Month by Month Reading and Writing for Kindergarten |
The Teacher's Guide to the Building Blocks |
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Addie/mo - hi amysue
amysue - what is the topic of this chat room?
Addie/mo - it is supposed to building blocks lit model in k
amysue - what is the topic of this chat room?
ca - I teach reading but work with my one kindergarten class with building blocks activities.
amysue - i am wanting to teach K - student teaching in spring, so I am interested in this.
amysue - i would love to write down any tips, suggestions and ideas you guys use!
Addie/mo - do they do bb in the classroom as well, or do they use a different model
Addie/mo - all of the meetings are archived, so you dont have to write everything down. you can go back and refer to it at anytime
ca - They do use the building blocks model. She does the morning message and the popcorn words. I usually go in and work on a predictable chart with the group each week.
Addie/mo - i used to teach k, but i am a principal now. i used bb activities for the last several years that i taught. i especially liked the beginning of the year activities
amysue - my cousin teaches K and sent me a ton of stuff she does in their building blocks K session each day
Addie/mo - do you do the pred. charts in small groups or whole class? when we did those, it was hard to keep their attention in the beginning. i would take us two weeks to get through a chart and the related activities, because i would do a fourth of the class at a time.
amysue - do you find it hard to incorporate the bb's into the classroom with everything else or not?
Addie/mo - i think that bb is really effective with k, but i didnt care for their assessment. i was not comfortable just checking certain letters and then assuming based on what they got right out of the sample that they could do others
pez - I have to share what I do with my morning message every morning
ca - I'm looking for some November topics for predictable charts. I usually try to read a book to the group first and then make the predictable chart. Any ideas.
Addie/mo - not really hard to incorporate, for instance, lots of times our pred. chart would have to do with our theme, which typically had to do with science or ss
pez - My kids love to play I Spy. After I write the message they search for popcorn words and they are getting really good at finding words within words
amysue - that makes sense....did you have the kids do things in groups or as a whole class?
pez - Addie, that's what my charts are-theme based
Addie/mo - we always did a "thankful" chart. "i am thankful for..." or "Thank-you for ..."
amysue - i love the I Spy thing - do you do it with words in the class or in the books?
Addie/mo - i did most of the bb stuff whole class
amysue - and you just did it throughout the whole day with everything you taught, right?
Addie/mo - we had literacy centers too
pez - it's gotten to the point where I can't read a story now without hearing "there's 'the' etc
amysue - one teacher said that she has the students "act out" the spelling words....like as a motorcyclist, etc. and then they write the words into their morning message
pez - I print out my message every day and send it home with the students so the parents can see what we
pez - we've written
Addie/mo - yes, i just incorporated the activities. we did shared reading everyday with poetry charts and at least two big books...then we had a short time where we worked on word wall words (ooops not bb, but four blocks, but that is what we did).
pez - But it's an expectation so we have to incorporate sight words
amysue - do you have a Poem for the month or change a poem each week, etc.
amysue - sorry I'm bombarding you guys with questions! i am trying to get as many ideas as I can for student teaching, etc.
Addie/mo - i had a routine on the pred. charts...monday and tuesday we wrote them (half the class each day), wednesdays and thursdays we played "be the word" and on fridays i gave them their typed up sentences and they cut them apart, put them back together, glued them to a page and illustrated them. these pages became a class book. also, everyday except friday we circled all of a certain letter or underlined certain words on the chart
pez - just popped in for a second. Good night all
ca - We're doing that also. I bind their class books and they add it to their library. The kids have made so much progress already. They love it.
Addie/mo - i put up six poems at a time, two new ones each week replaced the two oldest ones. that way we worked on each poem for 3 weeks. they were on illustrated charts. many of them were set to music. many were seasonal or holiday related.
Addie/mo - by the time we wrote the predictable chart class books and patterned class books after our big books, we would end up making enough books that the students would get to keep one class book at the end of the year.
Addie/mo - it was a neat souvenier of k
amysue - that's a great idea....do you bind the books yourself and make them ahead of time or did parent volunteers help you with that? that's alot of work!
Addie/mo - also on our poems, the students received a typed copy of the ones that were "coming down" on fridays. They illustrated them and collected them in a poetry notebook that they kept in their desks. that is another good souvenier
ca - On Friday I take all of the pages that the stdents made from the predictable chart and bind it together.
Addie/mo - actually, when i had a parent volunteer, she would do those books. it is a good volunteer job. but it really didnt take that much time to put them together myself. sometimes the kids helped me (later in the year). we just mounted the kids work to const. paper. one paper on each side, created a cover, laminated the sheets (about 12 or so) and used a spiral binder to put them together
amysue - what, other than predictable charts, have you found effective
Addie/mo - the kids could learn to center the student work on construction paper and use a glue stick to mount the page. not real hard. when we were doing patterned writing in small groups, we usually mounted the pages right as the kids finished. if i had an early finisher, i would ask him or her to make the cover
Addie/mo - you have to provide the children with opportunities to read to themselves and to write for themselves. we had "writing workshop" which were journals basically and the kids could write and draw whatever they wanted.
