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Erin - Oh man, we had our housecleaner come today...I think she thought my beta fish plant was just a plant and poured the fish out. I can't find it anywhere
naneb - Oh No!!
sioux - so are the NB people done and the professional readings people starting?
judy3ca - Yikes, Erin! That's a shame! However, I'm jealous you have a housecleaner.
Erin - Kim!!
Kim/1/Ca - ((((smooches to all))) condolences on the fish, erin
judy3ca - Hi Brad! Hi Kim!
Erin - Once every other week Judy. I just couldn't do it all $50 every other week is well worth it
naneb - Hi Brad and Kim
brad - LOL on the fish (I can't help it, sorry)
Kim/1/Ca - Hi Naneb!
Erin - You're all heart brad. However, I just called my husband at work and we were both laughing
brad - quite a few NB people in here still
Kim/1/Ca - Yes, Sioux....but don't feel chased out. Stick around.
Erin - My son is going with his grandparents this weekend so I am going to surreptitiously replace it
Kim/1/Ca - I had a baby catfish once. My cat used to stalk it.
brad - You can ask Kim, My heart very tiny
Erin - My cat likes to knock over the fish food and eat it
naneb - I don't think they are here but they didn't logout so their names will stay until it times out
judy3ca - I think it's worth it, too, Erin. Husband doesn't.
Erin - Well should I call your hubby Judy?
Kim/1/Ca - She would sit on top of the acquarium for hours........waiting for the cat fish to come up the side, right where the little opening was for the hose.
Erin - Tell him that's what you want for the next Valentine's, anniversary, birthday and Christmas
Kim/1/Ca - Then she would snag it with her claw.
judy3ca - LOL, Erin, I don't push it because he doesn't mind that I spend a fortune on books.
sioux - hey - I am here for the professional reading group. I finally see some names i recognize! i'm glad you all are here!
Erin - Wow, Kim, patient guy!!!
brad - Principal sioux?
Erin - OK Judy, he's got you there!!
Erin - I've decided I'll give up a few books to have a clean house
sioux - yes - how did you know, brad???
brad - Oh, you get around
sioux - i use that name elsewhere!
Kim/1/Ca - Oh yes.......I found a flopping fish and guilty cat more than once.
naneb - LOL!! Brad gets around!!
Erin - I'm feeling really bad for the fish. She was cool and the easiest pet to maintain that we own
Kim/1/Ca - Well, shoot........does that mean we can't bash administrators since Sioux is here? We have to play nice?
brad - Nan, if that turns into a fat joke....
sioux - brad - you were the one who got me to the professional readings chatboard - from the 4B chatboard - thanks!
judy3ca - (((Sharon)))
Erin - Hi Sharon
Sharon - hideeho!
Kim/1/Ca - ((((Sharon!)))))))
brad - Welcome. Good to see you aboard. You won't be sorry
sioux - sure you can - i know we all can't be perfect - ha ha
naneb - Hi Sharon
brad - yes, kim, you're SUCH an admistrator-basher
Sharon - good to 'see' you all
judy3ca - Actually, you might be sorry, LOL, when you've spent all your money on books, sioux.
naneb - OMG!! we had bats in my school!! so many that they set off the alarm in the middle of the night!
Erin - Make sure you're all sitting down. Yesterday a teacher from another school in our district asked my about MOT and if she could borrow my book
judy3ca - (((cavey)))
brad - Sharon must be working hard; haven't heard from her much these days
Erin - Amazing!!
Erin - Cavey!!
Kim/1/Ca - (((cavey baby)))
cavey - OOh I love this color!
judy3ca - Hooray, Erin!!!!
Sharon - this too shall pass, brad... this too shall pass
Kim/1/Ca - Woo hoo, ERIN!
Erin - What color is that cavey?
judy3ca - cavey, and the color suits you
Kim/1/Ca - It is an eggplant color. It goes with her eyes.
brad - Bats? Mot Borrowers? What's the world coming to?
cavey - I'm so glad I'm not the only pathetic soul here on Valentine's Day!
naneb - HI cavey
sioux - not to worry, judy - i already do that - i have read almost all the books you all talk about. the one i haven't is the new blooms taxonomy book you all are raving about
Kim/1/Ca - Whutsa matter, Sharon?
Erin - She was amazed that I was doing the strategies with a non-GATE class...wow, there is a lot that people need to learn
brad - cavey, I really do like it, but it's not as sleek as Judy's blue
Alta Rose - I was wondering about that, too, cavey.
cavey - This is slate blue!
Kim/1/Ca - Sioux is a LURKER!
judy3ca - sioux, I haven't even got that one yet, LOL.
Sharon - nothing, kim... just responding to brad about not being able to contribute much to the board
cavey - No one can match the sleekness of the Sleek One!
Kim/1/Ca - Oh, sorry. ERIN is eggplant.
sioux - yes - i am a lurker!!
Alta Rose - Hi diane!
cavey - Hey little d! Hi Everyone!
Sharon - notice she said YET
diane - hi guys
brad - Revised Taxonomy is almost thirty bucks in paperback?? Yikes.
Erin - I want the new Bloom's WAHHH, but I have a house cleaner
judy3ca - cavey and brad, LOLOL, my memory is so bad next time I'll be looking for sleek blue, forgetting I'm just medium.
Kim/1/Ca - I am almost finished with the Marzano book. couldn't read much this week.
Sharon - hi diane
judy3ca - caught that, Sharon!
Kim/1/Ca - ((((little d))))
Erin - Hi diane and Alta,
judy3ca - Hi diane! How are you feeling?
Kim/1/Ca - I'll get you the Bloom's for coming to my class, Erin.
judy3ca - Hi Alta!
Erin - Awww, thanks, Kim
Erin - Hey Kim are you coming down this weekend, because I have no child so I could meet you
brad - Does anyone have the new Bloom or just Jan? I'm just curious about readability. I'm thinking of waiting till I have downtime. Like Spring Break or even summer
sioux - hey kim - can i come and get the book, too????
diane - thanks for asking, judy...pretty good this week...(-:
cavey - Erin, did your child succumb to the Stalag Third Grade?
Kim/1/Ca - Oh yes........I am picking my mom up at 10am........we have to go into L.A. But I could meet you in the late afternoon?
brad - Erin has no child left behind
judy3ca - me too, brad! I am not letting myself order another book until I've finished some of the ones I've started
Erin - brad, good point. Readability for Jan is probably not the best indicator. LOL
diane - what's the reference to stalag third grade?
Kim/1/Ca - Sure sioux....it is a credential class that I teach. Erin is going to be a guest speaker.
judy3ca - Good, diane. I'm thinking of you.
Erin - I'll email you my phone number
brad - Even emails and posts from Jan I have to slow my rate and use my strategies in a conscious way. LOL
cavey - Little d, the homework from you know where post.
diane - thanks...i'm being sent to a tinnitis clinic on tuesday...i'm afraid my students aren't going to remember who i am...
Erin - Cavey, he's had a better week this week. I helped him more just to get it done
sioux - but i bet the class is nowhere near atlanat, ga is it?
Erin - Amen brad
Kim/1/Ca - yeah, erin....fill us in on Stalag 3rd Grade.
brad - I picked up original taxonomy the other day and thought, "nah"
Erin - sioux, Lancaster, Calif
Kim/1/Ca - No, sioux.....LOL. SoCal
Sharon - sioux, you're in atlanta? do you know marcia?
judy3ca - What do they do in the clinic? Teach you how to cope with tinnitus? I have that occasionally.
Kim/1/Ca - Actually........Palmdale, to be precise.
Erin - I think she knows I'm not thrilled with certain things and is being more positive in her comments to him.
Alta Rose - diane, my husband struggles with tinnitis, too.
brad - Marcia got drunk last night and emailed me about the moon
brad - Who knows where she is tonight.
