beth - This is my 1st time in here.
Kelly M - Hi Beth - how are you today?
beth - This is my 1st time here. I'm a CIW
Kelly M - I keep getting bumped out of here! Sorry about that! So you're anxiously awaiting the middle of November, right?
beth - I am leaving because i don't think i'm doing this correct
Kelly M - Looks like you're doing fine!
beth - I've been have dreams about the boards, once
Kelly M - that's not uncommon! I think it will probably continue!
ginger - hi everybody
Kelly M - Hi Ginger! How are you?
ginger - doing fine.
ginger - actually taking time to refinish a coffee table!
ginger - how are you Kelly?
Kelly M - Relaxing feels good, doesn't it?
Kelly M - I'm fine!
ginger - i am finding that it is important to me to try to implement some of the cool stuff i learned about while doing Boards that I was too busy to investigagte
ginger - was feeling totally overwhelmed trying!!!
ginger - but now i am taking just a couple of small things and putting them into what i do now
Kelly M - LOL...guess what? That's going to go on forever!
ginger - guess so. That's what I wanted to have- a new challenge,something to keep me fresh
Kelly M - and fresh you'll be! ... always searching for more and more!
ginger - wierd that we are alone on this lovely saturday
ginger - oh, wow. Hi, mary lou!
Kelly M - It's so pretty here, too....I bet folks are out enjoying themselves....except, of course, for Mary Lou!...who is joining us now!
ginger - i am thinking of going to NYC to the national meeting of NAEYC this fall
ginger - have either of you ever been to anything like that?
ML - hey Guys! I'm logged on twice - don't know why!
ginger - welcome to both of you!
ML - I got bumped off but am still signed on as Mary Lou - go figure!
Kelly M - I've never been to NAEYC - but I'd love to! I've been to IRA - but that was a long time ago. And I've been to NEA national conventions...and National Board ones, too!
ML - I got bumped off but am still signed on as Mary Lou - go figure!
ML - I got bumped off but am still signed on as Mary Lou - go figure!
Kelly M - If you get that message that says the page won't display (or something like that), just click on the green "G" on the left....it will restore this screen!
ginger - well, my principal said i could go as long as they just had to pay for the conference. I can come home each night as I'm only 1 1/2 hr from Manhattan
ginger - kelly, what is IRA?
Kelly M - International Reading Association...sorry!
ginger - do you know if they have a website?
ginger - do either of you have a favorite professional organization?
Kelly M - I'm sure IRA does. They are a very active organization. I think my favorite is nbpts! But I'm big on NEA, too........
ginger - thanks, kelly, i am going to look it up today.
ginger - hi charlotte
Kelly M - Hi Charlotte - how are you today?
charlotte - Hi gals, this is kinder-hack, just joined in for a minute to see if anyone knows any news on a score date.
Kelly M - Last I heard they were saying the middle of November. I think the quote was 'on or about November 16'....
ginger - do they send it to you in the mail on that date or is that when you can go online?
charlotte - I am getting very nervous. I have reread my portfolio just in the last two days. I can't wait! I am like a kid waiting for Christmas.
ginger - charlotte, thanks for the different perspective! I keep thinking of it as waiting for a court sentence!
abby - have all of you already done the process and are just waiting now?
ginger - hi abby!
charlotte - Happy thoughts GInger! only happy thoughts.
Kelly M - Hi abby! Ginger - the middle of November date will be when you can access the information online. They will also mail the full report....probably right after that.
ginger - i have, abby, but i have come to realize that sending in the box and taking the test is not the end, but rather the beginning to bigger things
ginger - ok, thanks Kelly
abby - I have just sent in my money, haven't received "the box" yet, but I do have a number!
charlotte - I was on a web site last night and it outlined the changes NB wants to make in the coming years. This year, this particular website said that candidates would be able to view their scores on-line the day we find out if we certified. Kelly, do you know this to be true?
ginger - abby, you will get to be very good friends with that number!
