jeff - Are you a candidate?
Becky - I just got certified.
Becky - EC_Gen
Becky - Where is everybody tonight?
jeff - Congratulations, that is the area I am in.
Becky - Atre you a candidate?
jeff - yes
Becky - What are you working on? What do you teach?
Becky - Where are you?
Becky - I'm in Maine
jeff - I teach 2 grade. I teach in north Fl.
Becky - I teach 2nd too.
Becky - Did you just start the process?
Becky - Did you just start the process?
Becky - Is it nice in Fl tonignt?
jeff - I've been working on it for 3 months. I've had some help from some mentors in the area. I do have a few ?'s
Becky - Fire away!
Becky - It's the most extraordinary feeling to have made it. I still haven't got used to the idea.
Becky - I'm the only one in my District that
Becky - 's ever tried it.
Becky - What are your questions?
jeff - It is cool for here about 50 degrees. For evidence is a verification form enough in an area. I helped another teacher create a safe learning environment. She has filled out a nice verification form but that's all the evidence I would have.
Becky - You mean you mentored another teacher. Yes. I believe her verification form would be enough.
Becky - Yo
Becky - Yo
Becky - Yo
Becky - You have to show how it benefited the students.
Becky - Sorry! I can't type tonight.
Becky - You will have many documented accomplishments. That is only one.
jeff - She stated it had a very positive effect on her class. She has used many of the strategies I modeled.
Becky - that's neat. What else do you have?
Becky - Do you work on any curriculum committees? Have you taken courses?
jeff - In documented acc. I also attended a 2 week reading workshop that I can show a lot of student impact and my growth as a teacher. (as a learner)
Becky - What routines have you developed in your classroom that help your children to succeed?
Becky - That's good! You must have a certificate of completion for the workshop.
Becky - That would work.
jeff - Yes
Becky - I used my weekly newsletter which is an example of how I work with parents.
jeff - For the community section I taught a reading workshop for parents. I have parent evaluation for evidence.
Becky - That
Becky - 's great. That could be your verification.
Becky - You may need to choose one evaluation or have a parent fill out the verification form. If you have a program for the presentation, that would work too.
Becky - It's how you analyze the accomplishments when you get them all together.
jeff - Thanks, can you give details on what you mean by analyze.
Becky - You have to look for patterns. For example, I noticed that I am very independent. I like to work by myself and then share it with others. Working within group consensus drives me crazy. I didn't realize that about myself before.
Becky - NBC is a good example. Now that I have become certified, I will work to help others get there.
jeff - Great, that is something I noticed about myself, I look for answers independently, but in my reflection I said I should be more open to help and sharing with others.
Becky - Jeff, I have noticed that I can't listen to a lot of other voices when I am learningl. I take it in and process and then share it with others. I don't feel bad about that . I march to a different drummer, but it makes sense to me.
Dennis - Becky, when did you become certified?
Becky - It was just announced on Nov. 22. It was my oldest daughter's birthday. I was psyched. I still haven't gotten used to the idea.
Dennis - I'm a new candidate. Did you pass everything on your first attempt?
Becky - This process had a profound effect on my teaching. It really recharged my batteries.
Becky - Yes, I was lucky.
Becky - I understand that that is not typical.
Becky - It's not unusual for it to take several years.
Dennis - So I have heard. I'm a little uneasy. But, I already see a difference in my teaching.
Dennis - What was the hardest entry for you?
Becky - The key is that you spend a lot of time thinking about your teaching and the kids.
Becky - The hardest was the Community Building, social studies, art mix. I thought it was an unusual combination.
Becky - Jeff, are you still there?
Dennis - I am attempting the Middle Childhood Gen. I teach fourth grade. What grade do you teach?
Becky - I teach second grade, so I went for EC_GEn
jeff - Becky, in the social studies/art section for the integration of art, I just videoed. Students created pictures of animals and certain unique places in our geological region( space shuttle, Disney World, etc.) Then they worked together to place the pictures onto a very large map. As part of this we also learn a song pertining to our region. Is that enough art integration?
