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jules/ny/4th - have you been here before for the Sun. night chat?
jenn - a few times
jules/ny/4th - Are there usually a bunch of people? And is it informative?
jenn - there was a bigger turnout
jenn - it depends on what you want to learn about
jules/ny/4th - this is my 3rd year, and as you can tell, I teach in NY
jenn - i think last week jen from CA told me there was noone here
jenn - this is my third year too and i teach in NJ
jules/ny/4th - well, what do you have going on, etc, that you'd like to chat about?
jenn - how to control this one boy who is lacking in attention from home and seeks it out all day long from the other kids.
jenn - he just has some out bursts at times
jules/ny/4th - Does he prefer or accept neg. attention more or as easily as pos. attention?
jenn - negative attention
jules/ny/4th - I do have a child who does the same, although he is classified, and is medicated, but still he seeks neg. attention constantly.
jenn - he seems angry all the time
jules/ny/4th - I try to catch him doing anything good, and praise, praise, praise
jules/ny/4th - mine too.
jules/ny/4th - It is sad to see someone so young so angry w/ the world.
jenn - and i was told by thr principal that he was the most depressed kid she has ever seen
jules/ny/4th - ours can be verbally abusive to teachers, etc
jules/ny/4th - so has he been tested?
jenn - i try the praise too but it doesnt work
jules/ny/4th - ours has a form of depression too
jenn - not that i know of yet hes very bright
jules/ny/4th - it is like dr. jeckl and mr. hyde at times
jenn - ill be meeting with his mom this week
jenn - exactly
jules/ny/4th - does he have a history w/ this behavior in past years?
jenn - his parents are divorced and he has a 2 year old brother
jenn - yes
jules/ny/4th - unfortunately our student has made alot of progress over the years and this year is off...completely, just my luck
jules/ny/4th - so what have they done in the past w/ him/
jenn - just put up with him as far as i see
jules/ny/4th - in this case, the child was abandoned by his mother, so there is female rejection, and lives w/ his father
jules/ny/4th - ours does have shared aide time b/c he could blow his top at any time, and has
jules/ny/4th - our student is also fine academically
jenn - he is also artistically inclined
jules/ny/4th - we have an inclusion class, and he is one of a few that become quite upset at times
jules/ny/4th - sounds like his drawing, etc, could be an incentive or reward
jules/ny/4th - do you have a special behavior plan he follows
jenn - i just have to watch if a certain situation arises he can come out with something sly or nasty to say
jenn - not yet
jules/ny/4th - you could use the drawing as his goal, working toward 5 min. of free draw time or something
jenn - will have to see what will happen with his mom
jules/ny/4th - you could set up a contract, with 4 or 5 objectives, and if he earns toward them each day...stickers on a chart or something, he can get free draw time, or maybe do it daily, not weekly at first
jenn - discuss a plan we can work on together
jules/ny/4th - our child doesn't work toward a behavior plan, it is too much, too hard to keep it together for too long.
jules/ny/4th - last year, and in years past he was rewarded weekly by being taken to burger king, etc, and we haven't felt that was really a realistic reward, but have come up empty so far w/out it
jules/ny/4th - how many students are in your class
jenn - 21
jenn - there are some days that i dont even know hes there
jules/ny/4th - we have 24
jules/ny/4th - that is a nice thing
jules/ny/4th - that definitely hasn't happened for us yet
jenn - 8 boys 13 girls
jules/ny/4th - we have 14 boys 10 girls
jenn - it just the little things that set him off and i cant anticipate what will and what wont
jules/ny/4th - do you have an aide in the room
jenn - the only aide is aloowed in pre-k
jules/ny/4th - really? we have an inclusion room, with 2 aides, with 4 identified children, and 1 esl student
jules/ny/4th - does this child respond well to being a helper?
jenn - we have another lady that specificallty teaches math and reading to those who request it
jenn - he just acts so silly sometimes not maturity
jules/ny/4th - children seeking neg. attention in class and disrupting learning
jules/ny/4th - behavior plans, etc
jules/ny/4th - what do you have on your plate?
jenn - my problem with my one boy
Jen from CA - I guess we all have a few of those, don't we?
jules/ny/4th - Jenn and I are both in our 3rd years, you?
