aggie/1/ca - Heyyyy there, everybody!
Marcia/1st - I love reading what you are doing with your kids with 4 blocks, Nan. I wish I had known about 4 blocks when I taught special ed.
aggie/1/ca - Will either of you be at the 4 Blocks Leadership Conference in January?
Marcia/1st - no, I don't plan on going
aggie/1/ca - I will be there! It was great last year.
naneb - I love doing 4 blocks with them. You should see them write. It is something
naneb - aggie, you are making me so jealous. I would love to go
aggie/1/ca - bgh--- it's a lot of fun! Where are you from and what do you teach?
Marcia/1st - When I learned about reading strategies STW and MOT, I started using them with my resource kids. They really responded very well to it.
aggie/1/ca - naneb--- You would be a great addition to the conference.
bgh - I have a 2-3rd grade inclusion class of 21 students
naneb - I listen to all of you talk about first grade and I want to go teach the little kids
aggie/1/ca - STW? MOT? what is that?
aggie/1/ca - bgh--- I teach first grade in CA.
naneb - Thanks
aggie/1/ca - it's very rewarding, naneb.
naneb - cmon aggie Strategies That Work and Mosaic of thought
aggie/1/ca - LOL naneb! I have not heard them referred to like that before!
naneb - must be a sped thing, we know our acronyms
Marcia/1st - Oh, yes, we definitely know our acronyms
aggie/1/ca - Hey! I do good to remember MBM and GTCW!!
aggie/1/ca - bgh-- do you use 4 Blocks with your students?
aggie/1/ca - Get me one, too, naneb!
bgh - 4 blocks has been a life saver for our group
Marcia/1st - I absolutely love first grade. I thought I wouldn't like it, but the kids respond so well to SSR and well, everything
aggie/1/ca - I love it, too, bgh.
aggie/1/ca - It's really so fun to see them learn to read, Marcia. Once they've got a handle on it, they improve daily-- if not hourly!
bgh - Out of our 21 we have 8 LD, 2 504's and 1 possible Aspergers Syndrom (interesting group)
aggie/1/ca - Oh wowwwwwww--- I'll bet it is, bgh! Do you have an aide?
naneb - just Diet coke, sorry!!
Marcia/1st - I am amazed at how much progress they have made. I love teaching them Good Reader strategies and then see them employ them.
bgh - Marcia--Are your 1st graders reading the pictures or easy books
aggie/1/ca - That's ok, naneb--- I'm on antibiotics so I can't drink booze........
aggie/1/ca - Hi there, sra!
bgh - I have an LD Teacher in (because we are inclusion) I couldn't do it without her
Marcia/1st - They all can read some type of book to a certain extent. We are lucky and we have the guided reading sets from Rigby and Writght group at our school, so I have a lot ot choose from for them.
sra/1/GA - Hi there!
naneb - Hi, sra
sra/1/GA - Hi everybody!
aggie/1/ca - bgh-- some of mine are reading simple books but I have about 6 non readers out of 18 right now.
Marcia/1st - bgh, how long does your inclusion teacher stay with you?
aggie/1/ca - That's very lucky, Marcia!
aggie/1/ca - How are you, sra?
Marcia/1st - aggie, really total non-readers? To tell you the truth, i have one that would probably be called a non-reader
bgh - I am in the process of trying to find easy Social Studies trade books to cover our VA SOL's-- any suggestions?
bgh - The LD teacher is with me from 9-11:30
aggie/1/ca - Marcia-- yes. I teach in an inner city school where most speak little or no English.
Marcia/1st - This child who is not reading has really improved on his writing. From stringing consonants to spacing and getting almost all of the sounds in a word
aggie/1/ca - bgh--- I know Wright Group has a lot on social studies themes.
Marcia/1st - Bgh, we have social studies books from creative teaching press and scholastic and they are leveled type readers
aggie/1/ca - I love it when that happens, Marcia!
bgh - thanks, I'll try them
Marcia/1st - Steck-vaughn probably does too
aggie/1/ca - I have some of those Steck-Vaughn books..... the paired ones? A factual story paired w/a fictional?
