Kelly M - Hi Paula, welcome
Kelly M - How are you today?
Paula - I am fine and a newbie I love your ring
Kelly M - Hi Myra! What's up?
Kelly M - LOL....thanks! It's really not "my" ring! I'm just the owner/moderator! It's a terrific place for EC-GEN people because of all the great teachers on it!
Kelly M - Hi Cindy! How are you today?
SC Cindy - Doing great! So, who is waiting on scores and who is working on their portfolios?
Myra in GA - I'm waiting on scores....
Paula - You're right. It is quite helpful. It makes the whole process seem much less intimidating
Kelly M - I'm waiting on YOUR scores!Hi, Carol, welcome!
SC Cindy - Oh Myra! I know you must feel like time is moving sooooo slowly right now!
Carol - Hi, Kelly and others. It has been ages since I've been on. I feel so out of touch! HOw is everyone?
Kelly M - Doing fine here....it's still hot. Good ol St. Louis just hates to say goodbye to the summer!
Carol - I have continued to enjoy the posts. I always get such good insights, even though I am not as involved in the actual process. Cindy, where in SC? I am in Mt. Pleasant, near Charleston.
SC Cindy - Carol, I live in Greenville and teach in Pickens County. Mr. Pleasant is a wonderful place. I'd like to be there right now!
Myra in GA - I feel like time is in slow motion...
Carol - Yes, I just got back from the beach!
Myra in GA - I thought I'd be able to forget about it..but HA!
Myra in GA - I'm addicited to the ring....
SC Cindy - Myra, I found that during the school day I didn't think about the results. It was at home that I thought about it constantly.
Carol - I remember how it permeated my thought process constantly, Myra.
Carol - Newbies, what are you working on?
Kelly M - Hey there sinetag! How ARE you? All moved yet?
SC Cindy - You know, I still like to log on the ring and scan interesting comments and reply every now and then about things I feel I can help out on....
Myra in GA - I even dreamed about ti the other night...
sinetag - in the middle of packing
Kelly M - Myra - those dreams will probably be more and more frequent between now and November!
Paula - I am just taking a break from working on Entry 4 during a quiet and rare moment at my house
SC Cindy - I've been a little disappointed in the bankers ring.....they just don't post very much...
Kelly M - sinetag.....so sorry I'm not there to enjoy packing with you!
sinetag - yeah right
Kelly M - SC Cindy - you're right, there is almost no traffic on that ring.
sinetag - just thought I'd stop by here for a minute to see what's going on
Myra in GA - Hope the bankers ring picks up. I may need it come November
Kelly M - Paula is the newbie amongst us... Paula, do you have any questions you would like tossed around by all of us?
Carol - I can't chat long, but have a new book to recommend. it is Reworking the Workshop, Math and Science Reform in the Primary Grades by Daniel Heuser. I ordered it online fromHeinemann. It would be good for describing inquiry and what it looks like in the early grades.
SC Cindy - I'm just surprised they don't seek help there.....I think if I were a banker, I'd really appreciate any help. When I assessed science portfolios this past summer, I felt that many of the candidates didn't seek any help, they just relied on themselves.
Myra in GA - Paula , have you started on your other entries?
Paula - No, not really, I did a pilot entry last year in ss. I am really anxious to hear back from it. It would be wonderful not to do it again
Myra in GA - Cindy, did you assess bankers science or new generation?
SC Cindy - I probably shouldn't have made that comment....
SC Cindy - Myra, I assessed bankers science....
Myra in GA - science is the one I dream about the most...
SC Cindy - Paula, that was really brave of you to work on a pilot entry last year! I hope you did well!
Paula - Thanks, SC Cindy. I think it was helpful-if for no other reason than it gave me an idea of what the process was like
Kelly M - Carol - thanks for the book title....I've added it to my 'must buy' list!
Kelly M - Paula...yes! I think it's great for someone to do one of those pilots first!
SC Cindy - During the assessment last summer, one of the girls had not gone through the process yet. It gave her a good indication of what sort of effort was required before she became a candidate.
Carol - I should recommend it on the ring, It ranks right up there with Doing What Scientists Do, but also includes the math workshop and math inquiry.
Paula - Kelly- I just wish we could get a little feedback if we don't pass- just to give an idea of how to improve it.
Myra in GA - assessors don't have to be an NBCT do they?
SC Cindy - No, assessors don't have to be a NBCT. But they go through training for 4 days just like the NB certified teachers.
Myra in GA - I wish I could have put a little note on each entry that said "in case you haven't been through this, this packet contains a year of my life. Please be kind..."
Myra in GA - Can you tell I'm starting to worry?
sinetag - that's natural
Kelly M - Paula - once you get scores back and really look closely - REALLY closely - at your entries you'll be able to tell where you hit the mark and where you didn't. It just takes a lot of reflection. Plus, that's not the purpose of NBPTS....they set the standards, and when we apply we are saying that we meet them. We submit the evidence, and they tell us yes you do meet them or no you don't. It's up to us to decide what we need to do...
SC Cindy - We were kind and understanding, but we had certain guidelines to follow. I thought the girl who was not certifed was particularily careful in her judging...just like the rest of us....
sinetag - well said!
Paula - Myra, I feel so far from where you are now, but I wish you the best
SC Cindy - I remember wringing my hands while waiting results like Myra and pulling my hair out while writing entries like Paula! My family was sure I had multiple personalities!
