The Mad Chatters thread Part 2

[paigevz]

Hi Paige. That sounds frustrating, girl! It's hard when you just don't have enough time in the day.

I wanted to ask you, since I am a preschool GIMP, and since you taught pre-k for all those years: When learning the letters of the alphabet at that age, Do you teach them both upper and lower case at the same time? Or do you got through all the upper case and then start over again with the lower case?

In Kindergarten, we spent a week on each letter and did both upper and lower cases. But since lower cases are more difficult to learn to write correctly, I was wondering if pre-k might do it seperately. Your thoughts?

Both at once, Bonnie. In fact, I usually grouped together some to focus on.........usually one they already knew, then two that were quite different........like Aa, Cc, and Ff. So rather than one a week, I'd do one familiar and two unfamiliar for two weeks.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

It sounds like you've got it all planned out. that it all goes well

Yep, 12 days to go! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. I put together my landyard today for pin trading and attached to the bottom is a pocket where I put a printed copy of the beautiful siggies Lori made, both mine and the mad chatter one! It looks so cool!

Hello, Minty!
I can only imagine how excited you must be! (Can I please, please, PLEASE tag along?!) LOL

 

[paigevz]

Hi Paige
Sorry your day is so frustrating. Its really hard to find the time to get the kids to learn all they need to, I'm sure. Do your kids have to take proficiency exams too?

Yes and no.......sort of. We take benchmarks, which are like small chunks of the exams. We also have reading inventories that the children must score at a certain level on, and language assessments for the ESL kids.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Hey, Paige! How are you doing?

 

[paigevz]

So exciting, Mindy,and Jay is close too. I won't be able to stand it!

Bonnie, when I came to the school I had an assistant who hadn't been treated well by previous teachers. She would balk if I asked her to help a child write or cut or glue. She finally asked to talk to me after school one day and said she wasn't comfortable helping with the children, and that she felt it was the teacher's place to teach. She wanted to concentrate on running papers and bulletin boards. I told her I was glad she talked to me about it, and I wasn't expecting her to teach. I told her I would teach the skill, but I needed her to help the kids practice, as there was only one of me. I told her that I really didn't need papers and bulletin boards, I needed an assistant to assist me in the real work of helping the kids.

Anyway, just saying your idea of sitting down and getting it all on the table is a good one...........right from the get-go.

 

[paigevz]

Hey, Paige! How are you doing?

Great thanks! Long tiring day and I feel further behind now than when I got there this morning, but my kids are happy (school and home ones), so I am too!

 

[Bbgrizzle]

Thanks, Paige! That's good to know. I like to teach them out of order, because some letters (like lowercase A) are harder to learn to write than others, and some sounds (like w) are harder to learn than others.

Denise!!!! I"m so happy to see you! How are you, lady?

 

[Bbgrizzle]

It's so nice having so many of us chatting at once! I realize it's only 4, but compared to lately, it feels like a party!!

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Bonnie!!! Sorry, I'm just so happy to finally talk to you! Seems like we have been missing each other for the last week or so. I'm hanging in there. Staying very busy- that's for sure.

Paige- Hope tomorrows better for you!

Has Karen been on lately? Haven't chatted with her in awhile, either.

How are you doing tonight, Minty? How was work?

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

It's so nice having so many of us chatting at once! I realize it's only 4, but compared to lately, it feels like a party!!

It feels so nice to be surrounded by so many friends!

 

[Bbgrizzle]

*WARNING* I keep getting the "page is unavailable" routine, so if I suddenly stop posting, it's because I can't access the site anymore!

I know, Denise! It is great to talk to you. How is it being back at work again?

Yes, Karen's been on here and there. She always posts such cute graphics. They always make me smile!

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

It's work. That's about self-explanitory. I wish I could stay at home with the kids. But that's just not an option right now.

Karen does post the cutest graphics! She's so good at cheering people up!

DD and I went and saw Material Girls this weekend. I figured since we both needed a break from all the hard, tedious work we've been doing all week, we'd go spend some girl time. It was a cute movie. It had Hilary and Haley Duff in it. Of course, DD liked it a lot better than I did, but it was still cute. Anyone else seen it?

 

[Bbgrizzle]

I must confess to neglecting this thread for the past week, due to my recent oceangram addiction. However, the oceangram thrill is fading for me, so I'm back to my old self again!

 

[paigevz]

Yes, I like it when there are people here!

Denise, really, it was a good day, just very time crunched.

Bonnie, I never taught them in order either. Usually went with one that fit words in my thematic units.

 

[Bbgrizzle]

It's work. That's about self-explanitory. I wish I could stay at home with the kids. But that's just not an option right now.

Karen does post the cutest graphics! She's so good at cheering people up!

DD and I went and saw Material Girls this weekend. I figured since we both needed a break from all the hard, tedious work we've been doing all week, we'd go spend some girl time. It was a cute movie. It had Hilary and Haley Duff in it. Of course, DD liked it a lot better than I did, but it was still cute. Anyone else seen it?

Heather said she wanted to see that movie too. I wasn't sure it was okay for an almost-13-year-old. Do you think it is okay?

Two years ago I took Heather to the Hilary Duff concert in Vegas; Haley Duff was the opening act (she wasn't very good). It seems like Haley is really trying to ride her sister's coattails.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Heather said she wanted to see that movie too. I wasn't sure it was okay for an almost-13-year-old. Do you think it is okay?

Two years ago I took Heather to the Hilary Duff concert in Vegas; Haley Duff was the opening act (she wasn't very good). It seems like Haley is really trying to ride her sister's coattails.

I would bring my daughter at that age. I think it's fine. There were a lot of little ones there ( 8 or 9 ). Was Hilary Duff good in concert? I agree with you about Haley Duff. She's a pretty good actress, though.

 

[Bbgrizzle]

I would bring my daughter at that age. I think it's fine. There were a lot of little ones there ( 8 or 9 ). Was Hilary Duff good in concert? I agree with you about Haley Duff. She's a pretty good actress, though.

Yeah, actually Hillary was pretty good in concert, even though it started an HOUR LATE!! Haley looks in the previews like she is good in the movie. You know which Hilary Duff movie I LOVE? Cinderella Story! Heather and I watch it probably once a month.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Well, Bonnie, I'm going to run. I am very tired tonight. All this is catching up to me. Have a great second day tomorrow! PM me your responce to my previous post if you'd like. I'll try and log on tomorrow afternoon. Glad I could finally chat with you guys!

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Yeah, actually Hillary was pretty good in concert, even though it started an HOUR LATE!! Haley looks in the previews like she is good in the movie. You know which Hilary Duff movie I LOVE? Cinderella Story! Heather and I watch it probably once a month.

Ya know, I've NEVER seen that one! LOL Bye, girl!

 

[Bbgrizzle]

You need to see it!

Okay, Bye Denise! I'm glad I got to talk to you!