Marcia/1st - yes, we have those too
aggie/1/ca - WB Teresa!
Marcia/1st - I am on a committee at our school that is in the process of forming a centralized book room for all of the leveled reading books. It is awesome. We are about halfway there
bgh - Would they be good for children reading on a 0.4 level to 1.8
aggie/1/ca - Gosh, I'd love to have that at my school, Marcia!
aggie/1/ca - Oh yes, bgh.
Teresa/2/OK - Thanks, I got kicked off
aggie/1/ca - It happens, Teresa!
aggie/1/ca - Hi Kathy. Where are you from? I'm in CA.
Kathy/1st - What is a good reading series to use with four blocks?
Kathy/1st - I am in IL
aggie/1/ca - Kathy--- I've been very happy w/my Scholastic Literacy Place.
Marcia/1st - yes, they would, bgh. One of our social studies books features flags and the pages just read "red" "white" "blue". Real simple text like that . I think that is a scholastic one
Kathy/1st - We have to use a series and we are in the process of picking out a new one.
Marcia/1st - don't you think pretty much any of the anthologies would be good to work with 4 blocks?
aggie/1/ca - I would recommend you take a look at Scholastic, Kathy.
bgh - kathy-we use trade books from our schools trade book room and concentrate on strategies
naneb - wouldn't it be nice if they just let you buy sets of books with that money instead of a basal series
aggie/1/ca - They really are, Marcia...... we are getting threatened at my school, tho, w/Open Court. I'm PRAYING that doesn't happen!
Marcia/1st - I only use our series about half of the time. We finally got workbooks about a month ago, but don't really have time to use them!
Teresa/2/OK - I had a first grade teacher ask me how to teach through 4 blocks to 1st, you know the sounds and vowels and what have you. I thought just teach them, but said I didn't know because I wanted to give a more professional answer. Got any great answers.
aggie/1/ca - Yes, naneb!!!!!!
Kathy/1st - I am at a Catholic school that doesn't have all that much money to put into trade books
Marcia/1st - All I want is my own books! I wish that workbook money could have been spent on books for the kids to read
bgh - boy, couldn't we get alot of books for the money they use!
Teresa/2/OK - Our first grade teachers are thinking Open Court too. I'm really preaching the wonders of 4 blocks
aggie/1/ca - Teresa--- all of that can be taught during the working w/words block and writer's workshop.
naneb - people get to into teaching a series. I don't teach a book I teach kids
aggie/1/ca - Good for you, Teresa!
bgh - Yea!! naneb
Marcia/1st - Teresa, that's a weighted question. If she is really interested she should start getting on the websites and get some of the books. I started learning this summer and feel like I have a handle on it. Plus, she should know what her children need to knwo to go to second grade.
naneb - Kathy, I will tell you how to buy lots of books. I used a purchase order and bought $236 worth of books from Scholastic's Sept. book club. I got 4784 bonus points and got two more boxes of books free
Marcia/1st - We have Open Court phonics. I thought the Open Court reading series (the anthology) would be pretty adaptable to 4 blocks. Didn't it have all the connections to MOT in it?
Marcia/1st - Nan, I might do that with the PTA money we get!
Kathy/1st - Why don't you suggest that she start to add one new thing a week until she feels comfortable
molly - nan, where did you get a PO for $236??? What kind of budget do you have, if I may ask?
aggie/1/ca - Yeah, Marcia-- but from what I've heard, you don't even get to the anthology in first grade until January......before then you read some really quite bizarre phonics readers.
Teresa/2/OK - These are 30 year veterans. They should know. They saw a 2nd gr. class teacher in Tulsa teaching 4 blocks and weren't impressed with her answers when they asked questions.
Marcia/1st - Nan, that's the special ed background. I said I never needed a teacher's edition because I usuall y wasn't given one!
naneb - Sept. has 20X points but some of the other catalogs are good too. I still have about 300 points to use
aggie/1/ca - That's sad, Teresa! Tell 'em to come to my room!
