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Mary/PA - Welcome the the Elementary and Middle grades Meeting
Mary/PA - When did you get out for the summer?
naneb - May 25
Mary/PA - WOW, you've been off a while! Our last day was the 8th of June
naneb - We go back Aug 3, kids back Aug 8
Mary/PA - What grade do you teach? I should know from the transcripts, but I can't remember
naneb - I teach 6th grade special ed LD
Mary/PA - Oh yes!
Mary/PA - suki, what grade do you teach?
sukiRR - I am Reading recovery and Bilingual SPED k-1 In western mass
naneb - I'm in MS on the coast
Mary/PA - suki! Reading Recovery!!! Me too
naneb - I am going to start 4 blocks in my classroom this fall
Mary/PA - Is that a demanding schedule for you suki?
sukiRR - I am supposedly out but i had some RR loose ends
Mary/PA - naneb, that's great! I really believe in 4 Blocks
naneb - I think it is just what my students need. The more I read the more I like it
sukiRR - and I had to clean up a bit with our schools litracy team..you know put back books, level some more
Mary/PA - It's great for the kids and after the teacher gets into it, it's easier on them as well
Mary/PA - It's a great way to teach and give the kids everything they need.
naneb - I have been scouring thrift stores for books
sukiRR - NanebI would love to do LD and reading recovery
Mary/PA - suki, I'm going to be teaching RR all day next year
sukiRR - Mary i feel that I know you ..I have read allthe archives since I found this site
naneb - I have been using SRA Reading Mastery and the kids could read but they could not answer open ended questions or go beyond the text
Mary/PA - naneb, do you have the same kids all day?
Mary/PA - naneb, with 4 blocks they will learn how to discuss the texts that the read and write
naneb - I teach reading, language and math, so,I will have most of them but not all for all three subjects
Mary/PA - Well suki, I'm glad that you are here in person tonight
naneb - All of the students I teach are included in some regular classes
naneb - I am planning to do literature circles as soon as possible
sukiRR - yes mary never a moment to breathe
Mary/PA - naneb, doing 4 Blocks will be challenge then for you
naneb - I cannot wait to start!
Mary/PA - Hi scifi, I didn't see you come in
Mary/PA - Jump right in - what grade/s do you teach?
scifi - I am teaching Earth/Space Sci 8th
Mary/PA - scifi, how much time each day do you have with each class?
scifi - 47 minutes
Mary/PA - I think that time is always a big factor, there never seems to be enough
naneb - are you at a middle school or a junior high?
scifi - we have 7 period days
Jan - Hi. I teach 3rd grade.
Mary/PA - scifi, is that enought?
scifi - been there done that too
naneb - I am at a middle school we 50 min classes and 7 periods
scifi - I do not like the 7 period day but have learned to live with it
sukiRR - Is any one doing 4 blocks with first grade?
scifi - naneb do you have time between classes
naneb - It is a long, long, day that is for sure. Especially when each class is a different subject
Jody - i taught 4 bocks, but not with first grade, love it
naneb - 3 minutes to change classes, no going to lockers
naneb - our kids have their books at home and a set in the classroom so they do not go to lockers
scifi - we vary 2-3 minutes between classes
sukiRR - I think it would be good with my population,low literacy non standard English speakers, lots of behavior and class management issue
scifi - I would love to abolish the lockers
naneb - All regular ed teachers teach 5 classes, sped and electives teach 6
scifi - I am teaching in KY
sukiRR - But...we are heavy into Guided reading a la Fontas and Pinnel
Jody - i used 4 blocks with special ed, workes wonderfully
Mary/PA - scifi, what's the alternative?
sukiRR - But who can get these kids into centers??
