Illinois Teachers Chatboard – Teachers.Net

Join Teachers.Net

chatboardsgroups

Chatboards

Recent Groups

IL Teachers

MEMBERS

9 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Illinois Teachers Chatboard

Educational Website (Elementary)

by Drake

May 20, 2013

Here's a really good, educational website for young kids developed by an Indiana 3rd grade teacher (I think). Games are simple, but educational. I like to project the "Flash Card Races" and "Block Buster" for my kids on the Smartboard. It's just a great way to get them engaged in the morning. Thought I'd share...

George On 5/20/13, Drake wrote: > Here's a really good, educational website for young kids > developed by an Indiana 3rd grade teacher (I think). Games > are simple, but educational. I like to project the "Flash > Card Races" and "Block Buster" for my kids on the > Smartboard. It's just a great way to get them engaged in > the morning. T...See More

Jul 10, 2013

White Bluff PTA On 5/20/13, Drake wrote: > Here's a really good, educational website for young kids > developed by an Indiana 3rd grade teacher (I think). Games > are simple, but educational. I like to project the "Flash > Card Races" and "Block Buster" for my kids on the > Smartboard. It's just a great way to get them engaged in > the morning. T...See More

Sep 28, 2013

by SUe

Jun 1, 2013

I have been asked in my school to take the social studies tests so I can teach that subject next year. I know there are more than one tests for social studies. Which one is easier??? any advice?

mark On 6/01/13, SUe wrote: > I have been asked in my school to take the social studies > tests so I can teach that subject next year. I know there > are more than one tests for social studies. Which one is > easier??? any advice?

It depends on which subject you have more knowledge about...

About half of the Social Science ...See More

Jun 9, 2013

IL SPED I hope that you asked if the district is going to pick up the tab for the cost of the test.

On 6/01/13, SUe wrote: > I have been asked in my school to take the social studies > tests so I can teach that subject next year. I know there > are more than one tests for social studies. Which one is > easier??? any advice?

Jun 14, 2013

spelling workbook/ howwellcanyouspell.com

by Yan Lee

Jun 5, 2013

Hello Parents /Teachers,

I am a dedicated parent to my children and education. I'm always buying books for them.

I purchased a spelling workbook for my kids. The author now has a website for teachers/parents to order the spelling workbook. (howwellcanyouspell.com). I like the design of the cover. Go to the website and learn more ...See More

School Psychologist

by Katie

Jun 10, 2013

I have a misdemeanor theft conviction on my record and am currently going to school to get my masters in school psychology. Will it be possible to do an internship in the Chicago land area with this conviction. Will it be possible to get a job in that area as well?

Kathy Call the Illinois State Board of Education. Someone there could probably help you.

Kathy

On 6/10/13, Katie wrote:

> I have a misdemeanor theft conviction on my record and am

> currently going to school to get my masters in school

> psychology. Will it be possible to do an internship in the
...See More

Jun 14, 2013

More Than 850 Teachers And Staffers Handed Pink Slip CPS

by Jake

Jun 16, 2013

Well, the 850 have three new choices: Walmart Kmart Substitute...occasional work

Anyone who has a student at SIU,NIU ETC...in the school of education should stop paying until he/she changes majors.

Kathy Where is this? The same thing happened in our district a few years ago when over 700 certified staff were "let go". It was a power play by the then superintendent and board of ed. A majority were hired back. The following year a similar thing happened, that time only 580 were let go. Again most were hired back, many after school started. That super...See More

Jun 21, 2013

Cover letter ideas!!

by Lin

Jun 18, 2013

Could someone give me advice on my cover letter. I know it needs to be changed but I'm not sure how to make it better!

Please consider me as an applicant for a Special Education teacher at your Elementary School.

I currently possess initial certification in Childhood Education as well as Students with Disabilities for grades 1-6...See MoreCould someone give me advice on my cover letter. I know it needs to be changed but I'm not sure how to make it better!

Please consider me as an applicant for a Special Education teacher at your Elementary School.

I currently possess initial certification in Childhood Education as well as Students with Disabilities for grades 1-6. In addition, I have extended my certification area for dual Early Childhood Education for grades Prek-2.