Dennis - I am completing Entry 4 first. It appeared to be the easiest. I think that I am going for the writing next.
Becky - I think so. Just be sure that all the pieces show in your video. It needs to be a whole class discussion.
Becky - Entry 4 was the easiest.
Becky - It also helps you learn a lot about yourself and how you function.
jeff - Whole class discussion or whole class activity?
Becky - My understanding was that it was a whole class discussion of a whole class activity. I did a mural comparing city/country enviironments. The video was of the kids talking about it. The mural showed in the video.
AdrienneHC - Becky when you answered jeff you said you should show all the parts in the video is that what you mean...how can you show everything in 15 mins.
Becky - All the kids worked on the mural.
Becky - I had the mural in the center of the group. As they talked, the social studies content came across as well as the social climate and caring of the group. We referred to the art work in our discussion.
Becky - It was only a 15 minute discussion, but it had it all. It doesn't have to be perfect. When you analyze the video, you will comment on things that you feel should have been different, how the kids interact, etc.
Becky - video was partway through the process of building the mural. It was actually a planning sessionl.
Dennis - Does the fifteen minute video have to contain the beginning of the lesson?
Becky - Does that make sense?"
Becky - No.
AdrienneHC - yes very much thanks
Dennis - So, it can just be a segment?
Becky - My lesson had been going on for quite a while. The video was just a part of the process.
Becky - In your analysis you can talk about what happened before.
Dennis - I had to submit a video to our state screening process with an analysis. I
Becky - What is the state screening process? It sounds like good practice.
Dennis - Our state pays for a certain number of candidates' assessment fee. They accepted 25 or so in the fall. The only problem is, there are so many people applying in our state, it is difficult to get selected.
Becky - I was lucky. I also got funding for my process.
jeff - You, said you were the only one in your district certified. Where did you go to get clarification?
Becky - Our local NEA chapter provided support services. We met once a month. I was the only EC_GEN certified this year, though.
Becky - This chat room was a lifeline.
Dennis - Only my video was accepted. My other writing sample was not scored well enough. I think it is all a matter of who follows the directions the best and most clearly. Unfortunately, I am going to pay for this. I don't want to wait until the next screening process and still not be selected.
Becky - Do you have incentives for the process?
Becky - There are no incentives in my district. My principal did give me roses, though..
Dennis - Certified teachers will receive a $5000 pay increase and $5000 will be awarded to the school.
Becky - Wow!
Becky - That's awesome!
Dennis - I figured the pay increase was worth more than me paying the tuition to receive my EDS. Plus, I will be learning more about my own teaching styles and improving my performance in the classroom.
Becky - My administrators didn't know what it was when i told them I wanted to do it. I had to educate them.
Becky - Everything you do in this process will impact your teaching and your students.
Dennis - Many of my fellow teachers also didn't know. There are four of us in my district persuing it right now. Three others are now interested.
Becky - I have had a lot of questions. I'm hoping to mentor other teachers through the process.
Dennis - How often does this chat meet?
Becky - Every Sat. at 4:00 and 9:00
Becky - Usually there are a lot of people here. They're probably Christmas shopping.
Dennis - How long did it take you to complete all of your entries? Months?
Becky - Pretty much the whole time allowed. I think i was able to turn it in a week early. I tried to keep track of the hours, but I lost track.
Becky - I started in Oct. and ended in April.
Dennis - I've got a lot to do and a short time to do it in.
Dennis - Guess I better sign off and get busy. I have a little one, so my time is limited.
Dennis - I'll be back!
Becky - One of the most nerve wracking moments was when some wise guy on this chat announced that we had only 100 days left. I felt stressed. It was enough time, though.
Becky - Good luck. I have to go too.
jeff - Thanks
Becky - Good luck, Jeff!
