Teachers Chatboard

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

Teachers

MEMBERS

249 Members

+ Join Group

Teachers Chatboard

Fact checking

by link for a documentary

Feb 2, 2017

facebook.com/GregPalastInvestigates/videos/10 154934599072128/

Fact check as needed

Comment

report post

EXERCISE ROLL CALL - Wednesday

by Bev-MI

Feb 1, 2017

Thank you Jrod for inspiring me to go another round on the treadmill this afternoon. Not feeling the best...sinus problems and recovering from head cold. I have 9,297 steps, but will go over goal with that last session. Thanks again!

Move on!! :)

Comment

(1)

report post

judycaret I walked my 10,000 steps this morning then had 3 pieces of leftover pizza for lunch. That wouldn't be so bad, but we're having giant baked potatoes for dinner. And that wouldn't be so bad, but we're topping them with butter, bacon, and cheese. Yum!

Feb 1, 2017

report post

Anyone from the old AOL

by teachers/education boards?

Feb 1, 2017

I used to chat with a teacher whose AOL handle was something like "zwannabee1" and she said that she had been Jay Z's English teacher. I had not thought of the AOL boards in a long time and they're probably long gone. I went looking for her to see where she was and her name was Mary Ann Alphonsi--did anyone here know her? Apparently I sta...See More

Comment

report post

Comp 4 data

by amber

Jan 31, 2017

What type of data needs to be collected from families and the community?

Comment

(4)

report post

view previous comments

State BOEE would have this data Your state Board of Education might have the data you need for your community. Your local school board would also have this data in a district office. It is report out data and is public information.

Feb 1, 2017

report post

amber On 2/01/17, State BOEE would have this data wrote:
> Your state Board of Education might have the data you
> need for your community. Your local school board would
> also have this data in a district office. It is report
> out data and is public information.
>
>
>
Thank you! That is what I thought i...See More

Feb 1, 2017

report post

Apple Seed for Wednesday, 01 February 2017

by Barb S. hs/ret

Feb 1, 2017

<h3><font color=brown>To-Do lists help us break life into small steps.

<i>~ Randy Pausch</i></h3></font>

Comment

report post

Google Cardboard apps in the classroom

by Debbie A.

Feb 1, 2017

Google cardboard is an exciting, affordable, user- friendly VR interface with your smartphone. These VR viewers are literally made of cardboard and range in price from $7.00 (unfolded) to $15.00 (folded). Or you can make a viewer for yourself. A list of easy to locate materials can be found on this website: https://vr.google.com/cardboard/get-cardb...See MoreGoogle cardboard is an exciting, affordable, user- friendly VR interface with your smartphone. These VR viewers are literally made of cardboard and range in price from $7.00 (unfolded) to $15.00 (folded). Or you can make a viewer for yourself. A list of easy to locate materials can be found on this website: https://vr.google.com/cardboard/get-cardboard/. You’ll need: cardboard, lenses, magnets, Velcro and a rubber band. Google cardboard has iOs and Android apps. These apps allow students to take VR photos, explore YouTube videos that feel as though you are a part of them, explore environments and play games. One of the Google Cardboard apps that’s designed specifically for education is “Sites in VR.” This app allows users to take virtual tours of landmarks with 360 degree panoramic images. There are 1600+ images to choose from. Users can choose from a variety of viewers. Most of them are inexpensive. The sites are arranged in categories: mosques, tombs, palaces, museums, inns, baths, castles, towers, houses, squares, parks, nature, religious, ancient, space and other. Once you select a specific place, you can maneuver within it by choosing icons representing rooms or areas within the site. Google users rate this app a 4.5 out of 5. This app has many obvious uses in a classroom. Virtually seeing a historic landmark makes it come to life for students. The app can be found here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details? id=air.com.ercangigi.sitesin3d. A Google cardboard app that has a lot of educational potential is Relax VR: Rest & Meditation. Viewers can transport themselves to peaceful scenes: sandy beaches, grassy hills. While there, soft melodic tunes play as you gaze at passing clouds or the ocean while experiencing guided meditation. The videos are 360 views and include the natural sounds of the beach, ocean, wind and waves. The meditation technique used is called Yoga Nidra. Students and teachers alike are very stressed in today’s society. This app could be helpful for students in crisis situations, or before a big test. It may have potential for students with behavior and anger issues. You need an android or iOs device and a viewer for this app. The app can be found here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details? id=co.nowvr.relaxationvr.

