REI - Hi Jen and Susie.
REI - So...what does everyone teach?
karenSD - I teach 2nd
REI - So do I....I forgot to add that when I logged on. BRB
jen - I teach 2nd too
lin - Hi I am new to Guided Reading and I am very interested in the 4 blocks literacy. Can you tell me what the difference is?
susie - For a long time I taught 1st/2nd loop, now I'm the K-2 Literacy Coordinator
karenSD - How long have you been doing 4 blocks?
lin - I teach 1st and have been teaching K for the last 15 years before this year
REI/2/IL - Okay...back. I've been teaching 4 Blocks almost 5 years.
karenSD - I taught K for 7 years and 2nd for 9 before that
susie - Our school is just getting started in 4 Blocks this year.
REI/2/IL - That is great susie. We implemented district wide 2 years ago.
susie - Most all K-2 teachers are excited about 4 Blocks.
karenSD - Our state is implementing a literacy program that uses 4 blocks and also the centers from F&P
susie - Karen, where do the F&P centers fit in?
lin - How is 4 blocks different than Guided Reading?
karenSD - They use the centers for the others to be working on when I'm doing Guided r groups.
susie - lin, from what I understand, the Guided Reading block in 4 Blocks is meant to be comprehension work.
karenSD - It is frustrating at times to fit it in!
REI/2/IL - lin~the biggest difference is that in 4 Blocks Guided Reading, students are in grade level reading material 3 days and lower level material 2 days. You work on comprehension skills during this block.
REI/2/IL - Karen...so you will be doing FP Guided Reading rather than 4 Blocks Guided Reading?
karenSD - Can someone explain the shared reading part?
susie - lin, there are different activities in the Guided Reading block, not always small group work
karenSD - That is what is so frustrating. I like the 4 blocks but the state is trying to squeeze all the other stuff in
REI/2/IL - Karen...what do you teach again? I think I was relogging on at that time.
susie - Karen, is there any other time of the day you can do the centers?
karenSD - Does anyone else use centers?
REI/2/IL - I don't.
karenSD - Susie, I just saw your ? I am just now going to try to do them at a different time--afternoon.
karenSD - I teach 2nd
susie - lin, do you have the book Guided Reading the Four-Blocks Way ?
karenSD - What do you use for assessment?
REI/2/IL - Shared reading is a time to model and interact with your students, showing them how you think as you read. Typically it is done with a big book.
karenSD - How many times a week/or every day?
REI/2/IL - It would be your 3 day story. You can also use shared reading in our grade level when using informational text.
karenSD - Do you do any work in a basel?
REI/2/IL - Yes. We use Scott Foresman. That is our "on grade level" reading material.
susie - Some of our teachers use the basal occasionally. They pick the better stories.
lin - We have FP Guided reading and I purchased the 4 blocks literacy book, but I got confused.
lin - The last 15 yrs. I have been teaching whole language Shared Reading model in Kind. The first grade has used the Journeys program,
karenSD - That is what we are all feeling here in SD. They call their program AREA Reading
karenSD - Hi! brave1
REI/2/IL - It can be confusing. Pat Cunningham has said several times that if she had to do it over again, she would never have called Guided Reading, Guided Reading. She would have called it Reading Comprehension instead.
lin - We just had our reading audited by a professor from Nazareth College in roch. ny, district wide and she has encouraged us to use the FP guided reading model
susie - lin, a few years ago I read the F&P Guided reading book (2 times) and implemented it in my classroom. I didn't like it.
lin - So as a first grade team we "jumped in" and we are struggling.
karenSD - What do you guys think the main difference is between the 2?
susie - What is your main struggle?
lin - So where do you suggest we start?
REI/2/IL - lin...I'm confused. Are you doing F&P Guided Reading or 4 Blocks Guided Reading?
susie - Main difference: F&P says small groups arranged by ability while the other work on literacy centers.
lin - We are doing guided Reading, we have reading recovery which tells us something different and we are struggling with management, covering everything, that needs to be covered and also reporting the progress to the parents.
brave1 - Hi everyone. I got booted before I could even start.
susie - Hi brave1
lin - We are doing FP guided reading small groups arranged in ability with literacy centers going on
karenSD - susie, what do you use for assessment?
REI/2/IL - Karen...in F&P your students are in leveled groups according to their reading ability. In 4BGR, students are taught whole group, with small flexible groups at times.
susie - lin- management was my main complaint. I can't sit with a small group if I notice another student fooling around for 10 minutes. (And I usually have pretty good classroom management.)
karenSD - lin, that is what we are doing and I feel slightly overextended!
karenSD - REI, Thanks!
REI/2/IL - Hi Laur
Laur/K-1loop/NYC - Hi Rei hi everyone
lin - So you see where the confusion is? We know only a little bit about guided reading and we are using FP's model, we are going to conferences on it but we are also hearing about the 4 blocks. plus we are using centers while we are working in small groups. Luckily the class is only 18, so I can have 4 groups of no more than 5
brave1 - This is my first year with 4 Blocks, and boy am I struggling with timing. Anyone else in the same boat? Writing is OK, but the other blocks I feel like I need an hour each!!
karenSD - Hi Laur
susie - Lin, I love the activities in Guided Reading the Four Blocks Way. You really should get that book. It's different from the Teacher's Guide to 4 Blocks.
lin - How does everyone report progress? We have parent conferences next week and boy are we struggling with this?