Erin - I'm going to wait and see what the next couple weeks bring
Alta Rose - Oops. Spelled it wrong.
judy3ca - Marcia gets drunk?????
diane - i think so. sometimes they try "maskers" but with meniere's those usually don't work
Sharon - i got that email too... and forgot to look
Kim/1/Ca - SHE did not, bradley........
cavey - I thought the moon thing was just my sinus headache. I read that email and went out and looked.
sioux - i only know her from the chat boards - i know she lives in the atlanta area - i enjoy reading her postings
Kim/1/Ca - She eMailed all of us........!
heartofgold - what going on
Kim/1/Ca - elementary school, sioux?
cavey - Keep us posted Erin. good luck with that one!
brad - Did she? That raving drunken fool!
brad - LOL
naneb - I didn't get that email!
diane - i wondered what was up with that moon thing...lol
heartofgold - hi
Kim/1/Ca - Naneb......must add you to the ESIA address book!
Sharon - i'm not far from you, sioux... auburn area
judy3ca - I got the email, LOL, but was too tired to go look.
sioux - yes - a preK - 5th - about 400 students - great students!
heartofgold - hello
Kim/1/Ca - Hi Heart.
Erin - I just went and read it....
heartofgold - hi kim
diane - i went to a writing conference yeseterday...wonderful
sioux - my youngest daughter attends auburn u!
Erin - Thanks, cavey, for the support
cavey - Hi Heart. Hi Sioux? Are you new? We welcome you too!
brad - who spoke, d?
Kim/1/Ca - oh diane.......do share an interesting tidbit.
Erin - Judy had to listen to me cry the other night via IM
heartofgold - yes where are you guys from
diane - it was an author i didn't know...luis alberto(i think) urrea
judy3ca - diane, who was the presenter? I'm going to see Gifted Winebrenner on Wednesday.
Kim/1/Ca - Sioux is a LURKER. AND an administrator. But not a Windbag administrator.
Sharon - me too, sioux... but don't remind me tonight... i'll feel compelled to go work on the latest deadline stuff
Alta Rose - Good stuff, diane?
cavey - Okay, who all is doing the instant messaging thing?
sioux - yes - this is my "first appearance" in this chatroom - it's kind of late for me on a friday night
diane - he writes of the plight of the people living in the dumps of tijuana
Erin - Me, Sharon, Kim and Judy
Kim/1/Ca - HEY I listened to you TOO ERin
cavey - Oh Judy, let me know. I have mixed feelings about her stuff.
heartofgold - do you guys all work together
diane - mostly it was an opportunity for us to write, but he did speak of writing as a living entity, spirit
Alta Rose - Hi Marcia!
naneb - which instant message aol or msn?
Sharon - marcia! you're not outside howling?
sioux - sharon - do you mean you are an administrator or a lurker or both?
judy3ca - Me, too, cavey--mixed feelings--so we'll see.
diane - lol, sharon!!!
Erin - Oh, Kim, I'm so sorry, You did listen to me..PLease, please forgive me
Marcia/1st/ga - Sharon, you are really too funny!
Kim/1/Ca - (((((Marcia! <alta too>)))
brad - Marcia, I've been slandering your name
judy3ca - (((marcia)))
brad - Copious notes, Judy, copious notes
Marcia/1st/ga - did you see the beautiful moon last night. I told Kim I had email remorse after I sent it!
Erin - Marcia, brad has not been very nice tonite regarding your moon message
diane - i got a great packet of writing exercises (adult) and meditations, quotations on writing...i'll send out a few
Alta Rose - Yes, Marcia, he was saying something really nasty about you!
cavey - Marcia Honey, you look wonderful in scarlet!
naneb - (((((((((((Marcia))))))))))))
Marcia/1st/ga - Oh, I wish i knew, Brad. fess up
Kim/1/Ca - LOL Sharon....!
Sharon - not an administrator, sioux... i do have a masters degree in admin... no desire there for me... i meant i'm a student at AU like your daughter is
judy3ca - got it, brad
brad - I had to take care of something. Did you say who, d?
diane - hi marcia
Kim/1/Ca - Heart..........we are an online discussion group. Best o' Friends and colleagues.
judy3ca - thanks, diane
diane - luis alberto urrea
Marcia/1st/ga - Thanks, I am going to use it every time because of you cavey!
brad - I'll take copious notes for you next Sat. Judy
Kim/1/Ca - I am soooooooo jealous of Brad.
judy3ca - thanks brad
Erin - brad, where are you going?
sioux - cool - her name is Laurie CLeek - she is a junior majoring in psychology - i hope she will find a job!
Alta Rose - It was our 100th day of school today, as well as Valentine's Day!
brad - thanks d
heartofgold - sorry, just trying to find a decent chatroom
judy3ca - OMG, diane! He's published!
diane - my favorite part may have been when he addressed the notion of us (the participants) as writers
Marcia/1st/ga - who's getting to see someone great?
Kim/1/Ca - My condolences, Alta Rose. Been there. Done it. Survived it.
brad - I'm going to see routman and possibly miller and maybe even tony stead
Kim/1/Ca - nan dahling.....you look wunnerful.
Kim/1/Ca - OH knock it off, Brad.
diane - it seems people always ask him when they know they are a "writer"...his response was "there's 2 billion people out there...and you're sitting in here..." validating
Erin - the mom who did our Valentine's party brought for the beverage....Code REd Mountain Dew. HMMMM! What was athe behavior like in my class after that
cavey - Oh Heart, we're a decent chatroom, really we are. We just only talk like this on Fridays, so everyone talks at once!
naneb - I gave up my scarlet!!
Erin - Where are you going for that one brad
Alta Rose - We survived, too. Actually we did it in a way that wasn't too stressful. Each Gr. 2 teacher planned one 100 Day lesson, and kids rotated. By the time that was, done, it was party time.
brad - Dublin
Kim/1/Ca - yes we are very nice and very professional here, heart.
judy3ca - I'd love to see Routman right now. After much deliberation, I've decided to follow some of her plan for my upcoming bout with poetry.
diane - lol, judy...i ran straight home and bought one of his books
Marcia/1st/ga - Brad, where are these three gurus going to be?
cavey - Nan, you are a true Southern lady !
sioux - well, now brad - where might that be!
brad - That was smart Alta
brad - Dublin
naneb - We are celebrating Pi Day on March 14
Kim/1/Ca - He has to drive a whopping 40 miles, ERin. Sheesh.
judy3ca - Erin, we had Krispy Kremes and Coke.
naneb - Thank you, Thank you!!
Erin - Totally not fair.
diane - nan, i love that
Alta Rose - It was, although by the fifth lesson on the same thing, I was getting a little bored! LOL!
Kim/1/Ca - COOL naneb
brad - I was subbing in a middle school a few years back on Pi Day
sioux - dublin, connecticut - didn't i read you were from connecticut?
Erin - I have to drive more than 40 miles just to see KIM!!! LOL
Alta Rose - Good for the kids, tho. They got lots of variety.
Marcia/1st/ga - Oh, I am greeen with envy. I want to hear about judy's plans for routman poetry. I have her book about teaching poetry to first grade. Love it.
Kim/1/Ca - I know. And he keeps yapping about it.
brad - Life in secondary, Alta. Talk to Sadie
heartofgold - i know its decent I didn't mean it wasn't some chatrooms are disgusting I have never been in chatroom until tonight. I cannot believe what is out there;;; filth
brad - LOL, Sioux, wish I could afford to live in connecticut
Sharon - krispy kremes? that sounds contradictory
naneb - high school math classes are doing booths and every class will do activities to celebrate PI
brad - Dublin Ohio
Marcia/1st/ga - Brad, I considered driving up for htat conference until I found out debbie miller was coming to Alabama in june
brad - Dublin is somewhere near Columbus, about a 2hour drive
Alta Rose - ? Brad ?
Kim/1/Ca - Yes, heart........we are all professional educators in here. You a teacher?
Erin - Brad, you better take the best notes ever!!!
diane - hi jan
Alta Rose - Hi Jan!
brad - Dublin is actually the home of Dave Thomas and Wendy's too. So maybe I'll have a Chicken Cordon Bleu to boot that day
judy3ca - Marcia, that's what I'm doing--I'm using the gr. 3-4 book. I'm going to follow Routman's advice about using kids' poetry on the OHP. We'll see.
Marcia/1st/ga - how many days is it, brad?
Sharon - where, where, heart? (not that i want to visit filth... just curious)
cavey - You're safe with us Heart, unless Sharon starts to talk about her cockateil
Kim/1/Ca - (((((((JAN))))))))
brad - ((Jan))
brad - All day Sat.
heartofgold - yes, special education teacher; high school
Kim/1/Ca - I want him to take pics and record every word.
sioux - where in alabama will debbie be? and when specifically? and who is sponsoring it?
brad - LOL Cavey
naneb - LOL!!! Sharon is sooooo funny!!
