Kathleen - Hi all, welcome to another Teachers.Net chat, sponsored by Apples n Acorns, supplier of 4-Blocks materials http://www.applesandacorns.com
LeeAnne - REI, what is your take on the guided reading block? I am still not comfortable with it.
ginn/2nd/AR - Do you have the Guided Reading 4 Block Way Book?
LeeAnne - ginn, yes I do, but not gotten all the way through it.
imablonde - What is 4 block way book?
LeeAnne - my concern is my first graders are still learning the alphabet and sounds. They don't comprehend much. Where do I go?
ginn/2nd/AR - It's a book that discuss the guided reading block.
REI/2/IL - I have always taught whole group or small flexible groups so the Guided Reading Block isn't a problem for me.
LeeAnne - We use the Scoot Foresman basal, but I am not even in it yet. We have been in school since August 17.
ginn/2nd/AR - We use the SF series too, we just adopted the new series this ;year.
REI/2/IL - Our school uses the Scott Foresman Basal also. Why haven't you started it?
ginn/2nd/AR - yes it fits really well with the 4 block framework.
REI/2/IL - We will adopt in approx. two years. We have always used Scott Foresman.
REI/2/IL - Good...I am hoping to pilot it for my district.
ginn/2nd/AR - You can tell that the new series has really considered this framework.
REI/2/IL - LeeAnne~why haven't you started your basal yet?
ginn/2nd/AR - Some say its too easy but I like it. I can supplment harder material when needed.
LeeAnne - Still working on sounds and letters.
LeeAnne - Should I go ahead with the stories during GR?
LeeAnne - Whole group, with big books is what I have done so far.
REI/2/IL - LeeAnne~yes! :-)
ginn/2nd/AR - You could start with a shared reading or echo read.
REI/2/IL - That is a great start...your kiddos should be ready for the basal. It is important to get them reading grade level material. Do you have the little Celebration books to go along with your stories?
LeeAnne - That is what I have been doing.
LeeAnne - Yes, I have Little Celebrations.
REI/2/IL - Good....we have found that some (not all) are great for the lower level days.
LeeAnne - Are the Little Celebrations lower?
REI/2/IL - Some of them are....you have to kind of search through them.
LeeAnne - They seem to be higher, at least higher than my kiddos.
REI/2/IL - Cici~Are you using the 4 Blocks model?
ginn/2nd/AR - Has anyone been to a workshop for 4 Blocks. I am self taught by reading everything I can get my hands on and this wonderful 4 block support from the net.
LeeAnne - I have been to one day with Dottie.
LeeAnne - It was mostly an overview.
LeeAnne - I do love the support on the net.
REI/2/IL - Ginn~oh yes....Several! I've been to the big conference in NC twice and am returning again in Jan for the Leadership conf.
REI/2/IL - Have been to a few of the one day workshops with Pat, Dottie and Cheryl.
ginn/2nd/AR - I would love to go to some. It's hard to find one close. I don't want an overview. I'm ready for more!
REI/2/IL - Ginn and LeeAnne...are you solos or are others in your school using the model?
ginn/2nd/AR - Does your school provide the funds for you to go?
LeeAnne - REI-Believe it or not, I am the one with the most training, and we are implementing school wide this year. I am scared! But excited.
ginn/2nd/AR - LeeAnne how did your school get started with it?
LeeAnne - Ginn, my school is doing a local workshop at Western Hills Ranch in November. We have two OKC teachers that have been to Leadership doing a one day follow up.
REI/2/IL - ginn~My district has made the commitment to implement 4 Blocks district wide. I am responsible for training our district. So, they send me to anything I can get my hands on.
ginn/2nd/AR - I am the first in my district and I'm hoping it catches on. I would love to train.
LeeAnne - Ginn~Our test cores were very low, so our principal searched for things to help. Our district Reading Coordinator suggested 4Blocks
ginn/2nd/AR - The 2nd grade teachers in my building are using it along with me. I have trainned them and we presented to 3 other districts today.
deb - rei - are you registered for leadership conference yet
seventoes - I wonder if any of you are there
REI/2/IL - Oh yes...registered the first day it was on the web!
LeeAnne - How do we get information on Leadership Conf/
deb - I am going too. It is on their website.
lisa/1/nc - its on Pat's website -- http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks
REI/2/IL - There are 3 of us coming. My training buddy and our Reading Coordinator.
seventoes - Our school uses 4 blocks schoolwide. We have multiage classrooms and mine is 3/4/5
JD - I've just been hired at an ele. school as a reading resource teacher. The school has just gone to this reading model this year. Anyone have any success stories to share?