REI/2/IL - brave1..the first year can be rough. Do you use a timer to help you keep your pace.
karenSD - REI, do you teach the small groups by skills?
karenSD - lin, We went from letter grades this year to N, S, E
brave1 - REI - Yep, I bought a timer. The kids think it's hilarious, because we're never done on time. I'm still feeling my way through designing mini-lessons and "During" activities that only take short amounts of time. Also, my conferences take too long. Any hints?
REI/2/IL - Karen.. Depends. A small flexible group would be when I am doing After Lunch bunch or 3 Ring Circus. At that time, I have a specific group of kids to work with.
lin - That's what we use, N, S, E, I, but when you are teaching in small groups, do you report their individual reading progress or their instructional level of reading progress.
karenSD - I think this way would be better for my group of kids!
REI/2/IL - Which conferences...writing, SSR or both?
REI/2/IL - Karen...I get amazing growth out of my kiddos teaching 4B.
brave1 - REI - Oh, should have been more clear. Actually, I haven't even started SSR conferences, because my kids are just now able to read silently for 20 min. I'm starting next week. Writing conferences take too long right now, but they're getting better.
karenSD - lin, we also put a number system for whether they were at grade, below, or above grade level. The state is making us do assessments called DRA's. They have a set number that the kids need to be on to be at grade level. I don't agree with some of the numbers.
REI/2/IL - Brave1~What are you attempting to conference on during a writing conference?
karenSD - Hi teachgrd3
teachgrd3 - Hi everyone
REI/2/IL - I conduct two different types of writing conferences. One is a QC=Quick Conference and the other is a Publishing Conference.
REI/2/IL - Hi teachgrd3.
brave1 - REI - I usually have them read me a piece, then I pick one focus area (using "fresh" words, using punctuation, etc.) We don't really edit unless it's an editing conf. Mostly we just talk about what is good and what could be better.
karenSD - Do you guys ever get any time for Science/Social Studies?
brave1 - REI - Can you explain your "Quick Conferences?"
lin - The conference I went to was a Guided Reading conference given by SDE and we are going to the First grade Conference in Dec. here in roch,. NY that will also have a big section on Guided reading
brave1 - Karen - I've incorporated it into my Guided Reading time. Otherwise, those subjects would get shortchanged.
REI/2/IL - Karen...yes, we have Science or Social Studies (I alternate weeks) everyday.
karenSD - Thanks for all the info! I better get my own kids to bed! Bye!
REI/2/IL - A Quick Conference is where I meet with a kid to check to see that they are incorporating the editor's checklist and if they are making connections with mini lessons taught. I don't hold a kid accountable for anything during our QC if it hasn't been introduced during minilessons or isn't posted on the checklist.
REI/2/IL - teachgrd3~how long have you taught 4 Blocks?
brave1 - REI - Thanks. I guess I'm on the right track. I'll just have to keep refining my teaching until the timing thing gets worked out, huh?
REI/2/IL - LOL...yes. If I am doing QC's I usually can get to 3 kiddos during the 20-25 minutes the class is writing. Right now, I have added peer conferencing. That has really made them focus on their personal writing, because I select based on my previous QC's.
brave1 - REI - You have no idea how good I feel knowing that! I'm trying for 5 conferences in 20 minutes, and I feel like I'm swimming upstream. I just started peer conferences this week. I'm choosing the kids based on what I know about their writing. Sounds similar to what you're doing.
brave1 - Hi, sra!
sra - Hi Brave!!
REI/2/IL - Hi sra
sra - Hi Rei
sra - I am new to the four block model
sra - I wanted to find out information if you do not mind me asking
brave1 - Me too, and loving it
REI/2/IL - Brave...Well, for 2nd grade my class is pretty on target for implementing peer conferencing.
sra - What grades do you both teach?
sra - I teach first grade
brave1 - Ask away, sra. I teach 2nd.
sra - Well, we do literacy centers in my classroom and I wanted to know what is the difference between that and four block?
REI/2/IL - Go for it Sra. I teach 2nd grade, been using 4 Blocks for 5 years and am one of Pat and Dottie's endorsed presenters.
brave1 - REI - It was really cute today, when I read one of the peer conferencing sheets, one of the kids wrote, "I think you need to use the word 'and' more." Oh, my...what next??
sra - Great Rei!