Mary/PA - Where would the kids keep their stuff?
naneb - I have been working on 4 blocks all summer. I am so excited
scifi - what do you mean by alternative'
scifi - In the rooms
Mary/PA - To lockers
Jody - it is so easy to do once you make all the things, naneb
sukiRR - I want to do it but I am Inclusion teacher for Lang Arts..I dont run the show..just adapt it
naneb - We would not need lockers if they could wear sneakers, but kids have to wear brown or black hard shoes
Mary/PA - Do the kids have far to travel between classes?
sukiRR - four blocks that is
scifi - either that or I would like to have the lockers limited to no more than twice a day
scifi - They travel only within one hallway most the day
naneb - scifi, that is what we do, in the morning and at the end of the day
Mary/PA - scifi, have you suggested that to the admin?
Mary/PA - What if a kid needs to get a lunch out of the locker at lunch time?
naneb - If they don't have to get books it is easy to eliminate going to the locker. It cuts down on problems in the hall too.
scifi - my 8th grade team makes that decision, and I was overruled
Mary/PA - suki, you could still talk to those in charge and convince then to train others
scifi - going to get lunch or gym clothes is not a problem because they won't dawdle and loose their precious lunch time but between classes it becomes a social event
sukiRR - I need to learn more about four blocks with struggling readers
Mary/PA - That's what we did. All of the RR teachers in our district kept pushing and we are now getting many people trained
scifi - it is just one of those teacher problems we have to deal with
scifi - What is RR
Mary/PA - Oh, I see, sci
sukiRR - I have borrowed the cunningham book to read in my "spare time"
naneb - I ordered the book, Modifying 4 blocks for the upper grades but, i think i will need to modify and adapt a lot
sukiRR - Reading Recovery
Mary/PA - What is your school's tardy to class rule?
Mary/PA - What happens?
scifi - three tardies is an absence
naneb - 4th tardy is after school detention 30 min.
Mary/PA - Do they then need to have a note from their parents?
naneb - We have a new principal so, we may have lots of new rules
sukiRR - have summer school training tomorrow
scifi - we also have a detention for tardies to classes after the third time
naneb - parent has to sign them in at the office or it is unexcused
sukiRR - I will teach the lowest of the low first graders
sukiRR - usually levels1-4
scifi - tardies are suppose to have a note but it is usually the same old thing, overslept or traffic
sukiRR - Then next week I am attending a week long training in responsive classroom
Mary/PA - Those are illegal and there is a price to pay for too many of those!
Zita - SukiRR, I tried to get into a session but they were all booked
Luc13ky - We have used 4Block this year and have had great results.
sukiRR - sorry for the typos..my keyboard sticks
Zita - I heard they are amazing!
*grins - Good evening. I teach grades 7 & 8 reading in PA
Mary/PA - suki, are you the only one in your school going?
Zita - I have used some of the techniques in the past
sukiRR - Our school is doing it...we have to do something!!
sukiRR - We have 4-8 behavior problems in each class
sukiRR - time bombs exploding all over the place
Mary/PA - That must be a challenge, are they all below grade level?
naneb - kids must be really frustrated
sukiRR - we are a federal magnet school 40% or more is kids in foster care
Mary/PA - That was for grins
Zita - I found success with the Responsive Model in my room of 6th graders
sukiRR - most are Mary..they progress ayear in a years time but are starting at a deficit
*grins - I'm a rookie. no, I have mixed levels. Some are 3rd through 12th grade reading levels! What a stretch!
sukiRR - very low language
*grins - suki-do you have a big turnover of students since that many are in foster care?
sukiRR - lots of hispanic bilingual not proficient in Spanish or English
naneb - do you do social skills training?
Mary/PA - grins, that is a stretch! How do you manage?
mac - middle school teachers - do you team teach?
naneb - I'm middle school too 6th grade sped
sukiRR - Naneb the administartion is not consistant..Thats whay I ampraying responsive classroom will help
*grins - Mary, I tap dance really well! We have a Reading Support class, but I talked my district into getting Accelerated Reader so their independent reading could be at their level. That helps, then I do lots of skill instruction, too.
mac - grins, we have reading levels across the levels too
Mary/PA - grins, that's so hard on the kids, teachers and schools, there should be a law that insists that the kids stay put for a longer time
*grins - mac-I think it's just part of education anymore. I'd love to team teach, but haven't found too many in our building willing to try it.
naneb - you might try skillstreaming or for the really young ones do social stories
mac - grins, we've been working toward it and I think are just about there, we have totally, innovative new sch this year
*grins - I use Scholastic's Scope magazine. The kids love them, and I can regularly assess reading skills with their monthly quiz. Does anyone here use them?
sukiRR - I like to do lnaguage experiences and think alouds
*grins - Mac-tell me more!