Throughout this school year, I was a replacement teacher in a 5th grade inclusion classroom at Fairly Elementary School and currently, I am a replacement teacher in a kindergarten classroom. In learning the new Common Core Curriculum, I strive to be an effective teacher by providing thorough lessons that will engage students and spark their interest. Working in an inclusive setting has strengthened my abilities to co-teach during whole group instruction while ensuring that students with special needs are engaged and continuously learning. I successfully educate those with special needs using creative ideas and a variety of styles while adhering to their Individual Education Plan. I collaborate with the classroom teacher on a daily basis to further accommodate their learning needs. I can successfully develop proper, measurable goals for students to achieve successfully. Throughout my teaching experiences, I have grown familiar with IEP Direct and RTIM Direct in both providing documentation and accessing data from previous support staff. Currently, I have implemented the Core Knowledge Language Arts Module in kindergarten and have attended training for the Core Knowledge Math Module in kindergarten. I work hard to build a genuine rapport with my students and communicate with parents effectively. I am very eager to become an integral part of your school district.

I am confident that I will make a significant contribution to your elementary school. I would love the opportunity to interview with you and share my knowledge and passion for teaching. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Need guidance from "sped"

by Laura Nowak

Jul 1, 2013

I am traditionally a CPS English teacher who earned two endorsements -- ESL and LBS1 -- when I was displaced for a period of two years. I started this most recent school year as a special education teacher at a predominately Latino high school. I LOVE MY JOB, but it keeps me very busy. I now have the opportunity to earn a reading endorsement or cer...See More

view previous comments

Laura On 7/03/13, sped wrote: > Huh... a very good question. > > OK, so you're an English teacher who got laid off, and did the > right things to get back into teaching: you got a special > education AND ESL/ELL endorsement instead of wringing your > hands and crying about politics, nepotism, or affirmative > action as so many displa...See MoreOn 7/03/13, sped wrote: > Huh... a very good question. > > OK, so you're an English teacher who got laid off, and did the > right things to get back into teaching: you got a special > education AND ESL/ELL endorsement instead of wringing your > hands and crying about politics, nepotism, or affirmative > action as so many displaced teachers have done in low-demand > subjects like English or elementary ed. Awesome! You then got > another job working as a special ed teacher, and I presume you > are still working for CPS... You haven't mentioned that you > are looking to leave CPS and you said you love your job, so > you're comfortable where you are... > > Now, for your question. There are a LOT of special education > teachers who also go get their reading specialist > certificate/degree. Typically, they get their Bachelors in > Special Ed, and pursue a Masters for the Reading Specialist > position with the hopes of moving away from special ed. They > are either burned out working with the students and/or are > tired of the IEP paperwork requirements. > > Of course, a lot of Reading Specialists end up working with our > kids anyway, but they don't have to case manage, write IEPs, > and Reading spec classes are still typically smaller like sped > classes. Many Reading Specialists try to slide into a "coach" > or curriculum designer job... which many times has much less > student contact time. No judgement on people who seek those > jobs..., heck, I'm an administrator who sees students very > rarely, but many times people who end up in those jobs are > trying get out of the classroom yet stay in education. You > specifically mentioned you weren't interested in doing that. > > Looking at your resume, you seem to already have a lot going > for you if you find yourself unemployed. You have an ELL/ESL > endorsement and a special ed endorsement, so you have two of > the highest need certificates out there. In fact, there should > be a LOT more ELL Special Ed classes out there under state and > federal law, but ISBE has never pushed the issue because the > state is broke, not willing to fund new programs, not willing > to push it off on the districts because they've already pushed > so much onto us, and there just aren't that many teachers out > there like you with LBS and ELL endorsements, so we couldn't > fill the jobs with fully qualified people if we tried! Add > onto that the fact that the parents of ELL/Sped students are > typically poor with limited language skills themselves, as well > as possibly questionable immigration status, and they don't > become the squeaky wheels we would need to get these programs. > As you've experienced, we typically get away with providing > ELL students with special education eligibility either one or > the other services. They either get ELL or Sped services, > depending upon their language needs and ability, and they get > consult from the other side. That is, if they even get through > the evaluation process without the district trying to simply > claim that their assessments are low or they don't respond to > intervention because of ELL issues. Again, unless you have a > parent knocking on the door, and in these situations we seldom > do, that is what happens across the state. So... its unlikely > you'll straddle both the ELL and Sped worlds at the same time, > but you might find yourself shuttled between the two frequently. > > Honestly, you would complete the trifecta if you learned > Spanish, as you mentioned. I could comfortably say that you > would have better job security than most Chicago-area teachers > if you're a Spanish-speaking, ELL/SPED teacher. Plus, with > where you're working, it really would help even if you never > teach Bilingual/ELL classes. Even still, you're in a pretty > good spot. The reading endorsement isn't that necessary. > There are a lot of sped teachers out there with reading > backgrounds, and its nice, but unless I'm putting together a > unique sped-specific reading class (which I typically won't > have the money for), then its not going to sway me in a hiring > decision. Again, I'll probably have a few special ed teachers > in-house with a Reading endorsement to begin with. I'm > honestly much more likely to be impressed by the ELL and LBS > segments of your resume because I could use you to cover the > district's backside if we get a student with ELL and Sped needs > with one of those rare, squeaky-wheel parents. > > Now if you have this option to get a free master's degree or > graduate credits from National Louis and want the salary bump > and the Reading Spec skills, go for it. My guess is that you > already have a Masters degree and/or extra grad credits if > you've recently added two endorsements. The Reading Spec > certificate won't make you that much more employable except > maybe for coaching jobs, which again, you've said you don't want. > > If you really want job security, pretty good money, and want to > go back to school... get a Type 75 with a Special Ed director > endorsement. I have never applied for an administrator job, > including the one I have now. They... keep coming to me, > offering me jobs and upping the offer when I say no. I never > thought I would have a job in education where districts sought > me out and threw money at me. I am thus far with the district > I started, though I've moved into a higher position, but... I > am shocked at how in demand good special ed directors are! Of > course, the higher you move up, the less you see kids and the > more hours you work, but... the paycheck makes up for it. > > On 7/01/13, Laura Nowak wrote: >> I am traditionally a CPS English teacher who earned two >> endorsements -- ESL and LBS1 -- when I was displaced for a >> period of two years. I started this most recent school year >> as a special education teacher at a predominately Latino >> high school. I LOVE MY JOB, but it keeps me very busy. I >> now have the opportunity to earn a reading endorsement or >> certificate at no or low cost. This is through a college >> with a good reputation for their education programs via a >> grant. I do not know how to pass up this opportunity, >> except that it is already causing me stress, and I have not >> even applied. After completing my ESL and LBS1 >> endorsements, I decided to focus on learning Spanish, >> rather than on any additional education courses, beyond >> prof dev. However, I have made little progress on this >> goal, perhaps because I am not committed to a cohort, as I >> would be with the reading program. OK, so here are my >> questions: Would the strategies I learn with a reading >> endorsement make up for that extra time I will not be >> devoting to my students (or my son) during the next two or >> three years? Is such an endorsement or certificate >> marketable should I become displaced again? Would you find >> a special education candidate more desirable if he or she >> also was endorsed in reading? I love working with students >> with disabilities and I have no desire to be a literacy >> "coach," but this is an awesome opportunity.

