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Upper Elementary Teachers Chatboard

Question for Veteran Teachers

by Fourth Teach

Jan 27, 2009

What can you say has been most helpful in you becoming an effective teacher? Any tips, things that you have learned to make things easier? I teach fourth grade. Thanks.

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paulaj On 1/27/09, Fourth Teach wrote: > What can you say has been most helpful in you becoming an > effective teacher? Any tips, things that you have learned > to make things easier? I teach fourth grade. > Thanks.

There isn't just one thing, but some are: * learning how to do differentiated instruction (small reading groups) * using...See More

Feb 2, 2009

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vet teacher On 1/27/09, Fourth Teach wrote: > What can you say has been most helpful in you becoming an > effective teacher? Any tips, things that you have learned > to make things easier? I teach fourth grade. > Thanks.

Great question. I'll try to make a short list but I can't put them in order of importance.

1. giving less homew...See More

Feb 4, 2009

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Answering in complete sentences. HELP!

by Amy K.

Jan 27, 2009

Hello! How do you get your students to answer short answer question (or any question!!) in complete sentences?? I teach third graders. Its half-way through the year! I am thinking of tatooing "answer in complete sentences" across my forehead! Thanks for any input! Amy K.

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social studies and a language arts teacher On 1/28/09, Lady J wrote: > It's late and my brain is foggy, but why do we get them to answer in > complete sentences?

Well said, Lady J. I think we really do this for the same reason we do many things in teaching - because it's always been done that way. I don't do it that way - I see it as a confusion of goals. I test writing throu...See More

Jan 29, 2009

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g/mo/3 I'm not sure if this was addressed in other posts but here's what I do: I encourage my students to answer ALL questions in complete sentences (not just written work). When answering orally, if a students begins to answer with "because..." or some other fragment, I redirect them and insist they either restate the question first or use a "Thinking St...See More

Feb 8, 2009

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new math series

by narrowed to 3 choices

Jan 27, 2009

Hello, We have narrowed our search for new Math Series to three choices:

Pearson/Scott Foresman "Envision Math"

Everyday Math

The MacMillan/McGraw Hill- Connects program Any thoughts- positive or not so positive about any of these programs? We are K-5th. Thanks

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Nora in Texas br> > Pearson/Scott Foresman "Envision Math" is good. love their technology component

Best one and I was also on the district committe

Feb 7, 2009

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Shannon Hope it isn't too late for this post.

We started EnVision this year, and opinions have been mixed. We love the way each topic builds upon the next, and the options it gives for differentiating. Some teachers have found it too rigorous for their grade level---it goes way beyond our state standards on some areas. For example, our state stand...See More

Feb 16, 2009

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Charter Schools

by Kid@Heart

Jan 27, 2009

I work in a public elementary school, but this is our third year sharing our building with a charter school. Over the summer, we are being asked to switch rooms so the original school is separate from the charter school. According to DPI, it's okay to share staff and a building, but it's not okay to share a hallway. Since they are a charter with ex...See More

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Leah No, I am not familiar with a situation such as yours, but I can certainly understand your frustration! With all of this Charter School's resources you would think that they would have MORE minority, ELL, and special needs students.

Sorry, I can't be of more help.

On 1/27/09, Kid@Heart wrote: > I work in a public elementary sc...See More

Jan 28, 2009

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Whole Group all day long

by TOSA/TX

Jan 28, 2009

Hi, All,

I am a language support provider, and I'm working at a new school. It appears that the 4th and 5th grade teachers do whole group instruction all day long, with the exception of when they have kids work with or share to a partner.

With 35 kids in each class, my belief is that this is ineffective teaching. However, I'm not ...See More

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teacher2 There is no way a public school teacher with 35 students in one room can teach in small groups. If I had that many students, I too would teach whole group all day!!

On 1/28/09, TOSA/TX wrote: > Hi, All, > > I am a language support provider, and I'm working at a new > school. It appears that the 4th and 5th grade teachers do >...See More

Feb 6, 2009

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paulaj On 2/06/09, teacher2 wrote: > There is no way a public school teacher with 35 students in > one room can teach in small groups. If I had that many > students, I too would teach whole group all day!!

It is possible that the teacher does pull a small group from time to time while others are doing Workshop Way, for instance. But I ag...See More

Feb 9, 2009

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Mysteries

by Sarah

Jan 28, 2009

does anyone have a good list of mysteries to read with small groups. I teach 5th

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Try any of the Sammy Keyes mysteries They are funny and great for 5th grade

Jan 28, 2009

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Need ideas for a "Rockin' Reading Day" and "Magical Math Day

by 4th grade TX teacher

Jan 28, 2009

Our 4th grade teachers want to have a fun reading and math day before the big TAKS tests in April. We had a "Writers' Fest" last year where we did all fun writing activities that we wouldn't normally do or have time to do. We decorated our 4th grade hallway and our doors. It was a surprise to the kids. We did it all day long, and it really motivate...See More

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ma/3/pa Before our state tests I make a bingo game to play with the students. The words are all literary/reading terms such as prefix, antony, author's purpose etc. (I put fancy stickers on each card, often things I have left over from during the year.......sports, music, valentines etc.

