Mr.C - hi all... I'm joining because my wife is helping with a 4 blocks literacy program... I was hoping to find some ideas to integrate tech with curriculum.
Ali~PA/3 - What grade does she teach?
Mr.C - I believe it's mostly 4th graders, but there might be first and second grades as well.
naneb - Mr. C, I do Guess the covered Word using Powerpoint and my TV and computer
Ali~PA/3 - You want to integrate technology with 4 Blocks?
Mr.C - naneb... do you have a URL for those activities?
Ali~PA/3 - I suppose you could create a PowerPoint for RIVET too.....
naneb - there is an example powerpoint on my website
Mr.C - Actually... I was thinking about something more proactive... like, perhaps using Epals to have the students communicate with others...
naneb - http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/gipsy/41/Word.htm
Ali~PA/3 - nan... have you incorporated Mosaic of thought with 4 Blocks?
Mr.C - Thanks naneb
naneb - that would work, I also use Easy Books Deluxe for book publishing
naneb - Yes, Ali in the guided reading block and SSR
Ali~PA/3 - I have really enjoyed Debbie Miller's book... and was able to see her in action on video... very inspiring
Ali~PA/3 - nan... have you seen the strategies have an impact on standardized test scores too?
Ali~PA/3 - seems like all the focus is on "bring up the test scores" (ugh)
naneb - Ali, I teach special ed and this is my first year really using the MOT strategies, I did a little last year but not in an organized way
naneb - my students last year did very well on our state tests though
Ali~PA/3 - this is my first year incorporating the strategies too... tomorrow I'll be sharing the videos with some colleagues
Ali~PA/3 - Our district scores well above the state average.. but with the new legislation, we still need them to go up from the 80th percentiles!!!
naneb - Ali, are you on the MOt yahoo group?
Mr.C - What's the address for the MOT Yahoo group?
Ali~PA/3 - I think I get an e-mail listing... is there a chat forum like this?
naneb - hold on I'll get the link
naneb - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mosaicteachers/
Ali~PA/3 - Debbie Miller has her own video series coming out titled Happy Reading... I have it on order
naneb - right now i am not working on any of the strategies, I am focusing almost exclusively on decoding and fluency
naneb - your welcome
Ali~PA/3 - My kids enjoy putting their thinking on Post-it notes, but at 120 per day... it gets expensive. Someone suggested contacting pharm. reps for them
Ali~PA/3 - I think I'm leaning toward a 2 column graphic organizer which is easier to save
naneb - Ali, go to my website, there are lots of different forms for kids to use to respond
rudi_in - lol - having worked in a pharmacy before going into teaching I can vouch for the quantity of posti-its that they give out
rudi_in - of course they all have an advertisement on them for a drug
Ali~PA/3 - rudi... do you have a contact for me????
rudi_in - I might be able to find something - can't guarantee they would be in your area
Ali~PA/3 - Do you think if I asked my local pharmacist, they would give me a rep's phone number?
rudi_in - I'm not in the pharmacy any longer so I may have tossed most of those business cards
rudi_in - I am sure they would if they hang on to them
naneb - Ali, have you tried sending a note home to parents and asking them to send in a package of post-its?
rudi_in - just let them know what you need it for
Ali~PA/3 - nan... my parents are great.. but I try not to hit them up for $$$ unless absolutely necessary
naneb - a package of post it notes is pretty cheap, I bet they would send them
naneb - Ali, another thing my students liked is making a big chart or table and everyone writing their response on it
Ali~PA/3 - Right now, I'm trying for find a sofa donation lol
Debbie - I'm just beginning to implement 4 blocks. What are the post its for?
Ali~PA/3 - I've done that too , nan.... but I'd like a way to show idividual growth, since I am reducing the amount of "worksheets" to assess comprehension
Pat/1st - I was wondering too Debbie
Debbie - I'm thinking they are for new words the kids can post on thier own?
Ali~PA/3 - During Guided Reading, the students write down questions they have while reading, or things they have learned
smith9456 - I put the clear post it strips on our supply list this year.
Ali~PA/3 - Things they wonder about.... unfamiliar words, connections....
smith9456 - we use them to mark parts of the text (i.e. for ERT strategy) and to highlight vocab...lots of stuff!
Debbie - Oh, yes, I'm familiar with that...are they "posted" somewhere/or stuck into the book?
Ali~PA/3 - sometimes Deb
Ali~PA/3 - They when you gather together again, they have a point of reference
naneb - I bought the bookcover material, it sticks to pages but comes right off and you can see through it, I have orange, green and purple
naneb - I cut strips of it and stick it to a piece of laminated construction paper
Debbie - Tell me about the book cover material.....
jen - hi...I was hoping someone could help with my M.A Ed. midterm...I have a question about 4 block approach to literacy...
