naneb - Hi, are you here for the 4 blocks chat
Sue - for a little bit
naneb - what grade do you teach?
Sue - first, what grade do you teach?
naneb - Hi emma
naneb - 6th grade special ed
Sue - almost like first (ha ha)
naneb - not really!!
naneb - hi, Jessica
Jessica - Hi!
naneb - what grade do you teach?
Jessica - I teach kdgn, and use Building Blocks, but I thought I'd get in on the 4 Block chat and see what's going on with it
naneb - hi, Betty
Betty - Hi, everyone! I teach Grade one.
Jessica - Where is everyone from?
naneb - I teach 6th grade special ed
naneb - MS
Sue - PA
Betty - I'm from Alberta, Canada.
Jessica - I'm from Wisconsin
naneb - Rei, hi
Suetwo - I teach first in NH
naneb - hi, Sue2
REI/2/IL - Hi everyone!
Betty - Hi Sue 2 and Rei!
Suetwo - I am wondering what you use for guided reading?
Suetwo - Hi everyone!!
naneb - Hi,Rsok
Rsok/Ok/1 - Hi all
Sue - We adopted Harcourt brace signatures
pudge - hello
REI/2/IL - Sue...I use our basal for Mon-Wed and then lower level material on Thurs and Fri.
Betty - I use the basal readers, as there are multiple copies.
naneb - Hi, pudge
REI/2/IL - Hi Rsok! Glad you came over.
pudge - i'm in an education class
Suetwo - Sue, is that the Connection basal?
Jessica - Really? So many of you use Basal's for GR!?!?
Sue - No the signatures series from 1999 I think
Rsok/Ok/1 - Thanks REI......now would you be willing to explain this to me?
Marcia/1st/ - Hi again Nan
Betty - What do you use Jessica?
Suetwo - I am looking at using the Connections basal next year.
naneb - Hi, marcia
REI/2/IL - Yep...just ask away.
Sue - It's not too bad
Sue - multiple copies
Jessica - Oh, I teach kdgn, so my GR is Shared Reading wtih Big Books. From my experience with GR though, I'm used to use small books, such as those from the Wright Group, etc.
naneb - I use only trade books, magazines etc
Sue - we have to use the basal
Jessica - So does it have individual books in your basal series, or is it a traditional basal that is multiple stories or parts of them in a single book
Jessica - yjsy
Jessica - OOps
Betty - naneb and Jessica--You must use text that has copies for everybody or at least for them to share (?)
Suetwo - I started my year using shared (big books) for Mon-Wed, and newspapers and poetry for Thursday/Friday.
Jessica - That's too bad that you HAVE to use something Sue, but I'm glad you like it
Sue - traditional basal with "authentic" literature
Jessica - Yes, multiple copies of the same text
Jessica - What grade do you teach Suetwo
Rsok/Ok/1 - We are looking at new reading series to adopt....any suggestions?????
Suetwo - My hope is to use the basal when appropriate, but gathering multiple copies for all has been trying!
Betty - The basal is the only text we have that has multiple copies.
naneb - I teach 6th grade LD, some time I do book club groups and other times I have copies of books for everyone, sometimes we do reader's workshop where everyone has an individual book by the same author
Suetwo - Jessica, I teach first.
Jessica - Does your school have a book resource room with multiple copies of several texts organized by levels?
Betty - Rsok--I really like our Nelson series. Do you have that in the U.S?
REI/2/IL - After a year long text book review we selected Scott Foresman.
naneb - I bought lots of sets from Scholastic book club from their Sept. catalog, 20X points
Sue - We have a primary reading closet, but multiple copies is 6 most of the time.
Jessica - Sue, or anyone else who teaches 1st -- do the kdgn teachers in your school use Building Blocks?
Suetwo - Sue, that is the same here for me.
Marcia/1st/ - Nan, tell us about that deal with Scholastic. We maybe could all look out for it next year.
Sue - not really
REI/2/IL - Jessica..ours do.
Rsok/Ok/1 - We are looking at Scott Foresman too
Jessica - Do you need more than 6 copies of a text? do you have groups of more than 6 I guess is what I'm asking?
Suetwo - ditto here..........
