Amy - Do you currently use 4 blocks?
emma - yes, but just last year and not as well as I'd like to this year
Amy - what grade?
emma - 2nd, and you?
Amy - I am a first year teacher in 5th grade and I want to use 4 blocks. I have my superintendents backing but I'm so nervous! I don't know how to get things rolling.
emma - It can be overwhelming at first. Take a block at a time. That's what I did.
Amy - Any suggestions? I feel like once the routine is going, it will be great. And I'm unsure about how working with words will go...
emma - I started with MXM phonics because it was so explicit.
Amy - Hmmmm....I feel comfortable with everything but the word block, just because I don't see how to assess it very well but I know our spelling program does not work
emma - Then as I found my comfort zone I would do another block.
Amy - I did a long term sub in the position I now have, and LOVED it, but the LA area just didn't seem to be effective
Amy - which block did you feel most/least comfortable?
emma - Do you have the Month by Month Phonics for 5th grade, Amy?
emma - I felt most comfortable with the Word block.. least the writing block.
Amy - no, I don't. Is that with the 4 blocks program? I just have the 4 blocks modified for the upper grades. I went to a conference with Cheryl in May (my super sent me as a long-term sub)
Amy - we probably feel differently because of the age difference? I think writing is much harder with younger students
emma - They have all the items you need for your grade level in Carson-Dellosa. I ordered everthing!
Amy - does that get expensive? Plus I start school in a week and a half...yikes
emma - Writing USED to be difficult for me and not much fun. Like pulling teeth. Now with Writing mini-lessons I feel great.
emma - I sound like a commercial!!!
Amy - that's great. I just have heard such wonderful things about this program and I can't wait to start it. I'm just nervous since there are so many new things for me
Amy - hahaha, well you're making me feel better about choosing this program
Paulie - so there is a mtg after all
Amy - hi Paulie, what grade do you teach? Do you use 4 blocks?
emma - If you just stick to your grade level and get the basics I think your school dist. should be willing to pay for it.
Paulie - I am unemployed presently I will if I get a class that fits it
emma - Hi Paulie.
Amy - have you used it before?
Paulie - hi emma and Amy
Paulie - nope
Paulie - Does that mean I ahve to leave?
emma - 4 blocks fits any grade level up to 8th I believe.
Paulie - any grade after K that is
Amy - Where did you order your books from?
Amy - I think my teacher store may have the books
emma - Well actually, K is Building Blocks and 4th -8th is called Big Blocks.
Paulie - I got the book from my principal when i taught K but I told her that it wasn't appropriate for K and I showed her the BB one She did not have any idea about it
emma - Just purchase what you can, Amy and go with it. Buy more as you have the money.
Paulie - so I have both books for BB and 4 blocks
Paulie - and other relatd ones but I moved and have no class yet
emma - Good luck on finding a job Paulie.
Paulie - I know they sell them at Lakeshore and Education Station in os angeles
Amy - what states are you from?
Paulie - thanks emma will hear from a principal Tues
Paulie - WA now
Amy - I'm MI
emma - I'm from AZ.
Paulie - Los
Amy - good luck!!!!
Paulie - thanks
Paulie - where in AZ
emma - I start next week and I can't wait.
Paulie - My possible job is near Phoeniz!
emma - Four Blocks makes me excited about teaching.
Amy - I start the 27th and I'm also very excited. It will come very fast though
Amy - How many years have you been teaching, Emma?
emma - Well, I live in Northern AZ. Phoenix is too hot for me!
Paulie - where in AZ I am in Vancouver, WA
Paulie - o
Paulie - hi Amy 5
Amy/5/MO - hi all! maybe I missed it, but what grades do you all teach?
Amy - Hi Amy, I'm 5th too!
Amy - Amy5, do you use 4 blocks right now? Have you in the past?
emma - I have been teaching 16 years, Amy. Wish I'd had 4 blocks sooner!
Amy/5/MO - oh my gosh...maybe Im chatting with MYSELF!
emma - 2nd
Amy - hahahaha, and I'm MI, close, but not MO
Amy/5/MO - Ive been using pieces of it for the last couple years, but decided to go FULL BLOWN this year! I am so excited, but ALL ALONE in my building, so Im a bit nervous!
emma - No, there's 3 others in here, Amy 5
Amy - I'm the same way (almost, I haven't used it before)
Amy - any tips you can offer me?
