Tuesday, November 12, 2002
EC/Kindergarten/Primary Chat
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Darcy/PK - hi emily
Emily - Hi Darcy
Emily - Do you teach pre-K?
Darcy/PK - yes
Emily - Me too
Darcy/PK - and u?
Emily - Actually I teach threes wee little ones
Darcy/PK - ok
Emily - public or private?
Darcy/PK - home day care or stay at home mom?
Darcy/PK - public
Emily - no neither actually. It's a day care but not at home it's a private school in manhattan
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Emily and Darcy!
Darcy/PK - do you teach special needs or something?
Emily - Hi Jeanne
Darcy/PK - hi jeanne
Emily - nope it's a regular group of threes
Emily - it's a nursery school
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- yes, I work with special needs preschoolers in a public school setting ... GREAT job!
Emily - Oh wow You must be EXTREMELY patient. How many children do you have, and do you have an assistant or two?
Darcy/PK - I teach in Phila. in a head start
Emily - oh okay
jeanne/ece/tx - Emily -- There are fifteen children in my classes ... 5 a.m., 5 p.m., 5 full day ... I have three fabulous assistants -- and we get services from speech therapy, occupational and physical therapy.
Emily - that sounds good
Darcy/PK - I teach in an inclusive classroom and have IEP's up the bottom.
Emily - fourteen in mine with three teachers
Darcy/PK - 19 in mine with 1 teach and a teaching assistant
Emily - unfortunately i have to run and get my laundry before the room closes I may try to log on later Take care good luck
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- I taught in Head Start for two years before serving as health coordinator for two years once several years ago
jeanne/ece/tx - Bye Emily -- come back if you can!
Darcy/PK - later
jeanne/ece/tx - Are you aware of the archive here at t.net? http://www.teachers.net/archive has the transcripts of the teachers meetings that have been held here for the past three or four years -- some great ideas!
Rose - jeanne do u ahve another name in here usually?
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi jen and Rose, welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
jen - thanks jeanne
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- yes, I am generally "meeha/ece/tx" -- since Kat said "jeanne" would be hosting I figured I should sign in as "jeanne"!
Darcy/PK - I often get booted, so don't mind me if I go in and out.
jen - I am looking for some quick and cute thanksgiving/harvest ideas...especially a shared reading book
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- it is quite common!
Rose - hehe thought so what is all this "harvest" talk tonight about?
Rose - o u got to read a Turkey For Tahnksgiving
Rose - is adorable
Darcy/PK - I just made a new turkey craft today if you don't me waiting for me to type
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose, idea sharing -- for thanksgiving, harvest, late-fall themes
jeanne/ece/tx - go for it Rose!
Rose - type away Darcy
Darcy/PK - Isn't there also a book called "Thanksgiving with the Tappletons?"
Rose - yes Tappleton's book is also good
Carol/pre K/WI - hello to all
jen - who is that by Rose? I need something with rhyme, repetition, and rhythm (any or all)
Rose - but the Turkey for Thanksgiving one is about having the turkey as a guest not the dinner
jeanne/ece/tx - Lorna Ballian wrote a cute book "SOMETIMES ITS TURKEY< SOMETIMES ITS FEATHERS" ... it is as much fun as her other books if you can get it at the library! (her books are out of print now)
Rose - eve bunting I think jsut a sec
jen - The teacher next door did a cute project with glue and starch, making thanksgiving turkeys...
jeanne/ece/tx - Jen -- how old are your kiddos?
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Carol! welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
Rose - Yes Eve Buntin wrote A Turkey for Thanksgiving the pictures are great he is so scared he is the dinner
jen - I teach pre-k; I have mostly 4's and 5's
Darcy - argh, I typed it all adn then got booted.
jeanne/ece/tx - Jen -- a book we just made with our kids is one of our songs ...
Darcy - Draw eyes on dry lima beans. Color t.p. rolls with brwon marker (empty)....
jeanne/ece/tx - It is autumn, it is autumn, (pic. = tree with colored leaves)
jeanne/ece/tx - Leaves fall down, leaves fall down (Pic = leaves of colors)
Darcy - Attach yellow felt/paper triangles for beak, and 2 feet. Glue on beans....
jen - cute darcy!
jeanne/ece/tx - Thanksgiving is coming, thanksgiving is coming (hand turkey, we glued feathers on tail)
Rose - The eve bunting book is not one that repeats a lot but in a way it is but it is a great story
jeanne/ece/tx - Autumn's here, autumn's here. (tree with colored leaves again)
Darcy - punch hole in back. attach 8 or so feathers to a strip of short construction paper. Attach with a brad. let 'um fly.
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- that sounds cute!
Rose - turkeys fly?
Darcy - yes, it's cute. I just gotta figure out how to keep the eyes from falling off until the glue dries. lol
Rose - cute story jeanne what did they put on front of book?
jen - that's great jeanne!
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- have the kiddos glue the eyes to construction paper strips cut just larger than the size of the eyes ... when they dry to that paper you can glue them to the roll.
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- we did the tree with colored leaves ... our "leaves" were tempera paint fingers!
Darcy/PK - jeanne, so turkey will look like they have a bank robber eye mask on?
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- maybe so! LOL!
Darcy/PK - that's cute jean. How did you keep the kiddos from just smearing their fingers on the paper?
Rose - nifty fall leaves jeanne
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose and jen -- the class book we have of the song says "It is" (pic. of tree with colored leaves) x 2 ... (pic of leaves) "fall down" x 2 ... (turkey dinner) "is coming" x 2, (pic of fall tree) "'s here" x 2. Tune -- Are You Sleeping
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- 1:1 supervision AND practice!
Darcy/PK - so many ideas, so much paper work, so little time.