Sue - Whole group is 23
naneb - The Sept. catalog is 20X points if you buy $200 worth of books. I got 5000 bonus pts and used them to buy more books
Betty - No, ours don't. I'm the only true 4Blocker in our school, although I did a presentation to my staff about it, and told the K teachers about Building Blocks. Not long after that, one of the K teachers asked to borrow my Teacher's Guide. So maybe soon!
Jessica - REI/2/IL -- do you find that it makes a difference? I'm the only one is my school that uses it and I'm getting a 1st and 2nd grade teacher interested. We'd like to ha ve some continuation amongst our classes
Marcia/1st/ - I am the only person using 4 blocks at our school and we have 1250 students
Cecile - Hello everyone! I just saw a post about Scott Foresman. We are currently using that in my school.
Jessica - Do you do GR with the whole group than Sue?
Rsok/Ok/1 - We are using an old Heath reading series.....it is a good basic series, but it is out of print..
Suetwo - My class is 22 and next year looks to be about the same.
Betty - Hi Brenda!
Jessica - Really Naneb? That's awesome about scholastic
Brenda - Hi
Marcia/1st/ - that sounds great, Nan. I think it's worth it. How many free books did you end up with, do you think?
Jessica - Marcia, you are a loner like me!!!
naneb - Book club groups are fun to do, they just need lots of organization and teaching of procedures. I did a whole class group and taught all the jobs and we did all of the assignments all together and then they worked in a gorup
Sue - Jessica, I do whole group guided reading with the 23 in the basal and then I do reading for fun groups in groups of 5 or 6
REI/2/IL - Jessica...I was a lone ranger for a while. Now we are using BB in Kinder and 4 Blocks in grades 1-4.
Marcia/1st/ - yes, it's getting lonely here
Rsok/Ok/1 - I guess I need to find an explanation of what 4 blocks is......I am a newbie to this program
Jessica - interesting Sue - I've never heard of that approach. It works for you? That's terrific!
REI/2/IL - Cecil....are you using the newest Scott Foresman?
Suetwo - Our primary core team is exploring 4 blocks this year.
Glenda 1st TN - Hi everyone, I don't use the 4 Blocks but was just lurking to learn. When I saw someone was looking at Scott Forsman, I thought I would join. We started using Scott F. this year.
naneb - I am not sure how many books, but I bought lots of multiple book sets, I got 4 big boxes of books. I bought 5 sets of probably 6 or 8 different boxed sets
Sue - This is our second year
Jessica - I know the feeling Marcia as I'm a loner in my school too (I'm a first year teacher and brought this terrific program wtih me from my student teaching) Do you find your methods are very different from others? Frustrating isn't it (sometimes)
REI/2/IL - The Four Blocks --Guided Reading, Self Selected Reading, Writing and Words--represent four different approaches to teaching children to read.
Cecile - I am also a lone ranger...I also just volunteered to be one of the two inclusion teachers next year in 3rd and am hoping to be able yo continue with 4 blocks!
Betty - I have a question about our Word Wall words. I am very happy with how well the kids can read the words. I know that theoretically they should be able to spell them, too, but for the most part they can't spell them. What do you think I might be doing wrong?
Sue - Only the first grade teachers are using it though
Cecile - Rei--This is our second year so it's pretty new.
Jessica - Is 4 Block something you are REQUIRED to use in your district?
Glenda 1st TN - Cecile, could you tell me how 4 blocks differs from guided reading? Just in a thumb nail.
REI/2/IL - We have used Scott Foresman for the last 20 years! We looked at Houghton, Rigby, McGraw Hill and Scott Foresman.
naneb - I can tell you this about using this reading method, all of my students are included in some regular ed classes, Their reg. teachers have come to me to tell me they did not know what I was doing but they could not believe the difference in my kids reading ability since the beginning of the year!!!
Sue - No one else is using it in my district
Brenda - I am the only fifth grade teacher in out school modifying for the upper grades. I'm self-contained the other classes are departmentalized. I love it. Just feel a little secluded sometimes.
Betty - No, we aren't required. We're given a lot of freedom as to how we teach, and 4Blocks is my choice.
REI/2/IL - Jessica...it is now.
