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/blockquote>
I just wanted to share I read the all new Teaching with the
Brain in Mind book by Eric Jensen. It has more great
information in it that all of us teachers should know. In
the back of this book you can order a free audio CD from
him. You can get this book at [link removed]
by Sheryl Nussbaum
Aug 31, 2005
/blockquote>
Dear Colleagues and Parents,
I now offer on-line Phono-Graphix Tutoring and Training.
Phono-Graphix is a wonderful decoding program!! For more
infornation, please e-mail me at [email removed]
/blockquote>
I came up with songs to teach 70 high frequency words by
using music along with movement. I also showed them the
word, so it was visual, musical, and kinesthetic. If anyone
is interested in hearing a sound byte, you can check out my
website, which is [link removed].
I currently teach K but I tried out ...See More/blockquote>
I came up with songs to teach 70 high frequency words by
using music along with movement. I also showed them the
word, so it was visual, musical, and kinesthetic. If anyone
is interested in hearing a sound byte, you can check out my
website, which is [link removed].
I currently teach K but I tried out these songs with some
remedial second graders this summer in summer school. I
pretested and post tested them on 17 of the words. At the
beginning of the summer, most children missed nearly all of
the words. At the end, they all gained by at least a
minimum of 30%. Most gained much more. We sang the songs
for about 20-30 minutes, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The
children never sat down and never picked up a pencil. It
really worked! HeidiB. [email removed]
by Not ready!
Sep 17, 2005
/blockquote>
Hi everyone,
I looked for 3 years for a teaching position, working as
an aide during that time. Every time I felt ready to
throw in the towel (because I was so frustrated at not
getting a job), I realized I would not be happy without
being in the school environment, around the kids. They
make my day, ...See More/blockquote>
Hi everyone,
I looked for 3 years for a teaching position, working as
an aide during that time. Every time I felt ready to
throw in the towel (because I was so frustrated at not
getting a job), I realized I would not be happy without
being in the school environment, around the kids. They
make my day, and I love to teach. But I have always known
that I prefer working with small groups over working with
a whole class at once, so always I knew I would be
overwhelmed and apprehensive when starting my first
teaching job....
Well, I was called 3 weeks after school started - a school
was overloaded in 3 classrooms and was splitting them.
They created a 1-2 split, and hired me to teach the new
class. I am going to have first and second graders; their
skills are all over the place - some first graders are
reading level 2 books, some are reading level 20. Some
second graders are at level 4, some are at level 25. Some
have not been tested, so they have no idea what their
levels are....
I walked into my classroom to set up on my first day and
saw that it was mostly BARE. There was a teacher desk, one
tall narrow cabinet with 6 shelves, and about 5 tables, a
chalkboard and one bulletin board. NO cabinets, no
shelves, no student coat hooks or cubbies. No file
cabinets, no drawers, no place to store anything. PLUS,
NO teacher materials. I was given a set of first grade
reading materials 3 hours after my first day 'officially'
ended (ha ha ha!), but have no second grade materials, nor
do I have any math, science, social studies or language
curriculum. No student books (except for a few leveled
first grade books and some basals (not enough for all the
kids). Also, no supplies (paper, etc), except for some
pencils, 4 boxes of crayons, post-its and glue - and THOSE
were given to me by a teacher who took pity on me. They
basically turned me into a barren classroom and
said "Okay, set it up." I have very limited resources,
being a first year teacher, and feel extremely
overwhelmed. I spent my first day (I was supposed to be
setting up the classroom, but someone thought it would be
better if I looked for my curriculum materials instead),
in the basement crawling over boxes breathing in mold and
dust while looking for my math and reading instructional
materials, which I never found. Went to the principal
with a list at the end of the day asking for some things I
needed and was told I would need to provide most of it
myself (this is a BARE classroom, and there is no place to
store any materials!). He also told me that all new
teachers feel this way and meet these challenges, and that
I should give up the idea of the "perfect" classroom (he's
NOT listening - I gave up perfect the second I stepped
into the room - I would just like acceptable at this
point!) The interview team really stressed literacy
instruction, but I have no materials or places for
centers. They told me to buy a rug for my reading center
(which currently has no books, no budget to buy books, and
no books provided by the school) - I have priced rugs - a
large enough rug to hold all my students will cost me
around $300. They said that is a "self purchase" as are
bookcases, books and book crates. I have already spent
$600 (on credit) for materials (mostly teacher
reproducibles, a few educational (reading) games, and the
like - I have to have SOMETHING for the kids to do!), now
I have to spend a LOT more on other materials, books,
furniture....I am so extremely overwhelmed. I can borrow
some (VERY OLD) books from my mom for a classroom library,
but have no place to actually put them as I have no
bookshelves and currently all the tables are serving
as "counter space" to hold what few materials I was
given. I just stood in my classroom and cried yesterday
at 7 PM after I had been there for 12 hours straight
because the room looked awful and I know it will never be
ready for kids with what I have been given to work with.
