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Newbie - Hi everyone! Starting next Monday, I will be teaching for the first time in a real classroom setting. Middle School Science. I need some icebreaker ideas...see, school has been going on for 3 weeks & I am replacing a teacher that needs to leave. I want to make the transition on the kids as easy as possible. Also, does anyone know of any good websites for new teacher resources?
Delenn - I'm in my third week of school and it went well.
Jersey-ite - There is a great book called Energizers and Ice breakers by Elizabeth Foster
Delenn - I'm having problems with classroom management. Any ideas?
Jan_Zeiger - HI! I am the host for this chat session.
Jan_Zeiger - Somebody just asked about a website for new teachers.
Jan_Zeiger - I have one! http://www.geocities.com/janice13/fantastic.html
Jan_Zeiger - Hi, Delenn! What grade do you teach?
Jersey-ite - Another one would be http://www.schoolsalive.com
Delenn - third grade
Jan_Zeiger - Third grade! I teach third grade!!!
Delenn - I am a student teacher in my third week.
Jan_Zeiger - Delenn, I use a system called Lunch Bunch. I LOVE IT! The kids do, too.
Jan_Zeiger - COOL! I tried Lunch Bunch for the first time when I was student teaching fourth grade.
Delenn - What is Lunch Bunch?
Jan_Zeiger - Basically, the kids sit in teams. They earn team points for everything. It is a very positive system! At the end of the week, the team with the most points eats lunch with me in the classroom.
Jan_Zeiger - Simple...but very effective!
Jan_Zeiger - Delenn, I have a page on classroom management and building community. If you are interested, here is the URL: http://www.geocities.com/janice13/community.html
Delenn - Sounds neat. I am trying a similar system where students are earning points and when they get 100 points, they receive a treat such as a movie or an ice cream snack.
Jan_Zeiger - Delenn, is that for the whole class?
Delenn - Yes, it is
Jan_Zeiger - I give points for neat teams, having homework done, working hard, cooperating, and everything else.
josie - I am teaching 5th grade for the first time this year. I have 10 years experience as a music teacher, but now I'm starting over again!
Jan_Zeiger - My kids really enjoy the friendly competition. So, Delenn, have you taken over all subjects yet?
Jan_Zeiger - Wow! Josie, that sounds great! Did you teach music in elementary or high school?
Delenn - No, just spelling. I'll be taking over subjects gradually.
josie - Elementary
josie - I would love any great tips you have. Things are going pretty well, but I am definately swamped with the amount of work
Stanley - josie, How many Ss do you have?
Jan_Zeiger - Delenn, what subject are you taking over next?
martha - IS anyone overwhelmed with the paperwork?
Jan_Zeiger - Josie, what kinds of tips are you looking for? I'd love to help!
josie - Yes, I really need to figure out what things I really need to grade and what things to just check over.
Delenn - Not sure as of yet, but I think it will be reading.
martha - all the record cards and cums and emergency cards ughhhhhhh
Jan_Zeiger - Martha, I am ALWAYS overwhelmed with the paperwork! LOL
Stanley - martha, I often felt overwhelmed with the paperwork when I had a 4/5 leave replacement class for the last 1/2 of '99/'00
josie - How about any really good web sites for Math or Spelling. I am working on graphing right now.
K.L. - I have ECLAS and a compendium of lit for 4 blocks , but I can't see the forrest for the trees
Jan_Zeiger - Josie, you can do some neat graphing stuff with the Olympics.
Delenn - I am using a checklist with the students names and recording grades and who turned it in.
martha - a checklist is good..i keep getting students, how many do you all have?
Stanley - Martha, how often do you correct things together as a class? I'm a BIG fan of THAT method!
Delenn - I have 17 students in my class.
josie - I have 25 right now. It has changed two or three times already in just one week though.
K.L. - Jan , how can I think ahead for homework or plan for 4 blocks , if I don't see how it works for kindergarten
martha - i don't know if my first graders could handle that responsibility
Jan_Zeiger - I am so sorry, but I don't know much about four blocks.
