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The Teachers.Net resources concerning The 4-Blocks framework are extensive.
No where else will you find this level of support and formation designed to help you successfully bring
The Four Blocks Literacy Model to your classroom.
4-Blocks Literacy ChatBoard
Sifting and Sorting Through the 4-Blocks Literacy Model
Kathleen - We will be chatting with Patty Schaffer, administrator of an elementary school which implements the 4-Blocks Literacy Model, created by Pat Cunningham and Dottie Hall.
Kathleen - Teachers.Net is pleased to have Ms. Patty Schaffer, Principal of an Elementary School that has adopted the 4-Blocks Literacy Model throughout the school. School administrators are encouraged to log on with questions and comments about administrative perspectives related to literacy instruction and implementation. In between, teachers will want to quiz Patty about the 4-Blocks model. Patty, please tell us a bit about yourself and your school.
Patty Schaffer - Hi. I am principal of an elementary school in Charleston, South Carolina.
ve - Hello Patty - how long have you been using the 4-blocks?
p-5 - Miss Schaffer, how are your teachers adjusting
Patty Schaffer - Ronald E. McNair is a large schoolwide Title I school. We are using the 4 Block model in all grade levels.
Leah/2nd - Hi Patty I heard you speak at the Indiana 4 Block pilot training. I enjoyed it very much.
Patty Schaffer - This is our 4th year to be fully implementing the 4 Blocks. We love it.
Kelly/1st/MO - How did you get ALL of your teachers to buy into Four Blocks?
val - Patty, how large is your school?
Kathleen - Patty, we have at least 2 other school administrators present tonight, others reading along.:-)
Goldilocks - How many teachers are in your building?
Tia - Hi Patty. I am curious about your report cards and how they reflect 4 blocks.
Patty Schaffer - Hi. I really enjoyed my training in Indiana.
Leah/2nd - Patty- How do you mandate 4 Blocks without ruffling your teacher's union? Ours will be crazy if our principal went that direction.
Patty Schaffer - A few years ago we made site visits to schools that are like us to see what was working. Everywhere we went we heard about The Cunningham Model.
Kathleen - For background about the 4-Blocks Literacy Model see Dr. Pat Cunningham's web site at http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks
ve - Describe how you offered the training in addition to visiting schools.
Patty Schaffer - At the same time we were visiting successful schools we were doing a book study on CLASSROOMS THAT WORK.
Patty Schaffer - The book study was fun. We also had 4 first and second grade teachers trained and they became demonstration teachers for others. They began hosting site visits.
Patty Schaffer - When other teachers saw what was happening in the demo teachers' classes 4 Blocks caught on like wild fire. I was able to sit back and watch the fun.
ve - How do you organize a book study? We have tried after school, which is ok...but we're so tired at that time...any ideas?
Kathleen - Classrooms That Work, They Can All Read and Write by P. Cunningham: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0321013395/teachersnet/
Leah/2nd - We have been hosting site visits since we were the ones trained. How soon should the other teachers in our building who are doing 4 Blocks under our direction be able to have visitors too?
Tia - We did book studies this summer (paid time)
Patty Schaffer - That spring teachers were concerned about newcomers coming to McNair. They wanted to be sure everyone would be doing 4 Blocks. So, I made it a part of our contract signing discussion. We were making a commitment to be a 4Block school.
REI/2nd - Did the teachers attend the 4 Blocks conference in NC?
ve - elaborate on "contract signing" - do you mean new teachers to the campus?
G2/Tx - Second grade just moved to a K-1 school. We are being taught Guided Reading from Pinell. We only hear K-1 methods. Are there specific changes for second grade or do we do it just the same only harder. We have a problem with second graders all reading aloud at the same time. Shouldn't they start reading silently.
Patty Schaffer - TIA, good for your district. Our teachers don't get much paid time in the summer. We have been able to work with a local college to get a graduate level course for recertification credit approved. I taught that a few times for other schools.
Kathleen - Educational Resources Group, a provider of 4-Blocks training http://ergsc.com
Patty Schaffer - Every teacher signs a contract every year in our district.
Leah/2nd - And 4 blocks is a part of that contract, right?
Tia - I have a principal who is very supportive of four blocks. It makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE!
Goldilocks - Patty, I want to use the 4 blocks program as a pilot program in my school next year. what suggestions can you give me for talking to my principal, supt., and school board?