Ali~PA/3 - go ahead Jen
naneb - I got it at Walmart, it is plastic and comes on a roll like contac paper but it comes off paper and is reusable, I bought it last year and still have almost all of it
jen - they questions are: What is it? Who is involved? How does it effect curriculum? and how does it apply to elementary ed?
jen - I am teaching pre-k and I am sad to say I don't use 4 block and really have no firm grasp on it!
naneb - jen, you need to go to the main 4 blocks sight and read some research and information
Ali~PA/3 - go to Cheryl Sigmon's section of Teacher's Net
jen - thanks...i find that on teachers.net? I just wandered into here hoping someone would point me in the right direction! Thanks!
Ali~PA/3 - yes... from the main page under columns in the Gazette
PRagan - Do you have a URL?
smith9456 - Our school has gone to 4-blocks this year...it is so exciting!
naneb - http://www.teachers.net/4blocks/column.html
Ali~PA/3 - what grade do you teach smith?
smith9456 - 7th--I am doing a modified 4-blocks approach
smith9456 - I am hopefully going to 1st next year!!!!
Ali~PA/3 - Wow!! What a switch!!!
Ali~PA/3 - smith... have you read Reading with Meaning by Debbie Miller???
smith9456 - 7th is really out of my comfort range! But, I wanted to get into this school and that is what was available this year.
Lydia/IN - i teach kindergarten and use a building block approach
smith9456 - no, I haven't
Ali~PA/3 - It's written by a fabulous primary teacher, but the thinking strategies would be great for yout 7th graders too!!
smith9456 - This is my second year teaching. I had balanced literacy classes in college and am so excited my school has jumped on the band wagon!
Ali~PA/3 - I highly recommend the book
naneb - Strategies That work is great for the older kids
smith9456 - I will have to check it out.
Ali~PA/3 - I'm getting that one next!!!
Ali~PA/3 - Lydia.. what grade do you teach?
Ali~PA/3 - Has anyone done any lessons on building schema for an author's style>
smith9456 - I have many resource books. I have been unofficially named the resident "expert" and have had to help with several of our inservices. Yikes!!
Debbie - I missed the book cover explanation. I couldn't scroll down and find it.
Ali~PA/3 - me too smith... in fact, I am sharing the videos for Strategies that Work tomorrow at my school!!! lol
Ali~PA/3 - Debbie.. go to Stenhouse.com
smith9456 - It has been a little hard with applying it all to middle school...but I am really enjoying it.
Debbie - Ok, I will, thanks..
Ali~PA/3 - http://www.stenhouse.com
Ali~PA/3 - Want to see photos of my room?
smith9456 - I have Strategies, naneb
smith9456 - great book!
Debbie - I do!! I love looking at other room arrangements.
smith9456 - me too
Ali~PA/3 - http://www.teachers.net/gazette/NOV02/classroomphotos.html
naneb - my room pics are on the mosaicteachers yahoo site
Debbie - I taught pre-k for 15 years and I just moved up to second.
Debbie - Do you have a URL?
Ali~PA/3 - 2nd is fun
PRagan - I am teaching a "reading improvement class" for grades 9-12. It is supposed to be individualized, but I have 13 individuals who require constant supervision. I am getting nowhere fast.
naneb - hold on
Debbie - I'm having a ball!!
Ali~PA/3 - http://www.teachers.net/gazette/NOV02/classroomphotos.html
naneb - PRagan, i teach special ed , middle school, the best thing I have found for older kids is the REWARDS program from Sopris West
sioux - so what is your favorite new children's book?
creative - Hi, I am a new 1st grade teacher any hints for my first day
naneb - Debbie, go to this link and join the grouphttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/mosaicteachers/
sioux - your first day in november? did you just get hired midyear?
PRagan - What is REWARDS?
naneb - it is a program to teach decoding of multi- syllable words and to improve fluency and rate
naneb - 20 lessons, very intensive intervention
PRagan - I have students at very different levels with different needs.
PRagan - I have been using SRA but the kids cheat, and steal keys. I don't have eyes in the back of my head.
PRagan - Where do I find information on REWARDS?
naneb - I'll get you the link
naneb - http://www.sopriswest.com/swstore/product.asp?sku=569
naneb - most older kids who have reading problems have decoding issues
Debbie - Whose room was that?
naneb - It was Ali
smith9456 - night all. good luck this year
Debbie - Ok, it looks really nice. Makes you wish you had an Ugly post to cover. I really liked it.
PRagan - What is "Strategies That Work"?
naneb - It is a book about using the strategies in Mosaic of thought to teach comprehension
Debbie - Has anyone heard of Signs for Sounds?
naneb - http://www.sopriswest.com/rewards/index.html
sparks - I'm new here. What grade does everyone teach?
Debbie - I teach second
sparks - I teach sixth in so CA. Anyone out there having a hard time (because of LA and Math standards) finding time to teach science?
Debbie - I teach second in southern california
PRagan - Thanks naneb
PRagan - I teach 9-12 in Texas.
Debbie - Night all.
PRagan - Buenas Noches
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