Jul 6, 2013

Laura Sped, Thank you so much for such a thorough response! Your information and experience are the reasons why I sought your advice -- and you pretty much told me what I wanted to hear!

The opportunity for the reading endorsement is a great opportunity, but right now I would rather focus on my classroom. Yes, I am still in CPS, and next year p...See MoreSped, Thank you so much for such a thorough response! Your information and experience are the reasons why I sought your advice -- and you pretty much told me what I wanted to hear!

The opportunity for the reading endorsement is a great opportunity, but right now I would rather focus on my classroom. Yes, I am still in CPS, and next year promises to be very challenging for all of us. I also have a special ed son who will be transitioning from a therapuetic day school to an excellent magnet school. Although he does not need me physically, I do not need additional distractions.

I agree that Spanish acquisition would be my best bet -- personally and professionally -- but I have not made too much progress towards that goal. Ive taken a few classes at Cervantes, which is a great program, but I am not held accountable there as I would be in a college program. I place low-priority on responsibilities nobody else is depending on me (or evaluating me!)

What you write about ELL and SPED is so true in CPS. Almost all of my students in SC instructional classes are also ELLs, yet they do not receive ELL instruction outside of the class. I have experience with strategies and enough basic understanding of the Spanish language to help them, but I would feel so much more confident if I, too, had successfully acquired a second language.

As for getting my type 75, I never really considered that. In CPS, case managers and department chairs still do not need admin credentials, though I am sure that could change. I have no desire for additional pay. Im a very frugal single mom, so I really could live on half of what I make now. I do have my masters-plus, which under the new funding model in CPS could price me out of a job (though this new scheme has little impact on sped teachers.) Im really more interested in being flexible and employable.

Although I have a general empathy for laid-off teachers, I did have a lot of frustration with the complainers. I am very political and can do a lot of complaining myself, but my politics evolved long before I started teaching. A lot of these people who cannot find jobs -- at least some who I know -- never bothered to be concerned with what was going on in their community or world. I think that ignorance or selfishness -- or helplessness? -- is reflected in their job search.

Thank you again for such valuable information. I'll probably still be grappling with this until the application deadline arrives -- in which I will feel relieved!

