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Kate - What do you teach? I teach 3/4 split?
hello - Are you using 4 blocks?
hello - I teach second grade.
Kate - I use the form, yes. But i don't stick to the times.
hello - Me too. It's hard to stick too..
Kate - I do a writersworkshop and a readers workshop,lots of reading response stuff. Lit. circles,too.
Kate - I have 18 kids. 9 of each gr. I love it. i have terrrific kids. No discipline problems.
hello - Well I am trying to incorprate small groups and the 4 blocks.
hello - Me too.. I teach in a low income area.. but the children are rich we love.
hello - I teach second grade.
snowflake - hello 2nd grade teachers
snowflake - where are u?
hello - So you teach 2 grade..?
snowflake - yes I do
hello - I am in Orlando
hello - And You?
snowflake - wow, I'm in upstate NY
snowflake - are you in private or public school?
hello - OH Boy.. Do you give A, B ,C grades?
snowflake - we are ungraded - E,S,N,I and u?
snowflake - and you? opps
hello - We use ( )=mastery, check = learning and developing and (-) = area of concern
hello - = mastery
snowflake - oh, I like that way too
hello - Plus = master
snowflake - Do you give achievement tests?
hello - There is a school around here that uses the same "grades" until fifth grade
hello - Yes , In FL the schools are graded using achievement test called FCAT
snowflake - Our "A,B,C" grading begins in 4th grade
snowflake - oh, we use Terra Nova - by McGraw Hill
snowflake - our state tests begin in 4th grade
snowflake - I hate the "grading of schools" according to test scores
hello - My school is a "C". I don't really like them because it does measure the child's true achievement
snowflake - I agree
deb - our grades are Making satisfactory progress or Working Below grade level
deb - they are easy to grade
snowflake - I like that too
hello - I had a child that move from Puerto Rico . She could not read a word of English now she is reading at second grade level .
snowflake - that's good news
hello - That is real achievement
deb - wonderful! I use four blocks reading
deb - I have my first student teacher
snowflake - I have a student teacher too
snowflake - how long will he/she stay with you?
deb - Have you had one before? It is going fine, but I worry that I will do the right things
deb - until May 12
snowflake - mine will be with us 8 weeks
hello - I hope you a nice to your student teacher... I was one last year.
deb - mine will be with us for 15 weeks
snowflake - wow, the whole semester
Kate back - My student teacher just finished.
snowflake - this is my 7th student teacher
deb - I started really slow with her. She started with ssr read aloud, now she's doing the word block. Next week she's adding in the guided reading and we are working in the transitions
snowflake - over the last 11 years
deb - I am reluctant to give up writing and math
snowflake - I started slowly too. This week she'll take over shared reading
Kate back - It is hard when the discipline is different.my students would look at me like."why are we getting away with this?"
snowflake - I plan everything with her
hello - deb that great...my supervising teacher used me simply do her job.
deb - the universities are far from me so we rarely have the opportunity to have one
snowflake - she has to a big unit - she pick dinosaurs
hello - My supervising teacher did lots of worksheets.
deb - I plan with her too. I start by writing everything out verbatim and then slowly letting her plan. We talk every day after school to make sure we are in sinc
snowflake - this gal will do just fine. It's the college I get disgusted with
snowflake - me to deb
deb - Mine is doing weather. It is great since I dislike science
Kate back - I think one of the most important things you can teach your s.t. is a variety of ways to get the students focused and on task and smooth transitions.
deb - we don't use any worksheets that is what makes it hard for her to take over in math writing and reading
snowflake - smooth transitions are tricky for s.t.
deb - kate, I agree
deb - that's what we are going to start working on. I am taking a leave the last three weeks of school so my s.t. will be their teacher. I really will make sure she can handle it
hello - Oh.. I am going to start a math program called Investigations. It's all hands on.