*grins - suki-what grade level do you use those with?
mac - grins, each gd is teamed, pretty much, we lost 2 teachers, all the kids of one grade have related arts classes the same time so that 's team planning time
sukiRR - all but I teach K-1
sukiRR - bilingual
Mary/PA - naneb, can you please explain skillstreaming?
*grins - mary-I agree---I want to know too.
mac - we have to share 8th gd science teacher, and have gone to 8pds from 7, with each gd having a different 8th pd
naneb - It is a role playing program by Arnie goldstein from Syracuse University
*grins - mac-you're lucky to have admin. support and teacher cooperation! Way to go!
Snowy - I just got my first teaching job!
Mary/PA - What skills do they scream?
mac - grins, the only people not for it, are the math teachers, 2 of them have been writing their own schedules for years
Mary/PA - I mean stream
sukiRR - Snowy congrats
*grins - Snowy-Congratulations!
Snowy - thanks
mac - they choose what periods, how many students and which ones, they never have any discipline problems
naneb - There is a book for different ages. You model problem behavior and the students brainstorm possible solutions. They role play and practice and then transfer the new behavior to the situation and report back on its effectiveness
Mary/PA - Snowy, what will you be teaching?
mac - congrat Snowy
sukiRR - Yes naneb..is this a sped term?
Snowy - I will be in a self contained 4th grade
mac - anyone else done curriculum mapping?
sukiRR - I have seen similar program or at least eveluation
Mary/PA - We've been doing if for some time now, making sure that everything is covered
naneb - He wrote it for adolescent boys at a center for behavior problems. i went to a big workshop to learn it but you can read the books and do it. There is now one for younger students too
*grins - How often is there a middle school chat here?
sukiRR - ever heard of the "test of problem Solving"?
Mary/PA - Snowy, I hear that 4th grade is a great grade to teach!
mac - and tech? do you have comp teacher/class or each teacher responsible for teaching tech?
Mary/PA - grins, once a month
sukiRR - I used to do bilingaual speech therapy in my past life
mac - Mary, out district threw it at us, only me and a couple others had ever heard of it
*grins - Great! I wish I'd have known for tonite, but I gotta run. Thanks for the welcome, Guys!
naneb - We have computer technology, Tech Prep class for 8th grade
Snowy - I am very excited!
sukiRR - and we used that test to teast social skills/pragmatics
Robbi - Snowy, do you prefer self-contained? Has your school changed classes for different subjects?
Mary/PA - mac, we all have to teach our own kids the computer stuff, we have no computer teachers in the elem grades
sukiRR - bye grins
Snowy - I was wondering if anyone could give me some ideas about what you do on the first day of school?
naneb - we will have an assistant in the computer lab next year
mac - naneb, we have had computer classes, but lost 2 teachers and now will have 1-four and half wk, class to do tech
mac - we have no extra people to man the lab
naneb - practice lockers, that is the biggie for 6th graders
naneb - Do they do the Tech Prep curriculum?
Robbi - Snowy, there is a great book called The First Six Weeks of School. It has great activities for building community in your classroom.
naneb - We are a Title 1 school so, we will have a title 1 assistant
mac - Mary, our elem school is the largest and newest in our state, it's state-of -the-art everything
naneb - suki, you can get one for $20
Snowy - I have only worked (student taught)in self-contained rooms so I have nothing to compare it to.
naneb - Have you read The First Days of School by Harry Wong? This is a must for every teacher!!
mac - naneb, we will have someone to teach keyboarding to 6th graders, then everyone else is resp for integrating tech
Mary/PA - WOW, mac, that must be exciting!
mac - naneb, I agree , great book
Mary/PA - I've never taught in a new school
Snowy - Robbi, Is that book published by the Responsive Classroom people?