Patty Schaffer - The next thing we did was to begin peer observations....coaching ....in the 4 Blocks. It really helps. I tell administrators all the time to get the training. It was a renewal for me. ( Does that sound corny?)
Kathleen - Read Cheryl Sigmon's 4-Blocks Literacy articles at http://www.teachers.net/4blocks/column.html
ve - Is there a training about how to coach - or to do peer observations?
Patty Schaffer - I got involved in the 4 Blocks....Even had an opportunity to teach for a couple of weeks when one of our teacher's resigned. Ha.. It is a lot easier to talk about the 4 Blocks than to do them everyday.
Leah/2nd - Not corny at all. All administrators need to be revived!!
G2/Tx - I've read them all--even printed them all!
Kathleen - Apples 'n' Acorns http://applesandacorns.com source of 4-blocks materials/books/training videos. E-mail appnacorns.com
Patty Schaffer - I do consulting with Education Resource Group too.
Kathleen - To join the 4-Blocks Literacy e-mail discussion group, http://teachers.net/mailrings (dozens of discussion groups on many topics, grade levels)
Patty Schaffer - As I work with teachers across the country, I see that we all have the same concerns. We all want our children to love reading and to become a reader.
marina - we do peer observations and we have study groups
Patty Schaffer - I use the coaching model from the Springfield Simualtion.....from NAESP. It works for us. Our teachers now do it. It is something we do at McNair.
Patty Schaffer - I have really enjoyed the mailring. Also, joining in on the chats from time to time on line. You keep me "fresh
Kathleen - Our full-service 4-Blocks Center here at Teachers.Net: http://www.teachers.net/mentors/4blocks/ There you will find message board, links to other resources.
marina - Patty do you use a special 4 blocks form when doing teacher observations
Leah/2nd - Do all your teachers coach each other? or some do the coaching?
ve - Patty , how many students are in your school, and what grades?
Kathleen - National Assoc. of Elem. School Principals: http://naesp.org
Patty Schaffer - Right now we are working with new teachers at school. (3 from McNair and 2 from a neighbor school) Each week for 4 weeks we are doing in-house training. I have matched each new teacher with an experienced "4 Block Buddy" that serves as their coach.
Patty Schaffer - We have about 400 students in grades K through grade 5. Yes, all our teachers coach or be coached...sometimes we even have a teacher coach the coach on their conferencing skills.
Patty Schaffer - Our school address is 3795 Spruill Avenue, North Charleston, SC, 29405. You may call us at 843-745-7107. We invite you to come see.
ve - How long have you used the coaching model? Did your teachers train at one time, or a few at a time?
Patty Schaffer - Books were a problem for us to begin with. To solve this, we made book baskets for each grade level.. 5 for each teacher. We put about 25 books in each basket. Various levels and genres. We put an index card with a list of the books in the basket taped an index card in the bottom of the basket. When the baskets pass from teacher to teacher the teachers check to see that all books are accounted for.
Tia - how do your report cards reflect the 4 blocks model?
G2/Tx - I still would like what modifications take place as the grade level goes up?
ve - does the state adopted reading basal work into the 4 Blocks model?
Tia - would you be able to email or fax a copy of the report card form your school uses?
G2/Tx - We loved AR in our other school. Do you use it? I think it would work with 4-blocks.
REI/2nd - Ve~we use the basal 3 days a week as suggested in the model.
Patty Schaffer - Everyone in our state is crazy over test scores. We gave the MAT 7 last spring and a state test, PACT. One thing I noticed was that the stronger the implementation of 4 Blocks in the classroom,.....the greater the gain made in MAT 7 test scores.
Patty Schaffer - We have AR, but it is not up and running. Remember that when you read in AR you are reading for a different purpose than when you read for SSR. In SSR we try to read for enjoyment and the love of reading. AR can get to point crazy and focus on little details.
Patty Schaffer - REI, we do too. On grade-level instruction 3 days a week with the basal or book sets and 2 days of off grade level with poetry.
ve - Your state is not the only one crazy about test scores..you should check out Texas...great to hear the model reflects gains. What assessments does the model utilize?
REI/2nd - G2~we are using AR in our school. We are finding it works well, but we aren't all caught up in the reward (prize) system.
