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Primary Elementary Teachers Chatboard

Top 10 things NOT to say while being interviewed for a teaching job!

by By YENDOR

Mar 27, 2009

Top 10 things NOT to say while being interviewed for a teaching job

It's part of the Lighter Side of Teaching collection in this month's Teachers.Net Gazette:

[link removed]

Enjoy a chuckle as we head into the weekend!

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How to determine dyslexia

by Terri

Mar 27, 2009

I have a 1st grader who confuses his b/d, m/n, and when sounding out words he says the word with the ending sound, not the beginning sound. Is this dyslexia? How do you test for it? How do I help him? Thanks for your suggestions.

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Terri Thank you to all who took the time to respond. It means a lot. I know how busy everyone is.

Terri

Mar 30, 2009

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teach1 to Jo Try these sites. I also got some info from our SPED teacher and school psychologist.

[link removed]

On 3/30/09, Terri wrote: > Thank you to all who took the time to respond. It means a > lot. I know how busy everyone is. > > Terri

Mar 30, 2009

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1st grade rdg hw ideas?

by km

Mar 27, 2009

Although school doesn't end until middle of June...we have to give the DRA end of April/beg of May and are required to reach 18, and kids below 14 have to attend summer school. I already allows children to borrow books and have reading log and generally the kids who read are doing fine. I work in a lower income area, and my struggling readers just ...See More

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Gracie On 3/27/09, km wrote: > Although school doesn't end until middle of June...we have > to give the DRA end of April/beg of May and are required > to reach 18, and kids below 14 have to attend summer > school. I already allows children to borrow books and > have reading log and generally the kids who read are doing > fine. I work in ...See More

Mar 27, 2009

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Lady J I have my third graders write 3 sentences about what they read. These are collected and saved for a grade. Sometimes it is the reading story, sometimes it is student choice. Right now they are reading a chapter a night in a biography.

Mar 27, 2009

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Are they laying teachers off in your county?

by TeachinNC

Mar 27, 2009

I work in a different county but on NPR they said that Wake county will be laying off 700 teachers!!! Yikes!

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Debbie On 4/05/09, Flint MI announced nearly 300 lay offs (1/3 of tchrs) wrote: > On 4/05/09, Judy2/CA wrote: >> They let 14 temporary teachers go and they have been told they will >> not be rehired. Also pink slipped 60+ first and second year teachers. >> Whether or not some of them are hired back depends on funding which >> do...See More

Apr 6, 2009

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Ann/2/CA 300+ were pink-slipped. Not sure how many will be called back, and we probably won't know until summer.

Apr 6, 2009

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Egg unit

by sf

Mar 27, 2009

I was going to do a unit on eggs with my first graders. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

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MD- 2nd grade I read Patricia Pollaco's Chicken Sunday about Pysanky eggs (ancient art in Ukraine). I teach students about this ancient art, I have many pics from internet of these intricate eggs that are made with wax and dye baths. We learn the symbols that were used for life, happiness, and friendship. They color a paper egg and put on designs.

I the...See More

Mar 29, 2009

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Jenetty88 I love your egg project! Can you share more details please? Thank you!

On 3/29/09, MD- 2nd grade wrote: > I read Patricia Pollaco's Chicken Sunday about Pysanky eggs (ancient > art in Ukraine). I teach students about this ancient art, I have many > pics from internet of these intricate eggs that are made with wax and > dye bat...See More

Mar 29, 2009

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Standards Based Classroom?

by GAfirst

Mar 27, 2009

My principal has begun to toss around the term "standards based classroom" and is hinting that it will be included in our school improvement plan for next year. I'm not sure about the definition of this term and would like to hear from anyone who is familiar with it. Thanks!

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Not sure On 3/30/09, Mary/OH wrote: > I know we have to teach to the standards, but my > question still remains--if > the child can quote the standard, does that translate > to better learning and higher test scores? I am not sure about the comment I am going to write. The purpose for making the students repeat the standard is get them familiar ...See More

Apr 2, 2009

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Teach I'm definitely not against teaching to the standards. I write the standard on the board before each lesson. (My district has schools piloting SBRC but my school is not one of the pilot schools). As far as I know, I'm the only teacher in our school that displays the standards.

My question is the standard based report card. Does it really t...See MoreI'm definitely not against teaching to the standards. I write the standard on the board before each lesson. (My district has schools piloting SBRC but my school is not one of the pilot schools). As far as I know, I'm the only teacher in our school that displays the standards.

My question is the standard based report card. Does it really tell the parent what the child is doing? How much time do you spend on the report card? I guess there is no arguing with the parent on the standard. The child knows it or doesn't know it.