Marcia/1st - Oh, I can't stand those phonics readers. I know what you mean. We have some of those little books at our school. I am so glad for SSR. If someone had told me in June, I would have 21 students individualized in their reading , I would have said you are crazy. And now I am doing it.
naneb - molly, Mississippi has a one cent sales tax that goes to teachers for instructional material. In my district we each get $550 my school uses $50 to buy planners for teachers and students so, I had $500 to spend
molly - Marcia, have you tried the Scholastic Phonics readers??
aggie/1/ca - How neat, Marcia!
Teresa/2/OK - I love that, Aggie. I know everyone in OK is only into 4 blocks a couple of years. I've been able to excite several teachers outside our school system, but very few in the system.
aggie/1/ca - Those are the ones we have, molly.
Marcia/1st - I have some called "I am Sam" and Lot's of Hats. Are those the ones? I know they make some other ones and I don't have those.
naneb - I just jumped in to 4 blocks with both feet and all 4 blocks I think I must be totally crazy
aggie/1/ca - Teresa--- I'm the only teacher in my whole district who does 4 Blocks.
molly - you lucky duck!!! I got all of $25 in my last district, and I feel blessed to have $200 now.
aggie/1/ca - Ohhhhhhh gosh! I am hearing I Am Sam and Lots of Hats a lot lately in my room! LOL!
Marcia/1st - Nan, I just jumped in too, but except for the writing block, I am doing well with it. The writing block is a challenge, but an attainable one.
naneb - we don't get paid much but we do get money for the kids
bgh - Same here! Other teachers do parts, but no one does the entire program
molly - Marica, those are the chapter books. There are 72 little ones that have blackline masters. They tie in soooo well to the Scholastic Phonics workbook. That's the one thing I really miss from my old district.
naneb - my kids would write all day if they knew they would share at the end
bgh - Try doing poems for the writing block the kids love it
aggie/1/ca - Yes, bgh--- and it makes me mad! They come in my room and see the word wall and think that's al that 4 Blocks is!
Teresa/2/OK - It's tough isn't it Aggie. I was there too. Still don't have but three sort of doing 4 blocks in our school, but got some interested in October through a workshop I did for the district and they are jumping in with both feet.
aggie/1/ca - (((((((((((GreanPea!))))))))))
Teresa/2/OK - He Green Pea
GreanPea - (((((((((AgathaCoconuts))))))))))
GreanPea - hi, teresa
naneb - my word wall fell down. When the kids saw it Jeremy said, " Now we can't cheat on our spelling test" LOL!!
Marcia/1st - I was really worried about having enough books. I am even going to check into how much leveled book sets cost from writght groups and rigby. I like the rigby starters and rigby pm books the best for emergent readers.
molly - lol
aggie/1/ca - Teresa--- I did my first workshop yesterday for my district! Had 43 teachers in my classroom---- phew!
aggie/1/ca - Hehehehe GreanPea! How're you feeling today?
bgh - I currently have a student teacher and have offered to go into other rooms to demonstrate 4-blocks to my team and no one has taken a bite---maybe, I'll insist
Teresa/2/OK - Wow! Good for you, Aggie
GreanPea - slowly recovering from my cold ick! and you?
aggie/1/ca - Teresa-- it was the first presentation I've EVER done! I was soooooo nerrrrrrrvous! But it actually wasn't bad at all once I got started.
molly - Marcia, talk to your rep and see if s/he has any old demo sets that they'd like to donate to your classroom.
aggie/1/ca - GreanPea-- still got ear problems......but OK, I guess.
Marcia/1st - molly, what rep?
naneb - I've started to compile ideas for upper grades that I have been using. I think I am going to do another web page just for them
GreanPea - this is a lot more laid back than other meetings i've peeked in on
Teresa/2/OK - They were really upset over the Rhyming words game where you tear up the words with different spellings and keep the rimes. I explained the purpose (surprised they didn't see it) and they calmed down.
molly - Marcia, your Wright Group and Rigby sales rep.
aggie/1/ca - LOL Teresa!