Kim/1/Ca - Ah.......we are all elementary except Sadie........she isn't here yet.
diane - hi debbie
Debbie - Hi
Alta Rose - Who are you going to see, brad? (Missed it.)
cavey - Hi Jan!
Erin - So all these good people...when are they coming to So. Calif?
naneb - Birmingham, Al June 20 -21
Sharon - birmingham, UAB, heart
Marcia/1st/ga - I made some overheads and have read the poems to the kids. Yesterday we wrote a poem together about MLK, Jr. I started by trying to follow the Hero pattern, but the kids were giving me good ideas so I went with them.
Erin - (((Jan))
judy3ca - Hi Jan!
Jan - Trying to find a color no one has!
naneb - I am middle school special ed!!
Sharon - mid-south reading and writing institute, right nan?
Erin - Alta, don't get him started again!!!
heartofgold - kim, where are you from? I am from ND
Marcia/1st/ga - alta, brad is going to see routman, miller and maybe tony stead.
brad - Alta, I'm defo seeing Routman, maybe Miller, and possibly even Tony Stead (first come first serve) but Routman is keynote
Jan - Hi, Judy....and all
Kim/1/Ca - oh yah.......sorry naneb
naneb - Yes, Sharon
Sharon - nan has all us southerners going
diane - ahhh...with our budget cuts, unless some great presenters find their way to my classroom, i'm afraid i'm out of luck for a while...
Alta Rose - You could have stayed brown Jan. I don't mind sharing!
Marcia/1st/ga - Sharon, i haven't heard back on my registration that I sent in, has anyone else?
Sharon - and yay! we get to meet for the first time
Sharon - not yet, marcia
brad - So is Steadman's Mom, who is Nancy Gallagher on mosaicteachers
naneb - me either Marcia I was going to ask all of you about yours
Alta Rose - Oh brad! I'm turning greeeeen!!!
brad - Yes, I want to drive down to that one, but this one will do
Debbie - I am having some difficulty. My kids are producing great writing since I am using ideas from Wondrous Words but their mechanic are severely lacking. Any suggestion? grade 5
Marcia/1st/ga - I used some of Routmans' questions from chapter 4 ( i think) in the meeting i was facilitating in today. They worked out great for discussion.
judy3ca - You lucky ducks! Who all is meeting???
naneb - it was too good to pass up
Kim/1/Ca - Do you do Writer's Workshop, Debbie?
brad - good question, debbie. Let's listen for the answer from these wonderful people
heartofgold - bye to all
Kim/1/Ca - bye heart!
diane - no kidding, judy....hrmmph
naneb - it will be Sharon, Marcia, Terri, me and who else?
Sharon - nan, marcia, me, gail, linda... erm... anyone else?
Marcia/1st/ga - bye heart!
Kim/1/Ca - brb phone again
brad - (But I want to go to that one too just to meet everyone)
Debbie - Not really. I am teachign using prompts to prepare for the state test
Erin - Jan, I need your professional help!!! If I email you tomorrow could I pick your brain about a few issues I'm having with our standards based instruction?
Sharon - oh yeah... terri... i always mess up and call her linda for some reason
brad - <---perpetually low on funds
Marcia/1st/ga - gail from nc. too
judy3ca - How wonderful! You guys take notes of your chats, LOL!
naneb - she might bring her daugher an elementary ed major too
Jan - Erin, feel free to email. You have my address?
Marcia/1st/ga - brad, it is a cheap conference-only $69
naneb - I will take pictures and post them too
brad - yes, I know Marcia, but I would have to drive down, stay somewhere, blah, blah, blah....
Erin - Yes, thanks Jan. Just had a terrible meeting yesterday with Asst Super. My principal is going to bat for me, but I want some insight from you
judy3ca - nan! great idea!
Sharon - and marcia... *faint* my district is picking up all costs for me... including hotel, travel, meals
Marcia/1st/ga - i know, brad....
Jan - Naneb, the pictures will be great!
Debbie - sigh
Marcia/1st/ga - yea, mine is supposed to be paid for too.
naneb - me too, Brad it will take about 5 hours for me to get to Birmingham
diane - sadly, debbie, it would seem we haven't solved the great conventions dilemma...
brad - OH, Sharon, aren't you privileged? LOL
Debbie - I know
sioux - somehow i missed where you all are going?
Marcia/1st/ga - however, they may not have turned it in yet. However, I sent mine in myself figuring I could get a refund if the school funded.
judy3ca - And Jan, when you've solved Erin's problems, you can deal with my principal--we had the worst staff dev ever yesterday!
naneb - I didn't ask but I might yet
Jan - Oooh, yuck, Erin. Doesn't sound happy. Don't know how much help I'll be but I will sure try.
diane - i tend to address the conventions i see lacking in student work through minilessons and conferencing
brad - Yes, let's all pause to help Debbie on her conventions dillemma
Erin - Judy, what happened?
Sharon - yes, marcia... but this is highly UNUSUAL for my district to pay for a lowly teacher... i'll probably have to do an inservice or something
brad - OH, Judy let's hear about it
Marcia/1st/ga - sioux, we are going to Alabama in June to hear debbie miller and richard allington
Jan - Judy, you're kidding! You guys have been doing wonderfully this year.
Marcia/1st/ga - oh, well, sharon, it will be easy. I did a small inservice for our primary staff after hearing Sharon TAberski
Sharon - and pinnell
cavey - I'm pausing
Marcia/1st/ga - let's hear judy.
Kim/1/Ca - Sorry.....all of Dustin's chicas keep calling for him.
sioux - marcia - who is sponsoriing it (SDR?)
Debbie - Brad, you have to have some good ideas- you da man1
brad - Debbie, I think what you're doing sounds about right. Give it more time. Children who read a lot will learn conventions almost by osmosis. Also, have them practice for conventions "by ear" not "by rule"
judy3ca - Erin, we're trying to solve the state mandated 30 minutes of ELD instruction within the classroom. Unfortunately we've been trying to solve the problem for a year...round and round. Our nice boss needs to make a decision. Lots of hurt feelings yesterday and some of us (guess who?) made our dissatisfaction clear.
Marcia/1st/ga - Univ of Alabama at Birmingham I think is sponsoring it
Sharon - *gasp* not you, judy!
Erin - ARRGGHH!! Judy, that is so frustrating
Jan - Judy, the 30 min of ELD is creating havoc up and down the state.
diane - i have to agree with brad on that one...
judy3ca - Sharon, hard to believe I spoke up, isn't it?
Debbie - That was my thought , Brad but I wasn't sure if it was just wishful thinking
Kim/1/Ca - Debbie........do you do mini lessons?
Marcia/1st/ga - Debbie, i agree with Brad. The conventions can come, but teaching them the organization and ideas is the tough part. I thnk they will learn them with more practice.
naneb - sioux, send me your email and I will email you the form and the info about the conference
brad - I don't grade a whole lot based on conventions. I have a one little girl who writes such wonderful focused detailed narratives but with many conventional errors. I still give her an A. SUe me
Marcia/1st/ga - how long have you been implementing workshop, debbie?
Erin - All right gotta go spend time with my son before he leaves for the snow tomorrow. Kim I'll email you and Jan I'll email you
Debbie - May I ask another question? Do you guys teach students to identify parts of speech?
sioux - ok, marcia, i hate to keep harping but do you have a contact person i can call or email about the conference?
Erin - Bye all!!!
judy3ca - Right, Jan. We have spent so much time on this issue and we get different feedback at every turn. As you know, we're a hard-working staff and we want to do this right.
judy3ca - bye Erin!
Kim/1/Ca - okay erin
diane - debbie...i suppose i do through the context of using rich language....we don't diagram sentences or anything, however...
judy3ca - um, Brad, would we get a lot if we sued you?
Alta Rose - When they grade writing portion of Gr. 3 provincial tests, conventions is weighted very low!
Marcia/1st/ga - me too. my best writer (voice is great!) can't spell very well and never puts in periods until i tell her to go back and check. She just free writes
cavey - Bye Erin!