Kelly M - abby - you can get everything online...downloading it from the site.
abby - This thing is all I can think about right now. I know it will be very time consuming, but am h oping I can still have a life, too.
Kelly M - Charlotte - I have heard that your score will be available along with the news. What website were you on?
Kelly M - Hi Kathy - how are you?
Kelly M - abby - not much of one!
Kelly M - Mary Lou - are you still here?
ginger - abby, everybody does it differently, but you certainly will see that it kind of takes over
Kathy - Hi Guys! I am the one who posted the about November 16th date. I was too impatient so I emailed them. They said the scores would be available too online. Hi Kelly
charlotte - Hold on Kelly, I will look it up. Be back in a sec.
abby - oh, boy
Kelly M - abby - what state are you in?
abby - Oklahoma
Kathy - I'm from Oklahoma too
Kelly M - you have lots of good support in your state....right?
abby - I have heard that there is, but I haven't connected yet. I have an OEA function Tues and hope to get some info then
Kathy - I teach in Sand Springs which is a suburb of Tulsa. Abby what school district are you with?
abby - I assessed science/math this summer, and saw some really good stuff, and decided that I might as well go for it
abby - I teach in Coweta!
Kathy - Hey we are real close. I am a CIW but I would be glad to help you with any questions.
ginger - our teacher center connected with other teacher centers in the area, and found one person for me to talk to. She wasn't doing the same things i was, but the process is the same no matter what area you are working in
ginger - abby, what a cool way to get into it!
charlotte - okay Kelly, here is the web address: www.colquitt.k12.ga.us/nbpts.pdf. If you scroll through, it gives the anticipated changes in the upcoming years.
abby - Some districts across the country required their teachers to do it...those that didn't want to were real obvious.
Kelly M - yes, abby.....I'm sure the experience of assessing will be very helpful to you!
Kathy - Abby you can email me at kathytps@aol.com. I wish that I had assessed first.
Kelly M - abby - some districts required their teachers to do what?
abby - it will on that one entry. I am really nervous about the tests. I've been out of school for 25 years. Any tips? I'd like to get that part over with so I could concentrate on my entries.
abby - Thanks, Kathy!
abby - Some teachers were required to go through the national board process.
charlotte - Abby, how long were you away from home when you assessed? Does NB pay for your travel expenses?
ginger - abby, the tests are just situations of teaching. You respond based on what's appropriate to that grade level. They will let you know what grade level and basic area each question will cover
Kelly M - abby - do you have to take the AC first?
ginger - ohmigosh!!! Required to do it?
Kathy - Study the teacher guides for grade levels on science, math, and social studies. Then see how you can apply the standards in those areas. I teach Kindergarten so the 2nd and 3rd grade stuff was harder. What grade do you teach?
abby - I assessed in Tulsa, and live just 20 minutes away. They furnished breakfast and lunch, though...great food!
abby - 2nd, but I have taught kindergarten and transitional first
Kelly M - wow, abby - that's so NOT what the process is for! It was ALWAYS intended to be voluntary. I would really fight any district trying to say that everybody had to do it! That's ridiculous!..
Kathy - What districts in OK require it?
charlotte - Kelly, how does that work. If you are interested in becoming as assessor. Do you know if NB pays for your travel and hotel expense?
abby - none...these were from other states
ginger - i can't imagine trying to do this successfully while having your arm twisted to do it
Kathy - I agree Ginger. The motivation has to come from within if you are going to get through the process.
abby - NB doesn't pay for travel and expenses, but they do pay $125 a day...at least in Tulsa. There was a teacher there from Las Vegas who came just to assess.
abby - She was going to travel to Denver and assess there, too, before school started.
ginger - wow, what a way to spend a vacation!
Kathy - $125 a day is a lot in OK. I heard we had the most that signed up to assess and they ended up grading more areas because of the volume of assessors.
Kelly M - NB would be dead set against anyone being forced to do it! The $125 is the going rate. But at some point in the not to distant future they will all be scored at assessor's homes.....you know, the glory of technology!
ginger - won't that be a wondeful thing!