Stanley - josie, I'm in SoCA, & 25 for G-5 would be QUITE low here. It is not at all uncommon to have in the low 30s!
martha - 30 kids!!!!!!!!
Jan_Zeiger - Delenn, when I student taught, I had 36 kids! Now, I only have 19. :)
martha - I hope the classroom is big!
josie - It is the lowest it has been in awhile. The 5ths go up to 30 in a couple classes, but I have an included special ed class so they need to leave some room.
Jan_Zeiger - KL, you mentioned homework.
Jan_Zeiger - What grade do you teach again? (I missed it!)
Stanley - K.L., have you checked on the 4 Blocks center? http://www.teachers.net/4blocks/
K.L. - yes , i am an organized planner and not knowing how toto four blocks is driving me nuts
Delenn - Wow! 30 in a class seems like too many. We are experimenting in our school district with lower class sizes to see if children learn better.
K.L. - I teach kindergarten
josie - K.L go to the teacher.net site or readinglady.com I am teaching using 4 blocks and they really helped alot.
martha - I think the lower numbers the better in summer school this year they couldn't have more than 15 it was awesome!
Stanley - josie, An included SPED class? Or do you mean a couple of included SPED Ss?
Jan_Zeiger - I loved kindergarten. I taught it for a few weeks. It was fun, but I like third grade best.
K.L. - I have been reading the chat board
Jan_Zeiger - Do they get homework in kindergarten?
Jan_Zeiger - I don't think my cooperating teacher gave homework, but I can't remember.
Delenn - Is anyone else student teaching right now?
K.L. - Yes, school policy demands it for parent reasons
josie - I have 15 special ed students who have been placed in the classroom. They are in there all day, but the special ed teacher is also teaching in my room.
MrsJ - any advice on not letting your life be taken over my constant prep and planning
Stanley - josie, Is the SPED T responsible for grading "her" Ss, or has that yet to be determined?
Delenn - Yes, I agree. It is frustrating at times because not sure of what to do.
Jan_Zeiger - MrsJ, I just started setting limits.
MrsJ - like...?
martha - I think student teaching was so much harder than being the real teacher
Jan_Zeiger - Last year, I was still in my classroom at 8pm, and I realized I had to make time for myself. Now, I leave no later than 7, and I don't take stuff home. If I leave at 5 or 6, I take papers home. Of course, I do work on the weekend, too.
MrsJ - definitely - it was like working under a constant microscope
josie - It has been up to us to determine what we are doing and how. Right now she is basically teaching the social st. and will only be giving grades for that subject.
MrsJ - how many years have you taught for jan?
Stanley - MrsJ, See how much of their work you can have the Ss correct themselves. One of the BEST G-3 Ts I know has them correcting almost EVERYTHING! :-)
Delenn - I am going through thoughts like... How will I accomplish everything in my own classroom?
josie - How does she have Students correct without going over them any way to make sure it was done right.
Jan_Zeiger - Mrs. J, this is my second year. I am in the midst of many projects. You see...
MrsJ - do you suggest the self-correcting be done as a whole class or on their own?
Jan_Zeiger - I am non-traditional. I do individual spelling lists, hands-on, research-based, and so on.
Stanley - Delenn, I'm one who prefers to "go with the flow" -- something that just doesn't fit well with being a S/T! :-(
Jan_Zeiger - Anyway, I am in the middle of writing a book for new teachers. I also moderate a new teacher mailring called Fantastic First Year. In addition, I have a website called Fantastic First Year.
MrsJ - between your wonderful teaching methods and the awesome website you've put together (i just checked out the link you listed) - you must be very, very busy! do you have any of your own children?
josie - Jan, you mentioned possible graphing with the olympics? Could you give me sone ideas on what.
Jan_Zeiger - Mrs. J, we correct homework together everyday. I don't make them switch papers. I want them to be aware of their mistakes.
Stanley - You can have the Ss correct with, say, a green pen. I don't personally feel it's necessary to have them switch papers. Better they see for THEMSELVES what they did right/wrong.