Rose - Yes i am familiar with tune just never made it into a book
jeanne/ece/tx - That activity was a "learning activity" -- more product than process oriented ... and we need those, too (building receptive language skills)
Rose - yep
jen - I know what you mean jeanne, I need more process (my boss is stressing this)
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose, we didn't before ... but the kiddos are enjoying the songs so much and singing so well this year that we felt we should find a way to share some of the better-liked songs with families! Parents have LOVED it!
Rose - good plan
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- I need to get my assistants to allow a lot more "process", as well, but three hours isn't a long time to do a lot!
Darcy/PK - I concentrate on process. One teacher I know, who shall remain nameless, makes sure each of her kids works is picture perfect. You can tell the kids didn't really have a chance to be creative.
jen - ooh, we have those teachers...and then they critique others work ((when all their kids work is obviously not cut out by the kids!))
Rose - gosh that reminds me of the story of the kid who was coloring flowers and his teacher told him it was not correct and after that all his frlowers he drew looked liek the same thing and no creativity
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- I want to see a lot more process ... they have to have time to explore the media available to them in my classroom. Unfortunately we often have such a focus on intended products that we forget it IS the kids' work!
jen - true jeanne, I know what you mean...I just am having a hard time coming up with cute projects that are process mroe than product...though I have had some in the past that were process and still cute in my opinion
Rose - well sometimes u can cut things out If you are working on some other skill I suppose
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- Harry Chapin's "FLOWERS ARE RED and GREEN LEAVES ARE GREEN" -- I love that song ... but it makes me cry!
Rose - Yes that is the song
Darcy/PK - yes! the same teacher commented on how our stop lights didn't all have a black background like a "real" one.
Rose - s
Darcy/PK - I think I heard it.
Rose - It makes me cry too
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- where I live the "real" ones have YELLOW boxes!
Rose - good grief
Darcy/PK - I bought this great book on different art processes/project for teachers. If you want, I can go get it.
jen - I had conferences today and my aide put things in the portfolios that I didn't ask for (and certainly did not add to the flow of the portfolio)
Darcy/PK - the funny thing is, jeanne, so do ours! lol
jen - darcy--isn't it sick how some people are?
jen - darcy, what is the name of that process book?
Rose - yes tell us the name Is it a mary ann Kohn book?
Darcy/PK - I am blesses with a great assistant. My one at my last school was a nightmare.
Rose - Kohl
Darcy/PK - let me go get it. brb
jen - That's pretty much how I would classify this one as a nightmare darcy
jen - she harps on EVERYthing they do...it drives me nuts! But anyway, let me go grab my plan book I have some ideas in there!
jeanne/ece/tx - I remember several years ago I taught next--door to a teacher who functions on the other side of the fence from me ... when hung jack-o-lanterns in the hall ... her kids colored them orange, yellow, and green -- the assistants cut them out. We gave the kiddos the whole crayon box ... got purple, red, blue, rainbow colored pumpkins ... and the kids cut them out! What started out as the same picture to color ended up every size, color, and shape on the globe! It was funny to see such a startling contrast between oru children's work!
Carol/pre K/WI - A good assistant can make or break a smooyh running classroom
jeanne/ece/tx - Next week my students will be preparing a harvest feast!
jeanne/ece/tx - Carol, that is SOOOO true!
Rose - at wil they make jeanne?
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Ali! welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
Darcy - I'm back. Yes. It is a MaryAnn Kohl book.
jen - amen carol!
Rose - I love her books and she is working on a new one connecting literature and art
Rose - jeanne what will u all make for the dinner?
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- on Monday we'll make cornbread ... Tuesday cranberry sauce, Wednesday pumpkin pies, Thursday cornbread stuffing ... Friday families are invited to join us for the "FEAST" ... we'll have chicken legs, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie with whipped cream
jeanne/ece/tx - we've done it annually for six years now! The kids a nd parents love it!
Rose - do the parents help suppy the groceries?
jeanne/ece/tx - I think it is important that the children understand that big meals don't "just happen", but that a lot of time, work, and love go into the preparation of the meals they enjoy.
Rose - do u have two sessions jeanne? will u do it twice?
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose, yes -- all are asked to contribute one or two items (if they are able).
Rose - amen
Darcy - grrrr. There is a series of books called "preschool art" This one is called Painting - It's the process, not the product!
Ali - Hi everybody!
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose, my a.m. class is considerably lower functioning, they will just make a fruit salad (help cut fruits) ... and have graham crackers (((or goldfish)))
Rose - u aren't having the kids help make mashed potatoes? and no butter for the cornbread?
Rose - o
jen - hi ali!
Rose - hi Ali
Darcy - making butter is pretty ez.
jen - I haven't decided what we are doing yet...parents aren't invited..one year I did a play and had a feat It was awesome!
Rose - why did u say grrr Darcy?
jeanne/ece/tx - ROse -- we can't cook it all in the classroom on that day, so I'll have a grandmother make the potatoes (we might make a small pan earlier in the week so they can help) We have a quart of whipping cream in the room and could make butter again -- did it a couple ofweeks ago for homemade bread we made one day.
jen - I'll have to check out those books darcy..ok plan book brb
Rose - ok
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- one year i had 100% parent turn-out for the feast ... with a class of 10 kiddos I think we had over 40 people in my classroom! (and we didn't run out of food!
Rose - Darcy who is the author of those books?
Darcy - we aren't allowed to serve the kids anything that is home-made (i.e. in the kids homes). Sanitariness and all.
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- Mary Ann Kohl
Rose - o those are hers too?
Rose - mine is just one book by her
Darcy - maryAnn Kohl. I looked at all 4, but this one is the best, imho. They cost $7.95 each.
jen - that's pretty cool jeanne
jen - painting is the best, darcy?