Sharon - i teach parts of speech through daily letter
brad - LOL, Judy. Not one thin dime
Alta Rose - Night, erin!
Marcia/1st/ga - sioux, send me an email at ncnyga@aol.com and I will get form to you.
Jan - Debbie, another thing....when you write on anything on the board or overhead in front of the kids, spell the words as you write and say the names of the punctuation marks as you make them. Tip from Emily Calhoun. It really does make a difference. The kids almost learn it by osmosis!
judy3ca - Jan, and our school is officially out-of-compliance on ELD.
Alta Rose - Marcia, I still deal with that in Gr. 2.
brad - I teach parts of speech for reference only. As in, "Let's work on stronger verbs in my piece."
Sharon - sioux... did you see where nan told you to email her for a registration form and flyer?
sioux - thanks, marcia - you are a doll!
Kim/1/Ca - Are you being audited, Judy? WE are.......we must be punished.
cavey - Ditto Brad, teach through the writing.
Debbie - I had a parent come in to ask e if we don;t have "english" as a class anymore. She is worried that I am not teaching nouns, verbs, etc.
Marcia/1st/ga - oh, did nan say that? either nan or i will if you give us your email, sioux
sioux - oops- no i missed it sharon - i am not great at chatrooms - i do miss a lot!
Jan - Judy, everyone is being told something different. What is the law, anyway! It seems to be "open for interpretation."
brad - Debbie, little tip, last year, I used to do a little thing with my overhead modeling. After a sentence, my kids would call out, "Pow!" when there should be a period and then, "Raise it up." right away for the capital at the beginning of the next sentence. They liked it and kept them engaged. Kind've like Jan's idea
Marcia/1st/ga - debbie, what 's the point of knowing nouns, verbs, etc. if you aren't going to use them to improve your writing?
judy3ca - Kim, we were reviewed last year and found out of compliance because the Into English kits weren't in the classrooms. This is so ridiculous. We do pretty good work at my school. ANd the reviewer, the sourpuss, even said my kids were perfect.
diane - lol, debbie...our 4th grade teacher was told by a disgruntled parent that i didn't teach any spelling at all...no friday test = no spelling apparently
Jan - Same here, Kim...with audit.
Debbie - AT th esame time , her duaghter scored very high on a writing assessment - she earned a 19.5 out of a possible 20. I told mom she doesn't need to identify nouns when she can write so well
Marcia/1st/ga - nice tip, brad. I am goin gto remember that.
Kim/1/Ca - I know this sounds redundant, Debbie.....but they must be reading good literature and have good models........everyday for a good chunk of time.
judy3ca - Jan, that's a big issue. Wish Sadie were here. Some days we're told that levels 3-5 can get their time in leveled GR groups.
Marcia/1st/ga - debbie, if you are using wondrous words, then you must be using good models, right?
diane - okay, i'm starving...i have to go make dinner...may be back later
sioux - and along brad's line, another idea is when someone has aan active verb - everyone goes "oooh ____" and inserts the verb!
Kim/1/Ca - And we can't get a straight answer on the minutes thing.....most seem to agree we can do language development across the curriculum and teach it whole group.
cavey - bye little d!
Alta Rose - 'night, diane!
Debbie - oh yes, they have excellent models, includin gme!! lol
brad - That whole ELD thing is such a mess I'm glad I dont' have to deal with. Kudos to you all for mussing through that. But I was just saying (complaining) to someone today, "If you all can invent one more thing to take time away from my teaching, please do so, because I'm just not working hard enough around here."
judy3ca - Kim, ooooh, I haven't heard that one!
Debbie - ( oops, my good writing modeling isn't showing here with all my typos)
Jan - Judy, last time I heard, Sadie had not understood that the ELD instruction had to be strictly for ELD. That makes sense to me, but that is not what teachers in my old district are being told.
Alta Rose - What's the ELD thing? (Sorry)
judy3ca - LOL, Brad, I think that's where this whole thing comes to a brouhaha! One more thing!
cavey - It's okay Debbie, you'll never take my throne as queen of the typo
sioux - good comeback, brad!
Kim/1/Ca - The only thing I am concerned about is the stupid documentation in the plan book. I color code L.D. blue.....but I put it next to WW, RW, Calendar, Shared Reading, REad Aloud, science stuff........maybe I am not explicit enough.
brad - We had to give a "code of conduct" assessment right before winter break, and had to fill out an evaluation form on it last week. I mentioned that and basically ripped them a new hole. Idiotic
judy3ca - Jan, they (principal and district ELD guy) can't make up their minds about that one either--can we include language deficient EOs? I swear the answers change daily and we're fed up.
Jan - ELD= English Language Development for students not speaking English
brad - I wanted to write on the evaluation form, "This code of conduct assessment is like the Amontillation of Traxoline"
Alta Rose - So what is mandated that you have to do that you are so upset with?
judy3ca - Go brad!
brad - They'll come back to me, Judy, and want me do an inservice on Traxoline.
Jan - Judy, perhaps everyone needs to demand an interpretation (in writing!) from Sacramento.
judy3ca - 30 minutes of in class instruction on the child's level, Alta. There are 5 levels.
Debbie - I recently went to a meeting on staff development. I expressed my feeling that it is important that we get staff to read professional books ( most do not). I volunteered to facilitate book talks whereby teachers will get Act 48 credit for attending. I am thinkin gI will suggest we start with Strategies that Work. Any better suggestion?
judy3ca - rofl brad
Kim/1/Ca - Well.......you MUST be meeting the needs of your English Language learners. Many feel it needs to be a small group "pull out" thing for 150 minutes a week. But ALL children can benefit from Language development.........
Sharon - question... has anyone here read the nrp report? i'm reading the comprehension section and was intrigued to read that "early" comprehension strategy instruction focused on one strategy at a time... now it's thought to be multi-strategy in naturalistic settings... any thoughts to add? i guess i need to go to ebsco and pull some of their references for a looksy
Alta Rose - Thanks, Kim.
brad - Sharon you ebsco hound. I read that last summer for a class. Should I pull out the green book?
Marcia/1st/ga - sharon, what did the report say-one at a time or multi strategy?
Kim/1/Ca - Our boxers are in a bunch because our test scores (may the good Lord bless and keep them holy forever and ever amen) DROPPED. Not by much and we are still HIGHER than any district in our area and we have lower demographics. ASININE
Marcia/1st/ga - i am thinking of ordering one of those books that has interpreted the nrp, myself.
Sharon - go for it, brad
brad - but Kim, are you LAST IN THE STATE? (Bwah-haahaaahaaa)\
judy3ca - Oh, Kim, poor you! I live in fear for the day our scores drop! Has to happen sometime.
judy3ca - Yes, Marcia, you need another book.
Sharon - one at a time was painted as erm... less effective than multi
Kim/1/Ca - Yes, read it.......don't put much credence in it since most of the panel members are not EDUCATORS.
judy3ca - what's erm
brad - But of course we may be last in the state, because too many teachers are doing it on the alphabet rug, but I digress...
Marcia/1st/ga - i have a shopping cart full of book wishes at amazon, judy
Alta Rose - Multi-strategy? I guess it depends on what you can handle.
Marcia/1st/ga - sharon, erm?
Sharon - boxers in a bunch... heh... southern version: britches in a wad
Marcia/1st/ga - gracious, brad! what's taht about?
naneb - LOL!!
Kim/1/Ca - Heck no, Brad.......we leave that distinction for areas like Compton and L.A. Unified.
Sharon - erm as in um... thinking and typing, judy LOL
brad - panties in a wad, here
Sharon - brad, you wear panties??
cavey - panties here too
brad - Sharon is my fellow former hooptie driver
Debbie - Speaking of test scores. I am diligently teaching the standards adn pushing very hard. I see the gaps in ability levels WIDENING. My above average kids are flying high, average okay and below are becoming more and more lost
Marcia/1st/ga - i think now that I have taught the strategies for long term for a year, i feel more comfortable revisiting them and teaching them together now.
brad - only if you want me to, Sharon
naneb - but, don't you think you have to teach them one at a time, how can you teach connections and sensory imagery and questioning all at the same time to first graders/
sioux - you guys are so funny!
Kim/1/Ca - Called the Matthew Effect, Debbie. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
brad - I think I can see that to Debbie, but I don't blame that on standards, necessarily
cavey - LOL at the Bad Boy
Alta Rose - I agree, nan!