Adrienne - We are just beginning to implement 4 blocks and would like to have someone come to our building and do some inservice. Any suggestions?
lisa/1/nc - there are tons of success stories JD
seventoes - I am seeing changes already with the reading level of my students. I have a class of 21 children most of whom are bilingual either Navajo/English or Spanish/English. The Word Block is great for them. The chants and cheers help them remember.
JD - Did anyone ever hear of the PEEC program? Is it similar to 4-block?
deb - foghorn, I was a lone ranger for a long time too
koh - I use parts of 4 blocks but can't seem to fit it all in
foghorn - I have odered some materials to help me understand the program.
LeeAnne - My kids love the word block. We are getting better at writing.
ginn/2nd/AR - What is your favorite activity for the Words Block?
Do4blocks - koh, it takes awhile until you do- just focus on one aspect/block at a time
koh - does anyone have problems with getting every block in??
Kathleen - Why not throw out for discussion any implementation questions you have?
ginn/2nd/AR - I did in the beginning but once you get in a routine it gets easier.
REI/2/IL - My kids like the word block, but have absolutely fallen in love with the writing block.
foghorn - I would like to see some test results to show the administration where could I find these?
ginn/2nd/AR - Has anyone every received a grant for implementation? I've implemented but would love funds to do more and get trainning.
koh - The guided reading, word making, are great
REI/2/IL - Set your timer(s). LOL!!! I had 5 in my room when I first started out.
koh - writing too.
deb - foghorn, remember it is a philosophy not a program. It is a belief that children need four ways of learning how to read daily.
seventoes - We use Time for Kids once a week as part of the Guided Reading Block. The minilessons on that day are about strategies for reading non-fiction. We also use Literature Circles two or three days a week.
Sharon - One question about the writing block... from the mailring, i've seen discussions of 4block writing, writers workshop and a few others... is there a certain way of having writing block in a 4-blocks classroom?
sarah - I taught first grade last year, and loved the 4 blocks...this year I am in 4th, and am having a harder time with the blocks..
Sharon - seventoes, what is Time for Kids?
deb - sharon, the basic premise is that children need to see the teacher model writing, the children write while the teacher conferences, and then the children publish/share their writing
Sharon - what level, i mean
ginn/2nd/AR - Writers Workshop has worked great.
foghorn - You see deb I am still learning about all of this. I have started using a word wall at the third grade level for the first time this year.
Sharon - how much publishing goes on in first grade and what type.... i nearly killed myself trying to publish one year with no help
deb - I primarily use writer's workshop. However, I also do focused writing lessons to cover my curriculum demands
REI/2/IL - Oh...we have just started publishing. My kids are having the best time reading each others books after they have been shared with the class.
cherylr/1/ca - Sharon---- I don't publish at all w/my first graders til after Christmas.
Sharon - what type publishing? how are the books made?
LeeAnne - I think my first first-grader will be ready to publish this week. I am very excited.
seventoes - Time for Kids is similar to Weekly Reader or Scholastic News. It is put out by Time Magazine and has three levels. The first is for K-1 then there is the 2-3 level called News (something- I can't remember). The one for 4/5 is World Report. I get a spli
ginn/2nd/AR - I've just started using the 4 square writing to do some mini lessons. I really like it.
Cathie - My students can't write yet. They've improved substantially in the past few weeks. Are your writing stories or just drawing?
sarah - published work can be a simple paragraph...let them make a cover out of construction paper...they love it and are so proud of their 3 snetneces!
Do4blocks - I use the writer's workshop approach and I also supplement with some teacher directed writing as needed to meet the testing/curriculum demands.
LeeAnne - He wrote about the fair, and will have about 4 pages, with one sentence on each.
foghorn - What is four square writing?
cherylr/1/ca - Cathie-- mine are doing some of both. You might try making a large poster w/seasonal or theme pictures and words. It has helped mine soooooooo much to begin to "really write" something!
ginn/2nd/AR - Its a way of using a graphic organizer (4 squares) to do focused writing.
Sharon - i also put some stamp pads and seasonal type stamps in a writing center for the kids to create rebus stories... they enjoyed it alot
deb - All my second graders have published one or two books. Some have published three.
Do4blocks - four square is a great tool to use to help students organize their writing
deb - 4 square writing - choose a topic sentence. Pick four words. Use each word in a sentence.
Sharon - a question about your published books... what type books do you make? with a spiral binder, stitched, etc?
LeeAnne - any way you can make a book!
deb - sharon, construction paper covers with single sentence or three-four sentences per page
Cathie - What do you do for self-selected reading for students who are not ready yet?
deb - easy publishing, nothing fancy
sarah - sharon...i spiral bind some, staple some, yarn some of them, put some in a sprial binder of a collections of classroom stories...
Kathleen - For training you can e-mail ergbell@lowcountry.com
Sharon - how much editing goes on in first grade before publishing?
