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Brann - I can't...sorry...but will be again soon.
Brann - I am off to eat...that pizza gal made me hungry!
Brann - night
MagooMentor - Tune in again tomorrow, same time, same station, and until then.........Little Orphan Annie says, "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine!"
Kathleen - that's okay, Brann. I'm going to schedule more of these mentor sessions in the very near future.
Kathleen - Bye, brann, thanks again!
MagooMentor - leaving now, before K starts doing huffy breaths at me...........
Kathleen - Grace, a heavy responsibility, mentoring
Kathleen - LOL Magoo
Kathleen - Is wizzle still here?
Grace/IL - Kathleen, it's a huge burden -- My back is breaking, LOL
Kathleen - It was good of Bill Page to come by again. He's officially on duty for tomorrow's Mentors Online session.
MS. A - meeting room
Kathleen - It's my neck that pains me after a long time at the computer. Hi, Ms. A!
Grace/IL - Hi Ms. A.
Kathleen - MS.A, are you a new teacher, or a student teacher? This hour tonight (2nd Thurs) is set aside for Beginning and Student teachers
Mr.K - Hi everyone
Kathleen - Hi Mr. K., are you a new or student teacher?
Mrs. A - hi everyone
Grace/IL - Hi Mr. K and Ms. A (again). What grades are you teaching?
Mr.K - Hi Mrs. A...I'm Mr. K
Mrs. A - I am a new teacher teaching science k-5 and I need help!
Mrs. A - I need help the most with coming up with activities for autistic children. Any suggestions?
Kathleen - Mrs. A., tell us more
Kathleen - Mrs. A., what age/grade?
Mrs. A - My autistic class is k-1st grade
Mrs. A - I've never had a class like this and curriculum-wise I feel very uncertain.
Kathleen - Mrs. A. how many autistic children do you have in the group, and does each have a paraprofessional assistant assigned to him/her?
Kathleen - Mr. K, tell us about your teaching responsbilities
Mrs. A - 7 children with 2 para;s and the teacher
Mrs. A - Iwas told by their teacher to do kindergarten-1st grade work with them.
Kathleen - Hi Brenda!
Kathleen - 7 autistic children in one group??
Brenda - Hi everyone.
Kathleen - Are they high functioning?
Mrs. A - Most participate in some coloring. some answer back the others don't.
Kathleen - Brenda, Mrs. A is looking for k-i science activities for autistic kids, any ideas?
bklynteech - Good evenine all
Kathleen - hi bklynteech!
Mrs. A - hi Brenda
Kathleen - If it's science you must do a lot of hands-on activities, right?
Mrs. A - right
Mrs. A - but it's hard because they can't really get into it.
Kathleen - experiencing and articulating about textures, sounds, the 5 senses, plants
Brenda - I'd suggest growing plants, learning about animals, whatever her standards say she must cover. Not sure what they have to do in k-1.
Mr. k - Is anyone here familiar with the website lear?ningpage.com
Mrs. A - I have 2 who can answer back fairly well, the others repeat what you say, 1 child doesn't talk
Brenda - I teach fifth, my second year.
Mr. k - Serena Williams?
Kathleen - cooking is science. I think if their teacher's only instruction was to do k-1 work with them, you should do just that. What are your concerns?
Brenda - My kids go to learningplanet.com. They love Math Mahem.
serena - no, I wish I had that kind of money. then I could just teach for fun!
Kathleen - Mrs. A., do you have a curriculum?
Beth - Hello!
Kathleen - Hi Beth!
Mr. k - I teach 5th grade my second year...actually I taught 6th grade last year
Mrs. A - Earth's materials, living things, materials and tools
Mrs. A - hi Beth
serena - anyone in here teach high school?
Brenda - Learning planet is great for fifth grade.
Mrs. A - I started an apple unit. In 2 days, they colored all the pictures I had.
Kathleen - Mr. K, a challenging but rewarding age
Beth - High School? The words alone scare me! I teach 1st (first year, too!)
