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Kathleen - Hi Jena, no one else has arrived yet?
Kathleen - Open forum, topics are up to you. Is anyone feeling pressured by upcoming tests? promotion/retention?
Jena - Im an education student....hope to teach lower elementary
Kathleen - T, what should Jena do to be certain she's prepared to teach lower elem? (I'll be back in a while)
Jena - Im interested in how you use technology in your classroom...
muffy - Hi...I'm looking to return to teaching after a decade hiatus. How do I re-accquaint myself to what is hot now? Subbing? Classes? By the way, what is HOT???
buck - what is the hotest is new technology. internet access to everything that you once had to plan yourself.
LadyBug2 - I agree! I just refreshed my memory on electricity!
Jena - Im an education student...any advice on using technology in the classroom would be helpful.
LadyBug2 - I started with listserves by subject and grade level. If I have a problem, I usually get all kinds of help in a matter of minutes!
LadyBug2 - Then from there, you learn about all kinds of ways to use computers in the classroom WITH support!
muffy - O.K. so technology is big...how would you use it ,say to teach MS English?
buck - after 29 years , I still feel like a new teacher in regards to technology. I still wonder at the magic of the xerox. i still remember the old spirit masters.
LadyBug2 - Great sites to publish their work and read other students work for one thing!
buck - there is a great deal of what is called i-searh material online.
LadyBug2 - There are all kinds of interactive sites to teach skills, too!
buck - i mean i-search
muffy - tell us about it, buck
LadyBug2 - My favorite search engine is Google, what is yours?
buck - it is the greatest thing for middle school history. a lot of examples.
Jena - I recently discovered google...it's great. Up until recently I only used yahoo.
buck - internet search involves alot of sites. I use ask jeeves. or find a site that has a number of search engines
muffy - so when I'm interviewing (if I even get one this year LOL) it would smart of me to mention that I intend on using the computer to augment the lessons?
LadyBug2 - In order to keep kids from wandering, I set up a yahoo mailbox and list the sites I want them to visit. Anyone have a better way?
buck - absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!
Pam - I am the technology challenged-what is a yahoo mailbox?
LadyBug2 - Muffy, using computers is the wave of the future/nOW! Buck what is a more efficient way!
Jena - In my technology class we did something similar...we set up WebQuests on Word with links to the site the kids needed to visit.
LadyBug2 - Set up an account with your class name and then open it up when you want students to access sites. Like your e-mail service.
Pam - thanks-great idea
LadyBug2 - There are great sites out there that allow you to set up a one page website where you can list your sites to visit!
LadyBug2 - And you don't have to know the html language either!
Pam - My skills are very limited, so it would have to be easy .
LadyBug2 - Love that technology-gotta check over tomorrow's electricity lesson! Thanks for the chat!
Jena - Where could I find one of those sites?
muffy - I'm moderately O>K> with using ONE computer, but to do all the more techno stuff...how do I get more proficient?? trial and error ? help from other teachers? classes?
Jena - What grade does everyone teach?
Pam - sixth
LadyBug2 - Try http://reallybig.com; also Geocities.com allows you to build a web page free!
Jena - Im still a student-I'll start student teaching in the fall.
LadyBug2 - Jena that is great! I'm approaching my 30th year!
Jena - Thanks LadyBug...I'll check it out.
muffy - I'm not employed presently. I'm going to start subbing to get my feet wet. Then I think I'd like to try MS.
Pam - go for it muffy- I left tchg. and came back this year-boy, have things changed!!
Jena - Congrats! I really look forward to teaching.
LadyBug2 - Words from a veteran. WE baby-boomers are retiring in mass for the next five years. Openings will be abundant! Good luck! Things are still changing! Sometimes I wonder if it is for the better!
muffy - Pam: How did you handle the interview with all the new stuff? How did you prepare yourself? You are so right about how things have changed. I can't speak the teaching language anymore LOL!!!
Mr.C - Hi, I'm Ed Tech Specialist at Pacific U. in Oregon. I help teachers integrate tech with curriculum. I don't have time to chat now, but if you'd like help, contact me at coops@edmail.com or visit my bookmarks page at www.mybookmarks.com/public/coops ...click on the "Mr.C's Educational Bookmarks" link... I have quite a few.
Pam - I subbed for a couple of years. I had moved about a year ago and this job just fell in my lap to use a expression.
Pam - Look at every opportunity. I went to learn about another type of opening and the next thing I knew I had a contract. Don't know somedays if that is good or not.LOL
LadyBug2 - Thanks, Mrs. C. See what I mean about the support out there
Jena - I really think that its an exciting feild...I have a feeling I may never be bored. Things are always changing.
LadyBug2 - I mean Mr. C
LadyBug2 - Goodnight everyone!
Pam - goodnight Ladybug and thanks for the info
muffy - Pam: How long were you out of the the teaching field ?
Jena - Bye-LadyBug
Pam - I went 10 years without doing any subbing. It had been 14 since I taught full time. Time flies!