Jan_Zeiger - Mrs. J, that's the key!!! Teaching is my first priority right now. I like being able to work long hours without feeling guilty. HOwever, hubby and I are going to start the adoption process soon! :)
Jan_Zeiger - JOSIE--I was thinking medals. You could focus on a few countries. How many gold? Silver? Bronze? You could do bar graphs. I am just brainstorming.
Jan_Zeiger - Mrs. J, if I had kids, I wouldn't have been able to put in the long hours last year. My cousin is brand new to teaching, and she has three children. I don't know how she does it!
Stanley - Jan, re the Olympics, haven't there been some posts on the main board about using it in classes?
MrsJ - i have one daughter who started the 1st grade this year herself. i waited until she was in a full day program before beginning my teaching career. i'm motivated and am a natural hard-worker, but am really having a difficult time trying to figure out how to balance it all.
Jan_Zeiger - MrsJ, you said this is your first year right?
emma - My specialty is Language Arts, but I teach all subjects.
MrsJ - yes, first year.
Jan_Zeiger - Well, this is how I see it. YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL YOUR FIRST YEAR! LOL For example, I have never believed in the traditional spelling list. However, last year, I had TOO MUCH on my plate. I realized that I would have to wait until my second year to do individual lists. It's a matter of deciding what you want to focus on this year.
MrsJ - that's what i keep trying to remind myself of...that i can't do it ALL this year. i guess i'm searching for a focus of some sort.
emma - Mrs. J - What arrangements do you have for your daughter after school? I know that must be hard to work around, especially with after school meetings.
Stanley - Those of you who are in or have completed your 1st yr: What do you wish you would have done PRIOR in order to have been better prepared?
MrsJ - her bus drops her an after-care program. my father picks her up one day a week, my hubby 3x and me on friday. i knew i would be at school late most days during my first year, so i didn't want to be the one picking her up as i didn't want her to have to stay too long. it is difficult.
Delenn - How do you go about figuring out what to focus on in your first year.
MrsJ - good question stanley...for me it would have been devoting more time to really getting myself familiar with the curriculum and materials before the beginning of the school year, so the planning wouldn't seem so overwhelming.
emma - Josie - I completely understand. My best friend has one year old triplets!
Jan_Zeiger - WOW, Josie! I KNOW you are busy!
emma - Josie - The new teachers/student teacher chats happen the second Thursday of each month. There are other scheduled chats on different topics every night here.
Jan_Zeiger - ONE YEAR OLD TRIPLETS!! OH, MY!
MrsJ - i teach third and love it!
emma - Yes, the triplets keep us ALL busy! :)
MrsJ - i'm interested in hearing answers to stanley's question..about what first year teachers feel they could have done differently to feel more prepared.
Jan_Zeiger - SO how are parent conferences going with all of you?
emma - Mrs. J - Getting a routine down can really help you feel on top of things each day. The best thing you can do for yourself is to get your lessons and materials organized ahead of time. I use day of the week folders. Each folder is a different color and I label them with the days of the week. The afternoon before, I put my lesson plans, handouts, important notes, etc. into that folder and leave it in the middle of my desk. I also get my overhead and/or chalkboard all set up for the next day. This helps me be ready from the moment I walk into the classroom the next morning.
Jan_Zeiger - Mrs. J, I agree with whoever said familiarize yourself with the state standards. You can plan without even seeing your textbooks. Remember the textbook should be used as a resource and a tool--not the entire curriculum. (getting down off my soapbox...LOL)
MrsJ - that's exactly what i need to do...get myself into a comfortable routine. i like the idea of daily folders. my problem is i tend to alot little details all day long that i don't seem to have the energy for the larger, long-term types of things. can anyone relate to that?
emma - Definitely! You end the day feeling as though you've done a lot with very little to show for it. I have that feeling all the time! :)
Stanley - emma, I think MY biggest hurdle is going to be getting a FILING system going. In my leave replacement job it wasn't an issue because I inherited the class of a T who is back in it this yr. [She became the site's Resource T when I took over.]
jenny - Deleen, student teaching is going good so far. My biggest problem is classroom management.
