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California Mission Vent, anyone?

by KimK1ca

Feb 13, 2011

I was in Michael's today getting some last-minute Valentine stuff for my K-1 kids when I saw them. Lined up in a rack, organized with tabs in alphabetical order. Above the display are bags of accessories - tile roofs, cisterns, flora and fauna, little cemetery crosses.

YES. The pre-made California Missions are still vexing me. Since I have...See More

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cavey Oh puleeezzeeee. At least missions can be built with square little blocks and sugar cubes. These things are even and stack up neatly.

You don't know parental pain til you've had to do an authentic Native American longhouse. You have to go out in the woods, gather real authentic branches, take these branches back in and soak them in water ...See More

Feb 16, 2011

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LOL...is there some educational point to building useless stuff like this anyway, since it's just going to wind up cluttering up people's houses or in the dumpster? Wouldn't it make more sense for the students to look at photographs or slides of the real things, and discuss the real-life challenges that went into making them at the time?

I could almost see it if they were remo...See Moreto building useless stuff like this anyway, since it's just going to wind up cluttering up people's houses or in the dumpster? Wouldn't it make more sense for the students to look at photographs or slides of the real things, and discuss the real-life challenges that went into making them at the time?

I could almost see it if they were remotely authentic, but come on, missionaries didn't use sugar cubes, and Native Americans didn't use glue guns. If the parents are doing the building these days, I'm surprised you haven't taken branches in hand and staged an angry revolt.

We had to something like this when I was in third or fourth grade, and I thought it was stupid then. I forget what the structure was, but I used a cardboard box and a few Barbie and Ken dolls and got an A. The teacher barely looked at them, too. Her big thing was making sure we all took them home the same day, because they were piled up all over her shelves in the way. Mom had to drop me off at school that day and pick me up (I usually walked), and after all the painting and costume making (they did have to wear Native American clothes, which I patched together out of an old pillowcase dyed brown), their house wound up in the trash, and Barbie, Ken and Francie went back into their Toys R Us house where they belonged. I think it was Ken whose eyes I scrubbed off trying to remove the makeup. Big waste of time and Ken's eyesight for a pointless, stupid project that taught us nothing but how to be annoyed.

There should probably be a "Useless Project-Based Busywork" section on every teacher's evaluation sheet.

On 2/16/11, cavey wrote: > Oh puleeezzeeee. At least missions can be built with square little blocks > and sugar cubes. These things are even and stack up neatly. > > You don't know parental pain til you've had to do an authentic Native > American longhouse. You have to go out in the woods, gather real authentic > branches, take these branches back in and soak them in water til they bend. > Most branches that you find in the woods on the ground, don't bend. Most > branches also don't hold together well with Elmer's glue either. You have > to use hot glue and when the branches pop off, you have to do it again and > again. Then you have to go back in the woods and try to find more bendable > branches. Popcicles sticks just won't do. Oh no, not for an authentic > longhouse! We're in Virginia for pete's sake. I have no idea why we were > even building a longhouse anyway. I think they got to pick any old type of > native structure but I could never talk my kids into teepee or igloo. Oh > no, we're a longhouse family. > > We actually did some very lovely longhouses. They were rivaled only by my > relief map of VA made out of salt dough and my model of a cell made with > cookie dough.

Feb 20, 2011

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Our next next book for discussion???

by judy5ca

Feb 17, 2011

Oh, please please please, does anyone want to join me in reading this after Schmoker? Judy

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Teri I just checked out the Schmoker book on Amazon. It looks great too but it says it doesn't ship for 1-3 weeks! Maybe I'll just "lurk" on this discussion, but I will definitely get the other book!

On 2/19/11, judy5ca wrote: > Teri, take your time getting it because we're going to read > Schmoker first (if mine ever arrives--it shipped...See More

Feb 19, 2011

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Teri Ordered the Keene book--expected delivery March 21st! Looks like all professional books are backordered.