Addie/mo - we also had self selected reading or free reading where the kids could read whatever they wanted in the room. sometimes they read indivicually, sometimes in partners or in small groups
amysue - what time frame do you use for self-selected reading each day and in the center activities for the book-making, etc.?
ca - we have read color books and made I like (favorite color). We recently did one about their favorite Halloween candy, what they were going to be for Halloween. This one followed the pattern of a level B book, Halloween. I am a _________________. Now we'll begin Thanksgiving charts.
amysue - my cousin that teaches K said she made a book for every book they read...like, brown bear by eric carle, they made their own "Brown ___, Brown ___,", etc....
Addie/mo - i was trying to remember...we had about 50 minutes of centers divided in half by a recess. the last method of centers i used was a contract system and the students had to at least "read" one book to check it off their list. most kids read a lot more. also, when they finished all the centers for the week, that was one of the ones they could go back to because "it didnt use anything up". also when we quit nap second semester, they had about another 15 to 20 minutes of free reading following a class assignment
Addie/mo - we did those patterned type books each week that went with our theme. usually, i chose a familiar pattern from a previous big book, not the new one we were working on and we wrote something having to do with our theme. sometimes i used our current book.
Addie/mo - they really liked patterned books, because they can read them.
Addie/mo - and, of course, the more they practice, the better they get at reading
ca - This past week I did a shared reading of The Farm Concert (Wright Group). I wanted to introduce some story grammar to the class. After a few readings the next time I visited the class we did a retelling of the story with story props. The kids were fabulous and really put expression to their part.
amysue - whatever grade i end up teaching, i want to do the books and also have guest speakers come in and read...and have like "DEAR" time and other things it might be called
amysue - does anyone do choral readings or dramatic things with reading?
Addie/mo - we had the farm concert too. i had the kids act it out some years. we also noticed the quotation marks and the kids copied the words into speech bubbles that they glued on their drawing of their favorite character to help them understand that the quotes meant that the characters were talking
Addie/mo - amysue, the guest speak idea is great. one of the kdgn teachers in my building does this. i get to be one of her guests every so often
ca - It was a great book to work on those concepts of print. The print gets bigger and smaller and the quotation marks are introduced.
amysue - one thing my K teacher at home does when i visit is have an "All Read" Day and the kids bring sleeping bags, etc. and just read all day with guest speakers, etc
Addie/mo - definitely, dramatics are good. we would act out poems and songs. sometimes we would act out stories with simple props or puppets that they made in the art center . i had my class do a full blown play at the end of each year for parents. we usually based it on a book...many times eric carles books and added related songs. the kids made the set and costumes! it was a great experience
ca - We have a celebrity reader day during reading month. It would be great to have that more often. The kids really do remember the readers. My guest reader is still remembered by students 6 years later. It's exciting to hear that from them.
elle - I tried some "guided" reading this week, it was interesting
elle - I even did it with some of my lower kids and they loved it, I learned a lot too
elle - we read A Monster Sandwhich and Huggles Can Juggle
ca - I have some of my fifth grade students read to kindergarten buddies on Friday for fifteen minutes. It really gives a boost to my struggling fifth graders and the kindergartners love it.
elle - we do that too with the 3rd grade, and my K students can read their books to the 3rd graders
elle - we also have some highschool kids come in on Fridays and read to the kids
ca - I bet your students love that.
elle - they are really excited and it is good for the Highschool kids, they enjoy the little ones
elle - sometimes they help us do an activity to go with a book or author we are studying
ca - Another great story to act out as a retelling is Mrs. Wishy Washy (Wright Group). I made some story props and have a scrub brush. My students use the animal props and the scrub brush to retell the story. I just need to get a washtub.
elle - we read that last year, they loved it, that is a good idea
dewayne - sorry to interrupt but do either of you know anything about Paul Revere?
elle - we have acted out the 3 bears and the 3 billy goats
elle - I taped them and then showed them at parent teachers conference
ca - i have to go. Thanks for the ideas.
dewayne - hello
elle - see ya
ca - That's a great idea to have for conferences! Bye
elle - sorry, don't know much
ca - logged off. --- (68.41.137.82 - Sun Nov 10 6:59pm)
dewayne - do u know anything about paul revere?
dewayne - elle?
loztsub - logged on. --- (128.227.163.114 - Sun Nov 10 6:59pm)
elle - yes?
dewayne - do u know anything about paul revere?
loztsub - I'm sorry if this is off topic, but could someone answer a substitute question
elle - sorry, can't help you out
elle - did you do a search?
amysue - i had my 1st gr. class i taught to the 3 little pigs and they loved it so much!
dewayne - can u loztsub?
dewayne - yes
dewayne - i found out everything except 1 ?
amysue - even the struggling readers really enjoyed it
loztsub - is it legal for a substitute's name to go on a report card?
