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Kathy/5/IA - Welcome to the Elem/Middle School Focus Chat.
hof - Do any of you use Saxon Math out there?
knight - yes, the high school does use saxon, we use the predecessor, Scott Foresman.
knight - it is supposed to follow the transition from basic math skills to pre-algebra
hof - The reason I asked: we switched to Saxon this year: 2-8th grade. It is becoming harder because of the way it is handled. But I still like it.
knight - the scott foresman book is really bad. I mean totally worthless.
knight - bad examples, the problems are even worse, the only redeeming feature is that there is only 5 to 10 problems with each topic.
Kathy/5/IA - I think I use to use Scott Foresman - I don't teach math right now.
knight - I am stuck in a "bubble" room right now, have to teach my kids all subjects while the rest of the 6th grade, INCLUDING THE REAL BUBBLE TEACHER, gets to departmentalize
Kathy/5/IA - Why is that, knight?
knight - i'm a tad bitter about that as you can tell.
Kathy/5/IA - I can tell, Knight - but, I'd be bitter too!
knight - we drew for seniority after room assignments were already made.
Kathy/5/IA - How many kids do you have in your bubble room, knight?
knight - 23.....
knight - this is my first year at this school...prior to this worked as a System Admin in another district.
Kathy/5/IA - How do you like the change, knight?
knight - it is pretty nice, although, i do miss my technology shed with nearly a million dollar server system with a wireless communications tower attached to it.
Kathy/5/IA - I'm great ... but wish I was closer to vacation. We go through the 22nd. How about the rest of you?
MsTazlvr - I work at a jewish school so we don't even get off
knight - our last day is the 23 with a hour dismissal.
Deb/5/IL - We get out Friday. (17th)
MsTazlvr - not until Jan. 19 when we get a week off
Kathy/5/IA - I switched school systems three years ago. I left a school with lots of technology, too. I miss it!
knight - not even getting off for the holidays, that is brutal, even if it is not in your beliefs.
MsTazlvr - I know......they are very religious....work until 3 on New Years Eve
knight - the school i am in now has a good tech. program, i am just not really involved in it, even though the tech. co-ord. is always asking me how to do things .
Kathy/5/IA - That's cutting it close to the big Y2K! :)
knight - On New Year's Eve??????????? I thought that was a federal holiday not pertaining to religious beliefs...
MsTazlvr - they don't follow the regular calandar
Kathy/5/IA - When do you normally get out?
MsTazlvr - they have their own New Years
knight - we even got 2 days off for buck season and the kids got off for one day of doe season.
MsTazlvr - buck season....doe season....wow....we get off for hurricane days
Kathy/5/IA - Snow days are our only "extra" days. It has been such a mild "winter" so far here in Iowa!!! Did get an inch of snow last night.
knight - no such thing as hurricanes here, maybe some serious snow days, but that is it. Man, yesterday we had a bomb and shooting threat with a supposed hit list and we still held school as usual. turned out to be an unfounded rumor that the community blew out of proportion.
Kathy/5/IA - What kind of educational topic do you all want to discuss?
knight - how about managing the child who is only in school becuase it is federally mandated.
Kathy/5/IA - heavy topic, knight! :) I've got a few like that, too.
wendy/5/mi - I think i have a few of those too!
knight - in any other country, some of them would be working in factories because they are unfit for schools.
knight - they wear ignorance like a badge of honor, thanks to the support of their parents.
Kathy/5/IA - I have about 5 who don't think they need to do any work. They wouldn't even be able to hold factory jobs!
wendy/5/mi - I know that kind...that is 1/2 my class....and the parents 'support' the behavior :l
Kathy/5/IA - Your students must be related to mine!
knight - did i mention that since i used to teach alternative ed. in a juvenile lockdown facility i got stuck with all the "incorrigibles"
Kathy/5/IA - So you must have some great advice on what to do with these kids!
wendy/5/mi - eeek! Knight...that is terrible!
knight - i got half a class of real doozies.
Kathy/5/IA - The doozies just ruin it for everyone!!!
knight - oh well, no matter how bad it gets, compared to what many of the people in this country are doing, I feel very fortunate to have a job teaching.