LeeAnne - Sharon, Check for capitals and punctuation. Does it make sense? Publish it.
cherylr/1/ca - Sharon--- I make them correct (at my direction, if needed) all spelling and punctuation errors. Syntax (is that what it's called?) is done on a case by case basis.
deb - sharon, usually not much by the kids. Usually, the teacher corrects the spelling instead of having the kids do it.
ld - when second graders are writing across the curriculum how much spelling correcting do you do?
Merlyn - Do you have them peer response?
cherylr/1/ca - I correct all their spelling, ld.
deb - In second grade, I make them fix www ALL the time and make them fix words that rhyme with www.
Kathleen - www = word wall words
cherylr/1/ca - That's something I want to more of this year, Merlyn.
Sharon - what requirements are there before publishing in first grade then? it seems like i would be swamped with publishing requests
Merlyn - do you make class books too, each child has a page in the book?
deb - my kids read their story to a group of 4-6 kids. The kids first tell the reader I noticed or I heard or I observed
ld - yes, but especially early in the year they tend to have a lot of misspelled words and I can't stand marking up their whole papers.
Do4blocks - I usually have them write several books and then choose one to publish
LeeAnne - Sharon, I have mine start several stories. When they conference, we choose one that they would want to publish.
ld - not inc. www
deb - Then the kids re-read their story and the kids ask I wonder questions. Then the kids add on to their stories
cherylr/1/ca - Sharon--- they have to write at least 3 pieces before you think about publishing. Then you "encourage" them to add on to what they decide is their best piece. Then you begin the editing process. It takes awhile! Not many are in the same place at the same time.
Sharon - how often do you individually conference?
Sharon - ok... it's making more sense now
Do4blocks - I'm conferencing every day with 1/5 of my class
LeeAnne - Once a week in writing with each child.
deb - To better handle publishing for me, I help with revision and sounding out words and coaching three weeks a month and spend one week publishing. I publish everybody in one week. The week is dreadful, but the rest of the month is great
deb - I am conferencing during the three weeks, just not conferencing
cathie/NC/2 - I am wanting to start guided reading with my second graders, what is a good way to start?
deb - cathy, the k tchr in my building has had wonderful success with bb
deb - I used Little Bear first. The lesson is posted at lessons board on teachers.net
deb - there are TONS of second grade lessons posted there
Sharon - has anyone used scholastic news for guided reading in first grade?
Kathleen - The 4-Blocks Center: http://teachers.net/mentors/4blocks/
cathie/NC/2 - I don't have copies of books for my students, but I do have several basals with good stories
deb - partner reading, discuss expectations, hip to hip, sharing the book, both saying something after a two page spread
cherylr/1/ca - Sharon---- I just got my first copies of Scholastic News! I'm going to start, soon, I hope.
Kathleen - 4-Blocks lessons http://teachers.net/lessons (scroll and click on 4-Blocks in the left frame there)
Sharon - cheryl... i'm interested in seeing at least one plan to get me started with it... what activities will you do?
Kathleen - The Building Blocks for K Center: http://teachers.net/buildingblocks/
Shades - I think the most difficult part to implementing GR was knowing it is OK to do without all those blasted WB pages! I was more concerned with the parental reactions but they have been gret.. SO FAR!
deb - I use a poem once a week and scholastic news once a week
teachfrog - I am going back into a classroom after a 3 year break in another position. Would love some 1st steps advice
deb - teachfrog, grade?
Sharon - i'm interested in using the poetry too, deb... do you have a set way of using the poetry in guided reading?
cherylr/1/ca - That is great news, Shades.
teachfrog - 4th - 6th ELL new comers.
teachfrog - They are all just learning English
deb - poetry, I read the poem to them, we echo read it several times by line or verse depending on length and how hard. The kids read it at home. I have a poetry notebook.
Sharon - what type pre-reading activity or after reading activity, deb?
teachfrog - I am actualy going back to the same position I left. I love the class
milymo - Hi everyone! Just got the message from the mailring about this meeting.
teachfrog - Just looking for a more concrete pattern of events and 4blocks seems to be the ticket
deb - this lesson is building fluency and maybe vocabulary if there are words that the kids won't know. It doesn't fall into the three steps as easily.
Shades - Thanks, Cheryl. I am still a little confused on appropriate forms of assessment but am working on it.. I guess I need it in writing as much as the parents..
deb - I use John's IRI and running records and writing rubrics
cherylr/1/ca - Shades--- that's one thing I have, plenty of assessment! My district insists on it.......
teachfrog - I taught at Whitaker 5 years then Beatty 2, then to DO for 3 and now Back to Beatty
Sharon - if this is my first use of scholastic news as guided reading... should i begin with having the children talk about how it looks different from the literature we've been using? kind of intro to informational reading?
milymo - How should I present a guided reading story like Frog and Toad Together that has several chapters? Should we be reading each chapter twice?
deb - sharon, that sounds appropriate. I also include three types of questions -- in your head, right there, and think & search
Shades - Cheryl, how/what do you use for GR assessment? which have you found most effective?