Bluette - Hi all, 4 Blocks meeting today for our K teachers, I subbed one class
Marcia/1st - Oh, that's a good idea, Molly. I think I will do that. Should I just get their name off of the website?
aggie/1/ca - (((((((((((Bluette!)))))))) have you subbed in a 4 Blocks room ever?
aggie/1/ca - Hi sugartoy.
naneb - It's like a mailring reunion
sugartoy - hello aggie
aggie/1/ca - It is, naneb!
molly - Not sure Marcia. When I first started, there was NO curriculum for the reading specialist. I had to scramble and put things together.
Bluette - I tried to do all the T's plan but we had a fire drill to interrupt and I lost track of time during centers
Teresa/2/OK - Have you all seen the Scott Foresman and MacMillan/McGraw-Hill? Talk about thievery! It's four blocks in disguise and not very well disguised.
sugartoy - molly, are you a reading specialist?
molly - yes, Sugar.
Bluette - yes, I have, but still not sure how 4 blocks works--it certainly makes for interesting classes
Marcia/1st - Molly, I will just start working on this. I am very motivated to have my own books in the room. I think the other teachers think I am selfish b/c I take out so many of the book sets.
naneb - I got my new issue of the CEC newsletter and the lead article is about teaching comprehension skills. The ideas and activities are pure 4 blocks but it is never mentioned
sugartoy - i need some advice from you, do have the time?
Bluette - does K use 4 Blocks too?
aggie/1/ca - It's hard to sub in a 4 blocks classroom, Bluette.
Teresa/2/OK - Molly, now I wouldn't have it any other way. I love coming up with my own stuff much better than using factory
aggie/1/ca - No, Bluette--- they have a similar program called Building Blocks.
Bluette - my students knew the ING ending of words, circled THE on math paper instructions
molly - Marcia, I buy a TON of books every month through Scholastic mail order, through Costco, and anywhere else I can get cheap books. Garage sales and Thrift shops are good, too.
GreanPea - aggie, i guess building blocks is what i'd be looking for
Bluette - I was impressed at how much they know and it is just NOV in K
sugartoy - is there any particular reading program out that is appropriate for special education classrooms?
Teresa/2/OK - Have you seen the easy reader nonfiction book sets in Scholastic. Their great for teaching nonfiction writing. Very simple text and great pictures.
Bluette - I am just a Teacher-Wanna-Be, I absorb everything i can while subbing
aggie/1/ca - GreanPea--- incoming pm. Click update.
Teresa/2/OK - I can never spell in a chat room. Normally I'm a very impressive speller. But put in a chat situation and I lose it.
Bluette - Teresa, it is a typo not spelling mistake!!!
GreanPea - thank you, ags! i've bookmarked it! will that get me to building blocks as well?
aggie/1/ca - Teresa--- I think I have some of those--- they come in sets of like 15 books for $19?
Marcia/1st - sugar, I think motivation is really key. I also think the Systematic Sequential Phonics book put out by 4 blocks would be great for special ed. I guess we need to know what population you work with.
aggie/1/ca - Don't worry about it, Teresa! We're not taking grades here!
naneb - sugar, what grade level or reading level are you talking about?
Bluette - any advice for me re 4 blocks?
aggie/1/ca - yes, GreanPea-- it's Pat Cunningham's website. She is the "author" of 4 Blocks-- well, one of them.
sugartoy - i am currently in a resource room, with grades 1-5 combined during specific time periods, with them all there, it is hard for me to know which program is better for this group
Bluette - I need to learn more about it, it is used in all the elem schools where I have subbed
aggie/1/ca - Bluette--- it would be helpful if you could take a training class or something so that you'd know what some of the terms were when you sub.
Teresa/2/OK - Sugar, my daughter teaches sp. ed. and uses everything she can get her hands on. I 've taught her some 4 blocks methods that really help keep her students focused.
Bluette - I agree aggie, but i don't know who to turn to
naneb - I do 4 blocks with my sped kids I think you could do most of the activities in 4 blocks but do a frog approach with small groups of like students
aggie/1/ca - Bluette--- have you gone to this website http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks/?
sugartoy - Teresa, where can i find information on 4 blocks at?
Marcia/1st - sugar, I used to teach resource. The problem you have is the amount of time they will be with you and how the kids are scheduled. Do you have a big age span at the same time?
aggie/1/ca - I've got others, too, Bluette if you are interested.