What if the child doesn't know the standard? Do you keep teaching until they learn it? It seems like a lot of work. I don't mind working hard. I'm at school an hour early every day and stay an hour or two after. But I do mind working harder if I don't see results. If my district has said that students may not get a 4 on the report card (leveled 1-4) what's the point of a student working exceptionally hard in effort?

I know anything new is difficult to embrace. I'm just afraid our district is moving too fast in order to be known as a district following the latest trend. Our IT department isn't ready to handle all the problems we'll encounter with the tech side of this.

What about the computer and SBRC? Did your district train all the teachers?

On 3/28/09, Ann/2/CA wrote: > On 3/27/09, GAfirst wrote: >> My principal has begun to toss around the term "standards >> based classroom" and is hinting that it will be included >> in our school improvement plan for next year. I'm not >> sure about the definition of this term and would like to >> hear from anyone who is familiar with it. Thanks! > > > It's the latest and greatest! > Our classrooms have to be "standards-based", which means that > whatever we are doing has to be aligned with the state > curriculum standards. Most likely you are already doing that, > which is a good thing! Of course our instruction is standards- > based--it's what we do every day! > > The downside of this is that, like anything else that is > mandated by administrators, you and your students will have to > show evidence and justify that the standards are being used by > jumping through a series of hoops. In my school that is: 1) > Standards must be posted for each lesson being taught (usually > on a Focus Wall), 2) All student work posted on the walls must > reference the standard, 3) Students and teachers are expected > to quote the specific standard (and apply it) numerous times > during each lesson. > > At first it seems a bit artificial, but I made a game of it > with the kids and they love it (2nd graders love games :-). > Once you get used to doing this, though, it isn't such a bad > thing. It does give kids a deeper understanding of what they > are doing and why. My kids are competitive with each other and > very eager to be able to quote the standard when asked, and the > ones that were just sitting there zoning out are just as eager. > It seems that they are more able to use higher level thinking > skills and evaluate their learning. It's pretty automatic now; > when the door opens and an adult walks in, they all turn to > look at me to volunteer to tell what standard we are working > on. Good luck. I can tell you more specifics if you are > interested.

Apr 5, 2009

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First Grade DRA / Running Record Informal Study

by Mrs. Mikesell

Mar 28, 2009

Dear First Grade Teachers,

I am interested in compiling some data on DRA levels and First Grade students.

The data I am gathering is INDEPENDENT DRA or Running Record levels the children come into First Grade on, and where they are each quarter.

I want to see if it is "statistically probable" to expect children who com...See More

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New First Grade Student - Struggling

by newteach

Mar 28, 2009

I just got a new student in my classroom. He has behavior issues and struggles quite a bit. I have a lot of routines in place including reader's and writer's workshop. Sadly, he doesn't have all of his letter sounds down (can't say the alphabet), and can't even write his name. This coupled with the fact that he has behavior issues, is making the da...See More

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TeachinNC I had a child like this last year. I had to teach him Kindergarten curriculum while teaching the rest of the class the first grade curriculum. It was a pain. You could get him a white board and markers and teach him phonics (short vowel sounds first) and have him practice words on the white board...give him some, then ask him to inventive spell oth...See MoreI had a child like this last year. I had to teach him Kindergarten curriculum while teaching the rest of the class the first grade curriculum. It was a pain. You could get him a white board and markers and teach him phonics (short vowel sounds first) and have him practice words on the white board...give him some, then ask him to inventive spell others. You could find/structure fun activities like that that he could do on his own during center or independent reading times. I would also get any help from the parents that I could. Are they supportive? Will they do extra with him at home? I would have them echo choral read your class stories (basal or other) with him each night. I would also make them a sight word concentration game out of preprimer words. He could work on these in class with a low student/peer helper as well and then you could assess him and when he knows these move on to primer, etc. Just some more ideas.