Patty Schaffer - One of our demonstration teachers from the early years transferred to a magnet school in our district for Creative Arts. She is using the 4 Blocks there and she says that it is working great.
Tia - Amen. The whole points thing bothers me...but our AR isn't operational yet so I am not speaking from experience here.
Patty Schaffer - Just one story about AR.... a teacher in another district shared that her principal posted AR graphs in the lunchroom. Parents felt like kids were not being taught if the graph didn't reflect a lot of points by their teacher
pat - AR works well as a supplement to reading but not as an assessment or grading tool.
ve - We have not been using points with AR, and find the children are motivated without them
Patty Schaffer - If kids are reading and enjoying it..... you might not need AR to get them hooked on books. We don't. Enough about AR.
ve - What materials have you needed to implement 4-Blocks?
Patty Schaffer - Administrators, I really enjoy children's books. Two new ones I like are Naomi Judd's book, LOVE CAN BUILD A BRIDGE and Mary Chapin Carpentar's book, WHEN HALLEY COMES TO JACKSON. (Tapes are with books.)
Patty Schaffer - Is there any concern about parents and 4 Blocks?
G2/Tx - I am interested in your assessment and report cards,too.
Tia - I got tired of waiting for the school to organize information for parents, and did it myself. I used the pamphlet in the teachers guide and wrote a note as well.
Leah/2nd - There is always concern there. Parent teacher conf. is next week. I hope they understand about no worksheets.
Tia - Parent's biggest concern? Where are the spelling lists :o)
Patty Schaffer - I try to do things that support 4 Blocks school wide. Like Author's Tea for kids who have published works each month. And, SSR Birthday parties.
Kathleen - 2 Videos related to 4-Blocks are available for $35 each, one for the Kindergarten component (Building Blocks) and the 4-blocks component. E-mail appnacorns@aol.com to order (credit cards and school purchase orders are accepted)
G2/Tx - What are SSr birthday parties?
Patty Schaffer - Teachers write their assessments for each block. The grade levels have developed a writing rubric that matches the Editor's checklist. We also use spelling test from word wall words and pattern words.
Patty Schaffer - We are using the selection test that came with our basal too. Also, periodic IRIs.
G2/Tx - What basel do you have?
Kathleen - Pat Cunningham's & Dottie Hall's "Making Words, Multilevel, Hands-On Developmentally Appropriate Spelling and Phonics Activities http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0866538062/teachersnet/
cathy - why doesn't the 4 blocks model include speaking as a block
Tia - has anyone generated a list of report card comments specific to 4 blocks we can share???
Patty Schaffer - The students who have birthdays of the month come to the library. They hear me or the librarian read a birthday book. They get to read on their own. Then, share. We have a gift for them. They get a ribbon to wear and are served cupcakes at lunch.
Kathleen - Schools That Work by Cunningham and Allington: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0673998819/teachersnet/
Kathleen - Tia, excellent idea (if it hasn't been done already)
Patty Schaffer - Speaking is in the blocks.....Reader's Chair or Author's Chair gives students an opportunity to speak in front of their peers weekly. And, to answer questions.
Patty Schaffer - We are using Treasury of Literature.
Tia - Patty...would you be willing to share the writing rubric?
ve - which company is Treasury of Literature, and when did you last adopt?
cathy - so listening and speaking would be included in the sharing portion of writing and self select ?
Patty Schaffer - Yes, Tia . But you can easily turn your Editor's checklist into a rubric. Weight the items to come up with a grade. Students can self evaluate their work or the teacher can assess writing periodically.
Patty Schaffer - Yes, Cathy, and listening and speaking is in the Guided Reading Block when students partner read, choral read, echo, etc.
Tia - so each teacher has their own rubric? Or are all your teacher's using an agreed upon editor's checklist?
Lee - We are interested in more information on Four Block in the upper grades (4-6) Where can we find that?
Patty Schaffer - I came across a new resource for some good ideas that match the model. It is THE ACCELERATING LITERACY HANDBOOK. It includes some wonderful graphic organizers for GR.
G2/Tx - We have it too. It has some good stories but we readopt in Texas next year.
Patty Schaffer - Cheryl Sigmon is working on a book now for the upper grades. I think one thing that folks are finding out is that it is not as drastically different as we may have thought early on. Look for her book. I am sure she will be talking about it in her column.