Jessica - GR is one of the components of 4 Block Glenda - 4 block is basically an organizational tool to make sure you are getting in all those important parts of Rdg/Wrt -- like including GR
Cecile - Glenda--what do you mean?
Suetwo - No, Jessica. I became interested in 4 blocks about 4 years ago and got some of my fellow primary teachers interested.
naneb - Betty, do you circle them in their writing and make them fix them ? When I made my kids accountable for having them spelled correctly it helped a bunch, Now, they will remind each other that a word is on the wall
Jessica - Brenda, there are a few 5th grade teachers I'm trying to tell about 4 Block and the big blocks in the upper grades. I don't know mcu habout it though in the upper grades - you enjoy it?
Glenda 1st TN - Cecile, Jessica straightened me out. I was thinking 4 blocks was completely different from guided reading. My mistake.
REI/2/IL - Cecile...I am an inclusion teacher. My 2nd grade LD kiddos are all reading on grade level or above right now.
naneb - Brenda, i am all by myself too. Just know you are doing the right thing for your students
Marcia/1st/ - I have a question about writing block for al lyou "experts."
Betty - Yes, naneb, I do that.
Cecile - Nan--at this point in thenyear, there are so many words on the word wall. How do they remember which ones are up[ there? I have a hard time knowing off the bat!
naneb - Rei,Yeah!!!!
Cecile - Rei--that's awesome!
REI/2/IL - Glenda...There is a difference between Guided Reading the 4 Blocks way and the F&P Guided Reading.
Brenda - My fifth grade students are excited about reading and writing. I love it.
naneb - I have to keep checking myself, Cecile!! I do not spell any words for anyone period, We check the wall, then go through the spelling strategies and finally look it up
Jessica - Really REI? What's the difference? I didn't know there was much of a difference
Rsok/Ok/1 - so....with 4 blocks....you do a word wall?
Glenda 1st TN - Oh?? In what way?
Betty - Rei, when you say you are an inclusion teacher, does that mean you come right into the classroom and assist?
Suetwo - REI what do you use to determine if students are reading at grade level?
Jessica - Rsok - yes
Betty - We have a provincially developed comprehension package that is a pretty good guide as to whether or not they are on grade level.
Rsok/Ok/1 - What words do you begin your wall with?????/I hope this is not a stupid question.
Suetwo - Wow, REI, good luck with all the questions?
REI/2/IL - My partner and I usually get fantastic growth out of our special ed kids. The rest of my room is reading at a middle of 3rd-6th grade.
Rsok/Ok/1 - and can Accelerated Reader be incorporated into this??????
REI/2/IL - LOL!!! Feel like I'm teaching one of my grad. classes.
naneb - Rsok, most people start with the student's names
Cecile - Nan-I'm glad that I'm not the only one that has to keep checking! I don't spell anything for my students either, but an individusal who pushes into my room 2X a week does tell them how to spell the words even though I have told her not to! AARGH!
Suetwo - Betty, what do you mean by "provincially developed comp. package.?
Jessica - REI, I hate to bombarde you with all the questions, but I'm really curious in hearing the difference of F&P GR and 4B GR!
naneb - sure Rsok, during SSR they could read an Ar book and take the test
REI/2/IL - I am the regular teacher. I team teach with the special ed teacher. We have taught together for 4 years.
Glenda 1st TN - I'm sorry for so many questions. Let me just "lurk". I should really go to the 4 blocks chatboard. It is just so tempting when you have a "live" person.
Rsok/Ok/1 - Glenda....I agree
naneb - Jessica, F&P use ability grouped small groups of students, 4Blocks teaches everyone together 3 days grade level 2 days easier text and teaches reading strategies
Cecile - Rei-that sounds like what I'll be doing next year in third, except that the special ed teacher will be floating between 2 3rd grade inclusion teams.
Betty - They are passages for the kids to read with comprehension questions to go with them. They were developed by Alberta (My province) education.
Rsok/Ok/1 - about it being so tempting
Suetwo - REI, I know I have seen your posts before. Are you also a trainer for 4 blocks?
REI/2/IL - RSOK...Yes, we use AR.