Sharon - can you explain that a little more, deb?
deb - milymo, it depends on your kids. the words are so repitious that I find many classes don't need re-readings of every chapter. The words are repeated so many times throughout the book.
jojobrooke - Have any of you used the game rivet to build vocabulary. Beverly Eisele, the guided reading specialist, uses it. It's awesome and motivates the children to particpate in active vocabulary building.
cherylr/1/ca - Shades--- I don't have a guided reading assessment--- we do running records w/comp. questions using a leveled set of readers, also a sight word test and a bunch of others.
deb - in your head questions - questions that can't be answered directly from the book. Inferences.
deb - right there questions -- the answers are right there in the book. A sentence you read tells you the answer
cherylr/1/ca - I love rivet, jojobrooke!
Shades - WHEW! I don't feel so far off the right track then! *L*,,, thank you for sharing, Cheryl.
deb - think and search questions -- the answer is there in parts. part of the answer is in one spot, part in another
deb - milymo - my guided reading lessons for frog and toad are on the lessons board here at teachers.net
jojobrooke - My children have increase vocabulary and actually implement certain vocabulary terms within their writing. After reading a chapter I always begin with rivet and move onto comprehension skills.
Sharon - ok... got it...and are these questions you pose before or after reading to the children for them to discover which type they are?
milymo - How many books do you have lessons posted for deb?
deb - I not only ask the three types of questions, I make sure the kids are identifying what type of question it is and answering the questions.
deb - I pose the questions before. Then we read. Then we revisit and talk about the answers
deb - around 50
laurie - hi, so Jojobrooke, what is rivet? I'm not familiar with it.
Sharon - thanks, deb... i like that idea
milymo - I will definately have to take a look at those deb!
deb - laurie there are PAGES of explaination in the teachers guide book and guided reading the four blocks way book :)
deb - sharon, that's what the MEAP is based on (Michigan assessment)
deb - My book is so read, it has wrinkles!!!!!!
jojobrooke - Deb, What grade do you teach? Have you ever made a flipbook and having children create How, Why and What questions. After creating the question, have them rotate it around the table once or twice and see who can answer their question. I use this method after reading a chapter or passage. It builds comprehension and is a true buy in for the children into a comprehension building activity.
Sharon - is there any particular before reading activity that works well with scholastic news?
milymo - I have the guided reading book, but haven't had time to read it. I am implementing things bit by bit. The students are loving the Silent Reading and Writing Blocks.
deb - jojobrooke, I teach 2nd grade. That activity would be great with the how and why strategy mentioned in guided reading the four blocks way book
teachfrog - considering my kids are all learning over so to speak, like a first grader, I think it will work. Besides I have always taught my class a bit less orthidox, doing whats needed as apposed to what is the "6th grade way"
deb - milymo, read the book. It is sooooooooooo good
teachfrog - I would love to please send info. I think I emailed you the other day
deb - sped teacher of 6th grade has had great success with this!
milymo - We still have phonics workbooks that we have to use.
cherylr/1/ca - teachfrog--- I will be emailing you all in a day or so.
cherylr/1/ca - BTW--- if anyone's in Southern CA, I will be hosting the 4 Blocks get together this time! It's on Saturday Oct. 14.
jojobrooke - Laurie- you can play rivet before or after a chapter reading, passage reading or any other text. You or the children decide the vocabulary words for the text or core book. If the children decide, its usually words that are unknown to the reader. You set your slate board or chalkboard up sort of like hangman. The children guess letters. When someone finally solves it, I discuss the definition and word parts, such as prefixes, basewords and suffixes. Its great. Then if I want the students to summarize their reading, I have them integrate the words within their writing to see if they comprehend.
deb - milymo, homework.... you don't have to do every page.... phonic workbooks don't teach, teachers teach
cherylr/1/ca - Same here, milymo--- it all works out ok, tho.
cherylr/1/ca - I agree, deb.
laurie - Oh, I think I recall reading this, I'll give it a try. Thanks for the recommendation.
deb - ;0) enjoy your four blocks week!
Shades - I want to say how HONORED I feel to have discovered this group when I did a few years ago. Some of the more seasoned teachers I work with look at me and shake their heads when they hear of the things I try in my room. I owe a lot of it to all of you fine folks who are kind enoughj to share and keep an open mind when others share in return. I wish you all a wonderful week and keep smiling! We are doing GREAT things! Goodnight all! :-)
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