paper and pencil for "planning"? drill?
Jaime - Our K's dont do journals at all. I have been told that they don't get paper and pencils till Jan.
meeha/ece/tx - screws, nuts and bolts, pliers ...
pez - Jamie, where did you say you were?
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime, what state? I think I messed it earlier
Grace/IL - Jaime, that's sad!
Jaime - Kentucky
Pescha - It's not an activitiy that is out all the time, it's one of those activities that is stored in the shed
Iris - jaimie - what type of writing do they do in the beginning?
meeha/ece/tx - missed it earlier!
Just Me/Mi - We started using "Handwriting Without Tears" last year. My journals have no lines but the paper that comes with the handwriting program has paper with two lines - middle and bottom. Kdg kids were ok with it but 1st and 2nd had a hard time adjusting.
Malinda - Oh my gosh Jaime. I feel for you and the 1st grade teachers
Pescha - oh yes safety at all times
pez - Jamie, you need to slip Kid Writing to your K teachers
Jaime - In K or 1st?
Pescha - per is inside for drafting
Jaime - Thanks pez I will.
Melissa - Jaime you must be kidding
Pescha - paper
Lisa - What do you mean "shed"?
Pescha - gee i type to fast
meeha/ece/tx - JustME -- the OT who works with my kiddos uses that progam -- it is GREAT!!!
Pescha - sorry new zealnd term
Jaime - Iris, I model a lot at the beginning of the year and we do class writing in my room for about 3 weeks.
Pescha - shed as in an outside storage room
pez - I give mine journals in October, but I'll model a class journal for them that first month as we do our afternoon share.
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime, does your state have proficiency standards for Kinder?
Iris - Do they get a chance to write at all in those first 3 weeks?
Jaime - Melissa, I am sorry to say I am not kidding. It really gets frustrating. I try and drop hints and suggestions and am told these kids can't do the work. I feel this is an escape.
Jaime - meeha, no they do not. there are no exit standards either.
Pescha - kids love it, we are from a rural area so there fore kids love to copy dad as the farmer making fencing etc
Lisa - Here is a question for the block center? Do you rotate different kinds of blocks and building materials? How many different kinds of blocks do you have out at a time?
Jaime - meeha, i take that back they have a set curriculum in our district, but nothing has to be mastered , just introduced
meeha/ece/tx - Goodness! Kindergarten probably isn't mandatory, either. (Of course, in TX it isn't mandatory ... but there ARE very stringent standards!)
pez - Wow, Jamie, We have exit skills
Pescha - i have no hesitation on reccomending a carpentry/woodwork area
meeha/ece/tx - Maybe someone should monitor that teacher to be sure she is teaching the curriculum!
Jaime - I would say 75% of them do not know letters and sounds. It may be a little higher.
meeha/ece/tx - Lisa, we have several different types of blocks and vary the content of the center as needed.
pez - Jamie, while your slipping Kid Writing to them, slip BB too
Pescha - in our center we have blocks out all the time accessible to children, like leggo, wood blocks, counting blocks, duplo etc....
Jaime - I really think it comes down to expectations. If you believe that they cannot do it then they won't.
pez - We have 4 teachers on my K team. 2 of us do BB and the other 2 do Letter of the Week, Our BB kids scored higher. When principal saw the results he bought them BB books and they did it last year.
meeha/ece/tx - Jaime, I work with special needs preschoolers ... we talk letters and numbers and sounds and ..... frequently. The benefit of this is that the kiddos who are ready "get it" ... the others receive repeated exposure and want to follow in the others' steps!
Pescha - peer learning is great
Jaime - I wish we used BB in our K. I think it would help.
Jaime - Another thing, our kids only attend 1/2 day K. How long of a day does yours have?
pez - Jamie, I have a non English speaking little girl last year. Didn't know the first letter. She learned by watching her peers.
Just Me/Mi - I only have a 1/2 day so even though the big blocks, Legos, pattern blocks, etc are out they don't always have time to use them.
meeha/ece/tx - We just went to full day K last year.
Pescha - i have worked in sessional and full day
pez - Full day K, but I do most of my teaching in the morning
Lisa - Pescha - where do you teach?
Jaime - We have asked for full day and been denied by our district. Of course, no funding.
Pescha - prefer full day's as u can establish a good relationship with the children and can have a good strong programme plan
pez - We have our specials in the afternoon, Daily PE, once a week music and art
Pescha - I teach in a New Zealand in a center that is full time with 25 children, ratio 1:5
Just Me/Mi - I would love to have full day Kdg. I feel so rushed trying to get it all in.
meeha/ece/tx - our K went to full day last year ... but NO specials (no music, art, pe ... sad!)
Jaime - Pex, same with 1st. they are great in the morning but have a much more difficult time in afternoon staying on task.
Pescha - we have 5 under 2's
Jaime - sorry pez.
Pescha - the center's hours ar 7.30am to 5pm
Melissa - also full day but our specials are in the morning
pez - meeha, that is sad. Our K's follow a regular school schedule. We can even take them to the computer lab. I don't because I have computers in the room and we don't have enough of one title for the little kids
Pescha - U lisa where are u?
Just Me/Mi - I have two groups. Keeping records on 40 to 50 kids keeps me busy. We have a lot of standards to cover.
pez - Need to go. Bye all,. Thanks for the chat
Lisa - Pez- you should take them to the computer lab and work in paint or word. They could practice typing their names, letters and stories.
Lisa - I teach in Maryland.
Pescha - oh ok
meeha/ece/tx - Just ME -- where are you in MI? I grew up ... and subbed forever ... in Port Huron and surrounding area!
Just Me/Mi - Yes meeha - I know PH
Jaime - Gotta go all, see ya later.
meeha/ece/tx - 'nite Jaime -- good seeing you!
Just Me/Mi - Bye to those who are leaving Talk to you soon
meeha/ece/tx - This has been nice ... I've tried to come several times lately and been unsuccessful getting onto t.net!
Just Me/Mi - Phone call. Friends want us to come over. Catch you next time.
meeha/ece/tx - Pescha -- good luck with your papers! I hope you find the info you're needing (and wish I could have been more help!)
meeha/ece/tx - 'nite, JustME!
Pescha - its ok im trying
meeha/ece/tx - Well, hopefully I'll see you all again next week. Have a good one -- and God Bless!