Jessica - I didn't know that 4 Block took this approach to GR. (I'm a kdgn teacher and we don't do GR)
Suetwo - Betty, we use DRA assessments in first and Burns and Roe in 2-6.
Rsok/Ok/1 - GR??????
Brenda - I have inclusion all morning and then the kids leave during 4 blocks . I think they would get a lot out of staying. But it's not my call.
REI/2/IL - Suetwo...yes. On the mailring, I'm Lennette Holden.
Rsok/Ok/1 - guided reading?
Sue - guided reading (gr)
Jessica - Are you wondering waht GR is Rsok - Guided Reading
Suetwo - REI, do you ever make it to the east coast?
Rsok/Ok/1 - thank you )
Betty - That's OK, Glenda. You are very welcome here! If you are interested in 4blocks,you should read the book "The Teacher's Guide To the 4Blocks." It tells you everything you need to know to get started
Rsok/Ok/1 - Betty.....thanks for that info on the book
Jessica - It's been great chatting with you all - but I have to go.
Betty - Rei, what grade level do you teach?
emma - Our 2nd grade is going to 4 Blocks thanks to meThe principal likes it so much that he wants to adopt in K-3 eventually.
Jessica - GOOD BYE!
naneb - Brenda, could you maybe suggest it to the sped teacher? I think you are right, Then, if they need pullout do it during another time
Rsok/Ok/1 - bye Jessica
Jessica - feels good to spread this great program,doesn't it Emma?
REI/2/IL - Suetwo...not as of yet. But who knows....
REI/2/IL - Betty...I currently teach 2nd grade.
Suetwo - For those of you teaching first, could you share what you do during making words on a typical day?
Suetwo - Hmmm REI..........
Marcia/1st/ - Sue, do you mean the word block?
Suetwo - Yes, Marcia.
Brenda - I was going to say something when we meet before the end of the school year. They haven't really team taught before. Just kind of hung around the class for ss and science. I think they we could work something else. Change is hard for some.
Suetwo - Bye, Jessica.
emma - yes it does, Jessica but now I'm on the hot seat. The principal announced at a faculty mtg that 2nd was to be the do or die experiment.
REI/2/IL - Suetwo...it isn't much different between 1st and 2nd. You need to clap chant cheer your words, do an on the back activity and then some "extension" activity.
Sue - Sue2.. we do our 5 word wall words, chant and write, then I do a phonics activity from our book using the word wall to set it up. Some days we do word building
REI/2/IL - emma...are they going to provide adequate training for them?
Brenda - Got to go. Getting kicked off by a fifteen year old. Thanks for the chat.
Suetwo - So, I gather, you do not do making words every day?
naneb - bye, Brenda
REI/2/IL - Brenda...that is what our Special Ed kids used to be in for. Now, they are in for all of the blocks.
Marcia/1st/ - well, one or two days we do a making words activity. On another day we might do a Rivet that goes along with a story or theme that is being taught. On two days a week at least we write word wall words and complete a phonics activity from Open Court. We also will chant and cheer the words that we are practicing that day.
Marcia/1st/ - bye brenda, I can relate!
Glenda 1st TN - Bye Brenda thanks for sharing.
REI/2/IL - Sue...do you mean the Making Words activity...where they manipulate the letters?
Sue - unfortunately not enough time, I try at least once a week
Betty - Sue, I use the Making Words homework book. The kids cut the letters out at the top of the page and colour the vowels red. I follow the steps in the Teachers Guide to have the kids build, sort and transfer the words.
Suetwo - Yes, REI.
naneb - my kids love to do mind reader, I let the winner do the next word
Marcia/1st/ - Sue, I think the making words is such a valuable activity too. I think it teaches more about phonics because the kids are actually manipulating all of the sounds.
REI/2/IL - I do Making words on Monday and Tuesday after we have clap, chant and cheered our new words for the week.
Rsok/Ok/1 - I see that I have alot to learn between now and August if I want to start this program......
Marcia/1st/ - I need to try Mind Reader, Nan. I
Betty - Rei, I'm really interested in what 4Blocks has done for your LD kids. I have a couple of kids who have been going to Early Literacy classes, and they are making progress, but not reading at grade level.
