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Primary Elementary Teachers Chatboard

Upbeat song to dance to and begin the day?

by SB in TX

Apr 6, 2009

I want to find a song that I can play every morning to get our day started. I want to be able to make up a dance to it so we can all do the same thing. It needs to be upbeat and "hip" haha. Something the kids will love.

Any suggestions?

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Karen M. There is a GREAT cd by Putamayo that is either called Swing World or World Swing. It's big band/swing/jazz music from around the world. ALL of the music is great on it. I got mine form Lakeshore.

On 4/06/09, SB in TX wrote: > I want to find a song that I can play every morning to get > our day started. I want to be able to make up a ...See More

Apr 10, 2009

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Combining schools

by JM

Apr 6, 2009

I am looking for some help. We are consolidating schools. We are adding 8 classes to our building. We have always had cafeteria duty with our class and then someone takes the children out for recess. We have a 30min. duty free lunch.

So my questions are

*How does your school handle the teacher lunch time? Who covers the class or...See More

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Janette For recess the three teachers rotate supervision-- two go out on the playground, the other gets extra planning time. If it rains, the classroom with the non-supervising teacher is split up among the other rooms for games and so forth.

Lunch supervision is handled by a rotation of aides, student teachers, parents, office staff, even the cus...See More

Apr 11, 2009

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Teach Boy, I feel very fortunate. We have paid aides that cover our lunch periods of 45 minutes. If it rains, students eat in our rooms and aides cover our classes. Our lunch time is shortened to 30 minutes. We have 3 lunches with 650 kids. Our lunches start at 11:30 and go to 12:45.

When I first started teaching years, years, and years ago we h...See More

Apr 11, 2009

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Kids play with my hair

by Emmylou

Apr 6, 2009

When my students have free time in the classroom, sometimes they like to come behind my desk and play with my hair. I never gave it much consideration, but my school supt. was in for a visit and remarked on it. I have an evaluation coming up and I want to be ready to defend myself. I have read up on free classroom time and such, but I'd like some m...See More

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jenny/2/oh On 4/09/09, anon wrote: > Without meaning too I'm sure, this has a bit of a racial undertone. > On 4/07/09, Donna music/TN wrote: >> Could you get some heads from a beauty school for them to practice >> on? I'm guessing I know the population you teach, and there's a >> lot of social interaction which goes on over hair in tha...See More

Apr 10, 2009

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Karen M. Why would it have a "racial undertone"? People (men and women) of all races practice on heads in beauty school before moving up to practicing on real people before earning their beauticians license.

Years ago when I taught in an all black school, I was the only white teacher there. My students were fascinated with my hair. They all thought...See MoreWhy would it have a "racial undertone"? People (men and women) of all races practice on heads in beauty school before moving up to practicing on real people before earning their beauticians license.

Years ago when I taught in an all black school, I was the only white teacher there. My students were fascinated with my hair. They all thought I was old because it was "white" (it's blonde). They didn't understand why it was straight. And, yes, I let them touch it. Not ALL the time, but there were times. This was something outside of their world that they had never experienced before.

I would encourage EmmyLou to get those beauty school heads and other things for the kids to practice on though. And think about what other areas of work/play the kids might enjoy doing to that reflect real world experiences. Before this year I always had a workbench in my classroom with real hand tools (I teach K, but moved to a smaller room). Could you do this in your classroom too? Using a hammer is great for eye-hand coordination, so is using a screwdriver! Maybe one of your parnets could make you a workbench??

What about teaching the kids (boys and girls) how to crochet, knit or sew?? That's always fun! Practical too. Wal-Mart has yarn on sale all the time. Again, great eye-hand coordination skills, nice tactile work, practical life skill, and very calming to do.

If your superintendent asks about it during your evaluation, you can honestly tell him/her that you did some research, pondered on it some, and then decided to provide the kids with other opportunities, which I hope you will. :-) Good luck!

On 4/09/09, anon wrote: > Without meaning too I'm sure, this has a bit of a racial undertone.

> On 4/07/09, Donna music/TN wrote: >> Could you get some heads from a beauty school for them to practice >> on? I'm guessing I know the population you teach, and there's a >> lot of social interaction which goes on over hair in that group, >> so the kids are playing out exactly what they see (and I do see it >> being beneficial for them to have that unstructured, dramatic play >> time even in 1st/2nd if you're allowed to do it), but I agree that >> it's probably not a good idea for them to do so with your head, if >> for not other reason that if you have to react quickly when a >> child has a clump of your hair, it's gonna hurt! >>

Apr 10, 2009

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What comments do you put on cums at end of year?

by Kate

Apr 6, 2009

I am getting ready to make the labels for my cums and would like to know what some of you write for the comments. I have the standard "parent/guardian attended conferences" and one for those who did not, but I would like to change or add comments for the other two sections.