Teresa/2/OK - Bluette, get the Teachers Guide to Four Blocks, Guided Reading the 4 Blocks Way and you will learn a great deal.
sugartoy - yes, marcia, i do have a big age span, from 12 to 7 years
aggie/1/ca - HI stephie.
GreanPea - thank you aggie.. i'm going to check the site out and head off to bed!
stephie - good evening
naneb - I think the word block is the most important for sped kids. Even my best readers have poor phonics skills
Bluette - aggie, I am interested and will check that site first, thanks
stephie - what is the topic?
Marcia/1st - are they scheduled at the same time?
aggie/1/ca - stephie--- this is a 4 blocks chat.
Teresa/2/OK - Sugar, give me your email and I'll send you loads of good info. I've got it all saved up from a workshop
sugartoy - YES
stephie - pardon my ignorance, but what is 4 blocks?
Teresa/2/OK - Hi, Stephie. 4 blocks is a method of teaching balanced literacy
aggie/1/ca - 4 Blocks is a literacy framework used in teaching lang. arts in 1st thru 3rd grades, stephie.
naneb - sugar, all of your students will benefit from the word block, writing block but you will probably need to group them for guided reading
Teresa/2/OK - Sugar, got it!
stephie - is it a progressive philosophy?
Bluette - stephie, thats what I would have asked a year ago, now I am itching to know how to use it!!
Marcia/1st - sorry sugar, just wanted to make sure. I guess the best thing to do is to check a couple websites and buy a couple of teh books that Teresa has suggested and see how it can work for you. I think the activities and strategies would be great for special ed b/c they support the children while they are in the stage of acquiring the skills
aggie/1/ca - I'm not sure I know what you mean by that, stephie?
sugartoy - naneb, i agree with that to some point, but with the age difference, i am not sure that the younger ones will comprehend what the story is really about
stephie - at my school, the children in my first grade class use inventive spelling
stephie - they say the word slowly, and write down the sounds they hear
aggie/1/ca - stephie--- you do that in 4 Blocks, too.
Bluette - talk to you later, thanks for the useful info
naneb - I think the best thing about 4 blocks is the way all of the students are supported and made to be successful. They blossom once they realize they can do it
Teresa/2/OK - Do any of you have the Sequential Systematic Phonics book? Hope I wrote that correctly. I want to get it, but haven't had money available as yet
naneb - sugar, that is what I mean. I don't think you will be able to teach reading to them all together. The age range is too big
Marcia/1st - Teresa, I have it
aggie/1/ca - I think I'm heading out, too--- see y'all!
naneb - bye, aggie
sugartoy - what i am doing currently doesn't appear to working with any of these kids, and i am running out of choices, and i really don't know what else to do
Marcia/1st - what are you doing now with your special ed students?
Teresa/2/OK - I agree with naneb! It's wonderful for the kids that always get set apart because they aren't learning a fast. They are a part of the group all the time and feel great even though they know they aren't reading on the same level. It's more like moral support than separation
naneb - I would get the month by month phonics books or the phonics book that Teresa is talking about. This will really help them
Teresa/2/OK - Marcia, what do you think? What are the basics of it?
naneb - I have one girl who reads a lot lower than anyone else. She has become a different person. She aces the spelling test and will really try to read the story. She is not afraid to share her writing or her books during ssr
Marcia/1st - If I was teaching resource, I would definitely check into the Systematic Sequential Phonics book. It moves in increments. I would not think you would need it teaching second grade tho
Teresa/2/OK - I've forgotten how to send a private message. It's been so long since I've done this. Help!
naneb - click on the arrow where it says send to room
Marcia/1st - The first lesson has only like 4 letters in it and it does move very slowly. There are 4 phonics type lessons and the 5th lesson includes a word wall activity
Teresa/2/OK - Thanks, Marcia. I really wondered about that.
Teresa/2/OK - Oh, yeah, thanks naneb
Marcia/1st - Teresa, I am having a volunteer use it with 3-4 of my very lowest children. The book is designed to do a lesson every day of the school year.