Comment

report post

Classes to dread

by Novel

Jan 31, 2017

For the first time ever in a career of 34 years, I have classes I dread. How do you overcome this feeling?

Comment

(2)

report post

my idea I only allowed myself to think in small time increments. I'd think I can do this for an hour. I can do this until lunch. I can do this until dismissal. I only have x days to do this. I won't see them next year.

Jan 31, 2017

report post

AM When I am mired in muck (teams/people) and have to participate I prefer to keep my whole being positive. Hard to do sometimes but it's better than the opposite. Every day as the kids come in think of something positive to say about some of them or the day in your head. Do it as often as you can through those classes. There is always something posit...See More

Jan 31, 2017

report post

Can teachers be banned from peaceful protests

by by their administrations?

Jan 30, 2017

It is starting to happen.

Comment

(5)

report post

view previous comments

Mama maria On 1/30/17, by their administrations? wrote: > It is starting to happen. I don't think so legally, but as with child advocacy ,I would say don't do it in your district or city because of possible retailiation, instead I would suggest going to the next largest city near you, your state capital, or directly to DC

Jan 31, 2017

report post

it depends Generally speaking, no, if we're talking about a public school, then it is usually protected by the First Amendment. All courts recognize that matters of "public concern" are protected by the First Amendment; judges do not always agree about what matters concern the public; and courts have granted school boards the right to control teache...See MoreGenerally speaking, no, if we're talking about a public school, then it is usually protected by the First Amendment. All courts recognize that matters of "public concern" are protected by the First Amendment; judges do not always agree about what matters concern the public; and courts have granted school boards the right to control teachers' speech that is related to their districts' personal interests. (c.f., Pickering v. Board of Education)

However, if the consequences of a teacher's political expression or affiliations outside of the classroom are outweighed by the school's interests in promoting a safe and effective learning environment, then the district can use time, place, manner, context or consequences of the teacher's expression to censor the activity and probably win if challenged in court. In other words, depending on the circumstances, if the activity is morally objectionable or becomes an issue that interferes with the teacher's performance in his or classroom, then there may be a right for the administration to forbid the activity. As a general rule, the First Amendment protects teacher's rights to participate in political activity as citizens. Teachers may put political stickers on their cars, and they can probably wear political buttons on their clothing and associated with various political activist causes, as long as they are not using school time to engage in partisan political activity. They also must be careful not to try to persuade students to adopt their personal views. (c.f., Coover v. Saucon Valley School District, 1997)

Private schools are another matter, and are not generally bound by these legal restrictions, sans a formal contract that affords greater protection. In addition, if you are non-tenured or otherwise at will, there is generally nothing stopping an administrator from using this as part of his or her decision to not renew your contract as long as s/he doesn't come out and state this as a specific reason for non-renewal, i.e., "the less said the better" can oftentimes protect the district from getting legally challenged for otherwise dismissing someone for engaging in constitutionally protected behavior, even if you have a strong union.

Your mileage may vary.

Jan 31, 2017

report post

EXERCISE ROLL CALL - Tuesday

by men

Jan 31, 2017

Got in 19.7 miles in cycling class this AM. I was talking to the lady next to me after class was over but was cycling while gabbing and lost track of the time. The instructor told me after class that she thought I was doing really well. She could tell I have really upped the resistance on the gears while riding. I don't get much positive feedback e...See More

Comment

(6)

report post

view previous comments

Elaine/ret/IN to Judy Oh, isn't that the truth? I really do miss having
teen-agers in the house just for their tech support. Even
now, at Christmas, DD looked at that website and--never
having used WordPress before--made a few immediate tweaks
and showed me the steps that enabled me to tackle it
today.