Marcia/1st/ga - i guess after I have taught connections and sensory imagery, it will come up again in books that I use for questioning.
Sharon - nan... i'm trying to keep an open mind, but i'm thinking along the same lines you are
brad - Am I the bad boy?
Kim/1/Ca - Agreed, Marcia.
cavey - You're the only boy we've got , honey
brad - I'm still having inner turmoil about the ORDER. LOL
naneb - sure, I see that too that once they know a strategy it is used all of the time but I couldn't teach them all at once to begin with
Marcia/1st/ga - my focus will be on questioning, but the kids are relaying connections and SI as well. Does that make sense?
Kim/1/Ca - You Bad Brad the Plaid Dad.
Debbie - well, it isn't the standards so much as the pressure to teach them in a timely manner- timely being before the TEST
naneb - the Glad Dad
Kim/1/Ca - Token Male.
Alta Rose - Yes, I'm doing questioning now but still constantly come back to SI and connections.
Marcia/1st/ga - Brad, let some of it go. I worried to death about the order last year. Let it go, let it go....
Jan - Nan, I agree with teaching one at a time. Eventually, the kids need to learn to USE them together and know WHEN to use each. But, to learn them originally, I feel they must be taught separately. Procedural knowledge BEFORE Conditional!
Sharon - yes, marcia... i'm seeing the same thing happen quite spontaneously
Kim/1/Ca - It isn't fair, is it, Debbie?
brad - You all are my harem, says wifey
Kim/1/Ca - OOoooooohh..... a harem!
naneb - only in your dreams, Brad!!
Debbie - no Kim
Sharon - you can't afford a harem, brad... you're a teacher
brad - Oh, Jan. I wasn't aware you had finally come to a decision on this manner (and is that procedural before conditional more Madeline stuff?)
brad - I can't afford a hare, I'm a teacher
sioux - hey brad - does your wife teach too?
brad - no sioux, she thanks god there are people like me crazy enough to do it
Alta Rose - But debbie, the research Jan referred me to a long time ago (Pearson?) reassured that even teaching one or two strategies will improve comprehension.
sioux - (teach school, i mean) ha ha
judy3ca - Darn, I had to leave the room--what's erm?
Kim/1/Ca - WE can only take them forward from WHERE THEY ARE........excellence is possible with exemplary teaching using good practices. But, so much depends upon the motivation of the student and the support from home.
cavey - I think we'll all too old to be in a harem
Jan - No, I think it came originally from...drum roll here....BLOOM! But, I learned it from Madeline.
sioux - at least she appreciates you!
Sharon - lol, judy... erm was me thinking out loud while typing... erm/um kinda thing
naneb - I believe that alta rose, the tests my kids jsut took showed that their comprehension scores were the only good thing in the whole test
Kim/1/Ca - Did you actually study with Madeline Hunter, Jan?
brad - LOL, Jan, I initially typed Bloom and then deleted and went with Madeline
Marcia/1st/ga - i agree with cavey, i am not the harem type.
Debbie - yes, alta improvement is being made but not up to grade level for all students - no child left behind
judy3ca - ROFL, Sharon! I really am LOL.
Kim/1/Ca - ERM is short for Erma Bombeck, Judy.
brad - That's me debbie, there's defo improvement there, but still not where they need to be. I feel many are just now approaching where they should've been in September
Alta Rose - Me too, Sharon! LOL!
Jan - Alta, I believe Pearson assumes they are taught one at a time. Pressley definitely agrees they should be. That was his quarrel with Mosaic.
Marcia/1st/ga - debbie, my first graders had awesome comprehension scores and math problem solving scores last year that i attribute to MOT
Debbie - Hunter is much older than Jan- that isn't possible is it?
brad - Bombeck is local hero around here, Kim
cavey - For Pete's sake Sharon, the correct terminology is Hmmmmmm
judy3ca - Thanks, Kim! And, my daughter found out today that she can live in the crummy dorm next year. Hooray for cheap.
Marcia/1st/ga - i thought erm could have been educationally relevant material...
judy3ca - go marcia
Kim/1/Ca - Hooray for cheap! (right.....real cheap)
Marcia/1st/ga - as opposed to NER...
Jan - Kim, yes I did. The bulk of my training, though, came from what we call "The Second Tier." They were the group just under Madeline. They are still going strong.
Kim/1/Ca - Oh.....THAT TOO, Marcia.
Sharon - jan... explain further? pressley's quarrel with MOT was??
Kim/1/Ca - Interesting........indeed.
judy3ca - Speaking of cheap, she's on the road right now with 4 boys in her little car--to spend the night here.
judy3ca - Sharon, that people read it.
Jan - Hunter is not living---she was definitely older!
Marcia/1st/ga - Judy, LOL
brad - Hunter is too living! He's in his crib right now curled up next to the revised taxonomy
Kim/1/Ca - It is a minor quarrel, really, Sharon. He said the book is nebulous about how many strategies are taught at once. He thinks they should be taught one at a time.
judy3ca - Thanks, marcia, I wondered if anyone followed....
Kim/1/Ca - LOL Brad.....how is baby Hunter, Jan? Long time no update.
Marcia/1st/ga - GMTA, Judy!
Jan - Sharon, Pressley's concern is that the strategies cannot be taught together. He discusses this in the book "Comprehension Instruction" which he edited.
Marcia/1st/ga - But, Kim, isn'ta that what MOT proposes? To teach one strategy at a time?
Debbie - You know, I think I have had the ideal situation thes last two years. I have had the same students since aug 2001. I taught the strategies one at a time last year and this year can teach them together. The kids know the stratgies. They especially love to tell me abotu connections
brad - This is interesting to me. I thought we all talked about this a while back and there was great debate. Somewhere along the way the debate was settled and one at a time was the key???
Sharon - publication year, jan?
Kim/1/Ca - OH wow, DEbbie! Coolness indeed.
Debbie - LOL Jan-- Hunter ives on in spirit
Alta Rose - Well, debbie, that's food for thought for me as I may be asked to loop again during the next 2 years.
Marcia/1st/ga - i was thinking that routman was leaning towards multi strategy use in Reading Essentials, tho...
Kim/1/Ca - Sharon, brad sent my copy on to Grace. I can have Grace send it to you next.
Jan - Little Hunter is as brilliant as ever. He is busy tonight studying the "Revised Taxonomy." I hope he understands it so he can explain it to me.
judy3ca - Wait, I'm confused. Who does advocate teaching the strategies together? I mean, the goal is to eventually have them all at your beck and call, but who advocates teaching them all at once? And how could you even do that? Wanna hear me rant?
Alta Rose - LOL, Jan!
Kim/1/Ca - Guess what I found at my local teacher store........?
Marcia/1st/ga - you will have to pick routmans' brain next weekend, Brad, regarding strategy instruction..
Kim/1/Ca - A copy of The Whales.
brad - Oh, yeah, Jan, now that you're here, I was questioning readability of new taxonomy book. I'm thinking of waiting for downtime so I can absorb.
Kim/1/Ca - YES, Brad.......do that!
Debbie - Alta Rose - do it!! It is wonderful!!
Marcia/1st/ga - Judy, before you begin ranting, let me consult Reading Essentials...
Sharon - that is the impression I'm left with from the NRP so far, judy
Alta Rose - Debbie--I've been wondering about that. You must have had to look for different books to teach (review) the strategies the second year?
cavey - Oh Kim, did you buy us all a copy?
Marcia/1st/ga - Kim, I have that checked out right now!
brad - I don't think they necessarily mean simultaneously Judy. I think they mean, one week on this strategy, another on this one, another on this one. I myself believe maybe extended study of one and then incorporate pattern
Kim/1/Ca - I don't think anyone advocates teaching them all at once, Judy. But Pressley took the MOT authors to task (a teeny bit) for not being CLEAR about how much time was afforded teh teaching of each strategy. The implication, I think, was that they were not structured enough.
judy3ca - Sharon, but how? A strategy a day, or different combos on different days? I'm from the old-school, I break it down. I honestly don't get this.