Cecile - Rei--do you follow a set pattern for the second portion of WWW?
naneb - upper grades has some different activities, like Brand Name Phonics and the Nifty 50 words
Marcia/1st/ - Rsok, get on the 4 blocks mailring and you will learn all you need to know during the summer. I did last summer
naneb - It would be a good activity for the end of the year, once all the words are up
Suetwo - I think I do this too often, so the kids are bored with it, but since we do not have a specific phonics program, I want to be sure my kiddos get as much as possible.
Rsok/Ok/1 - Marcia....did you get 200 emails a day on the mailring???
Cecile - Rsok--yes, the mail ring is amazing! You will learn a lot, but you should also get the Teacher's Guidde to the Four Blocks. I still refer to it regularly!
Marcia/1st/ - also, get the books. Rsok, one of the best things I did this year was the name activities with my students at the beginning of the school year. We still refer to sound combinations in the kid's names as we are doing our writing.
Rsok/Ok/1 - Thanks Cecile......I will get the book
Cecile - Rsok--You're welcome
Marcia/1st/ - rsok, yes, it is very busy in the summer. I signed up for the digest format. But what is great is when you ask a question, you will get about 5 answers to your question. You will meet some great people too.
Sue - If you have aol you don't get all of the emails. I received one today
Marcia/1st/ - you should have time to read them in the summer
naneb - and the Month by Month Phonics for your grade level
naneb - there weren't very many emails today
Sue - the month by month book is my bible
Marcia/1st/ - that's where the name activities are--in the Month by Month book for 1st grade. Very great!
naneb - I would not have attempted this without the mailring
Betty - Has anybody read the new SSR book? I'm expecting it in the mail very soon!
Marcia/1st/ - Lately there haven't been too many emails for me either. The sumer will pick up again.
Rsok/Ok/1 - what is the actual title of the month by month?????
Cecile - I have hears aweful things about AOL and mailrings. A lot of people have signed up through hotmail and things have improved!
Rsok/Ok/1 - wb REI
REI - Geesh..got booted and then it wouldn't let me back in!
Sue - Month by Month Phonics for ____ grade
naneb - I used my students names for the first words on the wall, They were coming from 4 different schools so I figured it couldn't hurt
REI - Betty...I have the new SSR book. It was the book they gave at Leadership this year.
Sue - My kids really use the word wall
Rsok/Ok/1 - thank you Sue
Marcia/1st/ - Rsok-here are the books that will help you: Teachers Guide to 4 blocks, Month by Month Phonics for first grade, and Self Selected Reading... You may also want to get the book called Making Words. It has the activities already planned out.
naneb - REI, do you think that book would be helpful for me??
Marcia/1st/ - I have loaned my SSR book to another teacher.
naneb - I just don't know if it would have anything in it for a 6th grade teacher
Rsok/Ok/1 - thanks Marcia
REI - It has some good stuff in it Nan. I've attended some things with Linda Gambrell (the author). She has practical ideas.
Sue - What's in the SSR book?
Rsok/Ok/1 - Do you do a spelling test with this?
REI - It would be a good resource.
Betty - Rsok--After you read the first one, you'll be hooked! I've just finished "Guided Reading the 4Blocks Way." It goes into GR in a bit more detail, and offers some very powerful techniqes to improve reading and comprehension--so simple to do!
naneb - Rei, for 6th graders?
Sue - I have to do a spelling test, but a lot of the words are from the word wall
Sue - They come from our basal series
naneb - I do a spelling test, 5 word wall words, making word words, and review words
Rsok/Ok/1 - so.....the 4 blocks can be incorporated into the reading series that you use??????
Sue - Ours did very easily
REI - Rsok..yes. I assess my students on the 5 word wall words and 5-7 transfer words in a "cloze" setting. They also have 3 dictation sentences that are "unseen".
Cecile - Rsok--Absolutely! It went very smoothly!
Suetwo - For those of you who use MXM in first grade for word block, do you also use a phonics program or do you feel your kiddos are getting enough with MXM?
Marcia/1st/ - Rsok-yes! Because the beauty of 1st grade is that you will do a lot of read alouds too to work on the comprehension during guided reading block.