On 2/19/11, judy5ca wrote: > Teri, take your time getting it because we're going to read > Schmoker first (if mine ever arrives--it shipped). > > Brad, ROFL, aren't you surprised this reading comp book doesn't > have "Att...See More

Feb 23, 2011

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Willingham Chapter 9

by judy5ca

Feb 21, 2011

Great chapter, not much new, but I certainly agree with what he wrote.

The two main points of reinforcement for me: 1. Practice improves students AND teachers. 2. Videotaping ourselves is fabulous feedback. I've been taped many times and, after I get done wincing, I always learn something to improve my teaching. Just recently my coach tap...See More

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dc Now it is ME pedaling as fast as I can! I thought we were on Chapter , so I finished that today! I'll read chapter 9 as soon as I can.

Judy, re: watching students outside of class: That's what was great about having kids the same ages as my students. I was on all of the sidelines for soccer games, programs, etc. I could see them in a "dif...See More

Feb 21, 2011

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My Schmoker is here!

by judy5ca

Feb 24, 2011

I read the first 2 pages of the intro and am in love. Who knew there are people outside the classroom who consider authentic literacy? I don't have a ton of time to read right now, but let me know what kind of schedule you're considering, Jan. Cavey, did yours come yet? dc, are you getting it? Brad? Kim?

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KimK1ca LOL.. sounds like I am going to schmoke some schausage.

:-)K

Feb 26, 2011

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Teri I was actually going to skip the Schmoker discussion and just lurk until you started Comprehension Going Forward, but then Amazon showed that I could get the Schmoker in two days--guess they got another shipment in! I should have mine tomorrow afternoon:)

On 2/26/11, KimK1ca wrote: > LOL.. sounds like I am going to schmoke some schausag...See More

Mar 3, 2011

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Help with behavior management issues, please!

by judy5ca

Mar 1, 2011

1. During music (I was not there), one of my boys was swinging his arms (not part of music class) and hit another boy in the mouth with a clenched fist. I'm sure it was unintentional, but the principal's response was to say that it was an accident and the arm-swinger should be provided more personal space. 2. One of my boys said "F.U." to another b...See More

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judy5ca Oh, no, just when I think I'm figuring out how to be humane in this situation, you add info dependent on something I didn't share: armswinger is one of the biggest all-time behavior problems in the history of my school. I have come to love him, but he is the most disruptive student I've ever had. He was out for 3 days last week and the tone in my c...See MoreOh, no, just when I think I'm figuring out how to be humane in this situation, you add info dependent on something I didn't share: armswinger is one of the biggest all-time behavior problems in the history of my school. I have come to love him, but he is the most disruptive student I've ever had. He was out for 3 days last week and the tone in my class was relaxed, calm, easy-going; I promise you this is a huge change from our normal tension. This kid is one who makes adults roll their eyes. In fact, the janitor and lunch ladies came to see me to let me know that the whole cafeteria was a much-improved place at lunchtime due to armswinger's absence last week. I'm still glad I didn't let on because I learned a lot from our discussion. I only tell you this now because you might want to know. Judy P.S. Whenever I let armswinger off the hook (or try to be understanding of the fact that his mother, a drug addict, is not in the picture), I am roundly criticized by my colleagues for being too "easy" on him. Imagine my shock when some of you perceived I was too tough. LOLOLOL P.P.S. Armswinger will be gone another week. As I said, I love him, but never have I been so happy to fill out an independent study contract.

On 3/06/11, Jan wrote: > On 3/06/11, dc wrote: >> Jan, I definitely see your points about "beating a dead horse" >> with children and consequences. Your points are valid. I'm >> sure I responded without carefully understanding the unique and >> individual situation of both of those boys and their offenses. >> I could tell that Judy felt "not supported" by the principal >> and perhaps that is the result of her knowledge of those two >> children and their prior offenses and impulses. You make very >> good points about sometimes the "visit" to the principal is >> just consequence enough! I know if my own kids had had >> to "visit" the principal, they probably would have peed their >> pants! > > You are very right that Judy's knowledge of the history of the boys > makes a difference....and we didn't have that. What we do in terms > of management is very dependent on history. A first offense is > handled very differently that a third or fourth offense....or even > a second offense for that matter.