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- one parent sent in her "two cans of chicken broth" today ... ((I figured it was a "safe" request from the family)) both cans were SEVERELY dented -- they went directly into the trash can!
Darcy - yes
jen - projects for thanksgiving...cornucopias,corn painting, class book, I am thankful for
Rose - The one I ahve is about the styles of great artists like monet, etc
jen - I am doing Healty bodies/ thanksgiving next week
Rose - corn painting is fun but messy
Darcy - The kids found a roach that looked like the one in men in black in my class today. Thankfully it was dead. I can't imagine what their houses are like.
jen - true darcy!
jeanne/ece/tx - Today I sent home "Parent Homework" ... asking them to write a note to their child in my classroom, (or a paragraph), telling how the child is special ... unique ... valued ... what they treasure about their child -- we put these in the hallway with our harvest bulletin board!
Rose - nice jeanne
Darcy - I am doing healthy me this week, jen.
jen - I am reading my cornucopia art selection, and it is totally product...any ideas on how I can make it process?
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- I"m thinking about trying to get my kiddos to dictate some "I'm thankful for ..." statements for "thankful turkeys" ...
Darcy - I wish I could do that. Half my parents can barely spell.
jen - darcy--did you have a shared reading book to use? I am at a lost for next week...
Rose - what do they make the cornucopia from?
Rose - cornucopias from clay? play dough?
Darcy - let me grab my old lesson plan book.
jen - right now, I have them tracing and cutting a cornucopia shape and painting/stamping with spongey fruit
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- let them cut pics from grocery ads, trace and cut fruit shapes, cut some fruits/vegs in half and print their shapes onto the cornucopia ...
jeanne/ece/tx - for that matter, let them add other things they are "thankful for" to their "horns of plenty"!
Rose - oh well they could use tissue paper squares wrapped aroudn eraser end of pencil to fill in shapes
jen - jeanne, that's more process right, I am not showing them a picture or anything before hand...
jen - cute jeanne, that's a good idea
jeanne/ece/tx - I would say it is more process, jen ... may depend on who you ask!
Darcy - Jen - To market, to market by A. Miranda, Each peach, pear, plum; Feast for 10; Eating the Alphabet; Gregory the terrible eater; very hungry caterpillar; Eating Fractions; B. Bears: To Much Junk Food
jen - true...most of my projects that I think are process, that I am not conerned with produxt, my boss thinks are product...(I am rarely concerend with product)
jen - thanks Darcy!!!!!!
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy -- if they could call a number and leave a message on a machine you could transcribe it ... I'll be typing these!
Rose - why does boss think they are product?
Darcy - Arthur's Thanksgiving; Thanksgiving at the Tappleton's; Bearstain Bears: Thanksgiving; Night before Thanksgiving; Turkey for Thanskgiving
jen - awesome darcy!
jen - I should say more teacher than child directed (which is process)
Darcy - my fingers hurt!
Darcy - my fingers hurt!
jen - thank you so much!
jeanne/ece/tx - When you start out with patterns (like the cornucopia) the general thought is that it will be product-oriented. Give the kiddos the media (and the rules) and let them go -- that is process-oriented!
Darcy -
Rose - those are a good list but not repetitive?????
jen - that's what I thought jeanne, thanks!!
Carol/pre K/WI - Nice definition of process
jen - true rose...but great for story!
jen - do you know any with rhyme, rhythm or repetition
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- check your school or public library for Lorna Balian's Sometimes Its Turkey, Somtimes Its Feathers
Rose - o well I did not list all mine cause u wanted repetitive patterns
jen - definitely, I am on the website right now brb
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- are you familiar with "Albuqurque Turkey"? Not repetitive, but lots of rhyme!
Darcy - Like today. All I told the kids were to find pics of food in the magazines and cut them out. I let them go at it. Got everything from scruchy pieces of paper to the whole page torn out. The process, not the product.
jen - I love that song jeanne! I have sung it every year with my classes
jeanne/ece/tx - I've got a music therapy book we enjoy "Turkey in the Barnyard" t hat is fun ... and "Turkey in the Brown Straw" ...
Darcy - yes, that song was on the list for the last few days.
jen - thanks, you guys...I actually was right in my ideas about process..maybe it's some of my colleagues who are confused
jeanne/ece/tx - They are definitely repetitive!
Rose - I might have found a repetive one
Carol/pre K/WI - sometimes I think it is also the reason for the activity on what the process part is
Rose - How about twas the night Before tahnksgiving by Dave Pilkey
Darcy - very cute - Rose
jen - i've never read it rose, but sounds great!
Rose - rhyming is great
jeanne/ece/tx - When we put materials out on a shelf -- on or the table -- or just provide what the kiddos ask for ... and don't limit how they use them (short of painting walls*floors*eachother!) and let them at it ... well that is process-oriented. The free-exploration of art media is what "process related" is actually about.
Rose - I guess it is repetitive only in that it is liek Twas the night before Christmas but it is soooo cute as good as A Turkey for Thanksgiving
Darcy - the "process" plus easy to clean table tops!
jen - still great idea rose, thanks I appreciate your help (everyone)
Rose - I have another cute oen called Albert's tahnksgiving by Leslie Tyron
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- you may want to clarify w/ith your principal the term "process" vs. "product" --- the expectation may actually be more the reverse of what you're doing ... may be wanting MORE "crafty" projects where kiddos follow step-by-step directions.