Amy/5/MO - I took the summer off, boutght a couple more of the books, and spent the summer planning.
Amy - I'm a first year teacher and my super is behind me on this, but other than that I"m on my own. I don't know anyone else in my grade level or school that uses this. I know the lower el in my district does
Amy/5/MO - I first started using the Working with Words block instead of our spelling text. Month by Month phonics is a GREAT book for that.
Amy - where can I get that book? Is it "Month my Month for upper grades"?
emma - That's what I told her, Amy 5 MO
Paulie - do any of you use a redng text with 4 blocks?
Amy - that is the one block that I feel I need help with
Amy/5/MO - Yes, and you can get it anywhere that sells Carson-Dellosa materials. Any teacher store should have it!
Amy - it definitely sounds like a book to get!
Paulie - reading
emma - No, it's specifically for 5th Amy.
Po - I have a question for you 4-blockers...
Amy - weird question, but did you still have spelling tests? My school gives students a separate spelling grade on their report card
emma - I use my basal some of the time, Paulie.
Amy/5/MO - Hi Po! Paulie, yes, Im planning on using some of our reading text with guided reading. We just adopted the McGrraw-Hill reading series last year as a district and are a bit touchy about abandoning it all together!
Po - Our 3rd grade team is trying out four-blocks this year.... I am a support teacher and my principal has asked me to help them get it going.
Amy - I was planning to use my reading text too
Paulie - what is a suport teacher a mentor?
Po - I am familiar with the model but I have not actually done it myself... I attended a session with Cunningham a couple of years ago but it took me until this year to convice my principal and a team of teachers to give it a go.
Paulie - o I thought u didn't use a basal with 4 blocks
Amy/5/MO - Yes, Amy--we have to give spelling grades too. I give a little test on word wall words and prefix/suffix words on Fridays, but mostly I take spellikng grades on the writing pieces they turn in to me. Even in social studies and science!
Po - Paulie, I am a mentor teacher, but my role at my school is half-time Reading Recovery and half-time literacy support.
Paulie - oic
Amy - how do you test word wall since the words are on the wall? That has been confusing me. Do you take down the words for the test? What about the word wall games? I have the same question for that as well
Po - I thought that we should start with one block, get it right and then move on to the next block. Does this sound reasonable?
emma - I do Spelling that can easily work in to 4 blocks. Same philosophy.
Amy - also, do you think a word wall is necessary? I have a tiny room with a lot of cupboards and little wall space
Amy/5/MO - My students turn and face away from the WW when they take their tests.
Amy - how do you work your spelling?
Paulie - for 5th grade u could do word wall file folders
Amy/5/MO - I have the same prob with wall space--I made a few portable WWs with trifold boards. That way, you could even fold them up and put them away before a test!
Paulie - or word wall special posters for certain holidays or soemthing special u have a theme on
Amy - see, my room doesn't allow for that. Would just the file folder be sufficient (good thought Paulie)
Paulie - hi kathy
Amy - Great idea!
emma - Yes, Amy, the word wall is necessary for 4 Blocks. I used the outside of my cupboards for some of it.
Amy - Hi Kathy
Paulie - for 5th graders it could be after u introduced yur words maybe with a blackboard/whiteboard list or on a poster
Po - anyone?
Amy/5/MO - Hi, kathy!
Paulie - Po I think u can do it how ever u like
Amy - Po, I am starting with all 4 blocks
Paulie - many play it saffe to get one block right and add others but u can do all if u choose right away
emma - Sorry, Po. Yes, that's how I did it. When I felt comfortable with a block I'd move on to another.
Amy - maybe I"m bring too ambitious and will regret it? Our writing program is already a lot like the writing block, so I think I will be okay?
Amy/5/MO - If you're more comfortable doing it that way, go for it! Actually Po now that I think about it, thats how I did it. I started with WWW one year and then built up to the rest.
emma - If its Writer's Workshop style, it will be fine, Amy.