Jen from CA - I also am in my third year of 4th.
jules/ny/4th - will you both get tenure this year?
Jen from CA - I have it pretty lucky this year, though. I don't really have any problems. Yes, Jules, the first day I had kids, I was automatically tenured.
jules/ny/4th - I just found out that I will not, due to the terms of my contract and am meeting w/ the superintendent this week about it, as I am totally distraught.
Jen from CA - That's a bummer.
jenn - not here
jules/ny/4th - Jen, is it 2 years for tenure in Ca?
jules/ny/4th - Jenn how long for you?
jenn - dont even know
jules/ny/4th - Hi Chel
Jen from CA - The first day with the kids in the third year is tenure.
jules/ny/4th - Wow, it's three years in NY, and this being my third year, makes me upset to just find out I may have to go another do to a mistake on paper
Chel - Hey, I am an El Ed student looking or help with an assignment
Jen from CA - Where you from Chel?
jules/ny/4th - Do you have to have tenure voted on by the board of Ed Jen
Chel - Pa
jules/ny/4th - What do you need chel?
Jen from CA - Yes. The board and administration are determining factors.
jules/ny/4th - yes, here too.
Jen from CA - Are you 4th grade Chel?
Chel - I need to know what is most challenging and most gratifying in your job
Chel - I hope to be teaching 4th or up in about 2 years
Jen from CA - Sorry Chel, I didn
jules/ny/4th - Most gratifying....knowing that you truly made a difference in a child's life, whether it is turning their negative attitude toward school to a positive one, helping them learn something new and challenging, or the smile they get across their face when they finally get it
jenn - Most gratifying for me is when there is a lesson that you think might be hard and then the whole class understands
jules/ny/4th - challenging...learning to meet the special needs of some challenging students, not being backed up when problems arise, there are alot of challenges
Jen from CA - Watching the "lights go on" when you're teaching a hard concept, is very gratifying.
jules/ny/4th - I think you have to love and respect kids to do this job
Chel - thanks you really helped.
Jen from CA - You have to LIKE kids to do this job! LOL
jenn - you have to have a desire to teach not everyone can do it
Chel - It souns like you all find it gratifying to see kids "get it"
Jen from CA - You must have infinite patience!!! Good days always come.
jules/ny/4th - hands on learning always seems to help them get it, and get into it
jenn - thats the best part of it
Jen from CA - Hands on is another way to reach learners with varied learning styles. It works, actually for all of them.
Chel - Now that yo have been teaching a few years do you feel more confident in some areas then when you started
jenn - Math was tough for me my first year believe it or not
Jen from CA - Confidence grows in all areas. Even in your own personal weak areas. You learn how to fly by the seat of your pants sometimes. By punting, I mean. LOL
Jen from CA - Hello Vicky! Welcome.
jenn - theres so many new things out there to work with since i;ve been in school
Chel - Jen from Ca you sound like a very good friend of mine who has been teaching for a few years also. Flying by the seat of your pants is something that comes up in many of our conversations
Vicky - Hello! Sorry for not greeting everyone, but my screen keeps going blank...what's going on??
Jen from CA - New things for me too!! Like pens and pencils instead of slates and chisels!! LOL Just kidding!!
jenn - hi Vicki
jules/ny/4th - you definitely learn from your experiences
Jen from CA - Chel, this is only my third year. But I've been around forever!!
Vicky - gosh....this is extremely annoying...my screen keeps going just white, and I can't seem to "refresh" it...
Jen from CA - Vicky, I know about those blankety-blank screens !!!! *#$02@ !!!!
jules/ny/4th - chel, what else?
Chel - Do you fel like your attitude about teaching has changed from your first year
Jen from CA - My attitude definitely has changed. I think as you develop your own teaching style, you are constantly refining.
jules/ny/4th - Before I started teaching, I saw it as this dream world, a perfect existence, then I began, and truly, it was rough, I wasn't emotionally prepared to deal w/ the reality and the problems that can arise, from parents, children, admin, etc. It is a tough job, but like we said earlier, the gratifying parts, which come from the kids, make it worth it
jules/ny/4th - that first year is like survivor
jenn - mine too really tough
Chel - Thanks all. I got some really good insights. You all sound like very caring teachers. On to the rest of my homework
Jen - The first year of teaching IS like survivor. It's pretty scary at times.