Kate back - I could not get my s.t. to use anything but quiet, class, which just did not work for her. That was frustrating for me.
snowflake - Our teacher's college has eliminated fulltime s.t. supervisors. It's all done now with adjuncts
deb - kate, I am really lucky, this s.t. is just sounding like me more and more every day
deb - my s.t.'s supervisor comes once a week for one hour to video tape her and evaluate her.
hello - Transitions are hard.. lots of time is wasted..I feel like I have the hang of it now
snowflake - adjuncts only come visit when it's convenient for them. There is no consistency for the s.t. I had an adjunct supervisor who never even read the s.t. manual
deb - I have used Investigations for three years
deb - I don't have it as a mandate though so I can pick and choose.
Kate back - Anyone doing Lit circles now?
snowflake - deb, are you "allowed" to leave your class with the s.t.?
deb - I feel it is MY responsibility to make sure she is prepared for the teaching job.
Kate back - I never left. It felt like I was abandoning my "post"
snowflake - i agree deb, do you get any compesation for your efforts?
deb - I am supposed to leave the class for three weeks and just wander in and out. I don't know if or when I'll feel really comfortable with that.
snowflake - $$$$$ from the college?
deb - Yes about $500
Kate back - I got $35.oo. Whoooeeeee
deb - from the college.
snowflake - I get $200
snowflake - from the state of NY
deb - I signed it over to the student teacher. I think they are underpaid and paying a lot of money so I don't feel comfortable taking the money
Kate back - if I had a higher level of s.t. I would have had to leave once in awhile.
snowflake - those last days during "solo week" are tough on the classroom teacher. Can't get in you classroom to get anything done
deb - I was paid $50 for 20 hours at the beginning of the year so I gave her that money and will again when this semester is over
deb - my s.t. is in her final semester
snowflake - mine too
deb - we have 3 weeks of "solo" time
Kate back - I bought 2 books with the money for our room.
deb - I thought I would work on lesson plans for while I am gone at the end of the year.
snowflake - mine has one week for solo week , then she's off to 4th grade
deb - kate, that works with $35 not much money!
deb - Mine had the choice of one or two grades she choose one so she stays 15 weeks
Kate back - What do you do during the time out og your room? Can you use it to work one on one with your strugglers.?
snowflake - yes, I do Kate.
deb - kate, yes. I will work with my strugglers. Since it isn't until April, I am still figuring it all out.
snowflake - But the college wants the s.t. to really "manage" the room during solo week
Kate back - That would really help,eh.
deb - I am going to have her totally teach one week then me step in again for the whole next week then have her teach two weeks
Kate back - Are you happy with them so far?
deb - yes
snowflake - s.t. ??? yes
deb - she seems to be learning quickly
snowflake - she's so willing to learn
deb - the only thing I am struggling with is NEVER being alone. I love being alone. I am never by myself anymore
Kate back - Mine had no life what so ever. I think in elem. you need some spark. She was very nice though.
snowflake - I agree deb, that is tough!!!!
deb - My specials time was a time to recover, now I am teaching her during that time
Kate back - Do you mean alone with your students?
snowflake - I like to work alone too
deb - since I have husband and kids at home, I am never by myself with no students or s.t. The ride home is quiet and wonderful and the only 20 minutes I am alone
Kate back - I always feel freer when i don't have an assistant or s.t. ,too. We don't get any prep time.
deb - I have 40 minutes of prep time 4 times a week and 100 minutes once a week.
Kate back - Isn't it frustrating when you are on the computer and your kids are climbing all over you ad your husband says ,what are you doing???
deb - We are spoiled, except our high school teachers get 85 minutes EVERY day!!!
snowflake - I have prep time, but while someone is covering my kids IN the room
snowflake -to Kate
Kate back - WWWooooWWWW. We get 0 prep. I would sure love even 1 period.
deb -
deb - I don't know if I'll take on another s.t. ever since the colleges don't usually want to drive this far.
Kate back - I work half toime though so i do my prep in the morning. I dont know what I would do if I was full time.
deb - you work full time, you just get paid for half time!!!
snowflake - you'll have to get on the negotiating team Kate and get that changed
deb - my friend used to work 6 hours to get ready for her 1/2 day K class
snowflake - gotta go get my daughter, thanks for the chat, hope you have a good week