On 7/03/13, sped wrote: > Huh... a very good question. > > OK, so you're an English teacher who got laid off, and did the > right things to get back into teaching: you got a special > education AND ESL/ELL endorsement instead of wringing your > hands and crying about politics, nepotism, or affirmative > action as so many displaced teachers have done in low-demand > subjects like English or elementary ed. Awesome! You then got > another job working as a special ed teacher, and I presume you > are still working for CPS... You haven't mentioned that you > are looking to leave CPS and you said you love your job, so > you're comfortable where you are... > > Now, for your question. There are a LOT of special education > teachers who also go get their reading specialist > certificate/degree. Typically, they get their Bachelors in > Special Ed, and pursue a Masters for the Reading Specialist > position with the hopes of moving away from special ed. They > are either burned out working with the students and/or are > tired of the IEP paperwork requirements. > > Of course, a lot of Reading Specialists end up working with our > kids anyway, but they don't have to case manage, write IEPs, > and Reading spec classes are still typically smaller like sped > classes. Many Reading Specialists try to slide into a "coach" > or curriculum designer job... which many times has much less > student contact time. No judgement on people who seek those > jobs..., heck, I'm an administrator who sees students very > rarely, but many times people who end up in those jobs are > trying get out of the classroom yet stay in education. You > specifically mentioned you weren't interested in doing that. > > Looking at your resume, you seem to already have a lot going > for you if you find yourself unemployed. You have an ELL/ESL > endorsement and a special ed endorsement, so you have two of > the highest need certificates out there. In fact, there should > be a LOT more ELL Special Ed classes out there under state and > federal law, but ISBE has never pushed the issue because the > state is broke, not willing to fund new programs, not willing > to push it off on the districts because they've already pushed > so much onto us, and there just aren't that many teachers out > there like you with LBS and ELL endorsements, so we couldn't > fill the jobs with fully qualified people if we tried! Add > onto that the fact that the parents of ELL/Sped students are > typically poor with limited language skills themselves, as well > as possibly questionable immigration status, and they don't > become the squeaky wheels we would need to get these programs. > As you've experienced, we typically get away with providing > ELL students with special education eligibility either one or > the other services. They either get ELL or Sped services, > depending upon their language needs and ability, and they get > consult from the other side. That is, if they even get through > the evaluation process without the district trying to simply > claim that their assessments are low or they don't respond to > intervention because of ELL issues. Again, unless you have a > parent knocking on the door, and in these situations we seldom > do, that is what happens across the state. So... its unlikely > you'll straddle both the ELL and Sped worlds at the same time, > but you might find yourself shuttled between the two frequently. > > Honestly, you would complete the trifecta if you learned > Spanish, as you mentioned. I could comfortably say that you > would have better job security than most Chicago-area teachers > if you're a Spanish-speaking, ELL/SPED teacher. Plus, with > where you're working, it really would help even if you never > teach Bilingual/ELL classes. Even still, you're in a pretty > good spot. The reading endorsement isn't that necessary. > There are a lot of sped teachers out there with reading > backgrounds, and its nice, but unless I'm putting together a > unique sped-specific reading class (which I typically won't > have the money for), then its not going to sway me in a hiring > decision. Again, I'll probably have a few special ed teachers > in-house with a Reading endorsement to begin with. I'm > honestly much more likely to be impressed by the ELL and LBS > segments of your resume because I could use you to cover the > district's backside if we get a student with ELL and Sped needs > with one of those rare, squeaky-wheel parents. > > Now if you have this option to get a free master's degree or > graduate credits from National Louis and want the salary bump > and the Reading Spec skills, go for it. My guess is that you > already have a Masters degree and/or extra grad credits if > you've recently added two endorsements. The Reading Spec > certificate won't make you that much more employable except > maybe for coaching jobs, which again, you've said you don't want. > > If you really want job security, pretty good money, and want to > go back to school... get a Type 75 with a Special Ed director > endorsement. I have never applied for an administrator job, > including the one I have now. They... keep coming to me, > offering me jobs and upping the offer when I say no. I never > thought I would have a job in education where districts sought > me out and threw money at me. I am thus far with the district > I started, though I've moved into a higher position, but... I > am shocked at how in demand good special ed directors are! Of > course, the higher you move up, the less you see kids and the > more hours you work, but... the paycheck makes up for it. > > On 7/01/13, Laura Nowak wrote: >> I am traditionally a CPS English teacher who earned two >> endorsements -- ESL and LBS1 -- when I was displaced for a >> period of two years. I started this most recent school year >> as a special education teacher at a predominately Latino >> high school. I LOVE MY JOB, but it keeps me very busy. I >> now have the opportunity to earn a reading endorsement or >> certificate at no or low cost. This is through a college >> with a good reputation for their education programs via a >> grant. I do not know how to pass up this opportunity, >> except that it is already causing me stress, and I have not >> even applied. After completing my ESL and LBS1 >> endorsements, I decided to focus on learning Spanish, >> rather than on any additional education courses, beyond >> prof dev. However, I have made little progress on this >> goal, perhaps because I am not committed to a cohort, as I >> would be with the reading program. OK, so here are my >> questions: Would the strategies I learn with a reading >> endorsement make up for that extra time I will not be >> devoting to my students (or my son) during the next two or >> three years? Is such an endorsement or certificate >> marketable should I become displaced again? Would you find >> a special education candidate more desirable if he or she >> also was endorsed in reading? I love working with students >> with disabilities and I have no desire to be a literacy >> "coach," but this is an awesome opportunity.