REI/2/IL - Okay...I really can spell. :-/
brave1 - REI - Coming to present in Wisconsin any time soon?
sra - I see five groups in one hour and 20 minutes.
brave1 - sra - Wow! That's quick teaching...How do you do it?
sra - During that time, they rotate to five activities that last about 20 minutes each. Each group comes to me each day for guided reading
REI/2/IL - Four Blocks is designed to be done whole group for the most part.
sra - That is only for literacy centers. We have a separate phonics program
REI/2/IL - sra...leveled reading groups?
circle - hi
REI/2/IL - Hi Circle.
brave1 - Hi, circle
sra - and our integrated language arts time is whole group in the afternoon
circle - hi
sra - yes they are leveled but, as they increase in their reading then I switch those students in literature circle groups so that they can work more independendently
brave1 - sra - I am finding that my kids are progressing much faster using the 4 Blocks model than when I taught leveled groups. They are learning from me, themselves, and each other.
sra - Did I lose my connection?
brave1 - Nope, we're here. There just aren't very many of us.
sra - Ok how? I am sorry if I sound so dumb
REI/2/IL - The premise behind 4 Blocks is to teach 4 individual blocks of time...with each block taught whole group. In Guided Reading...we focus on comprehension activities. The Word block is our Spelling/Phonics component. Writing is English and Self Selected is when they are reading on their particular level.
sra - I really want to learn more about this
sra - Can you give me a quick example of what you do in each block?
brave1 - You don't sound dumb at all. This is how we all learn. I think that the fact that 4 Blocks teaches using so many short, interesting activities makes it enjoyable for the kids.
REI/2/IL - brave1...I have found the same thing. I teach an inclusion class and usually by the end of the year all of my Special Ed kiddos will be reading on or very near grade level.
brave1 - Ok - I can't write coherently any more. Time for bed???
sra - Rei, I also have inclusion and I want to make sure that they too are successful
REI/2/IL - In Guided Reading we teach 3 days on grade level text with two days of lower level.
sra - I have some of the resource books from four block and went to a workshop two summers ago but, the lady that did the workshop wasn't very effective.
brave1 - REI - Yeah!! That gives me something to look forward to. I don't teach inclusion per se, but I have some Sp. Ed. kids that need lots of 1:1 to keep up. Their peers are really helping, though.
REI/2/IL - Sra...we did our first quarter assessments (DRA, STAR,etc..) already my special ed kids have made 4-6 months growth. Of course my top kiddos grew 1 1/2 years to 2 years.
brave1 - sra - I taught myself, using the books, and the mailring. The people on the ring are absolutely fantastic! Lots of great ideas, moral support, etc...Consider joining.
sra - That sounds great!
REI/2/IL - In Word Block, we clap chant cheer 5 high frequency words. Then do a variety of other activities to support.
REI/2/IL - Bummer on the ineffective workshop.
REI/2/IL - Because everything is so multilevel, I can finally teach ALL of my kiddos.
sra - I was very disappointed because I have use the Fountas and Pinnell reading methods and I wanted to learn more about 4 block to see if I wanted to change some of the things that I was doing.
REI/2/IL - Definitely join the mailring. That was my lifeline when first starting out.
brave1 - Good luck, sra! I can't tell you what a difference 4 Blocks has made in my teaching and in my kids as learners. Also, I am having fun!! As much as I did my first years teaching
sra - How do I do that? Is it available herein teacher.net
sra - I am going to reread what I have again to see what I am missing.
sra - Thanks Brave for your excitement and encouragement.
brave1 - sra - It's here. Just look for 4 Blocks, then look for mailrings. If you join, I'll "see" you there!
sra - ok !!! I am excited!
REI/2/IL - LOL...that is what many of our "older" teachers say as well. My day just flies by AND I don't have the behavior problems as in the past, because we are always changing and moving on. No time to get bored or into something. Besides, the kids love it.
sra - I wish I could see someone actually teaching it. Since I am a visual learner, that would be even better
REI/2/IL - http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
sra - I will check and see what school in our county is really implementing this method
brave1 - That is so true, REI. Thank you for all your help tonight, by the way. I sure appreciate it!
REI/2/IL - SRA~Come on over.
REI/2/IL - Thanks Brave1!
brave1 - REI - where in IL are you?
sra - Thanks!!
REI/2/IL - SRA..also check out the 4 Blocks board. It is pretty active as well.
REI/2/IL - I'm located near Evansville, IN.
sra - Thanks! I will and I will start reading my materials again! thanks for both of you. I have been teaching for 17 years and I still want to learn new things and do the best for my students! I appreciate your help
brave1 - Okay - getting out my map...LOL
REI/2/IL - That is a great attitude to have, SRA.
brave1 - Well, good night to both of you. It's been nice chatting. Good luck, sra. Keep up the good work, REI! You must be doing something right!
sra - Thanks! It can get difficult though if you are around others that feel that you are trying to out do them. It can be sad sometimes that teachers younger than me don't have the passion I do
REI/2/IL - Need to call it a night as well. Great chatting with you both.
sra - But, that is why I keep on going to model the passion!
REI/2/IL - Stick to your guns, SRA.
sra - Take care!
REI/2/IL - Night!
brave1 - Okay - getting out my map...LOL
martara - Hi, from CA
martara - Pearl, SRA< Brave1, where are you from?
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