Kathleen - Mrs. A., my advice would be to do away with the coloring sheets for the most part. Have them smelling and tasting apples, examining the seeds, turning the apples into applesauce, compare sizes of apples, weigh them, look at the colors, etc
Mr. k - I'm having problems trying to save some worksheets from learningpage.com
Mr. k - Yes Kath
bklynteech - Beth, I'm a first year in first grade too! It's my second year teaching, but last year I was a "floating" writing teacher for K-5
Brenda - graph there favorite apples.
serena - goodnight
Kathleen - Use the coloring sheets as take homes that are optional to do at home, as a way to remind them to tell their parents all about the exciting apple activities you did in class
Kathleen - hmmm, I'm not familiar with learning page.com. Can anyone advise mr. K.?
Brenda - Haven't tried the worksheets. Don't do many worksheets.
Kathleen - Hi Jen!
Mr. k - goodnite serena
Jen - Hi Everyone--I just started teaching 6th grade social studies and language arts
Beth - bklynteech- I actually long term subbed for 2 separate semesters in third. But this is *my* first classroom.
Kathleen - serena, I didn't even get to say hello, now I have to say goodnight!
Mr. k - What a good site to get free worksheets?
Kathleen - Mr. K., I'm sorry, did you say you teach a self-contained 6th?
Mr. k - what's
Mrs. A - we've done the taste test in like 10 minutes and graphed itI like the idea looking at seeds using a magnifing glass. I could try that if they can stay focused on them..
bklynteech - We're doing an apple unit also. We will compare several varieties of apples -- size, color, texture. I thought we might try and plant the apple seeds. And we're going to make applesauce and do taste comparisons and chart them.
Jen - I had laryngitis the first couple of days of school and therefore couldn't gain proper control of my class--now I am having a very hard time with them--any suggestions for regaining control?
barlowgirl - i worked in a first grade classroom and we did an apple unit...the last day we made applesauce...
Kathleen - I've never used many worksheets, so I'm not much help there. I'd urge you to use as few worksheets as possible, go in the direction of hands-on
Mr. k - self-contained 5th...I taught 6th grade science last year
bklynteech - Beth, it's my first classroom too, and so far, it's been a great experience. We had our first curriculum night this evening, and while the turnout was poor, which is typical in my school, the parents that did come were genuinely interested in discussing our plans for the year and the role they could play.
Jen - also--I am supposed to be teaching language arts, but have been given no curriculum other than the state standards--help!
Kathleen - Jen, back up and start over, simple, spend the time on establishing routines and procedures. Put most materials away, intro them one at a time, do some role playing to demo expetations. What are the greatest problems right now?
Mr. k - I use worhsheets for homework mainly
Brenda - I do a lot of hands on and am having trouble already this year with parents thinking their children are missing something.
bklynteech - Jen, I decided that I was not going to lose my voice this year, so I never raise it. I stop talking mid-sentence. They do notice that. I often whisper. They notice that too.
Mrs. A - IIt's so difficult because they "space out" and you have to keep trying to re-direct them. It's even harder if someone has an "episode".
Beth - My experience is great so far, too! I have low parental involvement, too.
Jen - I can't get them to stop talking while I am instructing
Kathleen - It's upsetting to hear the obstacles you all have to overcome! The school district hasn't given you a copy of the curriculum??
Mrs. A - thanks guy and gals for your ideas. Have a great night.
Mr. k - Jen, what grade?
Jen - 6th
Jen - no--they said to ask the other teachers what they do
bklynteech - Beth, I am in an inner city school in New York. I have a sweet group of kids, one very young, only 5 (he would have done so much better in K this year) and several that I will be referring for services. I'm amazed at how quickly the day goes by and I NEVER get to all the things I planned. LOL
Kathleen - That's a talkative age, Jen. Use that. Assign small group work where they can talk. Have them do projects, mini-plays acting out readings, or choral readings. They love to perform
Jen - they all do writing workshop--which is great--but I have no training or knowledge of it
Kathleen - Hi Lynn!
Kathleen - Do you all use the grade level chatboards here at Teachers.Net to connect with other teachers at your level? And the grade level mailrings? There's instant help and support 24/7 through those forums.