Mary/PA - And I never will
naneb - I will have 2 student teachers this year and I am going to give them that book
mac - Mary, my best friend is prin there, they have right at 1000 kids K-3
Robbi - The First Six Weeks of School compliments Harry Wong's book, but goes into greater detail. It targets grades K-5. Yes, It is published by the Responsive Classroom people.
Snowy - Looks like I am headed to the book shop tomorrow
Mary/PA - WOW! that's a lot of kids!
naneb - Harry's book is my new principals bible. I think I am going to like him alot
mac - Mary, I stopped to see her yesterday and these 2 guys walked in office and said had heard about our school wanted a tour, they were architects
sukiRR - and me tothe computer store
naneb - He was actually concerned about the number of students I will be teaching
Mary/PA - I student taught in a depart. setting....I didn't like it at all
mac - naneb, do you have cap sizes on classes?
Mary/PA - I like self contained
sukiRR - It must be nice to have a supportive principal(whistfully)
Robbi - Mary, what was the "downfall" of departmentalizing?
mac - I like teaching one subject, or pretty much one subject, did my student teaching in 5th
sukiRR - Robbi I am going to responsive Classroom training next week
naneb - I had the principal from the black lagoon so anything is better
Mary/PA - Robbi, for me it was teaching the same thing more than once a day! I can't stand that.
mac - suki, I don't have supportive prin, but have a wonderful asst. prin
Robbi - Oh, sukiRR, I know you will LOVE it!
Mary/PA - I like to be working with the whole child
Snowy - Suki, my cooperating teaching (while I was student teaching) swore by the Responsive Classroom techniques
sukiRR - I am hopefully optimistic
Mary/PA - I don't like knowing just a small part of what they know and can do
mac - Mary, you sound like a sub I had last year, she didn't want to teach the same thing over and over, so she gave kids answer to test and did her own thing
sukiRR - I am familiar with the language component
Robbi - I highly recommend their book The First Six Weeks of School. Of course, they have many other great books on educating the whole child.
sukiRR - from my speech department days
sukiRR - Robbi I will get the book
Mary/PA - Some people like teaching the same thing, but that's not my bag
Robbi - I have the book and it is GREAT!
Mary/PA - mac, I don't think I'd do that!
Robbi - Mary, I understand where you are coming from.
mac - Mary, to say the least, she wasn't asked to come back to the middle school and sub, other people had the same prob w/her
sukiRR - Mary will you be doing RR all day next year?
Robbi - SukiRR, which training are you going to?
mac - she had gotten fired the year before , because she didn't do much in her classes
Mary/PA - suki, yes, we'll see how it goes
sukiRR - Its one in our school district in Springfield mass
Mary/PA - I'm a little worried about it, but at the same time looking forward to it
sukiRR - Good luck mary 7 or 8 kids
Sandra - What is RR? Reading Rennaissance?
Snowy - I must be off...thanks for the wonderful advice...have a great night
sukiRR - Close sandra Reading Recovery
sukiRR - 8 kids?
Mary/PA - RR = Reading Recovery
Mary/PA - suki, yes
mac - good luck Snowy, come back and chat on tnet and let us know how it goes
Sandra - I was just looking for some clip art that I can use to make stick puppets for a storytime I have to do Friday. Any ideas?
naneb - try hoxie.org
sukiRR - how will you keep them straight?
sukiRR - Jan Bret site
mac - how many kids do you all have in class?
sukiRR - who has the URL?