Sue - I supplement with our series skills
naneb - brb
Rsok/Ok/1 - MXM?????
REI - Nan...the nice thing about SSR is the same if you are in 1st grade or 8th grade. Just a little tweaking here or there. I would say get it if you have the $$.
Suetwo - Month by Month Rsok.
Marcia/1st/ - Rsok, Month by Month is MXM
Sue - I try and relate it to the word wall, my on the back activity sets up the lesson
Cecile - Rsok--Month-by-Month Phonics for ___ Grade
REI - MxM=Month by Month phonics.
Marcia/1st/ - SSRis self selected reading and GR is Guided Reading
Rsok/Ok/1 - I asked my principal about 4 blocks.....he was not very encouraging.....but I think it is because he doesn't know anything about it......
Rsok/Ok/1 - MXM......duh!
Sue - need to check on the baby be right back
Rsok/Ok/1 - he refered to it as education's new trend
Marcia/1st/ - Rsok, my principals and our instructional lead teacher love to come to my room when we are doing making words! It is so engaging.
naneb - I like using poetry for guided reading too
REI - We got to dump our spelling books when we implemented 4B.
Cecile - I mentioned 4 Blocks to my husband's uncle and he is a principal in a K-6 school up in Lake Placid, NY and he had never even heard of 4 Blocks!
Rsok/Ok/1 - he says he is tired of trends and wants us to do only what works...........
Sue - lucky you REI
Suetwo - Yea, for you REI.
Sue - Four blocks works!!
Marcia/1st/ - actually, Rsok, I think it's a great basic way of teaching balanced literacy. Just do it and don't talk to him any more about it. When he comes in your room and sees the kids engaged, then tell him.
Rsok/Ok/1 - Cecile....I had never heard of it until I came to this site.
Glenda 1st TN - Guys, I'm going to have to call it a night. If you don't mind would you answer a quick 2 questions? The 4 blocks- are they reading, phonics, writing and spelling? Also, the words you put on the word wall are they sight words or voc. words ??
Betty - Rsok--My administration didn't know anything about it either. I shared it with my principal at my professional growth meeting, and he was very positive. My vice-principal borrowed my book and she thinks it's good. Will he let you try it? Can you get some research to show him?
Cecile - Rsok--Well tell him that 4 Blocks is a tried and true framework--not a "program"!
REI - Rsok...4 Blocks has actually been around for almost 15 years.
naneb - I had a class of kids who hated reading and now they ask to read!! One boy said he would rather quit school than read. His grandmother gave him books for Christmas and he brought them to school to show me
Sue - My word wall words came from teh month by month book
Rsok/Ok/1 - I am very interested....and I am not going to tell him......and let him see the results.
Betty - That a girl, Rsok!
Marcia/1st/ - Glenda, in the month by month book, I think there is a list of suggested sight words for each grade level to use on the wall. They also sell them already made for abou t $20.00. I bought them. They are great.
Suetwo - Good idea, Rsok! It does work!!
REI - Guided reading, writing (English), Self Selected Reading and Word (spelling/phonics)
Rsok/Ok/1 - is someone answering Glenda's questions???????????
Marcia/1st/ - Rsok, what I like is that I feel like my teaching is balanced and I am not just doing my favorite parts....
naneb - I use some of the words from the book but I ended up adding other words because they were words that were being misspelled all of the time
REI - That are the 4 Blocks
Betty - Glenda--4Blocks are Guided Reading, Working With Words, Self-Selected Reading and Writing. The words you put up are high frequency words, not vocab.
Marcia/1st/ - Also, the activities are very hands-on and engaging so the kids are happy and excited
Cecile - After I went through the training, I re-did my plan book to incorporate all the blocks and when my principal checked my plan book as she does every few weeks, she commented on how she liked the new way I had set up my plan book!
Marcia/1st/ - They have choices with the writing workshop and SSR time so you are not "dictating" everything
Rsok/Ok/1 - Cecile......I have to turn in lesson plans every Monday morning.........