So cool that downloading books is easier. H...See More

Jan 31, 2017

report post

JRod I was feeling down it the dumps today and I can't figure out why. I had to force myself to get to the gym.

Today was weigh in and the scale has not budged! I will continue on the calorie intake I am on for another two weeks. If it doesn't change, I will recalculate and take it from there. The one thing I have noticed is that the belly jigg...See More

Jan 31, 2017

report post

Selective Mute

by PalmdaleMark

Jan 28, 2017

Anyone have a strategy for getting a selective mute to communicate? I've tried picture cards and fantasy role play with no success...has anyone gotten their selective mute to speak? Thank!

Comment

(8)

report post

view previous comments

Louisiannie No advice. I'll share my story. The boy was in the 8th grade. A million years ago. Small system. No support programs.

The students immediately put me on to the situation when he didn't answer roll call the first day.

"William doesn't talk."

Not "can't" - just accept it.. Move on.

He never re...See More

Jan 31, 2017

report post

ELL teacher On 1/28/17, PalmdaleMark wrote: > Anyone have a strategy for getting a selective mute to > communicate? I've tried picture cards and fantasy role play > with no success...has anyone gotten their selective mute to > speak? Thank!

I've had two. Both were teenagers and both were EL students (no, I'm not confusing an EL student's &...See MoreOn 1/28/17, PalmdaleMark wrote: > Anyone have a strategy for getting a selective mute to > communicate? I've tried picture cards and fantasy role play > with no success...has anyone gotten their selective mute to > speak? Thank!

I've had two. Both were teenagers and both were EL students (no, I'm not confusing an EL student's "silent period" with selective mutism; I'm an ELL teachers so I've seen that many times before but with these two it was very different: refusal to speak in any language at school, even native language, for more than two years, long after English comprehension and writing had gotten fairly good; speaking in other contexts such as at home but not at school). I agree with the advise that has been given by others. Trying to force the child to speak will make it worse. Find out what has been done in the past and who you can refer him to, but also be prepared to "wait it out".

One of my two would repeat words but would not say a single word at school although his sister said he "wouldn't shut up at home" and at home he used both English and his native language. At school he started speaking in a very quiet whisper after a couple of months if he had someone nearby who would model what to say, but all of his words at that point were repeated from someone else. This progressed to whispered oral reading and then a very few, whispered phrases ("yes," "no," "may I go to the bathroom?" "it's not mine," "please explain," and so on). In written work he was actually one of my better students, progressing in written English faster than most. Then one day after almost two years he suddenly started speaking, in the same good English he was using for written work by that point.

The other student was also with me for two years but was still not speaking when he left (he moved out of the area). He developed a very elaborate system of gestures (which was really quite creative and it was impressive how much he could communicate with it). He occasionally whispered a few words to go along with the gestures. Like the other student, his comprehension and writing were good by the end of the two years, but he still did not start speaking. In his case his gestures were so expressive that I think he had less motivation to start speaking - what he had been doing was working so well for him by that point!

For my two I believe that the fact that school took place in their second language was part (or all) of the cause of their selective mutism; I see it as the likely cause, but believe the same sort of situation can be caused by other fears or traumas as well. Your student's situation may be similar, even if there is no language issue involved. Other than seeking professional support for the student I recommend patience, finding ways to communicate even if they don't involve speech, allowing/encouraging whispers and repetition or "oral reading while still not yet using one's own words" as signs of progress when the student is ready. We treated all of these steps as normal, never making a big deal out of them but certainly making sure that any attempt at speech was accepted and got a reasonable (but not over-reactive) response. The students did make progress but it does take time.

Jan 31, 2017

report post

« prev page

Teacher Chatboards