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Lydia! welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
Lydia/IN - good evening just finished some work for my masters thought i would check in
Lydia/IN - i teach 2 sections of kindergarten
jeanne/ece/tx - Darcy, something we've done to make tables e asier to clean is keep the tables covered with laminated paper (kids decorate paper first) ... wipes clean a LOT faster than the table tops!
jeanne/ece/tx - Lydia -- good luck with the adv. ed! I just finished up master's last spring ... hope to start on ed.d. next fall.
Rose - I don't think product is all bad, long as you don't have to have them all look the same
Lydia/IN - thanks jeanne
Carol/pre K/WI - Lydia, what's your masters in I'm working on mine also
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose, I think both are needed, but we need to be a LOT more concerned with the process than the product! Kiddos need to learn that they can DO and BE successful at many different levels!
Lydia/IN - mine will be a masters of education i did not specialize
Lydia/IN - i am getting mine through olivet nazarene university
Lydia/IN - i watch videos answer questions write papers do not attend on campus classes work with a study group it is not too bad
Rose - yes I understand but also can understand making soem things learning to cut and they learn to cut circle or things they need Nothing is more sad than a kid with a big piece of paper wanting to make a ball.circle and ending up with tiny piece of paper
jeanne/ece/tx - I had a mom tell me (last night) that they pulled out Thanksgiving decs. and put son's pictures from last year out on refrigerator ... said there is a difference between what he's doing now as compared to when he did in my room -- when he got home he would tell her about it and head for the magnets on the 'fridge ... now just here it is and ...
Carol/pre K/WI - Mine is Professional Development Early Childhood track through UW LaCrosse
jeanne/ece/tx - True, Rose!
Lydia/IN - good luck carol when will you finsih
Carol/pre K/WI - We meet once a month in a learning community
Rose - so soemtimes directly teaching how to make a circle from a square paper without a pattern is good
jeanne/ece/tx - brb ..
Rose - jeanne I did not understand the story of boy and refrigerator please explain what he did
Carol/pre K/WI - I will be finished in May how about you
jen - I am getting my Ma. Ed. with a student personnel services certificate...
Rose - what is student personnel services?
Lydia/IN - i will not finish until march 2004 i started this past june
jen - I was able to put turkey for thanksgiving, sometimes turkey...and twas the night before thanksgiving on hold at my local library online..thanks ladies
Lydia/IN - i can't wait to finsih but i am learning lots of new things
jen - student personnel services= guidance
Carol/pre K/WI - Working full time and taking 8 graduate credits makes me crazy some days
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- he was "excited" about what he did last year -- this year it is just kind of 'matter-of-fact' with little emotion or interest on his part
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi James -- welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
Rose - oic
Lydia/IN - yes i can relate i have full time job, husband, 2 children, house to keep up etc.
jen - I agree carol..it's rough...plus I just got married 3 wks ago so I had that going on too...
James - How is everyone
Lydia/IN - congrat jen
Rose - Congrats Jen
jeanne/ece/tx - I totally enjoyed the reading, learning, and interaction I was able to experience as I prepared for my masters'!
jen - hi james
jen - thanks rose and lydia
Carol/pre K/WI - Congrats jen
James - I am in my first year of college training to be a teacher
James - hello
jen - thanks carol!
jen - what are you looking to teach james
James - Can anyone give me some fine tips
Rose - hi Andrea
jeanne/ece/tx - Please remember that the ideas discussed here this evening will be available in transcript in a day or two at http://www.teachers.net/archive
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Andrea! welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
jeanne/ece/tx - what tips, James?
James - I am looking to teach history or science
Rose - fine tips for what?
Lydia/IN - i have poverty training tomorrow need to leave my house by 7:00 to get there think i will head for bed
James - Any kinds of tips
jen - nite lydia
Andrea - Does anyone have any great ideas to integrate social studies and art in a lesson on Native American life?
Carol/pre K/WI - at what grade level
Rose - well we are early childhood and primary teachers . . .
jeanne/ece/tx - James -- as you visit classrooms, carry a notebook or folder in which to jot down ideas you see (good and bad) ... describe them, what made them work (or flop -- if you can tell that!)
Rose - bye Lydia
Andrea - first grade and I taught these kids in K. so I can;t do my usual. haha
James - Ok thanks
jen - I've used the native writing (hieroglyphics) to do a lesson on s.studies incorporating art
jeanne/ece/tx - Andrea -- will you be talking Native Americans of the northeast?
James - I am actually going to observe a science classroom tommorow
Rose - Andrea there is beading, rugs, sand paintings,
Andrea - any in the US... oh I never thought of beading. They would love that. All of your ideas are great. thanks.
Rose - sand paintings can be done with dyed salt
Carol/pre K/WI - It's been along day Good nite all Have a graet day tomorrow and rest of the week
jen - I am looking to get a jump on my plans...any ideas for the 3 day week before thanksgiving?
Rose - enjoy that james!
jeanne/ece/tx - How about making "dye" from two or three different natural objects (beets, blueberries, dark colored grapes) and "write" on "deer-skin" (wrinkeld butcher paper)
James - How is the income so far
jeanne/ece/tx - 'nite Carol, thanks for joining us!
Rose - income?
Rose - bye Carol
jeanne/ece/tx - James, don't go into education if you want to make money!
Andrea - We did the deer skin thing today. I really wish I had thought of the natural dye thing.
jen - man, jeanne, you are creative! I must be tired, I can't think of stuff that good! (even if I was awake I don't know if I could )
James - oh i know
jeanne/ece/tx - Thanks, jen!
Rose - you are going to link all subjects to tahnksgiving on tthose three days?
James - I was just wondering what your average salary might be so far
jen - I usually do rose..
jen - or I try
Rose - then why the problem if u usually do? u mean u want new ideas? what do u usually do?
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- we only have two days that week ... I think it will be a continuation of the :Harvest Feast: theme -- sans cooking of next week!