Kelly M - I didn't make that clear in that last post! The part about the 125/day was about assessing! And yes...they go to assess wherever they can get the most assessors!
abby - It was HARD work, and by the end of the day, my brain was just mush. It was very stressful knowing how much everyone had put into doing this. The training is very tough...they want you to see everything through the lense of the standards.
abby - It took about an hour to score one entry.
ginger - i have to get back to the coffee table i'm working on. Have a great day, and abby, don't let it scare you. Hang out here and on the ring and you'll feel such great support!
Kathy - I don't think assessing from my home would be that great. I would want some type of back up from a human source.
ginger - Bye, everyone.
Kelly M - abby - who was your trainer?
abby - thanks, Ginger
Kelly M - bye ginger! happy saturday!
charlotte - Assessing is in the back of my mind. I want to find out if I certified first.
abby - Joann DesLauriers from Bartlesville. She was very good.
Kelly M - I think assessing would be great! It just hasn't worked out timewise for me....
Kathy - Did you assess the science portfolio?
Kelly M - abby - oh....that's not the one I know. Several of our ring-members assessed science there....and one trained assessors!
Kelly M - Hi Jennifer! How are you today?
abby - yes, it was science with math integration
abby - It's always good to be with other teachers. You gain so much
Jennifer - I'm Great...actually doing some school work...would you believe! I just can't let it go. Glad to "See" you hear Kelly! Are there any other NBCT's here?
Kathy - I'm a CIW hopeful
charlotte - Hi Jennifer. I am a CIW, hopefully to be a NBCT soon.
abby - what is CIW?
Kelly M - Is this Jennifer from MD?
Kathy - Candidate in Waiting
Jennifer - Yes! I am the Maryland Jenn
Jennifer - Surprised? I haven't been able to do a Sat chat for a long time
Kathy - You're a newbie first, then a candidate in waiting, and then either a banker or NBCT! They have acronyms for everything. It is kind of fun.
Jennifer - I have been an NBCT since 1998
abby - This newbie will be back next week. Laundry calls. Kathy, I will email you one of these days.
Kelly M - Wow...Jennifer - haven't seen you here in a long time! I'm glad you're back! For all of you folks - Jennifer is one of my heros!
Kelly M - abby - are you on our mailring?
Jennifer - Now, Kelly...I am blushing!
Kathy - I joined the list at the end of December last year and have read daily since then. I am obsessed with it. It was very helpful to me although I just listened in mostly.
abby - I don't know...I am a member of the yahoo group. Is that the same thing?
charlotte - It was nice chatting with everyone, I am off to a birthday party. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend.
Jennifer - Kelly has been inspirational for candidates and bankers for years. She has a can do attitude and a committment to helping other teachers
Kathy - Kelly I think you are pretty special too! You have given a lot of great advice that I have taken to heart.
Kelly M - Jennifer - it's absolutely true! Your are SO wise! abby - I meant the EC_GEN@yahoogroups.com
Kelly M - LOL....that's the fun part! We're like a mutual admiration society!
abby - yes...lots of good stuff. so long.
Jennifer - Are all of you candidates in waiting gettting nervous? Don't even think about rereading those entries until after your scores come. I did and made myself miserable when I found errors
Jennifer - Any CIW left?
Kathy - That advice came a little to late. I have reread them at least 10 times and I have found at least three gramatical errors or words left out. AUGHHHHH!
Kelly M - I put mine away and never looked back until after scores!
Jennifer - Well Kathy...put them away now...
Kathy - I did. I at least know if I bank I will do better this time. It was like I was just beginning to get it when the time was up.
Kelly M - Well, ladies....I'm going to wander off now!...and try to get something accomplished around here! I'll 'talk' to you both on the ring!
Jennifer - Kathy...we all learn so much from the process. Thats why it is so important to try it
Kathy - Did you make it the first try?
Jennifer - I think I will be going too...See you and good luck
Jennifer - Yes...
Kathy - Have a great weekend!