Jul 6, 2013

Type 10 with LBS1

by Tonya

Sep 2, 2013

I will graduate with dual certificates, a Type 3 (Elementary K-9)AND a Type 10 (Special Education K-12). I will also have a LSB1 endorsement.

What would I need to teach PK? Is there another Type for PK- 21? Could my Type 10 cover this age group?

THANKS MUCH!!!

view previous comments

Sara Golub On 9/02/13, Tonya wrote:

> I will graduate with dual certificates, a Type 3

> (Elementary K-9)AND a Type 10 (Special Education K-12). I

> will also have a LSB1 endorsement.

>

> What would I need to teach PK? Is there another Type for PK-

> 21? Could my Type 10 cover this a...See More

Sep 2, 2013

sped On 9/02/13, Sara Golub wrote: > On 9/02/13, Tonya wrote: > >> I will graduate with dual certificates, a Type 3 > >> (Elementary K-9)AND a Type 10 (Special Education K-12). I > >> will also have a LSB1 endorsement. > >> > >> What would I need to teach PK? Is there another Type for PK- > >> 21?...See More

Sep 3, 2013

Moving with LBS 1 Endorsement

by Tobralone

Sep 22, 2013

I'm looking at moving from Illinois to Nevada, California, Florida, or somewhere south. I have a Type 09 Secondary Certificate and I added the LBS 1 endorsement and can teach special ed for grades 6-12. Has anyone had any luck transferring the endorsement to another state? I'm not talking about the Type 10 K-12 LBS 1 Certificate, but the endorsemen...See More

medigap for retired illinois teachers

by elizabeth

Sep 27, 2013

I am helping my mother and all her colleagues understand the 3 options given for new health insurance for retired teachers. Email me for list of future seminars.

Teacher Chatboards

General

Teacher Chatboard

Method & Theory

Grade Levels

- -

Multiage Classroom

Adult Education

Classroom Projects

Arts and Crafts

Read Across America

Travelling Buddies

Learning Centers

States

Teachers Abroad

Australian Teachers

Canadian Teachers

Subject Areas

Foreign Languages

Language Arts Center

Science Teachers

Language Arts

4 Blocks Literacy

6 Traits Writing

Accelerated Reader

Building Blocks (K)

Books & Literature

Creative Writing

Librarian/Media Arts

Reading/Writing

Remedial Reading

Foreign Language

ESL/EFL Teachers

French Teachers

German Teachers

Spanish Teachers

Travel/Study Abroad

Peer Groups

AP/GATE Teachers

Beginning Teachers

Distance Teachers

Department Heads

Library/Media Science

Master Teachers

Mentor Teachers

Retired Teachers

Special Education

Student Teachers

Substitute Teachers

Method & Theory

Beginning Learners

Character Education

Classroom Discipline

Collaborative Learning

Disruptive Students

General Education

Learning Disorders

Learning Research

Lesson Planning

Montessori Method

Motivating Students

Professional Devel

Professional Readings

Staff Development

Standardized Testing

Testing & Grading

Career Center

Continuing Education

National Boards/NBPTS

Hot Topics

Classroom Humor

Healthy Teachers

NCLB/Race to the Top

Teacher Gatherings

Teacher Inspirations

Teacher Recipes

Teacher Social Board

Tech Center

Apple Classroom

Computer Teachers

Educational Software

Internet Security

Library/Media Science

Teaching with PowerPoint

Teacher Video Share

Teaching with the Web

Tech Coordinators

Teachers.Net

Home About Forum Policies Privacy

Resources

Chatboards Lesson Plans Classroom Projects Classified Ads

Follow us...

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mailring

Contacts

Advertising Job Listings Submissions Reprints