Merry Beth’s Workshop

The Department of Health has implemented a new provider rate structure for the Early Steps Program. The department plans to implement a family cost system, as part of a project to use a third party administrator for billing. Background- The Early Steps Program provides services to families with infants and toddlers from birth to 3 years old who have developmental delays or disabilities. Part C of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Act governs this program. This act provides early intervention services. Children’s Medical Services within The Department of Health aids this program. The department contracts with hospitals, universities and Children’s Home Society to function as area offices in 15 areas across the state. Area offices provide evaluations, assessments and early interventions and each of their services but coordinate the majority of early intervention through local communities and their providers. Our 2006 report noted that the budget in 2004-05 this program has accumulated unspent funds. However, at the same time some offices did not have enough money. As a result the department requested an increase of 3 million for 2008-09 . The legislature appropriated both requests with non-recurring funds. In spite of these increases this program is still having a difficult time using this money because the number of children and active care plans served has declined from 14, 719-11,691 in 2007 08.

Grade 1 from IRA 2006 During DEAR time Claudia finds a book and tells her teacher , Dr. Jones, that the Clifford book she found should be in the Christmas category and several of her friends agree.  the teacher told her she needed to bring the book to family reading time  and  the whole class would discuss where the book should go in their classroom library. So Claudia brought the book to the class asking for the category. Many childre agree with Claudia; however, Paolo said the Clifford books should all stay in the same place because they were his favorite bbboks.  The above vignrttr took place in Jill Jone’s classroom . The children’s dialogue  concerning  an appropriate genre placement  is a positive result of allowing children to organize their library. Thus the student involved library increases the number of books  the childre choose to read from their class’s library.

This book can be used in K-! to develop word family and spelling
patterns and to develop awareness of them.  Read Stick Kid without
stopping for story line or comprehension.  Explain to the class that
Stick Kid is a rhyming words book. Ask the children if they think words
that sound the same should be spelled the same. After having discussed
examples with your class and after providing some of your own , explain
Stick Kid  has many examples of rhyming words that are not spelled the
same. Now, reread the poem or story  and have students point out
rhyming words by raising their hands and saying the words out loud. Now
you proceed to write rhyming words from the book on a chart or the
board. Do they have the same spelling? ( grades 2, 3). Then use a chart
to use spelling patterns (here a Dr. Seuss could be used).

The author and I agree that libraries are crucial in order to motivate
children to read. The more children have access to books, the more they
will be fluent in their and the more they will develop the habit of the
love of reading, Students from low income families, such as children
from Riley, Ruediger, and Oak Ridge elementary schools need to read
quality books often. The teacher needs to involve the children in
setting up this book nook. In k-1 grades I will establish the given
areas myself and then let the students add books they like two times a
week.This activity will encourage ownership of their books at school
and at home also. Classes should take a book break daily in which
either a child or teacher reads a book of their choice.In order to
encourage creative reading I would encourage the establishment of the
10,000 minute book club in which children count their reading time at
school and at home. The minutes would be recorded by the teacher and
the parent.

This article is written by Erica Boling By using laptop computers Julia Siporin’s Third grade class will write blog responses to their buddies and to Jefferson Bear, a light brown Teddy Bear who is the host of their teacher’s blog. The students regularly write to each other and to him and ask each other and Jefferson Bear their opinions about class projects. In this week’s blog Jefferson informs the students that he is concerned about all his endangered wild life friends. “What’s being done to help my friends? You have got to do something!” Another day Jefferson asks the students to share their experiences about teasing. Sara says “You should ask the girl to stop taking my pencils,and calling me names in a nice way like this.”I would like you to stop taking my pencils and stop calling names please, especially when I need to work. I would use this idea at Riley elementary as they are going to be a Magnet Technology School in Leon County in the ensuing school term. The students would enjoy this creative approach to learning.This activity is being prepared by Jill Castek, Lisa Zawillinski, Karen Barton, and Theresa Nierlich . These teachers are preparing for a month long project, Would the technology work? We worked by getting a bunch of ideas to address our concerns. In the process we learned a valuable lesson in problem solving.

Why should I have a library? One of the main jobs of the k-2 teacher is to teach reading;hence a classroom needs books for students to practice this skill. In my case I have a traveling library in my car to use at all the levels I teach in each school. Where do I get the books? These books can be bought at garage sales,the public library,Goodwill. I have purchased books from all of the above. FICTION AND NON-FICTION BOOKS SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

Small Frog Still Hanging On!

Do not let go, keeping on hanging on, better days are coming: Saturday and Sunday!

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