Mr. k - The first week of school is extremely important in establishing control.
bklynteech - Last year when my fourth grade class was collapsed due to low registers, I was told that I would be teaching writing to 25 classes a week, from K-5, including self-contained classes. I was given NO materials. NO curriculum and NO guidance. I basically shot from the hip, hitting myself in the foot a few times before I found my stride. While it was a terrible way to begin my teaching career, ultimately, it gave me a very good overview of my school and I certainly learned the school culture. Plus, I got to know over 500 kids a week.I'm much happier with a class of my own though.
Lynn - Hi everyone
Beth - bklynteech, I am in Wisconsin. I am at an inner city school. I have 2 real low kids and 2 behaviors. The behavios are actually doing well. My 2 low ones are sweet, just hard to keep one of them quiet (cognitive is a 3 yrs. 6 months)
bklynteech - Kathleen, I have found the first grade mailring so incredibly valuable! I highly recommend the mailrings.
Jen - i realize the first week is important--but without a voice--I can't do a whole lot
Kathleen - bklynteech, you have a wonderful attitude while facing adversity in conditions. And it's terrific that you see the gifts the children have.
Beth - Kathleen, I am on the 1st grade mailreing. It is great!
Kathleen - Jen, what an awful thing to have happen during the first week!
Jen - tell me about it
bklynteech - Kathleen, I came to teaching late in life, LOL, and have raised teenagers. There is little that my little ones at school can do to faze me after the gray hairs my own have given me. LOL
Beth - Kathleen, maybe you know this. I also get a 2st grade teacher newsletter (cannot remember who from) but there was a mentor/mentee sign up. Are you familiar with it?
Kathleen - Don't forget about the chatboards, too. http://teachers.net/mentors one for every level (combined),
Lynn - can someone tell me about the mailrings
Jen - I am trying very hard to regain control, but am having a very hard time
Kathleen - bklynteech, a bit of life experience helps for sure
Mr. k - Jen, u must enforce your consequences
Beth - Kathleen, I do the chatboards, too. They are helpful as well.
Kathleen - mailrings are e-mail discussion groups available at http://teachers.net/mailrings .Write to me kathleen@teachers.net if you have any difficulty subscribing. One for every grade, curric area, etc. Beginning teachers,
Mr. k - Call parents also
bklynteech - Lynn, the first grade mailring, to which I subscribe, is full of great information, resources and advice. And you can post any question you have and get lots of excellent answers. It's been enormously helpful to me in getting this year going.
Mr. k - Sometimes I have students stand
Kathleen - Jen, are you the one who has already read Harry Wong's First Days of school book?
Lynn - thanks Kathleen and bklynteech
Jen - I've read it--but I don't think I'm the one you're thinking of
Mr. k - Compliment the students that are on task
Jen - I do use all of the principles
Mr. k - Rules without relationship breeds rebellion...U must connect or relate to the students
Beth - Bye everyone!
bklynteech - It's been a verrry long day. Good luck to all. And have a good night.
Kathleen - And read Marvin Marshall's and Bill Page's articles in the Gazette http://teachers.net/gazette for help with these first days/weeks
Mr. k - Did my comment make everyone leave?
Kathleen - Hi Judy!
Kathleen - LOL I don't think so, Mr. K.
Mr. k - I feel better
Kathleen - Judi, what grade do you teach?
Mr. k - Jen, where do u teach?
Judi - I am a student teacher working in a first grade classroom.
Mr. k - judi, that's so cute!
Kathleen - Judi, how is it going so far?
Judi - I love it! I have a wonderful mentor that has given my great advice.
Suzan - HI
Kathleen - Hi Suzan! What grade are you working with?
Mr. k - Hi Suz
Kathleen - Judi, that's good to hear! We hear from too many new and student teachers who have too little support
Suzan - I work with a transitional 2nd-3rd but it is technically called 3rd
Mr. k - I'm a second year 5th grade teacher
Mr. k - Jen?
Suzan - funny
Suzan - oops sorry that was not supposed to come through....
Kathleen - I started in gr. 5, partly departmentalized with gr. 6. Classroom management was difficult for me in the beginning.