Soushi - My last day is Friday and they are very squirrely
Kathy/5/IA - Do any of you have any suggestions on how to get some kids to get their work turned in on time?
knight - are you quitting soushi?
Kathy/5/IA - We go til next Wednesday!
Soushi - No
Soushi - How do you keep them busy till then?
Kathy/5/IA - I don't have my plans done for next week! I'm not sure!!!
knight - Class as usual for me.....the kids will get a total of 3 hours next week for Holiday projects......
Soushi - They are acting just plain weird! Trying to wear one glove to music, wetting down their hair, making eyeglasses out of colored plastic.
Kathy/5/IA - Sounds like fun, Soushi! Heheheheh!
knight - One hour each Mon through Wed. for projects...since they are getting out early thursday, they don't get squat except for tests...
Soushi - do you give them anything for a gift?
knight - they are making their own gifts.....Real Crystalized Ornaments with their pictures in them.
Kathy/5/IA - I found some pencil bags for 24 cents on clearance last fall, and some holiday pencils last year on clearance!
Kathy/5/IA - What are the Ornaments like. Sounds neat!
Soushi - I plan to give them a white sack with eraser, automatic pencil, homework coupons, maybe some candy. It is hard to find anything that they would appreciate and not cost so much for 21.
knight - Simple scientific experiments combined with a little arts and craft.
Kathy/5/IA - I'd love to know more about them, Knight! I need something for science next week!
knight - Very easy to do: Simply get a large 75 cup coffee urn, heat water for 3 hours. have kids design ornaments out of pipe cleaners, pour 3 tablespoons of Borax into 1 cup nearly boiling water( I am using canning jars) drop pipe cleaners into Borax and water solution overnight. Next day they are covered with crystals. When the kids got their pics taken for yearbook, i got the proofs, they will be placing their picture between the ornaments once they have dried. glue them up and attach a hanger.
knight - you can also add food color to the water and the crystals will be tinted that color.
Kathy/5/IA - Do they last? (like several years)
Soushi - Could you use that idea and make snowflakes for January?
knight - they last until they get wet or are broken...they are semi fragile, kind of like a glass bulb decoration, but less dangerous. my wife works for jc pennys and is getting jewelery boxes for them to take them home.
knight - that is what the activity was origionally for (snowflakes), but I canabilized it to work for holiday ornaments.
hof - We get out Friday. I almost wish we would go until you do Kathy.
Soushi - Why? hof
hof - I tend to want to have more time off after New Years--when a lot are back at school.
knight - I already called poison control center, the borax has a ph level of 9, which is a little high, but far from being caustic. flush eyes with water, induce vomiting if ingested. nothing real dangerous though.\
Soushi - Well, guess it works both ways. It is nice to have time before Christmas to get ready too.
knight - very safe thing to do in the classroom....only danger is the hot water.....
Soushi - We go back January 3 if all goes well.
hof - A school in the Clovis, CA district actually is going to send home a Y2K homework packet with the students! Wild!
knight - the plans for the crystal thing are located at: http://www.teelfamily.com/activities/christmas/.
Soushi - don't suppose any of you know where I can find some neat homework coupons already made up?
Kathy/5/IA - I haven't checked this, Soushi ... but check and see if it has what you want. http://www.activitiesforkids.com/forms/nohw1.htm
hof - I teach at a 5th & 6th grade school. I am looking for an easy musical to do starting Feb. Any ideas?
Kathy/5/IA - Do you need a "royalty free" musical?
hof - I can pay the Royalty: not a prob.
Kathy/5/IA - What grade - 6th? (hof)
Kathy/5/IA - Full lenght musical - or a short one??? I use to direct high school play/musicals.
hof - Kathy, I would have 5&6th graders in the play. Did a good one in Nov. They seem ready for a musical. I have several other teachers wanting to help.
Kathy/5/IA - I have several catalogs I use to order from. They had fun musicals with a tape for the music.
Kathy/5/IA - I did them with high school kids - there may be some that would work for 5-6 grade.
hof - Do you remember the company. I might already have.
Kathy/5/IA - Hof - the company I ordered the most from was Heuer Publishing Company, Box 248, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406
Kathy/5/IA - I don't have a catalog - got the address off an old script.
Kathy/5/IA - Thank you all for participating this evening. See you next month, good night.