Kathleen - THE ACCELERATING LITERACY HANDBOOK: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1887035001/teachersnet
ve - ARe all teachers using the same writing rubric?
cathy - we were told in a conference Cheryl is also completing a video on the upper grades.....both book and video due out in January through IESS.inc
Patty Schaffer - All at a grade level use the same rubric and same Editor's checklist. We are trying to get things together school wide.
Patty Schaffer - We worked on pacing charts to plan our year. We are going to have to rethink them keeping in mind our new state standards.
cathy - what is your opinion for supporting the bottom 25% (title 1) help the teacher in her class or pull out?
ve - Elaborate on pacing charts...is this a scope and sequence...
Leah/2nd - Pacing Charts- is the WE all staff members or who?
Tia - not just title 1, but special ed as well...push in service or pull out?
Patty Schaffer - Yes, We is all teachers in each team. Teams are K and 1, 2 and 3, 4 and 5, and Special.
Leah/2nd - I wish our school had the same camaraderie as yours. Your ideas are great!! I'm not sure we would get the same buy-in.
Patty Schaffer - The pacing charts helps teachers get a snapshot of their year. It includes theme, Word Wall words, Making Words and Secondary activities, Writing Focus, Math. it helps us keep together.
Kay - Do you feel that this program truly helps your at-risk students?
Tia - Since this is my first year with 4 blocks, and our reports cards don't reflect the change at all, its a challenge to do report cards. I think my comments pages will be long this year!
Patty Schaffer - I have a Challenger Team that serves as a sounding board for me and a planning team for school wide improvement. They keep me on track. I don't push things down to teachers. I try to listen. teachers.
Kathleen - Read transcripts of past live sessions at http://teachers.net/archive. This transcript will be there in a couple of days
Patty Schaffer - We do not have any Title I pull outs. We use all our Title money to reduce class size. Teachers find this more effective. We do have Reading Recovery in our first grades. About 50% of our students will receive RR this year.
Tia - what is your class size? I have 28 with 7 special ed inclusion students. (aughhhhhh)
REI/2nd - Patty~where did your "original" 4 Blocks teachers receive their training? Did they go to the 4 Blocks conference in NC?
ve - What do your RR teachers do the other half of the day?
Patty Schaffer - Idea for you Tia.....create a 4 Block page for each grading period to share info with parents. Let students join you in report card conferences. Students can share their published works, read to parent, and help parent see what is going on in the classroom
Leah/2nd - To reach 50% of your students with RR, how many RR teachers do you have?
Patty Schaffer - My email address is prabon@Bellsouth.net
Mrs. O - I'm a 27 year veteran and the four block method has been the most effective language arts program I have ever used.
Patty Schaffer - I agree with you Mrs. O. I am 27 years too. It is exciting. Good Night 4 Block buddies. I will be in Indiana for IRA in spring. I will look for you there.
Mrs. O - I am able to use a centers approach and move the children from one block to another in two hours...I can see each child during guided reading, I have a teaching assistant that does Making Words, I have a parent volunteer who does Self select, and the children write in their journals daily. Each block is 30 minutes and everyone is on task...engaged!
Pam - It's fast moving, keeps everyone busy and meets a variety of needs and learning styles!
Kathleen - Thank you, Patty Schaffer and all participants for a terrific discussion. Watch for more! Mrs. O., thank you for that wonderful last word!
Patty Schaffer - Read....share and keep those home fires burning. ha.
Patty Schaffer - I love this. It is such an advantage to be able to share and learn from one another. Too long we have kept our knowledge a secret. Hats off to Kathleen and folks at Teachers. Net.
ve - How long did it take to learn the model?
Pam - We jumped into all the blocks at once, yet we still continue to tweak and add things
ve - How much training did you receive?
Pam - Pat Cunningham was in our district twice! We also attended 2-3 of her conferences in the Milwaukee area
Leah/2nd - ve--if you get all the right resources your teachers can begin to implement on their own. That is what we did last year before we were trained.
ve - Do you know how lucky you are to have Pat C so close....oh my gosh...what resources do we need?
Pam - She has a few new books out...one that really explains the nuts and bolts of the models, also her monthly phonic/working with words are great
Leah/2nd - You need month by month phonics for every grade level, The teacher's guide to the 4 blocks, Implementing the 4 blocks model, classrooms that work, Phonics they use are just a few to get started.
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