Marcia/1st - Oh, and the sort and transfer for the early lessons and maybe more have the children sorting words by first letter. I know it can be adapted, but the design of the program is very basic
sugartoy - are there any web sites, other than www.google that is totally connected to reading programs only?
Teresa/2/OK - Marcia, that's a great idea. I've made up a million games for my up and coming readers, but it would be nice to have some sequencing to it. I was hoping this book would help
Marcia/1st - It's very sequential with the letters that are introduced and all. Do you have a teacher bookstore near you that you could look at it and get an idea. I still think your second graders probably need more challenge. I wish I could figure out a way I could do ti every day with my lowest readers. I think it would really help them.
Teresa/2/OK - Sugar, at google, I type in things like Guided Reading, reading assessment, phonemic awareness, phonics instruction, short memory activities, etc.
sugartoy - there are no bookstores close to my town, the actual closest one is over an hour away
sugartoy - i don't
Teresa/2/OK - Yeah, my closest teacher bookstore with that kind of stuff is an hour away too, but I do go to the city about once a month. I'll check it out.
Marcia/1st - well, it's getting late. I need to go. It's been great talking to you guys. Good luck Nan. i will be thinking of you tomorrow. Be sure to let your mailring friends know when you are ready to tell us, okay?
sugartoy - time is running out teresa, or i would
sugartoy - night marcia
naneb - thanks marcia If I ceritfy I will put a message on the ring from school
Teresa/2/OK - I have about 3 students with some form of dyslexia. Lots of reversals, including making an entire book backwards and difficulty with processing the sounds.
sugartoy - there is one dyslexic in this classroom, one mr, one autistic and the rest are ld
naneb - Teresa, go to dyslexia.org there is lots of good information about remediation of dyslexia
Teresa/2/OK - Thanks, Marcia. I'm glad to finally hear a view point from someone using the phonics book
naneb - sugar, are you the only special ed teacher at your school?
Teresa/2/OK - Naneb, thanks for the url. Are you waiting on scores for the NBPTS? I just applied for the scholarship to apply for certification in the spring.
naneb - Tomorrow is the day. Doing boards is sooo hard and sooo rewarding. I will know tomorrow if I certified
sugartoy - naneb, i am a teacher intern, and this school uses the reading program that teresa doesn't like,
Teresa/2/OK - I love working with austic kids. They are really great kids.
Teresa/2/OK - Sugar, Open Court for ld is a joke! It is soooo over their heads.
naneb - Teresa, you would not say that if you had taught the one that I had. He used to kick me and punch other students in the face. He was 6 feet tall and in the 6th grade. He would come out of the rest room naked
Teresa/2/OK - Naneb, I'm keeping you in my prayers. I thought the application for the scholarship was hard. Can you imagine what it will be like me the first time I get a look at "The Box"?
sugartoy - i have noticed, but i can't talk this teacher into allowing me the opportunity of trying something else, so what do i do now?
naneb - When I read the box the first time I said, I am never going to finish this, but I did! You just have to do it.
sugartoy - and keep my professional opinion to my self right now
naneb - some times, sugar that is all you can do
Teresa/2/OK - Sorry about your bad experience, naneb. You got him too late. They do bizarre things, but they are usually loveable. He sounds like he went too along without proper help.
sugartoy - i know naneb, but it isn't fair to the kids, they need reading programs that are appropriate fro them not the school
naneb - He had not been like that until he got to middle school. He was just overwhelmed by everything. He needed more structure. He did not speak at all until he was about 9
Teresa/2/OK - Sugar, I'm afraid you'll be talking to a brick wall. Do what you have to do and what you know is right when they aren't around
naneb - I taught life skills for 7 years and taught several students with autism but he was something else
Teresa/2/OK - How sad. I know that there are all levels, but many are really quite bright.
sugartoy - i'll do the best i can, but it isn't fair to my kids, they definitely need something they can actually LEARN from not be confused even more
naneb - Have any of youread the book "Blackberries in the Dark"?
Teresa/2/OK - Gotta go, I have a big day tomorrow. I'm going to see Harry Potter, YEAH!
naneb - night, Teresa
sugartoy - Whose Harry Potter?
naneb - The movie LOL!!
naneb - gotta run, bye nice chatting with you
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