Rose - James that depends ont he state
James - Right now, I am getting the National and State Standards for my subject areas
Andrea - James, you will make half of what your friend sin other majors will make, and summers are spent planning, not on vacation. At our school, we painted the interior for free one summer.
jen - well, I son't want anything extensive, I have the week before filled and I only want two days
James - Where do you live at Rose
Rose - WA
James - oh
jen - then I go into hanukkah and christmas
Rose - but what are u doing that filled week? then we might be able to suggest supplementary for two more days or three whatever it is
James - I know that Connecticect teachers makes the most money
Rose - why oh?
Starfish - Hello, all.
jeanne/ece/tx - lets see ... two days before ... you've talked about being thankful ... harvest ... have you ever done the hot-air popcorn without the lid on the popper? I like to do that in the fall! then the kids can use the popcorn from the floor to make "ears of popcorn"!
Rose - Conn is hard state to get a job my friend lives and teaches there
Andrea - Jen, a friend of mine gave me a pattern of a big trunk. Today we wrote (or drew) from the perspective of a Pilgrim to go with it.
jen - the projects I already listed, cornucopias, turkeys, paiintg etc...I just need some quick fixes I guess...I really just need 2 maths and 2 arts...
Rose - I do the popcorn during winter to look like snow lol
jeanne/ece/tx - You could write a class book ... someone on the chatboard is asking about ideas for "I KNOW AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A PIE"! Sounds like it could be fun!
James - well i am going to go
James - Thanks everyone
jeanne/ece/tx - 'nite James -- good luck!
Rose - hi Starfish
Rose - bye james
jen - that is ADORABLE jeanne!!! and sounds like fun! Did you put a sheet down before you did it?
James - thank you
James - by rose
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Starfish! welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
Andrea - have you done the turkeys with numbers (or math problems) on the feathers and glue popcorn on each feather to represent the number. My kids love it.
Rose - You could do Little red hen and make bread in a bag
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- I've used a sheet ... I've used butcher paper
jeanne/ece/tx - a cooking project could be math!
Andrea - the children could dictate how to cook a turkey for a class book. that is usually funny.
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- we make some popcorn in a bowl for eating ... some "on the floor" for gluing!
jen - great ideas... true! I'll ask the class next door what we are planning
Rose - yes or make a recipe book
Rose - with their own idea of how to make the recipes
jen - we are doing the fest together...but no parents are invited, so it's silly!
Andrea - yeah
jeanne/ece/tx - Have the children write a "thank you" (draw a "thank you") to someone (like maybe a veteran's group) and you can take them to the VA or a nursing home ...
jen - I think that the recipe book is adorable. it would only work for some of my kids, most would not get it though...
Andrea - How old are your kids?
Rose - and make the cover of the book painted corncobs rolled over the page and then write in black pen when dry the name
Andrea - Not gettin git is the best part sometimes...
jen - I have some young 4's and just 5's
jen - I agree andrea, but they wouldn't be able to answer it...I'd ask and they'd tell me "blue"
Andrea - I'm sorry. I am too tired to type.
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- give the kids grocery ads and magazines ... let them glue pictures of what they want for thanksgiving dinner on a paper plate!
jen - that's cute andrea!
Andrea - Oh No. I must be spoiled with k - 2.
jen - duh, I can't type either...I meant the thanksgiving cards jeanne suggested
Rose - be sure not to have any fast food ads in thsoe papers lol
jen - you are the idea guru jeanne
Andrea - you really are.
jeanne/ece/tx - *blush* thanks!
jen - there's my two ideas for art I think !!
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- if you make salt dough with your kiddos, let them roll several "beads" (put holes in centers w/ith nail or straw) and string them later int he week.
jen - again, I bow to the idea guru...how long does it take to dry?
jeanne/ece/tx - for math you could make the ever-present fruit-look necklaces, creating a pattern with the cereal pieces ... can string on yarn or on licorice rope/strings
jen - AWESOME!
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- if you make them on monday you should be able to string by wednesday.
jen - you've done it before and it works jeanne? do u paint it? (I am salt dough illiterate)
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- shape review ... scarecrow ... rectangles = legs & arms, body = square, head = circle, hat = triangle, feet = ovals, patches = diamonds
Rose - don't u use food coloring in dough?
Rose - I dyed rice today with food coloring and rubbing alcohol
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- when I was a student teacher (a million years ago!) they did it ... don't recall if kids painted it or if they colored the dough ... it DID work! String salt-dough beads on yarn (masking tape on one end to stiffen and make it easier to thread through the beads -- decreases frustration!)
jeanne/ece/tx - brb
Rose - It makes an awesome product to fill in spaces -- gonna help a 1/2 class make a banner with it
jen - i'll have to find the recipe..i'm sure it's on the boards
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- could be fun!
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- just go to http://www.aj.com or http://www.google.com and type in "salt dough" -- you'll get several links for recipes
Rose - http://www.weekendcrafts.com/Home/saltdorecipe.html salt dough instructions using food coloring
jen - thanks rose
jeanne/ece/tx - or you can go to http://www.perpetualpreschool.com or http://www.enchantedpreschool.com or http://www.zoomschool.com and find recipes
Rose - lol we had the same idea
jeanne/ece/tx - Don't forget ... you can go to http://www.teachers.net/archive to get the links after a day or two!
Rose2 - got knocked off takes 2 days to dry about
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- on the 26th we'll talk about December ideas ...
Rose2 - u can also drag the blue link to your desktop
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- glad you made it back ... sometimes it takes a long time!
Rose2 - well I am here twice now
Rose2 - I know sometiems this room frustrates me
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- that colored rice w*ould be good for sorting (tweezers, ice cube tray, mixed colors in a bowl ...) fine motor, sorting, patterning, number concept ... busy stuff!
jen - nov 26th? awesome! I'll definitely be here...