Paulie - Amy u can do it all at once if u choose
Amy/5/MO - Amy I think its good that you start now before you get other less effective methods "ingrained" in you!
Amy - yes, it is
Po - I don't want to overwhelm the teachers.... (2 out of 5 are brand new.... 2 others are only 3 years into teaching.)..... which block would you suggest they start with?
Amy - can you explain a little bit how you do "spelling". I have very anal parents.
Amy - Po, I'm brand new too!
Paulie - don't they already do guided reading?
Amy/5/MO - It will probably be easier to start out that way than to change the way you do things.
Po - btw..... they all have word walls though I'm not sure that 4 of them know what to do with them..... and we all have the "making words" book.
emma - I would start with Working With Words and make sure they all have a copy of Month by Month Phonics for their grade level. It spells everything out.
Amy/5/MO - Yes, I think its easier, and less intimidating to start with WWW.
Amy/5/MO - esp if they already have the materials...
Po - Paulie, we were using a different model... long story..... so I think we may want to do that next.
emma - The phonics book shows you how to use the word wall, Po, not just have a word wall.
Paulie - o
Amy/5/MO - kathy, rowlf, do you use 4 blocks in your classrooms? what do you teach?
rowlf - I use components of 4 blocks
rowlf - I teach special education
Po - Okay, thanks Amy. We'll do that! If we don't get our test scores up in 3rd grade our district they are going to make us start ability grouping the classes! I hope this really helps! Thanks emma...before I left the classroom i used a word wall with great success. Couldn't teach without it anymore!
Po - ")
Po -
emma - How long have you used it, rowlf?
Amy/5/MO -for special education teachers!
rowlf - I am starting my 2nd year with it.
Po - Well... better go! We are in the middle of moving and sadly it is time to pack up the 'puter! Thanks for your help!
Amy/5/MO - Po, I remember the first time I caught one of my IEP students using the WW to figure out how to spell something in his writing--it was so exciting!
Po - have a great night all!
emma - bye Po
Paulie - lol soudns like me puter last packed and first unpacked
nan - I forgot all about this chat tonight
Amy/5/MO - do you use 4blocks nan?
Amy - Any suggestion for a book to start out the year with? As a read aloud?
Amy - what grade do you teach Nan?
nan - I read First Day Jitters
emma - I finally remembered one, Nan!!
nan - 6th grade special ed
nan - Amy, yes I started 4 blocks last year
Amy/5/MO - I love to read Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School!
rowlf - I have been reading a story a long with my morning message.
rowlf - each day
emma - nan, I saw your Author's Chair picture. Soo cute.
Paulie - sure How aboutThank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco it is about a 5th gr girl that can't read and is bullied
Amy - Nan, any advise for a first year teacher with no experience with 4blocks? I'm 5th
rowlf - did that along with morning message last year, too.
nan - We are reading that book now
Paulie - true story about the author name of Falker is changed slightly
nan - Thanks, emma
Amy/5/MO - Paulie, great idea! I just bought that one.
Paulie - I loved it I used it when i taught 4th gr
nan - Amy, all I can say is teach what your students need
Paulie - great one for start of school even if it is a picture book soemtimes the big kids need to read Caldecott books too
Amy - I love Patricia Polacco! She lives about an hour from where I teach!
nan - I have a whole pile of picture books that I will read to my class
rowlf - I use caldecott
emma - Well, gotta be up at 4:00 tomorrow morning. Have a great evening you guys!!
Paulie - I just discovered her three eyars ago
rowlf - I used them all last year with middle schoolers.
Amy - bye emma!
Paulie - I love to read thepicture books to older kids
nan - I love her books too along with Cynthia Rylant and Eve Bunting
Amy/5/MO - Paulie, DEFINITELY! In Strategies that Work (not related to Classrooms thaat Work), they highly recommend teaching guided reading lessons with picture books!
Paulie - lots of great math books that are picture books
Paulie - great fairy tale versions/adaptations too
rowlf - yes the counting book is good.
Paulie - thanks
Amy - this is off the topic of 4 blocks, but any ideas for first day/week of school activities?