Pam - I was one of the lucky ones that graduated with a lifetime certificate.
polly - hello...I am looking for a geometry project for 4th grade level(good enough for parents to view during Open House night)
muffy - I have to get 10 more credits. Looking to start a Masters in Reading program in April.
Pam - I am hoping to be able to go back this summer
JUDY - a GREAT GEOMETRY PROJECT FOR oPEN HOUSE IS TO HAVE KIDS BUILD A CITY out of tetrahedrons
JUDY - The kids work in cooperative groups each group building a city with a business section, residential, recreational etc
JUDY - One student in each groupo is responsible for one type of area
JUDY - Polly rather was looking for a geometry project.
muffy - maybe she'll catch it in the archives of this chat?
jena2 - Sorry--I'm having computer problems-I got kicked off, but it says im still here....
jena2 - theres really only one jena
muffy - O>K> Jena the student,right?
jena2 - yes, thats me
muffy - Jena: this is off-topic...how do you get those smiley faces after your post?
jena2 - Tonight's the first time I've been here...does it get busier later?
jena2 - A colon followed by a ) the computer will change it too the face.
muffy - I'm new to this too, not sure. I'm trying like crazy to inform and educate myself about what's current in teaching. This seemed like a good place!!!
jena2 - Try a semi colon for a winking face...
muffy - Jena: Where are you attending school? What are your areas of concentration?
jena2 - Im here for a similar reason--I have a class project to find out about how teachers are using technology in the classroom.
cr8ive2 - i am new to this room,
jena2 - Im at Newman U in Kansas. Im going for elem certification with a math endorsement.
cr8ive2 - jena, i am a language arts teacher and my students are always on the computers
muffy - My daughter (grade 5) is part of a laptop program in her school. They do some not all of their school work on their computers. Three of the five teachers in her school were specially trained to teach these classes. I'm really impressed with them and th
cr8ive2 - i also have the avery key when teaching a skill to the class
cr8ive2 - often use power point in various lessons
muffy - hi, cr8ive2
muffy - I did it!!!!!!
cr8ive2 - hey there muffy
muffy - cr8ive2: what grade do you teach? How many computers in your classroom? How do you divvy up the time? up
cr8ive2 - 6th grade language arts
cr8ive2 - i have six student stations in my classroom and one teacher's station
cr8ive2 - when we are doing research, they have computer partners
muffy - so does that mean you have six computers for the students?
cr8ive2 - or when there is a special writing assignment and we can't get to one of the three computer labs, they have certain days there can use computers in room to make it fair
cr8ive2 - yes, only six and i often allow them to also use my station
cr8ive2 - so i can let 14 students at one time use the computers in the classroom
cr8ive2 - since we are on teams, i often send students into the other teachers' rooms to work on their computers as well
muffy - ONLY six? Gee, most classrooms only have 1 or 2! You're lucky
cr8ive2 - does that help any
muffy - hi jena, did we lose you again?
cr8ive2 - yes, you are right, we all have 6
jena - I cant figure it out....I keep getting kicked off.
cr8ive2 - well, nite all
muffy - can't help either, like I said, not a techno person.
muffy - night, cr8tive2, like your nickname!
jena - Luckily, I still get the chat that I missed....it may take me a minute to catch up...but Ill keep coming back
jena - Cr8tive left us too. She had lots of useful info....
muffy - do you know where or what grade you'll student teach?
jena - I keep changing my mind about what grade I'd like to be in.
jena - I really like the younger kids (1st and 2nd) but my math endorsement will be most useful in middle school
muffy - when I did mine, (1988) we did 8 weeks and lower el and 8 weeks in upper el
jena - I wont find out about my student teaching assignment until classes start.
muffy - I always thought I'd never like teaching the little ones, but found out I enjoyed both ages for different reasons
jena - That would probably help with my decision...but I dont think that my school does it that way. Im pretty sure I'll be in the same class the full semester.
jena - Im really torn. But I still have plenty of time to decide...The job availabilty will really influence my decision too.
jena - What grade did you/ would you like to teach?
muffy - I live in Michigan (Detroit suburb) and the talk on the street is that elementary ed is so competative. Middle school might be an area to persue.
jena - My son (12 mos.) just woke up...Im going to have to go. It was nice chatting with you.
jena - Feel free to email me it youd like to chat again. jena72379@aol.com
muffy - When I was first graduated in '88 there were not many jobs available. I subbed for a while, even coached. I really wanted my own class so I took a job in a pre-school. It was O.K., but I made NO money. After 2 years I got pregnant with my first child
muffy - I've been a stay-at-home mom for the last 11 years. I'll let you go, Jena. Kiss your baby for me and good luck!
jena - As I hear it now the job market is really good. I know that Wichita schools were short a couple HUNDRED teachers at the start of the school year. 205 positions if I remeber right.
LIN - I am a grad stu. & need help for a research paper (APA format) due 4/13/01. Any topic in special Ed. will be fine. Anyone interested please contact me at lflowers@lcc.net
frank - r u there LIN