Rose2 - u got that right
jeanne/ece/tx - jen -- for the younger set if you can find colored popcorn (can be hard to find sometimes) or "indian corn" ... it works for sorting, as well! and fits the current theme
Rose2 - and that is good for the kids who can't write well and need more fine motor
jen - that's a good idea too! we are popping popcorn for senses this week
Rose2 - I think I would rather use a cereal that comes in colors than colored popcorn they might eat
jeanne/ece/tx - I need to return to the "days of yore" when the early days included such things as pom-poms (yarn balls) that I made and children sorted into bowls, using kitchen tongs to pick up ... gradually moved to smaller objects and tongs -- then to tweezers ... step-by-step fine motor
Rose2 - I miss my pink outfit brb
jen - ok ladies, thank you SO much for the ideas. Hopefully I will be able to reciprocate soon...see you the 26th I hope!
jen - good night!
jeanne/ece/tx - hi again, rose! thanks for being here tonite!
Rose2 - wow everyone (almost) leaves
Rose2 - and I got my party dress on
Rose2 - I was confused
Rose2 - ought there was a mentor meeting here tonight
jeanne/ece/tx - the late group will start filtering in here in a few minutes.
jeanne/ece/tx - i lLIKE your pink dress!
Rose2 - I know but they are not scheduled for half hr we usually stay in between for the middle hr too
jeanne/ece/tx - Tuesdays is always ECE ... we kind of "mentor" each other!
Rose2 - thanks It is fuschia
jeanne/ece/tx - I've bumped in more in the middle than at 8 ... but tonite i volunteered to "host" ... so I had to be here on-time!
Rose2 - well they ahd that mtg that was rescheduled cause of storms or somethign and I thought it said 9 eastern time
jeanne/ece/tx - normally I log-in as "meeha/ece/tx"
Rose2 - why does there need to be a host?
Rose2 - I thought so remember I asked
Rose2 - why did u want to be jenne tonight?
jeanne/ece/tx - doesn't have to be -- but sometimes it helps is one person is kind of aware of newcomers and welcoming people, keeping the chat running, etc.
Rose2 - been many tiems in here with no host. . .
Rose2 - o
jeanne/ece/tx - When it said "jeanne" will host, I figured I should be "jeanne" -- just made sense. I guess the " host" idea is kind of a "throw--back" to the "old days" ... when we probably had up to 15 or 20 people in meetings at times!
Rose2 - wonder where Just me is tonight?
Rose2 - o
jeanne/ece/tx - She normally comes in sometime between now and 10 ... or 11 in MI ...
Rose2 - I came here many years ago but hate this roling screen so stopped and finally tried again
jeanne/ece/tx - Do you have a topic you would like to see discussed during an ECE meeting?
jeanne/ece/tx - the scrolling is considerably slower when only a few people are here ...
Rose2 - not sure . . . would sure liek to get those standards from first gr they shoved down to K gotten rid of
Rose2 - I just enjoy whatever anyone talks about cause I elarn too
jeanne/ece/tx - so ... DAP ... regaining "control of the reins" in the ECE classroom ...
Rose2 - and sometimes can offer something
Rose2 - yup
jeanne/ece/tx - That is kind of a hot-topic across the board, politically speaking, right now!
Rose2 - I would ike Bush to see how his plan is not going to work with all this testing too
jeanne/ece/tx - That w*ould be a GREAT topic for a meeting ... and organizing ourselves to stand up for children's rights ... and pro-active educational practice ...
Rose2 - It might be beat to invite administrators to an early childhood chat and talk about why DAP is important in schools
Rose2 - neat I mean
jeanne/ece/tx - Seems to me if we have state-selected text books, the end-of-book tests could be standardized and secured so that the end-of-book tests could pass for the "standardized" ongoing testing our children are subjected to now.
Rose2 - so then why are K children tested so much
jeanne/ece/tx - OR ... to draft a letter to administrators opening a door to educate them about DAP, WHY we do what we do the WAY we do it, etc.
Rose2 - they don't have textbooks
jeanne/ece/tx - They still have a state-adopted curriculum or set of standards ... our Kinders dont use a purchased curriculum, but what the teachers do ...
Rose2 - I thinksome admin are too busy running the office affairs and making themselves look good to care but . . .
Rose2 - yes I know some states have standards tho and too much is first gr stuff shoved down
jeanne/ece/tx - my kiddos (special needs preschool) are assessed regularly using their individualized educational plans and the things I think pre-schoolers should be aware of ...
jeanne/ece/tx - I think kinders are now doing things I did in grade 2 as a c hild!
Rose2 - I liek when Addie comes here to chat liek alst week ebcause she once was a K teacher and now is a principal
Rose2 - assessment is good but not when u assess K kids for first gr stuff
jeanne/ece/tx - Addie is one neat lady!
jeanne/ece/tx - I agree!
Rose2 - amen
Rose2 - gosh I can't type
Rose2 - glad u early childhood and can read my typing lol
jeanne/ece/tx - LOL!
jeanne/ece/tx - it is just hard for me to read/interpret when the fingers are a key off! (i do that from time-to-time ... even I can't read what I type!)
Rose2 - o lol I did that recently too
Rose2 - did u have off Veterans day?
jeanne/ece/tx - Sometimes the girls forget to change the keyboard back to English ... then it can be tough to read/write!
Rose2 - lol
jeanne/ece/tx - no ... but we only go 2 days the week of Thanksgiving ... and we had Columbus day off.