Paulie - Cynthia Rylant The relatives came is a fav of mine
Paulie - ve Bunting has one about the holacaust
Amy/5/MO - In fact, we were talking earlier about using basals--I bought the picture books that the stories out of our basal came from in order to present the story to the students in real book form first. I hate the idea of basals--the kids are so unmotivated to read them!
Paulie - ok I know my keyboarding is bad and sp too in here
nan - I am reading The Relatives came next week when I start text - self connections
Amy - great idea Amy!
Paulie - I love it long time ago there was a tape that told the story with a filmstrip and I used it in a library when I subbed as a media specialist
Amy/5/MO - can get expensive tho, just bought the ones I knew they would use.
Amy - well, even just checking them out at the library would be good
Amy - better than just seeing the basal
Paulie - when I went from K to 4th gr I bought 300 dollars worth of paperback sets for my class
Amy/5/MO - true! but our school library is exTREMly limited, and I have a prob with losing books I check out from the public library!
Paulie - but the library doesn't have multiple copies so u can have readers circles
Paulie - nan that is a great idea to use that story for it
Amy/5/MO - yes, paulie! Ive been checking out the scholastic book club order forms for those 95 cent specials, but they never have the ones I need!
Amy - wow! I've been trying to find books cheap for my classroom. I got a few at garage sales and bookcloseouts.com But I'm near my limit of $ for my room. Next year will be nice though, I'll already have so much for my room and can spend more $ on books
nan - i buy from the Sept. scholastic catalog. If you have $200 order then you get 20 X points, I use my school budget and buy books
Paulie - I ordered them thru the book club and got lots fo points
Amy - that's what I plan to do too, I just didn't want empty shelves in my library when the kids came in the first day
Paulie - I only got one 95 cent sp and that was Mathilda
Amy/5/MO - Ive also been reading about using short texts, newspaper articles, menus, mail, etc. to teach guided reading lessons. This brings authenticity into it! Thank goodness for Scholastic and bonus points!!! I missed the Mathilda special. That would have been a good one!
Paulie - Mathilda was two years ago
Paulie - good idea about usual ordinary stuff to read for GR
Amy/5/MO - Do any of you use the 6 traits in your writing block?
Amy - I have been cutting out the comics on Sunday, grouping them by title and then matting them on construction paper, laminating them and hloding them together with a ring.
Paulie - I like 6 traits and would use if I ahd interm class again
Amy/5/MO - comics--great idea! could use them to teach about context, inferences, etc!
Paulie - I always watch for appropriate comic strips to use in teaching
nan - I will use science and social studies text for guided reading too, all of my kids are included in reg ed classes so they need lots of support
Paulie - I also mat and laminate
Amy/5/MO - yes, nan, I plan to do that too!
Amy - yea, and kids who don't start out the year motivated to read might be more likely to find something to spark their interest
Paulie - good nan
Amy - I have also gone through old Newsweek and done the same with science articles or other things that may spark their interest.
Paulie - always good things that might be thrown away lol
Amy/5/MO - I like the 6 traits, but our students are highly "at-risk", and also want to keep writing lessons practical. I don't want to overanalyze writing b/c I think I would lose them. Any thoughts on that?
Amy - studies have shown boys love non-fiction and don't have many opportunities in classroom libraries to feed that need
rowlf - I have my kids do a journal
Paulie - I have a reading buddy program with K and 5th graders
Amy/5/MO - Yes, Amy--magazines are great too! high-interest, etc.
rowlf - with inventive spelling.
nan - if any of you have my upper grade site bookmarked it has changed here is the new url
Amy - what is your site?
Paulie - listen to the big kids read 20 min a week and then later in yr K kids read to older buddies it is good for those 5th gr too that don't even read at gr level
Amy/5/MO - Paulie, I had one too that was WONDERFUL, but my K buddy changed schools this year!
Paulie - so get a new K buddy
nan - http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-uppergrades4blocks
Amy/5/MO - It was great to practice EXPRESSIVE reading for the 5th graders too!
rowlf - I have a word wall in my room.
Amy - thanks Nan
nan - I do word wall too
Amy - do you retire words from the wall? How often?
nan - rowlf, do you do the activities with the words?
Amy/5/MO - bookmarked it nan. Looks very helpful!
rowlf - we are just starting ours.