Jan - Yes, it is not easy, Brad. I had to get clarification on some points direct from the editor (who was wonderfully accommodating!) and help from Rosenshine, as well. And, I have spent a century on the old Taxonomy so understand it well. *sigh*
Kim/1/Ca - Uh.....yeah, CAvey........it's in the mail!
Debbie - Alta, I use some new and some of the same books. They love reading their favorites over and over and every time they do, they discover they can use yet ANOTHER strategy
cavey - Gotta go. It IS Valentine's Day. We simply must get some dates for the ESIA summer retreat soon
Marcia/1st/ga - routman says on page 119....
Alta Rose - Sounds good, Debbie!
brad - Cavey, what are you doing for V-day at this ungodly hour?
judy3ca - yes, marcia
Sharon - maybe i'm misreading the nrp... maybe it will become clearer... but it seems that they're advocating using the strategies as they naturally arise or should arise
brad - And does it involve an alphabet rug?
Jan - But, Brad, the book is a "must" for everyone! I love it.
Kim/1/Ca - Two rugs, Brad
brad - ?Sharon I think you're right about what the NRP is trying to say.
sioux - what's this about an alphabet rug?
cavey - Valentining
judy3ca - well, yeah, Sharon, that's the goal, right?
cavey - Goodnight guys!
Marcia/1st/ga - "while it's fine to introduce and practice strategies one at a time, remembe that when we read we use all of these strategies at the same time and that our comprehensio process is largely unconscious.....
brad - Yes, Jan with my newfound love and passion for task analysis (did I just say that?) I know I'll have to purchase
judy3ca - night, cavey, sweetie!
sioux - (must be an inside joke?)
Kim/1/Ca - Brad REALLY REALLY likes Alphabet Rugs. They get him.......uh,........frisky. Yes, that's it. Frisky.
Sharon - yes, judy... that is the goal... but they downplay teaching strategies one at a time as early attempts at teaching strategies
Marcia/1st/ga - Continue to ask yourself, "How is this pricedure helping my students become more proficient and ndependent as readers."
Alta Rose - Goodnight, cavey!
Jan - Brad, you would be a favorite of Madeline's. Anyone who loves task analysis was her pet!
Debbie - I think the children pick up the strategies quite quickly or al least a basic understanding of them. In grade 5 I don't spend a lot of time teaching - like a few weeks - on one strategy. I might even do only one lesson and then move on constantly reinforcing the old and emphasizing the new
judy3ca - I agree with her Marcia. But only a few kids use the strategies intuitively--many have to be taught, right?
Sharon - early attempts meaning when strategy instruction first filtered down into the classroom
Marcia/1st/ga - but, you see, sharon and judy, by us selecting our read alouds we are choosing books that lend themselves to a certain strategy. however, when the kids do their own reading, the text isnt' carefully selected.
Debbie - judy - I think ALL kids need explicit instruction
brad - jan, i was thinking about your post to me about barak's response. Did you see that?
Jan - Brad, the Ohio State journal, Theory into Practice, focus the whole issue on the revised taxonomy. Most of the editors of the book have an article in it. I just got my copy today. It's only $12.00!
judy3ca - Thank you, Debbie, that says it!
Kim/1/Ca - What proficient readers DO isn't necessarily evident to them, in a metacognitive sense.
Marcia/1st/ga - and we are thinking about how it will help the reader by structuring the complexity of our lessons and our gradual release of responsibiilty
brad - Dammit, Jan, with that and the Ed Leadership, I'm going to have to go to the U Library
Kim/1/Ca - So.........explicit instruction is needed.......to various degrees.
Debbie - yes, Kim, before I read MOT, I wasn't aware of my own metacognition lol
brad - The problem is I have to read there. Can't check out journals
brad - (And I can't scrawl in the margins) grumble grumble
Kim/1/Ca - just had to be articulated, right?
Jan - Oh, yes, the new Ed Leadership is fabulous!
Alta Rose - No, Marcia, but hopefully by teaching each strategy thoroughly, as they learn each one they will start to use them on their own.
Kim/1/Ca - Brad just wear your flasher raincoat.
Marcia/1st/ga - what is the book about task analysis, brad/
Kim/1/Ca - sneak 'em out and then sneak 'em back in.
Sharon - i'm not explaining very well, i'm afraid... yes, explicitness is needed... yes, the nrp agrees...argh... i'll just re-read and noodle some more on what they're saying although just because the nrp said it doesn't make it the final word
brad - I'll just drape myself in an alphabet rug. ROFL!
sioux - and, brad, you can read on the alphabet rug!
naneb - just photocopy Brad
Kim/1/Ca - Why all the attention on the NRP, Sharon?
sioux - I'd like a photocopy of brad, too, please, ha ha
Jan - brad, ROFLOL
brad - Sharon's in a class
Debbie - Brad - how does it feel to be surrounded by women???
Sharon - just studying it for a class, kim and so it's on my mind
Kim/1/Ca - Yes, BRAD, you can, uh.....READ on the alphabet rug.
Marcia/1st/ga - alta, that's waht I mean. we are teaching them thoroughly b/c we are carefully introducing the levels of difficulty within each strategy-a task analysis, if you will.
naneb - needed a comma, didn't I?
brad - AAAHHH, me public, Debbie
Kim/1/Ca - hokay...get it now, Sharon!
judy3ca - Sharon, I agree that eventually we use all the strategies seamlessly and often don't even think about which strategy we're using. But I can't for the life of me figure out how you could teach them without isolating them.
Debbie - nanb - photocopy- horrors!1 Isn't that illegal?? LOL
brad - Judy, think back to how you taught before MOT
naneb - :-X
Kim/1/Ca - I think one copy is okay, Debbie..........
naneb - Hey!! that face doesn't work in here!!
judy3ca - yes, brad, back in the boring days....
Sharon - what's up with the rugs?
Kim/1/Ca - Yes nan.....otherwise he will copy imself and send faxes to us!
sioux - hey, brad - why don't you suggest to your media specialist to get a subscription to EL for the professional section?
brad - anyway, Jan, did you see my post back to you on Rosenshine
Marcia/1st/ga - re-read Sharon, perhaps it wasn't focusing so much on the instruction of the strategies as to the goal of teaching them is for the children to be using them simultaneoulsy. I misread routman in this way.
brad - And really mess up your schema with the faxes
Sharon - will do, marcia
Kim/1/Ca - yeah, Brad.............suggest to your MEdIA SPECIALIST that Reading Today and Ed Leadership would be GOOD things to subscribe to....
Debbie - I can see combining stratgies easily during instruction such as questioning and inferences. As they ask questions- they can immediately make prediction
Jan - Brad, I saw...and responded to...one this morning.
judy3ca - Thanks, Marcia, you said it better than I did.
brad - I would be the only one reading it Sioux
Marcia/1st/ga - ooh,, ooh, we might get Ed Leadership. is there a good article in it?
naneb - :-$
judy3ca - We're trusting you to read this for us, Sharon, LOL.
Marcia/1st/ga - brad, well, then you can mark in the margins if you want then.
brad - no, jan, new one
Sharon - order it, judy and help me out here!
Debbie - what's us naneb?
Marcia/1st/ga - i have a copy, sharon.
Kim/1/Ca - always, marcia.......
judy3ca - Sharon, LOL, I did order it.
Debbie - that's up
Alta Rose - brb
judy3ca - But I might not tell you if it arrives.
naneb - I was trying to make a different smiley face but it didn't work in this room
sioux - well - that is a start! you could set a good example for the rest of the faculty! eventually someone will catch your enthusiam!
Sharon - well jump right into comprehension when you get it judy
Marcia/1st/ga - judy, it might be like reading pressley!
judy3ca - Darn, nan, I thought you were passing out money.
Debbie - I just ordered a book by Laura Robb - it discusses teaching the strategies in content materials
Jan - No, brad...I will check it later. Haven't heard from Barak since last night, but he actually liked what I said about standards/testing! I am thrilled.
Sharon - oh come on, guys... pressley wasn't a bad read... i enjoyed it
brad - what was that, Jan
naneb - no money here, just did our taxes and we have to pay, my NB raise did us in!!
judy3ca - ROFL, marcia, now I'm excited!
Marcia/1st/ga - sharon, that's like at my school. I tell people i read MOT 4 times and they groan!
brad - I'm always re-reading my bibles
Debbie - I can relate marcia
Kim/1/Ca - yeah I am going to re read it to.......for the book group.