Delenn - Same here... I am having problems with classroom management also. Have you tried anything yet?
jenny - I really think that my courseworkshould have included one whole class in classroom management.
Stanley - MrsJ, Your comment fits me to a "T" in most of my long terms/leave replacements!
MrsJ - i worry so much about classroom mgmt and spend so much time preparing myself and my room and my files, etc. that i feel drained by the time it's time to do lesson planning...which should REALLY be the most important part of my job, right?!
Delenn - I agree with you. The university that I attended didn't even cover classroom management issues with us or how to approach them.
Jan_Zeiger - Jenny, I agree. I went to the University of Florida (Go Gators), and we didn't have any classes in classroom management. I learned my classroom management skills by working with kids in all kinds of settings. I was lucky that I worked as a childcare worker, a tutor, a babysitter, and a camp counselor. Some new teachers have very little experience with kids.
jenny - I give them the "evil stare." It's only the end of the fourth week,so they're stillgetting into routines.
Stanley - jenny/Delenn, are you doing any positive reinforcement "stunts" -- say, giving tickets or having classroom money?
MrsJ - i agree w/ you jenny. classroom mgmt should definitely be covered in more depth during teacher training! that and basic spec ed info for general elem ed majors.
Jan_Zeiger - As for the ORGANIZATION part of classroom management, I struggle EVERYday. However, I am getting better. I have a friend next door who is a "neat freak." She helps me out sometimes. I am her "project."
jenny - My cooperating teacer uses a really good method. I have to use what she uses. It's her classroom
MrsJ - i am a nut about staying organized in order to think clearly, but i find in staying on top of being organized, i lose sight of my real purpose - TEACHING.
Stanley - We had things on classroom mgmt, but I still found I needed the OJT of subbing!
Delenn - No, not now. I'm looking for ideas. We are giving points for good behavior throughout the day so students can earn a movie,etc.
MrsJ - those of you giving out points...how do you keep track of them? do you have a chart?
jenny - I really have to keep my composure. i have to learn to not let the obnoxious child get to me.
MrsJ - newbie - what grade?
Newbie - middle school science
Delenn - Yes, I have a chart that is laminated and put an X over the number for each point they receive.
Stanley - jenny, The "it's her classromm" part of being a S/T is a big part of what *I* feel makes the time so difficult!
Jan_Zeiger - I have the kids do interviews on the first day. They interview somebody, and then they have to introduce them to the class. They don't mind talking about someone else on the first day. I give them questions to use in case they can't think of any. Pets, favorite food, singer, etc.
Newbie - I am replacing a teacher that needs to leave & the students have already been in school for 3 weeks. I want to make the transition as easy as possible for the children.
Jan_Zeiger - I have a chart, but I give stars. The number of stars varies from week to week. I write with a vis-a-vis marker, and I erase it at the end of the week.
Delenn - My cooperating teacher told me to be willing to try new classroom management ideas with the kids.
Jan_Zeiger - I changed the management strategy when I student taught. She didn't mind. Some teachers don't mind if you change things, while others freak out. LOL
Stanley - MrsJ, In long terms I've collected the daily tickets I give Ss, entering them into a spread sheet on the classroom computer. If I took a ticket as a consequence, I entered THAT into a data base along with an explanation.
MrsJ - i have a survey that i have them fill out about themselves...questions like their birthdate, fav color, team, what they like best about themselves, fav books, etc. i also have a word search puzzle that gives a little background info about myself. i underline certain words in my narrative about myself and those are the ones they need to find in the puzzle. that's always a hit.
jenny - stanley, she is really good about it though. I like her ideas. i'd probably use her method in January after I graduate. Infact, she told me that everything in the room is mine too. I was introduced to the kids as another teacher.
Newbie - Jan--that's a great idea. Do any of you know of more websites about teaching. This is going to be my real classroom teaching job. Before, I had just worked as an Educator at an Aquarium and Science Center.