Myra in GA - Thanks Paula! You are awaiting scores too...from your SS entry. I hope you get good news too!
Paula - Kelly, I get your point. Hopefully I will be more comfortable with the whole process by the time my pilot score comes back.
Myra in GA - This process has definitely changed my way of thinking about things..
SC Cindy - I still can't get over the fact that no teachers at my school even want to attempt NB cert. I'm the first one to attempt it and get it at my school. I hope I won't be the last one...
Myra in GA - I cringe when my co-workers teach properties of matter with videos and cut & past worksheets!
SC Cindy - You can't even mention it without feeling a "chill" in the air....they're all too old to attempt it, uninterested, or too young with newborns to attend to....
Paula - I do have a question. Tow teachers from my grade level became certified last year. One told my she lifted the standards straight out and even underlined them and put them in bold text. The other teacher didn't do that. She said the standards come out in your writing more naturally. What's your opinion?
Myra in GA - Cindy, everyone at my school is waiting to see me in November. They don't want to attempt until they see what happens. They think I'm nuts for trying.
Kelly M - Paula - you are not credited with any evidence by quoting standards. The evidence is in how you answer the questions. You get zero points for quoting standards OR research!
Myra in GA - Paula, I didn't quote standards because I didn't have room. I know others who did. I felt like mine was fine without.
Kelly M - Nobody in my district has ever done this. A few ask me questions, but VERY few!...and nobody has jumped in so far. But then again, there are only 17 in the entire St. Louis metropolitan area!
SC Cindy - Sometimes, I think they must think I don't have a life outside of school since I attempted this. I'm sorry, but I like taking college classes....of course working on NB was the most comprehensive undertaking I had ever done....many times I wondered why did I ever start this? But, I really learned a great deal about my teaching and myself!
Paula - Thanks for your input
SC Cindy - Kelly is right, you don't get credit for citing standards or making excuses for why you couldn't do this in your video, etc.
Paula - I started reading about inquiry Science over the summer and I have about decided to use Magnets for my second graders. I've been playing around with ideas on how to incorporate math. Any ideas or suggestions on where to look?
SC Cindy - You don't get credit for a beautiful detailed drawing of your classroom or one done sketchily (sp?)in pencil. I really sweated over my classroom layout and it wasn't important. I didin't know that at the time though.
SC Cindy - Paula, I teach 2nd graders too! Magnets sound good!
Myra in GA - My only "gripe"(if you could call it that) with the NB process is that is is so subjective. One person would read my entry and say it's great. Someone elese would read it and tear it apart. I went nuts! I finally had to just do my best and pray..
Myra in GA - Paula, you could always tie in math with graphs..interpreting data..
Kelly M - Myra - that's probably very true if you just ask one of us who has never been through the scoring process as an assessor. But I would bet that if two scorers read it they would come VERY VERY close to judging it the same!
SC Cindy - By the time people are trained to ready your entry Myra, they usually are pretty close in their scoring....
Paula - Thats a good idea, Myra. Thanks
SC Cindy - Kelly, you took the words right off of my keyboard!
DebbieMc. - Hi everybody
Paula - Hi DebbieMc
SC Cindy - Excuse me, I meant to type "read your entry".
DebbieMc. - Just wanted to drop in and say hi.
Kelly M - SC Cindy - that's because I've heard assessors answer that question often enough! HI DEBBIE MC!!!!! How are you?
Myra in GA - Kelly and Cindy, I hope you are right. I've really struggled with it.
DebbieMc. - I'm fine thanks. Just travel weary.
SC Cindy - Well, I've got to go.....good luck Myra, Paula and everyone else!
DebbieMc. - Hope everybody's doing well.
Kelly M - Debbie - any news yet about working closer to home?
Kelly M - Bye SC Cindy!
Myra in GA - Paula, www.coreknowledge.org has sample lessons with magnets. You may be able to get some ideas from there.
SC Cindy - I'll be watching for your results on the NB site in Nov. Myra!
DebbieMc. - I'll find out Wednesday. I'll email you from work Wedn. night.
Myra in GA - Thanks Cindy!
Paula - Thanks again Myra. I'll sure give it a try!
Kelly M - Debbie - I'll keep my fingers crossed until I hear from you!
DebbieMc. - Thanks, Kelly. Hope everything's going well for candidates on the ring.
Myra in GA - I'm going to have to go. My 2 year old is up from his nap.
DebbieMc. - Myra, enjoy him. He'll be grown up before you blink.
Myra in GA - See ya'll on the ring!
Kelly M - Bye Myra!
Paula - Me, too. My 2 year old is wide awake, also! I enjoyed my first visit to the chat room. Thanks everyone.
DebbieMc. - Gotta run too. I'm plowing through my Sat. chores.
DebbieMc. - Everybody have a good week. Kelly, I'll email you.
DebbieMc. - Oh, how's the cast and when does it come off?
Kelly M - Cast is fine.....I go back in about 10 days. We'll see. It's still swollen!
Kelly M - I'll expect to hear good news on Wednesday!
Kelly M - I've gotta run, too. Off to the theater!
DebbieMc. - Keep off of it as much as possible. I know you're like the energizer bunny but try a little harder.
DebbieMc. - Take care all!