Sandra - Reading Recovery, isn't that used in resource classes usually?
sukiRR - I am not so good at this technology stuff
Mary/PA 2 - Sandra what's the story?
sukiRR - Sandra no, with lowest acheiving first graders one on one
sukiRR - for 12-20 weeks
Mary/PA 2 - Jan Brett may have something, have you looked at her site?
Sandra - I may use Molly the Brave and Me, if not, I can use Arthur's Loose Tooth, the chimpanzee Arthur
mac - bye ya'll gonna go put some laundry in
sukiRR - .The point is to get these kidlets tothe average performance band of theur class
sukiRR - and avoid SPED
Mary/PA 2 - http://www.janbrett.com/
sukiRR - Thanks Mary...(bowing in awe)
Sandra - Thanks, I'll try the Jan Brett site.
sukiRR - Mary it was so nice to meet you in "person".
Mary/PA 2 - We've been talking about lots of different things tonight
sukiRR - I will come to the RR chat next monday
Mary/PA 2 - suki, I'm so happy that you made it tonight
sukiRR -
Mary/PA 2 - suki the 25th
Mary/PA 2 - We're going to try to discuss Marie's new book
sukiRR - PerhapsI can round up a better keyboard LOL
sukiRR - and a copy
Mary/PA 2 - Hi Laur
sukiRR - of the new book
Mary/PA 2 - We are just about done here tonight
Laur - Hi everyone
sukiRR - If not I will just soak in the expertise and fellowship
naneb - night everyone, it was fun
Sandra - What book are you talking about?
Mary/PA 2 - Sounds good suki
Mary/PA 2 - Just a min... I'll get it
sukiRR - I have learned a lot fromthe archives..and seen how your group has grown in its understandings together
Sandra - I couldn't find anything I could use at the Jan Brett site. It was really neat though.
Mary/PA 2 - Change Over Time in Children's Leteracy Development
Sandra - Did I barge in on a special group?
sukiRR - No Sandra
Mary/PA 2 - That's too bad, Sandra
sukiRR - Thanks Mary
Mary/PA 2 - Do you have an idea if what pictures you would need?
Sandra - Sounds pretty deep. I'm taking a children's lit course to become a librarian.
sukiRR - Where do you plan on going to grad school?
Mary/PA 2 - Suki, I'll be looking for you on the 25th, If you don't show up, I'll worry
Sandra - I just thought if I could find some coloring book pages of little girls and boys, that would be all I need.
Mary/PA 2 - Sandra, no, you didn't barge in
Mary/PA 2 - We've been talking about many different things here tonight
Sandra - I'm taking my class online from the University of North Texas.
sukiRR - I'll be there Mary..unless I forget the timelike last time
Mary/PA 2 - Elem - Mid is a lot of territory
Mary/PA 2 - Hold on
sukiRR - I could have kicked myself..I remembered at 10:15
sukiRR - cool sandra
Mary/PA 2 - If you go to this URL - http://www.teachers.net/chatroom/ you will see a schedule and a clock that tells the Eastern Time and also links to all the chatrooms
sukiRR - thanx again mary
Mary/PA 2 - Just bookmark that URL and you can always check it to know what's happening and what time it is
Sandra - Where are you from?
Mary/PA 2 - suki, where are you?
sukiRR - Now if I could just bookmark my brain
sukiRR - SpringfieldMass
Mary/PA 2 - I'm in NW PA
Mary/PA 2 - Eastern Time Zone
sukiRR - mary are you out for the summer?
Mary/PA 2 - suki, then the time for the meetings for you is 9:00
Mary/PA 2 - That should be easy
sukiRR - should be...
Sandra - I'm going to search for some coloring book clip art. Thanks for the help. Goodnight.
Mary/PA 2 - Sandra, you must be in TX
sukiRR - My life has been very hecticlately
Mary/PA 2 - So you need to remember 8:00, right?
Sandra - Yes, I guess that should be "Goodnight ya'll."
sukiRR - Night Sandra
Mary/PA 2 - OK, I'm off as well
Mary/PA 2 - Thanks for coming this evening
sukiRR - See you next monday Mary