Sue - My principal is supportive
Cecile - Rsok--You're kidding! Then they are assuming that you are spending all weekend working!
naneb - I like the way I teach(model) a strategy, the students read a short passage to apply what they just saw and then we share and discuss, everyone is involved and on task and motivated
Glenda 1st TN - You guys are great. I'll order the Guided Reading 4 Blocks way for my summer reading. I've been looking for something to imporve comprehension, writing and a strong phonics program. This might be my answer. If you don't mind i may come back next week to "lurk" some more. Good night everyone.
Marcia/1st/ - Rsok, there is even a plan book for 4 blocks. I like it. I plan on using it next week. Your principal will find it very easy to see that you are covering objectives with this plan book set up
Suetwo - Nite, Glenda.
Marcia/1st/ - Rsok, I plan on buying it again next YEAR, not next week. Of course I am using it next week!
naneb - I have to use my principal's lesson plan form so, I cannot use the plan book
REI -
Rsok/Ok/1 - we are issued a particular gradebook/lesson plan book combination.....we are required to use it
Sue - I make my own plan book
Cecile - Nan--You're kidding! Do you like it?
naneb - We do ours on computer and I have to turn them in every Friday
naneb - It is just columns divided by Objective, Procedures, resources, assessment
Cecile - I have a template that I did on my computer and all I do is fill in the blanks! So easy! We can use whatever we want!
Marcia/1st/ - oh, I am sorry. We have a lot of freedom at my school, I think. Our lesson plans don't even get checked except for about 2 times per year
Rsok/Ok/1 - and we have to make sure we show what objectives we are covering for the week.
REI - Rsok...I don't use the 4B plan book. I developed my own format and staple it into the "school issued" planbook.
Sue - same here Marcia
naneb - My GR plan has Before:, During After
Betty - I make my own plan book with 4Block stuff incorporated into it.
Sue - We might have to write what standard teh lesson is related to next year, but that's not that hard
Cecile - Nan--me too!
Marcia/1st/ - REi, great idea fo getting around using the "company issued" plan book.
Rsok/Ok/1 - it's called......"covering your butt in case of a law suit"
naneb - I usually cover the same objective for the week such as character analysis or visualization
Marcia/1st/ - I am going to have to go. It's getting late
Cecile - Rsok--Here in central NY, we call it CYA: Cover Your A_ _! Hee hee!
Rsok/Ok/1 - bye Marcia...thanks for your help
Sue - gnight Marcia
Rsok/Ok/1 - Cecile.....I like that!!!!!
naneb - bye, marcia nice chatting with you
Betty - We are given a lot of freedom, too. I never have my lesson plans checked.
REI - Our new basal series will have our standards/objectives listed for the story. Should make it easy for us if we are required to document on our plans (we don't have to right now).
Cecile - I need to go too! It's late for those of us on the east coast! Good night everyone!
Marcia/1st/ - Thanks for the chat tonight. It was nice talking to all of you. Rsok, I hope you check out the mailring. You know, no one said you had to read all of those 200 emails
Sue - Mine only get checked when he does a walk through or a formal observation
naneb - I don't really know if they check them I think it is so that if you are not there they will have something to give to the sub
Sue - gnight Cecile
Betty - Goodnight!
Rsok/Ok/1 - do each of your state's....issue objectives????? we have what is called "Pass Objectives" for the state of Oklahoma
Marcia/1st/ - You will learn a lot more on the mailring after you read the books.
Sue - ours are standards
naneb - MS has benchmarks and objectives, I use them to write IEPs
Betty - Just a poll--What 4Blocks activities do your kids like best? Mine like Mind Reader and Guess the Covered Word.
Sue - before that they were outcomes
REI - Have you all seen Cheryl's new website?
REI - http://www.cherylsigmon.com/
Sue - word building and using words you know and three ring circus
Rsok/Ok/1 - cheryl????
Betty - Yes, Cheryl's site is great!
Sue - not yet
naneb - I visited it today, it is very nice. I downloaded everything
Rsok/Ok/1 - and it is a 4 blocks???
naneb - I think those are two of my kids favorite too. They also love Mystery word with bigger words
REI - Cheryl Sigmon...she coauthored the teachers guide to 4 Blocks with Pat and Dottie. Yes, it is 4 blocks
Rsok/Ok/1 - bye sue
naneb - Betty, did you say you teach 5th grade?
