Dan,
1001 apologies! I just opened my mailbox and realized that I had a whole
slew of messages that I had neglected to reply to. I can't believe this
one is over six weeks old!  :(
  >RL>Have you ever read any of the MacCracken's books (not sure if I
DT>Have heard of them but haven't seen any of their materials lately.  I do
  >have a spelling book I purchased from a workshop on spelling....has lots
  >of ideas regarding spelling strategies...how to teach and how not to
  >teach....interesting stuff.
I thought it was interesting too - if you are going to do some of that
type of thing.
  I didn't attend the workshop..just bought
  >the book for ideas.  (Right...like Im going to use the ideas in
  >kindergarten!  But...maybe a grade level change is in my future??)
I started off doing that for Math Their Way. Having now done the
workshop I am overly anxious to implement it. I may get the chance.
Logged into my work BBS this afternoon to find a message waiting for me.
A principal had read my "ad" in The Teaching Positions conference and
written back to me. It seems she has a position in grade 1/2 available
starting Feb 3 (Long Term Sub) and asked if I was interested in it. Now
to set up the interview and get the job! Wish me luck! :) If I get it I
can set up some of the MTW program - among other things.
DT>RL>Read any good books to your kindies lately?
DT>The holiday season is full of good stories to tell.  One favorite coming
  >up is The Polar Express.
I read this in December to a class - I loved it.
 The Christmas Train (I think that is the
  >title) is a tear jerker.  We are also each making a book called "Santa's
  >Journey."  We learn the story (it's predictable) and then we will all
  >make our own books.
Don't know the others - or was Santa's Journey a pattern book for The
Christmas Train - sorry got a little confused here.
  The books are illustrated with constructions paper
  >scenes, cotton for snow, and some painting is required too.  It takes
  >two weeks to completely illustrate the books and they always turn out
  >great.
They sound it. I can't wait to have a nice long term in an early grade
so I can do some nice things like that.
DT>RL>Have you ever done portfolios or rubrics with your class?
DT>No....I do a year book collection of work but it wouldn't really qualify
  >under the definition of a portfolio.
Our school board is very much into these things and most schools are
slowly implementing them - they take time to do properly.
DT>L>What are you currently doing in Math?
DT>Graphing....we are just getting into it.  Got any great holiday graphing
  >ideas?
Too bad I didn't reply to this before but you can still use the ideas.
You can do most wanted gift, favourite cookie, reindeer, candy, colour,
decoration, etc. etc. At the MTW workshop we did the graphs in many
different ways. One we did with gum where we got to choose our favourite
and then eat it - gluing the wrapper onto the graph. We also made
graphs using links or placing rings on dowels, etc. I never wrote all
the ideas down - which really annoys me as there were so many good ideas
and different ways of doing them.
DT>RL>I get my top wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow morning (whimper) and have
Well, I had them pulled and don't know why I worried. It was so easy and
no pain or swelling afterward either! :)
  >RL>to be reinterviewed with the Board of Ed. on Wednesday if I want to
  >RL>have a chance at a job in the future. I'm currently on the Hiring
  >RL>I List but now have to do well enough to stay on it. :(
  >RL>I am compiling my portfolio to take to the interview on Wednesday
  >RL>evening. Wish me luck.
DT>Good Luck and please let us all know how things turn out for you.  I
  >wish you all the best.
Well, I took a pile of things with me, including my photo album and a
selection of activities that I have made for early primary kids. I was
really nervous but had a wonderful interview team. I really hit it off
with the V.P. who was asking the questions. We had a wonderful "gab"
about Math Their Way, Whole Language, etc.
The following week I got a formal  letter from the Board to say that I
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