Paulie - I shoudl think u would not put all the words up at once in the first place
rowlf - yes, I do
Amy - Nan, I had just been looking at your site earlier and not realized it was yours! Thanks
Amy/5/MO - No, Amy. I keep them all up and just add to it throughout the year.
rowlf - like today we did an activity with the phongrams, and they created lists with three phonograms and then selected a word from each phonogram and wrote a sentence with each.
Amy - Doesn't it get too big?
nan - I have another 4 blocks site, http://fortunecity.com/meltingpot/gipsy/41
Amy/5/MO - I put up my words about 7-8 per week--a lot faster than the Month by Month book does.
nan - the kids will use the words all year if you pracitce using the word wall
Amy - Nan, for the games listed on your site for word wall, how do you keep the students from seeing it?
nan - i don't worry about it, you want them to use the word wall and the games will reinforce the wall, the kids that need it will use it the others won't bother
Amy/5/MO - it gets a little crowded, but you can make up for it as the year goes on because there are several letters that won't have any words under them.
Amy - good point, Nan
Amy - Nan, we were talking about this earlier, spelling tests. How do you give them in the 4 blocks program?
Amy/5/MO - if they use the WW faithfully, hopefully they will get to the point where they don't have to use it anymore.
Amy - (are these questions answered in the Phonics book?)
nan - I use the word wall words, next I add words from something we did , making words ,brand name phonics etc, then I add 1 or 2 nifty words and also some pattern words I usually have 2 harder nifty 50 words for challenge or bonus words
Amy - my parents will have a huge problem with me testing them on words that are in front of them. How do I fix this? They are very quick to say we are too easy on their kids
Paulie - hmmmm this site is not working
Paulie - wonder what happened to what i wrote before that?
Paulie - I said
Paulie - then put your word wall on a shade that olls up during tests hehehehe
Paulie - rolls
Amy/5/MO - when I do use spelling tests, I usually have a paragrpah using the words that the kids edit for mistakes. I also give them a few dictation sentences so they practice writing the words in an authentic context. I just turn my kids away from the word wall to take their tests. Or you can use those science fair trifold boards and just fold them up.
Amy - I don't think that I have any space for that. I think my word "wall" will really be word "cupboards"
Amy/5/MO - wb rowlf!
Paulie - I was joking
Amy - hahahaa, I was wondering about that
nan - last year I sometimes did a cloze paragraph and they had to write in the spelling words. My kids really liked this spelling test the best.
Amy/5/MO - You just have to play with it a little bit Amy until you find something that works!
nan - I don't put the new words up until after the test
Paulie - great idea nan
Amy - hahaha, do I sound panicked? I think I need to relax and not worry so much
nan - you really have to teach them to use the word wall and don't spell words for them, i found if you really stick to your guns and teach them strategies for spelling unknown words the ywill get it
Amy/5/MO - hi Cindy! I panic every year Amy. Its totally understandable--I remember feeling so overwhelmed my first year!
Amy - okay, thank you all so much for your help! I can't thank you enough. You have gotten me so excited. I can't wait to get back in my room and finish planning for this. Unfortunately, it will have to wait unitl Friday, I have a math conference all day tomorrow.
cindy25 - what grades do you all teach
Amy - best of luck to everyone, I have to get going so I'm not tired tomorrow! Thanks again!
Amy/5/MO - When do your kids start Amy?
Paulie - I love math conferences
Paulie - good luck Amy
Amy - thanks for the book advice!!!
Amy/5/MO - If you want to comunicate more thru the year, email me at thbteacher@yahoo.com!
Amy/5/MO - bye, twin!
Amy - Thank you so much! I will, hope I don't drive you nuts with questions. Mine is robkea@saline.k12.mi.us
Amy/5/MO - cindy, I teach 5th grade.
Amy - thanks again, you've really been a huge help and inspiration
Paulie - thanks for letting me come to chat bye all good luck with your year
Amy/5/MO - cant believe Ive been on here an hour! Its been so nice to discuss this. its hard to implement something like this when you are the only one in your building doing it!
nan - I was like that and still am Amy just go one step at a time, this is the most fun way to teach
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