Judi - We have been asked to find out about teaching strategies. I am interested in reading recovery work. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Kathleen - Suzan, so the kids couldn't go to gr. 3 but they are expected to meet the standards of gr. 3?
Mr. k - Jen, what do your students know about you?
Suzan - yes that is correct kathleen..don't you think I am going to have a fun year...
Kathleen - Reading Recovery group meets here on the first and third Mondays. Their chats are archived at http://teachers.net/archive and there is a Reading Recovery chatboard and mailring, too.
Kathleen - Suzan, how are things going so far?
Mr. k - I have to go now...bye everyone
Kathleen - Reading Recovery chatboard linked from here http://teachers.net/mentors
Suzan - things have been interesting...some children are very behind and some are average and i have one who is at level so he is always finished first
Kathleen - Looks as though Jen left
Kathleen - Bye Mr. K.!
Kathleen - Suzan, I used to teach a T-1 class, and Dev. K., I don't believe in those homogenous groupings any more...after seeing how well the same type of kids do in hetero classes. But you have what you have, eh?
Kathleen - So it's good you have a mixture
Suzan - well i am also at an alternative elementary school for behavior and academicsq
Kathleen - I didn't mean to send Judi away...
Suzan - so the situation is a little diff i only have 11 students
Kathleen - talk about homogenious! even at primary level the kids are grouped together with others struggling with behavior and academics? wow.
Suzan - kathleen you always seem to have great ideas...do you have a way that you know of to teach map skills
Kathleen - homogeneous
Kathleen - Suzan, have you some large areas of blacktop where you and the kids could draw maps with chalk?
Judi - I am still hear. I am trying to figure out all of this chat stuff. I usually am on line to look up things. This is my first time to visit a room.
Suzan - no blacktop....
Kathleen - Judi, we're glad you're here, learning how to use the chat system so you can be here often
Kathleen - Suzan, I just went to the Lesson Bank and searched the term: map and many entries came up, try that later. What are the kids working on, directions or latitude, or ?
Suzan - how to read a map, continents, etc
Kathleen - http://teachers.net/lessons a great place to find activities to match a theme, a curriculum objective
Suzan - when i student taught a teacher had a song for them to learn the continents and for the life of me i can't recall it
Kathleen - Suzan, get involved in one of the post card projects, classes from all over the country and world send cards, you mark on a map where the cards come from, learn about the regions, etc. Or sign up for pen pals
Judi - I believe the title is 50 nifty United States.
Suzan - I am planning to do flat stanley
Kathleen - continents song: http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/1988.html
Kathleen - hi fell!
fell - excuse me what time is the meeting for students?
Kathleen - fell, this is the meeting for beginning and student teachers, but it started 58 mins ago
Kathleen - Beginning and student teachers chat here on the second Thursday of every month, 9pmE-10pmE
Suzan - thanks kathleen
Suzan - well i am off to bed
Suzan - days ahead tomm
Suzan - everyone have a great evening
Kathleen - fell, have you used the student teachers' chatboard? It's available through http://teachers.net/mentors
Judi - Fell What grade do you teach?
Kathleen - LOL I got distracted by all the good stuff in the Lesson Bank!
fell - oh sorry and thanks kathleen
Judi - Well, I have a ton of homework, good night everyone.
fell - i teach efl and k4 ,5, 6
Kathleen - Bye Judi, come again!
Kathleen - fell, are you a student teacher?
fell - sorry judi, forgot to say hello!!1
fell - no kat im a teacher
Kathleen - fell, do you mean you teach efl, English as a foreign language?
fell - yes
Kathleen - Hi Mr. C.!
Kathleen - I have to leave, I'll leave fell and Mr. C. to chat. This group meets on the second Thursday of every month, so come back! And use the chatboards http://teachers.net/mentors and the mailrings for support between meetings http://teachers.net/mailrings .
fell - bye kat
Mr.C - HI all
Mr.C - Missed the meeting... how was it?
Mr.C - I just wanted to add a very cool site to the mix: Trackstar--- very useful for sharing (and finding) K-12 links. Check out: http://trackstar.hprtec.org/
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