Then I read a definition and they find the word. It always s...See More

Jan 29, 2009

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teacher destroys kids!

by Margo

Jan 29, 2009

I am not sure what to tell my kids. They've been spending their recess times building snow forts. Yesterday there were arguments about who 'owned' which snowballs. Irritating, but usual. We had worked things out by the time school finished and I thought the problems were done.

This morning the students were in a tizzy. Someone had destroy...See More

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vet teacher Wow. But he destroy the kids - we need to be careful not to pour oil on the fire. He did destroy what they regarded as their property.

Interesting gesture on several levels. How did he 'solve a problem'? Indeed, I'd say he did the opposite of problem solving. Problem solving is putting your heads together and figuring out a solution to th...See MoreWow. But he destroy the kids - we need to be careful not to pour oil on the fire. He did destroy what they regarded as their property.

Interesting gesture on several levels. How did he 'solve a problem'? Indeed, I'd say he did the opposite of problem solving. Problem solving is putting your heads together and figuring out a solution to the problem. Has that been done? What does this teach the kids? Argue about snowballs on my watch and I'll take matters into my own hands. These arguments are work but on the other hand they're ripe territory to teach things like compromise, discussion and - problem solving. I think recess can offer a lot of real life learning. Clearly your colleague doesn't. What's your principal think? What's the philosophy of your school on matters like these? Is this a new teacher? If so, someone might have a friendly chat with him about the value of recess and how you're inclined to treat with regard the things the kids build and how you're not inclined to have things destroyed as a 'solution'. If this is not a new teacher, is this behavior out of keeping for this teacher?

The best thing to happen would be this teacher apologizes - that's powerful and a powerful lesson to kids when a teacher apologizes. It shows that we're not above making mistakes, no one is perfect but we own our mistakes and apologize for them. But not every teacher is comfortable admitting mistakes to colleagues much less to students or willing to apologize for those mistakes.

That old statement 'the teacher is always right' lingers on even though it doesn't serve schools, teachers or students well.

> > > > > > I have tried to move them on from this, but I sympathize > with them in this case. If I was in Gr 4 and someone > destroyed my creation I would be pretty upset. I think the > teacher who did this was so wrong. I'm not sure what to say > to this teacher and how to (further) deal with anything the > kids say when they discuss who they think it is. One kid > simply said he wanted to know who did it so he could tell > them to apologize to the kids. > > Any comments? I would like to have some guidance.

Jan 29, 2009

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staceyu/FL/4th Recess? What is this "recess" you speak of? (Living in a FL county where recess is all but banned.....

Feb 6, 2009

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Homework

by June

Jan 29, 2009

How do you check homework? I have 31 students and can't afford to take out 15 minutes to go around to each student and check their math hw and writing journal. But they need some kind of accountability. how do you all do it?

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Cullen In math, I do homework quizzes. On Monday, I pass out a packet with all five assignments for the week. It gets graded, either by me or in class, but not recorded. Questions are to be marked wrong, and their ongoing-homework assignment is to make corrections. Eight days from getting it passed out, on Tuesday, we take a homework quiz. Two questions f...See More

Jan 30, 2009

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paulaj On 1/29/09, June wrote: > How do you check homework? I have 31 students and can't > afford to take out 15 minutes to go around to each student > and check their math hw and writing journal. But they need > some kind of accountability. how do you all do it?

Choose one or two problems to check; students don't know which; turn the...See More

Feb 4, 2009

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What spelling program do you use?

by lj

Jan 30, 2009

Hi everyone,

I am normally just a lurker at this site, but I have a question and I hope you all can help.... Our district is looking to adopt a new spelling program and we have been asked for input. What program do you use in your districts?

Thanks! LJ

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teach4 Sitton Spelling, it teaches spelling patterns and really improves students everyday spelling instead of just learning words for a Friday test. They have a web page, try googling it.

Jan 30, 2009

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GA5th On 1/30/09, teach4 wrote: > Sitton Spelling, it teaches spelling patterns and really > improves students everyday spelling instead of just learning > words for a Friday test. They have a web page, try googling > it.

We also use Sitton Spelling. All in all, I really like Sitton. HOwever, for it to really work well, every grade l...See More

Jan 31, 2009

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