Rsok/Ok/1 - I really appreciate everyone's patience with me.....thanks a bunch!!
REI - Mine love Rounding up the Rhyme, Reading Writing Rhymes and Guess the Covered Word.
Rsok/Ok/1 - have a great night......I am off in search of 4 blocks
Rsok/Ok/1 - Thanks REI
naneb - I do GTCW with powepoint presentations, it is a favorie
Betty - Rsok--Have you seen the 4Blocks chatboard from the teachers.net site? There's a lot of great stuff there, including links to Cheryl Sigmon's articles. I believe her focus is 4Blocks for upper grades.
REI - Rsok..incoming PM
naneb - I have two websites with 4 blocks stuff on them too
Rsok/Ok/1 - Betty....I will check it out...thanks
Betty - I was surprised when I first started doing Rounding Up the Rhymes, as to how difficult it was for my kids to identify the rhyming words. I thought it would be a piece of cake, but it wasn't! It's made me realize kids don't naturally make the connection that rhyming words are often spelled with the same word families. It was an eye opener for me!
Suetwo - Thanks everyone for a great chat tonight. I continue to learn! Good nite all.
naneb - nite, Sue2
Betty - Goodnight, Sue!
REI - Betty..my kids love when I tear up the ones that aren't "true" rhymes after we have looked at all of them.
Rsok/Ok/1 - Good night everyone......hope to chat with you all soon!
naneb - night, Rsok
Betty - That would be cool! I just write mine on the whiteboard, so we erase them.
naneb - Rei, have you read the Craft books about writing?
REI - I put them on index cards. The first word is in one color, the second word is in another color. We place them on a pocket chart right under each other. After we have 8-10 pairs then we go back through and decide which ones are "True". It is a great visual for my students.
naneb - I am looking for some help with my writing block
naneb - That is a good idea, I have to remember this
REI - Nan..yep....got all 3 of his books. Craft lessons, Craft Lessons for Non-fiction and What Every Writer Needs.
Betty - naneb, what grade level?
naneb - 6th, but they are more like 4th grade writers
naneb - next years class is going to be about 3rd grade reading level
Betty - Sorry, I can't help. I teach first!
Betty - Is Craft the author of these books? I haven't heard of them before.
naneb - This year my kids are pretty good writers I just think this block could be better
naneb - Fletcher Craft, I think
REI - Nan...when I do "process writing"-book reports, narrative, etc...I use the 4 Square format with my kiddos. '
REI - Ralph Fletcher is the author of the Craft lesson books.
naneb - We do that too, I guess i just feel insecure about this block
naneb - I knew there was a Fletcher somewhere!!! LOL!
naneb - Hi, Deb
Betty - I am looking into the 4Square writing program.
Betty - Why are they called Craft books???
naneb - writing is a craft
REI - But my favorite resources when working with upper grade students are my Razzle Dazzle Writers and Building a Writing Community.
Betty - Oh, I get it!
naneb - What are they?
Betty - Well, I am going to head off. It's been great chatting with you!
Deb - naneb Try - Writing Whizardry by Maity Schrecengost. They publisher is Maupin House. They also publish another book of mini lessons called Razzle Dazzle Writing or something like that. Lessons are great for older students.
naneb - Okay, thanks Deb
REI - Nan..I also use Dynamite Writing Ideas.
REI - Razzle Dazzle Writing
naneb - I think I am insecure teaching writing like this and my procedures need refining, Next year will probably be better. I always feel like i don't get everything done
naneb - my kids have done some terrific writing this year, and I can see real growth for most of them. Mostly I can see confidence, The know they can do it
REI - You can't go wrong with a book by Melissa Forney or Marcia Freeman.
naneb - Thanks
REI - Building a Writing Community
naneb - I guess i had better go, It has been great chatting with you tonight
REI - I like using Marcia Freeman and Melissa Forney's stuff when working with older kids. They offer practical ideas that the junior high kids are willing to buy into.
REI - Calling it a night as well.
REI - Good talking to you.
naneb - You know I have found that my kids are just little kids in bug bodies!!
naneb - oops!!! big not bug!!! must be a Freudian slip!!! LOl!!
REI - LOL...bug bodies.
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