On 3/28/09, newteach wrote: > Thanks for the advice! I had considered a peer helper, but the > student is SO low, I'm not sure how they could help. For > example, in reading, I can obviously get letter cards for a > child to review with him. I'm also teaching him how to picture > reading. Actual reading would be tough for a peer to do with him > as he has no letter sounds and knows no sight words. I'm not > sure what to do in writing. This child won't do anything (even > sketch) and stands and continues to yell out my name. I'm > working on the behavior part of all this :) > > On 3/28/09, TeachinNC wrote: >> I would use peer helpers and offer them a reward. For >> example, "Mckenzie please help so and so with....and get a >> star when you are done." >> >> I wouldn't use the same peer helper all of the time, though >> because the parent might complain. Vary who you use and also >> consider the behavior of the child you will choose...for >> example, I wouldn't pick someone who would play with him or >> if it is someone who he is uncomfortable with I wouldn't pick >> that child either. >> >> >> On 3/28/09, newteach wrote: >>> I just got a new student in my classroom. He has behavior >>> issues and struggles quite a bit. I have a lot of routines >>> in place including reader's and writer's workshop. Sadly, >>> he doesn't have all of his letter sounds down (can't say >>> the alphabet), and can't even write his name. This coupled >>> with the fact that he has behavior issues, is making the >>> day really challenging. Any ideas for activities I can use >>> for this child in the classroom? I have several other >>> special needs kids to attend to as well. I do not have a >>> TA and this student does not get any classroom services. >>> So, anything I try will need to be managed by me. Thanks >>> for your advice!

Mar 28, 2009

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Gracie It sounds like tis child has never been in school.. I would begin with his name and counting..auditory and recognizing and then writing.

1. Have him say his name. 2. Show him his name and tell him the names of the letters in his name. Show him a paper with three names on it. Have him identify his own name. Work on it until he can identify ...See MoreIt sounds like tis child has never been in school.. I would begin with his name and counting..auditory and recognizing and then writing.

1. Have him say his name. 2. Show him his name and tell him the names of the letters in his name. Show him a paper with three names on it. Have him identify his own name. Work on it until he can identify his name and indentify the letters in it. If his name is long and he cannot identify the letters, go to the next step. 3. Have his name cut out in letters. Have him put the letters in the right sequence to make his name. Have a model of his name above so he can use it for reference. Once you think he can do it without the model, take it away. First name only. Once he has mastered that, have him do it periodically with a peer.

Finally do with last name. Go on to writing on unlined paper,(half sheet) and then lined paper.

Once the name is mastered, you can do recognition of all letters with their sounds. Get a workbook from the Teacher store. Best way to teach letters and sounds is to find a page of all the letters and a picture that goes with the sound and do a daily 15 minute drill with a peer.

1. Numbers. Count from 1 to 5. have him count to 1 to five and point to the numerals as he counts. Several times. Have him do that with a peer. 2. Cut out number cards. Have him put them in the right sequence. Have a model on the desk for reference. Once you think he can do it without the model, take the model away. Practice with a peer. 3. Take a light colored pencil and write the number 1 1 1 1 1 1 trace over it. Then ask him to make five more just like yours, but put a starting dot and a stop dot. Have a peer sitting next to him. Then write the number 2 in the colored pencil five times to trace over. Then start the curve of the two and put the bottom foot of the two so he knows where to go to make his own 2. Do the same with the 3, tracing first, and the start of the 3 and showing the bottom loop of the 3.

Later continue with all five numbers until mastered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On 3/28/09, Sorry - typo.... wrote: > He is way BELOW all of our K's! > > On 3/28/09, Yellow Rose wrote: >> Maybe I misunderstood but he can't write his name and does not know >> his letters and sounds but is ahead of all the K's? At this time of >> year? >> >> This child definitely is not ready for first grade and we're on the >> downswing of the school year. You're in a tight spot, really, but you >> can only do what you can do. If you do reading groups, he IS his own >> group. Take that time to practice letter i.d. and sounds. Have him >> write the letter on a white board while practicing the sound. Teach >> him a simple sight word and have him practice writing it while saying >> it. If he came from a school with a good program and was getting >> worked with, he will make some progress but probably not a lot in the >> time you have left. Speak with your principal and the parents and put >> the bug in the ears that this child will most likely need to be >> retained. Work with him on writing his name. Study and practice all >> of the letters in his name. During writing, encourage him to draw a >> picture then tell you about it. Have him dictate a sentence to you, >> say about what he likes to do such as "I like to ride my bike." Have >> him practice reading it over and over then cut it apart and have him >> put it back together, over and over. Put the pieced in an envelope and >> have him practice it at home. Next day, have him glue it back >> together, copy it and draw a picture to illustrate it. >> >> Are the parents aware of his problems and are they supportive? If so, >> start sending home a few letter cards and a very low level book for >> him to "read" at home. Keep the book in a box or a bag at school and >> have him read it at school too. Give him a new book once he >> can "read" the one he has. Yes he may end up memorizing it but >> sometimes that is the first step toward reading. >> >> You didn't go into detail about his behaviors but he may need to be >> put on a special behavior plan where he earns stars or points or >> something for keeping himself on task (drawing his picture or >> whatever) for a specific amount of time. >> >> Good luck to you. MY really low one just moved and isn't as low as >> yours but he was still a piece of work. I know how you feel. >>

Mar 28, 2009

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