Add that to the fact that my classroom is an outdoor
trailer, with a door that does not lock (so I'm afraid
what little resources I have brought to the room will be
stolen at night), no bathroom or sink (so my students will
have to wander outside in the winter to go to the
bathroom), spiders everywhere, and a large mousehole in
the wall - with sometning definitely moving inside. I am
now afraid, too, that my students will be split up for
specials 2nd going with second grade, 1st going with first
grade, meaning I will always have kids in my room, and
will recieve no planning time or bathroom breaks...We also
do not have recess, which leaves just a 40 minute lunch
break, and that is it. And I was told my second graders
have about a 15 minutes attention span, but I am supposed
to teach reading and language for the entire morning, math
all afternoon, and science or social studies only when I
can fit it in and tie it in to reading. (plus, I have to
teach to 2 grades, so I have to occupy one group while
instructing the other - with no materials!)
To top it all off, two days after signing my contract, I
was called by a much nicer district and offered a straight
grade classroom (in an actual building with actual
supplies), which I would have loved to take - but had
already signed a contract. I feel so defeated, and quite
mis-led as well. I asked and asked after interview if I
could see the curriculum guide, could see the classroom,
asked what materials and resources would be available -
and nothing. In fact, I still have not been given a
curriculum guide or staff handbook, and only got my class
list after begging and following someone all over the
school asking for it (so I could put the kids names up on
the bulletin board). The first grade teacher told me
parents are calling right and left because their children
are upset that they will be uprooted from their classroom,
so I see problems there as well. One of the teachers (at
least the staff is VERY nice, that is a plus in this
otherwise dismal situation) told me she would not have
signed a contract until she knew exactly what she was
getting herself into. I wish i'd have known that - I was
told you take what you get, because teaching jobs are VERY
hard to come by in my area. She also told me I am
teaching in a suburban school, I should not have to work
with no supplies or furniture as though I were in
Appalachia.....
I left a beautiful, well-equipped district (I worked as an
aide, but still - it was nice) to come to this. I have
NOTHING ready, and am supposed to have just one more day
to set up before getting the kids. I fear this is going
to be a LOOOONG difficult year. Today I am going shopping
to spend a LOT more money that I DONT have to buy things
for my classroom - but with a bare space and no materials,
I have absolutely no idea what should be a priority. I am
just devestated, and every few minutes, I start to cry
again. This just seems hopeless. And to think, people
are always saying teachers have it so easy...I'd love to
see one of those people dealing with this situation,
knowing that kids are coming after just 3 more days (1
school day)and knowing that there is truly NOTHING in the
classroom for them.
UGH I am so frustrated and find myself wishing I had never
gone into this in the first place. Please, someone tell
me it will get better. :o(
/blockquote>
HELP! My first yr teaching. I can manage my classroom
just fine, but not all this damn paperwork/lesson
planning. I confess, I'm a seat-of-the-pants sort of
person, but after only two weeks I can see that that's
just not gonna cut it for high school. We have new admin.
that's asking for 3 wks of plans, m...See More/blockquote>
HELP! My first yr teaching. I can manage my classroom
just fine, but not all this damn paperwork/lesson
planning. I confess, I'm a seat-of-the-pants sort of
person, but after only two weeks I can see that that's
just not gonna cut it for high school. We have new admin.
that's asking for 3 wks of plans, my emergency sub folder,
personal goals by next week. I'm finding that I just
manage to stay a couple of pages ahead of my class -- what
with grading hw, quizzes, tests and THEN to have to tackle
long-range lesson planning....jeez, no wonder no one wants
to teach; it's not teaching, it's paper-pushing. And
since I'm a newbie, I feel like all eyes are on me,
waiting to criticize whatever I do!
The kids are great. They're doing well grade-wise, class-
wise. But this paperwork is gonna put me in a strait-
jacket. (guess I should've mentioned, in case you haven't
guessed, I'm provisionally licensed--degree in my subject,
no ed. courses)
Any advice for the weary?
Thanks
by Any ideas?
Sep 18, 2005
/blockquote>
Does anyone have any recommendations for good books to
read on differentiated instruction? Thanks.
by Any ideas?
Sep 18, 2005
/blockquote>
Does anyone have suggestions for good books on
differentiated instruction? I need to read up on it.
Thanks.
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Teacher Chatboards
On 8/31/05, Sheryl Nussbaum wrote:
> Dear Colleagues and Parents,
> I now offer on-line Phono-Graphix Tutoring and Training.
> Phono-Graphix is a wonderful decoding program!! For more
> infornation, please e-mail me at [email removed]