Jan_Zeiger - I have an ABOUT ME board with pics of me at my wedding, as a baby, and so on. It helps them see me as a person with thoughts and feelings. I tell them EVERYTHING. :) (Well, not everything...LOL)
Delenn - I am teaching in Grand Forks, North Dakota. How about you?
Jan_Zeiger - Newbie, my site has links to ALL of my favorite teaching sites.
MrsJ - i agree w/ the philosophy of letting the students see that you are a real person - i think they feel so much more connected
Newbie - these are all great ideas! I will have to see what I can put together this week.
jenny - I mean, I want to be the kids's buddy. It's so hard though, because they feel that they can talk and cut up around you. Really, they need to respect you and treat you as a teacher.
Stanley - jenny, "I want to be the kid?" Do you mean you have more of an informal style than your Master T?
Jan_Zeiger - Yeah, so many teachers actually make management harder by being too distant. I feel that the main reason why I have few behavior problems is because they really, truly know me. Of course, they respect me, but they also turn to me when they have good news, family concerns, and so on. I like that.
MrsJ - true - there is definitely a fine line there, but i think it is definitely possible to have them feel connected to you (not so much in a buddy sort of way) as well as hold a deep respect for you
Jan_Zeiger - I agree. Many teachers think that their students respect them, when in reality, it is merely fear. There is a difference between FEARING your teacher and RESPECTING your teacher. You have to EARN kids' respect.
Stanley - jenny, Though I'm 53 I have somewhat of the same "problem." Perhaps the solution is to keep the humor while still being firm re what you deem to be important. "Respect" will take care of itself...
jenny - i chose to student teach in one of the lowest schools in the area. i wanted that learning experience. it's so hard to get respect when AT HOME they don't respect any adults at all. Is it too much to ask that these kids don't talk when I do or even talk back to me very rudely?
Jan_Zeiger - I always think of it this way. When you get a new job, you get a new boss. Well, even if that person is the most educated, dedicated person in the universe, it doesn't mean that you will RESPECT that person.
Jan_Zeiger - THey have to EARN your respect. You might ACT like you respect them, when deep down, you might think they are the world's biggest jerk. THis is just a way of thinking about kids and respect.
jenny - "respect" is such a broad and overused term. How can i put it?
Delenn - I agree. Respect is a hard topic to teach children.
Stanley - jenny, In NO WAY is that "too much!" But, but I suspect you'll be pulling kids out at recess, after school, etc., to explain it to them 1-on-1. Hey, but if that's what it takes...
jenny - I like to think of the classroom as a community. This way, the kids respect EACH OTHER.
Jan_Zeiger - Jenny, I work with underprivileged kids who struggle with behavioral issues. THey respect me, and they don't talk while I am talking. However, I have earned their respect for many reasons. I LOVE my kids. They really need me. My management page has all of my tips for behavior, and I work with kids who have major problems. YES!! Jenny! I have a mailring about building classroom community! I think you would fit in with the group! Here is the URL to my management page: http://www.geocities.com/janice13/community.html
Stanley - jenny, I much, MUCH prefer "kindness" to respect. My motto is, "Be known for your KINDNESS, honesty, & sense of humor."
Delenn - It was nice talking with you Jan. See you next month. This was FUN!!
Jan_Zeiger - PUT UPS not PUT DOWNS
jenny - stanley, in this school, the only privelege these children have is their half hour lunch. i can't take that away from them. they can't stay after school because if the bus doesn't bring them home, they don't get home.
Stanley - jenny, You have an AM recess -- if it is necessary to make them miss it?
jenny - there's 7am detention
Stanley - ah, Well if you're there, perhaps THAT'S the time for the 1-on-1. At least THEN they know you care -- something I've found gets lost in a classroom setting for those who choose to act out.
Stanley - jenny, What ages are you student teaching?
Delenn - Well, I'm going to sign off now. It was nice talking with you. Talk with you later.
Stanley - Likewise, Delenn! Good luck with being a S/T!! :-)
Delenn - Thanks:)
Jan_Zeiger - If you ever want to talk, email me at janigator@prodigy.net. Have a great week!
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