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Judy2/CA If the child had a particular interest or strength I might add that. We also indicate if the child was in after school classes, Migrant program, SST, etc. The comments I make are pretty generic. On 4/06/09, Samantha/NC wrote: > We just put grades and attendance > > > > On 4/06/09, Kate wrote: >> I am getting ready to make the l...See More

Apr 6, 2009

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Leah A list that may be of interest

Apr 6, 2009

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Proficency Boards

by AL

Apr 6, 2009

Does anyone use proficency boards in literacy? We are experimenting with them as a district. I'm wondering what they could look like for reading? I have a few ideas for writing, but am certainly open to other thoughts. Thanks!

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Easy Easter Baskets

by Need Idea

Apr 6, 2009

Hello, I need an idea for an easy easter basket for my students to make.

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Donna music/TN Gallon milk jug, cut out the top opposite the handle, have kids add paper bunny ears and faces. Just make sure the parents CLEAN OUT the jugs before sending them in!

Apr 8, 2009

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dee I make mine out of styrofoam cups. I saw some cute ones online that used pink cups. the kids just need to cut out ears, and whiskers. I use googly eyes and pompoms for the nose. Try googling paper cup easter baskets.

Apr 8, 2009

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Moving from K to 2nd - what will help the most?

by Allison W

Apr 6, 2009

Hey gang!

It's been a long time since I've posted here... but 09-10 will be my 6th year of teaching. I did K for my first year, 1st grade for the next two, and then K again for the past two.

Now I'm being moved to 2nd. I actually always wanted to teach 2nd grade (I did my student teaching in 2nd and loved it) but all my stuff is...See More

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Debbie On 4/06/09, Allison W wrote: > Hey gang! > > It's been a long time since I've posted here... but 09-10 > will be my 6th year of teaching. I did K for my first year, > 1st grade for the next two, and then K again for the past > two. > > Now I'm being moved to 2nd. I actually always wanted to > teach 2nd grade (I did my stu...See MoreOn 4/06/09, Allison W wrote: > Hey gang! > > It's been a long time since I've posted here... but 09-10 > will be my 6th year of teaching. I did K for my first year, > 1st grade for the next two, and then K again for the past > two. > > Now I'm being moved to 2nd. I actually always wanted to > teach 2nd grade (I did my student teaching in 2nd and loved > it) but all my stuff is for K-1! (Mostly K) > > So besides teacher's manuals and the state standards, what > kinds of resources do you guys feel are "must-haves" for > teaching 2nd grade? It's definitely going to be a switch. > One of my fav resources is the "Organize Now" books for > each month.. so I plan on gradually adding the grade 2-3 > edition to my files... > > But what else will help? I know I'll be doing Guided > Reading & Open Court... we also use Everyday Counts for > calendar and Think Math... I think my biggest benefit will > be to find out what I can do in GR with 2nd graders. In K- > 1st a lot of the focus was on decoding. 2nd graders for the > most part will have that part down so I'll need to work on > other skills. > > Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post! I'm just a > little nervous. :) > > Allison Congrats! I've taught 2nd for 11 years. They are obviously more independent but still want your approval (is this OK?). I find 2nd to be a year to fine tune the skills introduced in K-1. Most reading problems have been diagnosed. You'll need some easy chapter books because your proficient readers will need those (Junie B.Jones, Magic Tree House, BFG, etc.)You'll still need math manipulatives, especially base 10 blocks. Many 2nd graders are eager to start cursive writing. You'll have some that have beautiful printing and some who look like they've just learned. Some 2nd graders have moved into the next Piaget stage while some are still in concrete operations and those who have one foot in one, and the other foot in the other. Some still believe in Santa Clause/EasterBunny/Tooth Fairy, etc and some who don't but aren't quite sure. Some are quite tall physically while some are still little peanuts! I'm sure that you're going to enjoy 2nd grade!

Apr 7, 2009

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Barbara You will love second grade. Go to powerteaching.com. They helped me a lot with management skills.

On 4/06/09, Allison W wrote: > Hey gang! > > It's been a long time since I've posted here... but 09-10 > will be my 6th year of teaching. I did K for my first year, > 1st grade for the next two, and then K again for the past >...See More

Apr 9, 2009

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Educational systems

by Esterill

Apr 7, 2009

Hi everyone! I'm a primary teacher for Spain and I'm interesting in our educational systems. As the Pisa report shows spanish education is not the best although our students spend lot of their time confined in schools. In my country students starts school at the age of 3 (5 hours a day) and when they are 6 and start primary school they attend schoo...See More

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Shoes

by cboo

Apr 7, 2009

Where did the posts about the shoes you wear go? I couldn't open it here at school so decided to try again. I really wanted to see what the favorites are. :-)

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L Skechers. Comfy and never go out of style.

Apr 9, 2009

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Crocs nfm On 4/09/09, cboo wrote: > Thanks, I wear the same ones, but also Skechers and Birkis.

Apr 9, 2009

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Summer school teacher???

by Meredith

Apr 7, 2009

Hello. I have been a teacher for 2 years now and have the chance to apply to be a summer school teacher. I was wondering what kinds of activities and lessons you plan for summer school. Is it a prep for the next grade? or a catch up for those who need extra help. It has grades Pre- K to 4. Any advice would be so helpful. :)

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