Mar 6, 2011

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cavey See, I knew there was more to the story! Bless his little armswinging heart!

On 3/06/11, judy5ca wrote: > Oh, no, just when I think I'm figuring out how to be humane in this > situation, you add info dependent on something I didn't share: > armswinger is one of the biggest all-time behavior problems in the > history of my schoo...See MoreSee, I knew there was more to the story! Bless his little armswinging heart!

On 3/06/11, judy5ca wrote: > Oh, no, just when I think I'm figuring out how to be humane in this > situation, you add info dependent on something I didn't share: > armswinger is one of the biggest all-time behavior problems in the > history of my school. I have come to love him, but he is the most > disruptive student I've ever had. He was out for 3 days last week and > the tone in my class was relaxed, calm, easy-going; I promise you this > is a huge change from our normal tension. This kid is one who makes > adults roll their eyes. In fact, the janitor and lunch ladies came to > see me to let me know that the whole cafeteria was a much-improved > place at lunchtime due to armswinger's absence last week. I'm still > glad I didn't let on because I learned a lot from our discussion. I > only tell you this now because you might want to know. > Judy > P.S. Whenever I let armswinger off the hook (or try to be understanding > of the fact that his mother, a drug addict, is not in the picture), I > am roundly criticized by my colleagues for being too "easy" on him. > Imagine my shock when some of you perceived I was too tough. LOLOLOL > P.P.S. Armswinger will be gone another week. As I said, I love him, > but never have I been so happy to fill out an independent study contract. > > > > > > On 3/06/11, Jan wrote: >> On 3/06/11, dc wrote: >>> Jan, I definitely see your points about "beating a dead horse" >>> with children and consequences. Your points are valid. I'm >>> sure I responded without carefully understanding the unique and >>> individual situation of both of those boys and their offenses. >>> I could tell that Judy felt "not supported" by the principal >>> and perhaps that is the result of her knowledge of those two >>> children and their prior offenses and impulses. You make very >>> good points about sometimes the "visit" to the principal is >>> just consequence enough! I know if my own kids had had >>> to "visit" the principal, they probably would have peed their >>> pants! >> >> You are very right that Judy's knowledge of the history of the boys >> makes a difference....and we didn't have that. What we do in terms >> of management is very dependent on history. A first offense is >> handled very differently that a third or fourth offense....or even >> a second offense for that matter.

Mar 6, 2011

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Kindled my Schmoker

by brad

Mar 4, 2011

So ready when you are...

(Kim, is that like grilling your shaushage? Kindling your Schmoker?)

brad

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cavey I'm half way through. I'm ready when you guys are. Lots of head nodding so far.

On 3/04/11, brad wrote: > So ready when you are... > > (Kim, is that like grilling your shaushage? Kindling your > Schmoker?) > > brad

Mar 4, 2011

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dc Love this book! Oh how happy I would be if this is the way we talked about "school/education reform!"

How many can I buy to put into the hands of every politician in the state of California? Not that they would actually read it, however. They would prefer to just listen to Bill Gates. It's easier than reading a book.

Mar 5, 2011

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No Pink Slips

by dc

Mar 5, 2011

It was announced in the paper today that our district will not be issuing pink slips for the first time in four years. Can I just tell you how relieved I am? We have so many teachers (and COUPLES!) who have received pink slips every year for the past three years (and I'm sure it has been the same for you in most of your districts as well). We often...See More

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nyteach I'm in NY. I don't know what "furlough days" are. We teach a minimum # of days a year..... do they just decide not to pay you for some days??

We have a Union in NYS. Our union recommends that we not agree to a pay freeze to "save some jobs" because in reality, you don't know if those ppl would be laid off anyway, even if/after you agreed t...See More

Mar 9, 2011

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dc Oh, I'm so sorry, Erin. It's so tough to go through that. Our district went through massive pink slips for four years in a row. It's not fun. Take care.

Mar 9, 2011

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