Sharon - oooooooo la la... i have five (count 'em... five) people signed up to read MOT in a prof reading book club
Kim/1/Ca - bibles=Calkins
naneb - I lent my student teacher my Strategies That work and she took it home and now is out for maternity leave
Jan - Barak has done research on high stakes testing and, states that have it, do far better on the NAEP than others. He asked what I thought about it.....
Marcia/1st/ga - i let my principal borrow my books about writing about 3 weeks ago. I really WANT to get them back.
judy3ca - Kim, I had so much fun doing MOT with a group (I was a student).
sioux - hey marcia - remind me again in which school do you teach?
Sharon - ok... i fudged... four and then i make five
Marcia/1st/ga - that's sounds good, sharon.
Kim/1/Ca - (groan) sorry, naneb
Marcia/1st/ga - so you decided on MOT, sharon?
brad - not all of my bibles are calkins ms. kim
Jan - I told him I thought it was the standards and not the high-stakes testing that was causing the improvement. Then I made up a bunch of stuff about rationale...and he BOUGHT it!
Kim/1/Ca - YOU TOO, sharon?
Marcia/1st/ga - Kennesaw Elem/Cobb Co. you're from around here, aren't you?
Sharon - yes, marcia and they've ordered the book
Sharon - you inspired me, kim
sioux - yes, marcia - brooks elementary in fayette co
brad - Yes, Jan, but what was the measure of improvment?
Kim/1/Ca - Coooooool, Sharon! We should yak about it soon.
judy3ca - Well, my FICTION teachers' book club is the 27th. Let's hope someone besides my friend shows up.
Marcia/1st/ga - we're supposed to all be reading MOT--they bought copies for everyone at the beginning of the year, but I wonder howmuch people are getting out of it. The book study is taking all year.
Sharon - good idea, kim
Kim/1/Ca - sioux........do you have a prof reading group at your school?
Sharon - what are you reading, judy?
brad - Oh, Kim, I forgot to mention that prince is starting a book club next month on Ruby Payne
Jan - measure of improvement? what do you mean, brad?
Marcia/1st/ga - judy, i am almost done with my dream of you. I'll join you when you discuss
Debbie - hey, I am starting a reading group at my school - how do you run the group?? Tell me, pretty please
judy3ca - Sharon, My Dream of You
Alta Rose - Same here, marcia. They bought copies of RWM, but most people haven't read it.
Debbie - I mean a prof group, of course
brad - You said that states with high-stakes testing were showing most improvement. How did they measure that improvement?
Sharon - lol... i thought marcia meant she was having an ongoing dream of YOU, judy... till i read your response
judy3ca - Marcia, LOL, that would be so cool! I could keep running over to IM and get your comments. Maybe then you guys would be more real to my friends.
Kim/1/Ca - I started with articles about teachers as readers,debbie.........
naneb - How could you not want to read Reading with Meaning? What an easy read that book is!1
Marcia/1st/ga - I don't think the study has been diligent enough--lack of accountability--no rigor, at my school, Alta Rose
Marcia/1st/ga - okay, let me know, Judy!
judy3ca - ROFL, sharon
Sharon - because i believe that MOT is foundational
brad - Yes, I think RWM is a very easy personable read
Sharon - we can always read rwm afterwards
Marcia/1st/ga - (but, Sharon, I do--I dream of being with Judy in a room full of books, reading and discussing)
judy3ca - Marcia, I love it.
Alta Rose - Well, nan, they say they haven't got time, but they have time to watch all the garbage on T.V. (OK, I'll shut up now!)
sioux - sort of - but i have only been a principal there for one year. The faculty is not used to growing professionally - they prefer to keep on keeping on, katie bar the door. But we are slowly working on it. I actually am using Debbie Miller's book with my primary teachers to start.
Jan - Barak measured the states' students scores on the NAEP. Those states with high stakes testing outscored the others, by far. Those with no high stakes testing were at the bottom, Barak feels this is a very valid measure of student improvement.
judy3ca - Speaking of books....
Alta Rose - Same here, Marcia. It was "Here's the book" and that's it.
Debbie - do you people find teachers in your buildings very resistant to reading or any kind of improvement initiatives. the ones in my school are so angry with my principal over such things. There is a grievance filed against her right now
Marcia/1st/ga - sioux, our primary staff seems to be more rceptive to strategy instruction than intermediate (as a whole)
Sharon - oh for a principal like you, sioux! i'd be in heaven
brad - Jan, in those states, is it the NAEP that is the "high stakes" or some other testing or do you know?
judy3ca - I just bought The Firefly Visual Dicionary--have you seen it? Wow, it has pics of everything. Now the kids won't have to be confused by my terrible drawing of a geyser that looks like a plant.]
Kim/1/Ca - Do articles first, sioux....a bit less overwhelming. Teachers as readers stuff. I have them on Word Docs.......you want?
judy3ca - A reading grievance?
Jan - Debbie, this is true in EVERY school I know!
Kim/1/Ca - Yes, Debbie.
brad - Very true!
brad - LOL, a reading grievance
Marcia/1st/ga - perhaps the words were too hard or the print too small...Is that a reading grievance?
brad - I grieve I don't have enough time to read
sioux - kim - i've been doing articles for quite some time - with some success - debbie miller's books is my next step
Marcia/1st/ga - exactly, brad, LOL
Jan - NAEP is a a test in reading, writing and math for grades 4, 8, 12. It is very valid. It has been voluntary but will be required under NCLB
Sharon - i grieve i don't have enough money to buy all the books i WANT to read
Kim/1/Ca - I just sent one to the group by Allington........everyone liked it and it hits the nail on the head. Right guys?
Marcia/1st/ga - ditto, sharon
brad - AS a choice among many, Jan? Or just NAEP
Jan - NAEP is really the "Nation's Report Card" National Assessment of Educational Progress.
sioux - Yes, kim - i will take whatever you send me - i am open to lots of things - email me at pittercleek@aol.com - thanks!
brad - The Allington article. v.g.
Debbie - the grievance has to do with the questions she requires to be answered after observations. They questions are such things as 1. what is your essential question 2) how wil lyou assess that the students have learned the material etc.
brad - ?????
Marcia/1st/ga - kim, oops i must have been looking at the moon or the clouds or something...missed that one. will go back through old mail
judy3ca - Debbie, how can they file a grievance for doing her job?
sioux - yes, allington's books are great! and he is a good speaker - by the way, he is running for president of IRA - he has my vote!
brad - That is state standard post-evaluation interview stuff here
Jan - NAEP is the federal government test. It is not the high stakes test. High stakes referred to our the state's own tests.
Sharon - i don't remember that one either, kim... allington, you say? (he'll be at the UAB conference, too, sioux)
Marcia/1st/ga - sioux, you are close enough to go to Alabama in June, aren't you?
Kim/1/Ca - Mine too!....... I pester my principal with these articles, too, sioux.......
brad - That's what I suspect Jan, but I just wanted to clarify. We don't do NAEP here, but I know of it from U.
Alta Rose - brb
Jan - No, just NAEP. We used it when Bruce was here to measure our kids writing. It is a prestigious test...really gives good information.
Kim/1/Ca - Sharon.....last weekend I think.......an article from reading rockets....I cleaned it up in Word and sent it out to the addresss book
sioux - yes, marcia - i do plan on it now that i know about it!
Debbie - well, teacher observations and evalutations are contractual items. They say she can't ask questions such as these because it isn't in the contract!
Marcia/1st/ga - do you give them to your principal to read? I do that occasionally, and I am not sure how she takes it.
judy3ca - brad suspects Jan
brad - Jan, what subject areas does it address. Is it multiple choice or other?
Kim/1/Ca - No, i send a word doc to her eMail.........that way she can take or leave........
Sharon - sioux... come meet us... we're staying erm... where are we staying, marcia... mountain book something or other?
brad - Oh, geez, Debbie. That stuff is standard here
brad - there's that erm again
naneb - I haven't made my reservation for hotel yet
Marcia/1st/ga - Hampton Inn at Colonnade. What about I send you an invite to join our group going to Birmingham?
Jan - NAEP is reading, writing, math. It is not all multiple choice. They have readers who score writing.