Rose2 - o
Rose2 - sicne my Rose name isn't there does that mean I could log off and sign on again as just Rose?
jeanne/ece/tx - yes -- that would work again now.
jeanne/ece/tx - sometimes you can sign in twice with the same name ... others you have to alter it slightly.
Rose2 - brb going to try
jeanne/ece/tx - OOOOOHHHH! Cool new dress!
Rose - I changed my dress
jeanne/ece/tx - Hi Just me! We were expecting you!
Just Me/Mi - Hi, can I join you?
jeanne/ece/tx - Please do! welcome to tonite's early childhood meeting!
Rose - hi Just Me
Just Me/Mi - Can't stay long - conferences tomorrow and I'm not quite ready
Rose - Good luck with the conferences
Rose - Glad u dropped in
jeanne/ece/tx - Our report cards and progress notes go home Friday -- but I can only type them at school. Program doesn't transfer to my home 'puter.
Rose - Of course u can join us -- we been waiting for u!
jeanne/ece/tx - What kind of participation do you generally get with conferences, Just Me?
Rose - You have your work cut out for you then
Just Me/Mi - I don't have to do report cards until January so I will just give out handouts and give a verbal report
Just Me/Mi - Usually 100% of parents come - if anyone dosen't we make phone calls to talk to parents
jeanne/ece/tx - we do progress reports every 12 weeks -- so I have to do it this round ... off next ... but we've got a data-keeping system that is kind-of functioning (improving all the time!) this year in my classroom! Makes it a lot easier to finish up the reports!
Rose - that is good jeanne
jeanne/ece/tx - Just Me -- that is GREAT participation!
Just Me/Mi - Our high school and middle school do report cards on computer. We looked into it but still do ours on NCR paper.
Rose - Just Me that is great to have such good participation
Rose - This is really going slow in here tonight
jeanne/ece/tx - My IEP progams are on computer -- the progress reports we send home (in my program) from the computer program don't look like the cards my kids get from high school.
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- with only 3 of us it will run slow.
Rose - Just Me do u have a Thanksgiving book that is repeative or rhyming?
jeanne/ece/tx - (unless we talk a LOT!)
Just Me/Mi - Our IEP are done on NCR paper too
Rose - well it takes so long to send I am ready to write soemthign else and my last response just sits there
jeanne/ece/tx - Just Me -- once kiddos go to Kinder or grade 1 the IEP format changes to something that is presented on NCR paper.
Just Me/Mi - I'm sure I do have a Thanksgiving book that fits but I can't think of a name. I'll look tomorrow and email you, ok?
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- we may be experienceing some type of "server problem" ... ECE chats have been more-or-less "plagued" by them recently!
Rose - ok but others were askign here tonight and none of mine were really repetitive
Rose - I know
Rose - no hurry Just Me do your conference stuff first
Rose - you both fall asleep or are u talking to each other lol
jeanne/ece/tx - something is going on w/ith my computer interface -- the screen is acting weird!
jeanne/ece/tx - flashing and wavering ... hard to watch!
Rose - o
Rose - sorry to hear of your problems with computer
Rose - maybe it is time to call it an early night?
jeanne/ece/tx - it still works -- don't know why it w as looking that way, though?
Just Me/Mi - I'm trying to stuff folders and type at the same time! My fingers can't go as fast as I want them to. lol
jeanne/ece/tx - that is quite a chore, just me!
Rose - What time do your conferences start Just Me?
Just Me/Mi - My screen is working ok but it does take awhile for messages to get from where I type them to the chat room
jeanne/ece/tx - brb ... going to go refill my iced tea.
Rose - I am glad u stopped by
Rose - Had a number of people earlier
Just Me/Mi - We have school all day then a dinner break and conferences from 5:30 to 8:00pm. I have more conferences than I have time slots so I am doing two before 5:30 to get them all in.
jeanne/ece/tx - That will make for quite a long day, JM!
Just Me/Mi - We do conferences all day on Thursday from 8:00am to 8:00pm. Then no school on Friday. Because I have kdg I get an extra day next week with a sub in my room.
jeanne/ece/tx - Friday is my fourth annual "Family T-Shirt Night" ... families come to the school and paint t-shirts of sweat-shirts ... only my class and past-student families ... we'll probably have a turn-out of about 60! pizza for dinner, I provide paints, stencils, decorations\
jeanne/ece/tx - that is nice, JM!
Rose - what do they paint on the shirts?
Just Me/Mi - It sounds like fun jeanne!
Rose - who provides the pizza?
jeanne/ece/tx - I have patterns for scare-crows, snow-men, stylized Texas, stylized US flag, school bus, pick-up (student interest) ... I can pretty much cut whatever the parents or children want ... they just tell me and I make it! One year we did the cocount tree and 5 monkeys -- it was SOOOOO cute!
Rose - neato
jeanne/ece/tx - families send in $5 - $7.50, I order -- generally people check and make sure all costs are covered before they leave ... the parents really like these events -- they get to talk, support each other, do a fun family night ...
jeanne/ece/tx - last year the school made up the difference -- but this year the budget will be too tight
Rose - How old of kids come back for this event? I mean former student?
Rose - o
jeanne/ece/tx - the oldest is now in third grade ... but I've only been teaching in this program for six years (six includes this year)
Rose - sounds liek a nice event jeanne
jeanne/ece/tx - probably four or five former families will attend this time -- they offer a LOT to the new families!
Rose - that is neat to have former student invited
Just Me/Mi - Do you have help?
Rose - great
jeanne/ece/tx - Some of my assistants w/ill come, one of the past-parents helps, my teen girls (exchange students) want to come help this year ... it is a lot of work, but really a lot of fun -- must be worth the effort >>> families ask about it every year!
Rose - You must be very artistic to just make patterns like that
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose, it amazes people that I can "just cut it out without drawing it first" ... as long as people are willing to accept what I offer, I'll keep trying. Most of the patterns turn out cute!
Rose - wonderful
jeanne/ece/tx - Difference between me and the sketch artist is that I probably couldn't draw it if I wanted to!
Rose - so what do they do . . . paint the cutouts and transfer to shirt?
jeanne/ece/tx - yes ... I cut the patterns of fun-foam ... they use sponges on clothes pins to paint the shapes, paint one layer at a time ... we have wiggle eyes, pom-poms, hot glue, a few bells, some ribbon .....
Rose - o from foam
jeanne/ece/tx - until 4 years ago we did shirts in the classroom ... then I decided to make it a family affair!
Rose - sounds like a really neat project
jeanne/ece/tx - it is really too involved for a classroom project unless we want to paint shirts for the entire week.
Rose - o
Rose - hehehehehehe
jeanne/ece/tx - I buy up the little 2-ounce fabric acrylic paints, they work great! mix well, don't dry out too fast,
jeanne/ece/tx - we also use a few glitter fabric paints
Rose - I haven't used them much
jeanne/ece/tx - Neither did I ...until I started doing this project! LOL
Rose - but I am anxious to do this mosaic like thing with my multicolored rice
Just Me/Mi - What a neat project! It sounds like so much fun.
Rose - hehehehehehe
jeanne/ece/tx - NOw there are some projects we only use the acrylic paints for.
Rose - like??????
jeanne/ece/tx - I think the rice mosaic will be interesting ... may be a bit challenging if really large, though!
Just Me/Mi - I love arts and crafts. What are you doing with mosaics Rose?
jeanne/ece/tx - we painted tile trivets for holiday gifts last year ...
Rose - nope it is a class project many kids do each a part
jeanne/ece/tx - seems like there may have been a couple of other activities we used the acrylic paints for, but I don't recall what.
Rose - just dyed rice with food coloring and rubbing alcohol to fill in areas
Rose - dyed the colors separately and mixing 4 colors together for a multicolor effect also
jeanne/ece/tx - this year's holiday gift is almost done now ... final page the kiddo do is tomorrow ... then we do the candids collage for the cover, laminate last 2 pages, bind and wrap. we're making "perpetual calendars" for parents and office people.
Rose - oic I haven't done much liek that with paints
Rose - great
Rose - what makes the calendar perpetual?
Just Me/Mi - I do seed mosaics in the spring. The kids enjoy making them. Sometimes we do picture frames for Mother's/Father's day gifts.
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- the calendar pages are undated, laminated ... parents can use this year, erase, and reuse!
jeanne/ece/tx - JustMe ... I'll have to remember "seem mosaics" ... hadn't htough of that!
Rose - so they fill in with a vis a vis pen?
Rose - Just Me what kind of seeds do u use?
jeanne/ece/tx - vis-a-vis or sharpie (erase with hair spray or nail polish remover)
jeanne/ece/tx - the calendar is quite a production ... we've been working on it since the second week of school! parents were very touched by it last time we did it ... office staff (who love our babes, too!) were quite upset that they didn't get one -- so we're making extra copies of every page so we can give each office person one, as well!)
Rose - noone talking or is this thing having problems again?
Just Me/Mi - Whatever seeds we have handy as long as they are big enough for the kids to manipulate - corn, beans, peas, pumpkin (saved from Halloween) and birdseed as "filler" plus anything else that "looks good" - pine cones,etc.
jeanne/ece/tx - long message, I guess ... but I was wondering the same thing!
Rose - no sunflower seeds?
Rose - birdseed is good for that
jeanne/ece/tx - Just Me -- have you ever had the kids walk through a field in the spring with a white sock over one shoe, then "plant" the sock -- lay it on a pie tin and keep it wet to let the seeds germinate ... then watch the plants grow? I've read it but never really tried it!
Just Me/Mi - Sunflower seeds are in the birdseed. I have a huge pail that I've used for years on pine cones (with PB for bird feeders in winter)
Rose - what fun
Rose - oic
Rose - are the socks old ones that have lost their mates?
jeanne/ece/tx - JM -- what do you mix with t he PB? I've read it isn't so good (pure) for birds ... corn syrup?
Just Me/Mi - jeanne - haven't done it but I'll remember it for next spring. thanks!
jeanne/ece/tx - Rose -- they need to have enough body to catch the seeds, to hold up to the walk, I've always thought "new" -- but don't know for sure yet
Rose - (I was trying to figure out who JM was lol I thought a new person ahd come in)
jeanne/ece/tx - Sorry, Rose -- I'm getting "lazy" ... or tired ...
Just Me/Mi - We didn't do it last year due to two kids with peanut allergies but before that we just used cheap peanut butter. I didn't know it wasn't good to use it straight.
jeanne/ece/tx - ... my own brand of short-hand
Rose - that would be expensive
Rose - peanutbutter is cheap? where?
Rose - well u r tired, Just me has conferences to get ready for and I can go too Maybe we should call it a night
jeanne/ece/tx - I think what I've read is that it is thick enough some birds choke on it ... the corn syrup -- sometimes maple syrup -- but not (I think) honey ... thins it and offers a degree of protection
jeanne/ece/tx - sounds like a play, Rose! I'm about ready to turn-in!
Just Me/Mi - I got a big can of it at a SAM's Warehouse two years ago.
jeanne/ece/tx - plan!
Rose - ok nite Jsut me and jeanne see u next week
Rose - K teachers can read typos
jeanne/ece/tx - Have a great week, Rose!
Rose - nite ladies
jeanne/ece/tx - Best luck with the conferences, Just Me!
Rose - too
Rose - you too I meant
Just Me/Mi - Bye girls, have a great week! See you next time!

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