Sharon - erm= educationally related motel, brad
Marcia/1st/ga - you know the hotel information is in the files on our group for Birmingham, don't you all?
Debbie - as I said, brad, our teachers are so resistant to - dare I say - work. No wonder our scores are low
brad - Better yet, Jan. When do I have to take more time away from teaching to give this test? By what year is the NCLB act requiring we do this
judy3ca - Sharon, do you really say 'erm?' (regional um)
sioux - thank you, marcia - that would be great!!!!
Alta Rose - Contractual items? Aren't they part of the job?
brad - your situation is probably a lot like mine debbie
Jan - I'm not sure, Brad. Maybe 2005.
Sharon - lol... now i'll be listening to see, judy... no idea
Marcia/1st/ga - i think I need to go all. it's getting late here.
Marcia/1st/ga - i'll send you the invite for the group and the information for the conference, sioux.
Alta Rose - Goodnight, Marcia.
brad - Marcia, you just want to go check out that moon
Sharon - me too, marcia... sleep sweet when you sleep, guys... nice to meet you sioux and don't be a stranger
Kim/1/Ca - night marcia (hugs)
naneb - night, marcia
Marcia/1st/ga - aw, shucks, brad, how'd ya know?
sioux - too cloudy here to check the moon - we will just have to "visualize" it!
Alta Rose - Take Care, Sharon!
Marcia/1st/ga - alta, did you get our package yet?
Debbie - waiting for snow to start here
Alta Rose - No, Marcia, I was wondering if it was on its way.
judy3ca - Night marcia and sharon!
Kim/1/Ca - Brad..your mother in law asleep yet.......?
Alta Rose - Next week, hopefully!
Marcia/1st/ga - it should be alta-they said 4-7 days. maybe monday!
sioux - night all!
Marcia/1st/ga - g'night
brad - actually, Kim, I'm beginning to think she went home with sister-in-law. It's quiet here.
Kim/1/Ca - good night, sioux.......!
Alta Rose - Not Monday--Holiday here!
brad - The last thing I heard was, "Get in that bed, Chelsey" LOL
judy3ca - night sioux
Alta Rose - We only teach 2 days next week, but will answer them a.s.a.p., Marcia!
Kim/1/Ca - I have to get up early....going with mom into L.A. Love mom, hate L.A.
judy3ca - Kim, you hate L.A.? I love L.A.!
Kim/1/Ca - Catch y'all over the weekend! LONG weekend.......tee hee hee!
Jan - Time for bed here. Big day tomorrow reorganizing the closet so I can fit in the rolls of plastic and duct tape. Night all.
judy3ca - night Kim and Jan
Kim/1/Ca - LOL Jan
Alta Rose - Night!
brad - LOL, Jan is forever cleaning out her closets
Kim/1/Ca - I can't believe Judy is outlasting me...........
brad - Fibber Mcgee
Debbie - night
judy3ca - Kim, there's an ulterior motive!
Kim/1/Ca - (((smooches to all))))
brad - Judy is a Sneaky Pete
brad - With her motives
judy3ca - Jan must have the cleanest closets in the universe! Mine, on the other hand, ....
brad - I was just looking at mine the other day and thinking, "i really should get in here and do something about it"
judy3ca - Actually, LOL, I'm up waiting for the fencing squad.
Debbie - Is there a strategy for cleaning closets that you can share? LOL
brad - fencing squad?
judy3ca - ROFL, brad, my husband says something quite like that, "YOU really should get in there and do something about it."
Debbie - cleaning closets - alliteration
judy3ca - en garde
brad - This summer I'm seriously doing some weeding and reorganizing of school files and materials. I've got so much good stuff off the boards....
naneb - my whole entire house needs some one to get in there and do something about it!!
brad - And so much crap I never touch.
judy3ca - Yup, nan, I'm thinking it's time to move, LOL.
brad - Just give me one or two good days in my classroom too.....
Debbie - I like the idea of plastic on the windows- it'll hide the dirt
naneb - me too, Judy, hopefully this summer
Alta Rose - Judy, when we moved my husband took 5 truck loads to the dump!
brad - Now that I've announced that, I expect you all to keep pestering me about my files all summer
Debbie - better yet- I'll just pu tduct tape over the entire window!!
Alta Rose - Changing the subject but--Are you guys worried? (The high alert I've seen on TV the past few days.)
Debbie - nah Brad- play with your baby
judy3ca - Good for you, Nan. We just cart it to the next house--think of that, it's still conveniently boxed from the last move. We still have college textbooks.
naneb - I actually don't even think about it, The Bats were our main concern this week
brad - Judy, you never know when "Statistics for Everyday Living" will come in handy
judy3ca - Alta, I'm not worried--but I refuse to watch the news on TV.
judy3ca - LOL, Brad, too true!
naneb - Judy, we have those same books!!
Debbie - not me- I have enough worries at school !1
brad - When they first alerted, Alta, I thought, "What do they know they're not telling us." But I haven't changed my routine in any way or thought about it a whole lot.
judy3ca - Debbie, good point. The daily worries are enough, aren't they?
brad - Maybe it would be different if I lived somewhere where the military was surrounding government buildings
Debbie - my students are worried though . One asked me this week if the school has a plan in case of an attack!
brad - We were told to shut our doors and keep them locked
naneb - bend down, put your head between your legs and kiss your sweet ...... goodbye!!
brad - Because radiation can't get through a locked door!!
Alta Rose - It worries me when I watch the TV, but hubby's not as worried, so he's made me feel a bit better.
judy3ca - Debbie, we had an intruder drill on Wed right before the Valentine's party. "Okay, you can get up now. Let's party."
naneb - my daughter lives in Norfolk and it is pretty tense there
brad - Judy you had V-day party on Wed?
judy3ca - Yeah, Brad, Thurs was staff dev and today is Prez day.
brad - What worried me was seeing all those people at Heathrow. Yikes! Is that what it's like in DC?
judy3ca - Aren't you proud of me that I let the little guys have an hour to pass out Valentines?
naneb - we do not get Prez day, but, we do get off 2 days for Mardi Gras
brad - OH, hmmm. prez day is monday for us. I thought that's when everyone celebrated
naneb - I am glad I made it home from London when I did
Debbie - well, I enjoyed being here tonight. Off to beddy bye now. See you!
judy3ca - nan, are you a public school?
naneb - yes
Alta Rose - Well, Judy, they DID have to read each other's names to pass them out, didn't they. (Not totally off the hook, LOL.)
judy3ca - Well, Monday is Prez day also (Washington, Lincoln).
judy3ca - lol Alta
brad - judy, I am proud. Today was such a wash. Really irritating. I don't mind giving up the hour. It's giving up practically the whole day due to "excitement" that I hate.
judy3ca - Brad, my kids were very good the rest of the day. I love this time of year--they look like geniuses.
naneb - I even had a small party in my room because as Andrew said, after all it is Love Day!!
brad - (and you know, by "excitement" I'm being kind)
naneb - we had Valentines Day and Bats flying in the hall
judy3ca - nan, isn't Mardi Gras a religious holiday? I'm sorry, I really don't know.
naneb - Mardi Gras is the last big bash before Lent
brad - We read Jack Prelutsky while we ate our candy.
Alta Rose - This 100 Day rotation really worked well, cuz you know kids are really good for a teacher they don't know really well!
brad - I Love you More than Applesauce
judy3ca - cute
naneb - it actually has been going on for a while it is not a one day event, the parties and parades are every weekend for about a month
Alta Rose - I met a new dad today and thought, "They are getting younger and younger all the time!" He looked about 18! LOL.
judy3ca - Alta, the father of one of my third graders just celebrated his 28th birthday--that does seem young to me!
Alta Rose - It was interesting having our French Immersion class for a period....
Alta Rose - I was modeling their math activity and I said, "Is it odd or even?"
naneb - I have to go to bed, I can't keep my eyes open
naneb - night
judy3ca - Night, Nan--sleep well.
brad - Yeah, I need to get off too. Chelsey's acting class tomorrow morning
Alta Rose - There was a whole bunch of arguing, not becuz they didn't understand the concept, but they were arguing which French word meant "odd" and which F. word meant "even"!
judy3ca - Night all!
Alta Rose - Goodnight, everyone!
brad - en garde Judy. Night Alta
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