elle - what is your question lozt
dewayne - Im an 8th grader
elle - how long have you been subbing?
dewayne - i have to write a 500-600 word essay by tomorrow
loztsub - is it legal for a substitute's name to go on a report card?
elle - dewayne, do a search on google, see if that helps you out
dewayne - yes
dewayne - ok thanks
dewayne - ill come back if not
dewayne - can u type the address on the screen?
dewayne - its faster that way
elle - www.google.com
dewayne - www.google.com
amysue - what grades is everyone in this room teaching
dewayne - im an 8th grade student
loztsub - I've been subbing for a long time, covering for a teacher that is not there
elle - I teach K, and you?
amysue - i am a senior in college - student teaching in the spring
elle - lozt, did you ask the principal?
dewayne - what states?
amysue - i want to teach K, though, very much!
amysue - that's why iam trying to get all the info and help i can to be the best K teacher possible
elle - I love teaching K, it is very rewarding
amysue - i have bought classroom supplies and items for K since my freshman year in college, so I really hope to teach K when I begin applying for jobs
elle - are you getting an endorsement in early childhood education? amy
amysue - yes - EC-4 (Texas certification)
elle - that will help a lot in getting a job in the lower grades
elle - and I am sure Texas pays better than Nebraska
amysue - i have over 300 books and am surprised at the number of peers that have not even started things for their classroom yet....
amysue - texas does not pay well at all, elle!!!
elle - any state pays better than nebraska LOL
amysue - just curious - how much, on average, do you think you spend on classroom supplies and things in your own pocket? that is what scares me to think about
elle - I usually spend at least 200 to 500 a year on supplies for school
elle - some years more than others
amysue - thats about the average i have heard....but, i am really hoping having bought alot of supplies and things ahead of time will really help me out for my first year expense
elle - I go to the K state conference every summer and spend a lot there
amysue - i go crazy in teacher stores!!!
elle - it will depend on the curriculum and the units you will teach
elle - me too, me too
amysue - alot of the things i have already can be used in centers, reading, different themes, etc....
amysue - hehe - how long have you taught K?
elle - this is my 12th year
amysue - how exciting! i can't wait to teach.....but, i am at the point where i am really wondering if my classes will really prepare me or not...
elle - to be honest, very few of my classes prepared me at all
amysue - K is what i have always wanted to teach.....so, someday, i will!
amysue - that's what i was afraid of - i am realizing how i feel unprepared for the "reality of teaching" so to speak
elle - my method classes were the best, but they still did not prepare me
amysue - sure, i can tell you about whole language or phonics - but nothing about classroom maagement, scheduling, etc......
elle - I subbed for a year before I got my first job and that is what prepared me the most
amysue - i will student teach in the spring, and i know that will help...but, i want to get a job in the fall (next fall, that is)
elle - student teaching will be good for you, any experience in the classroom is good
amysue - i read about ideas for teaching all the time and have lots of books, but i try to get as many ideas ahead of time as i can....
elle - but having your own classroom is the real thing
amysue - and get the "real info" from the teachers who do it everyday, not professors....
elle - and the only way to learn how to truly teach
amysue - what classroom management do you have and what kind of rules - that is what i feel very unprepared in
elle - I like to use Love and Logic by Jim Fay, but our classroom also has a color method
elle - a lot of your discipline will depend on your personality and style of teaching
amysue - yes, that is true....i just have really been observing all the teachers i know and getting a feel for what works and doesnt
elle - I let the kids come up with the rules and then they sign at the bottom of the rules
elle - then we post them in the room
elle - it is just a reminder that they have promised to obey the rules
amysue - do they seem to really understand and follow the rules when they sign it?
elle - yes they do, and they remind the others when they don't follow the rules
amysue - thats neat....sounds like you have a great classroom and are a wonderful teacher
elle - I really like what I do and I think that helps me be the best teacher I can be, you have to enjoy what you do, it is a very rewarding job for me
elle - I just love K kids, they are so honest and open about everything
amysue - i'm certainly not in teaching for the pay....but, i think the rewards will far benefit any salary i could ever want
elle - exactly
amysue - i have always wanted to teach K, so I am really going to look for K positions that are open since i feel like that is what I would be best with
amysue - have you only taught K or other grades as well
elle - and be prepared for anything, like when some kids tells you that he has to go poop but has never wiped his own butt before
elle - that happened to me on Friday
elle - my first year I taught at a country school and had K-3
amysue - lol! you should write all the funny things that happen and put it in your own K Funny Moments book!!!
amysue - K-3 in one class??!!!!!
elle - and I student taught in the 3rd grade
elle - I have tons of them, and you will too
elle - yep, it taught me how to be organized
amysue - i have had alot of experience teaching and working with this specific age, so i do feel qualified to teach this age
elle - and how to shop for a month at a time, I was 30 miles from the nearest store
amysue - that's how it is for me where i am originally from - 45 minutes away from the nearest town....
amysue - i dont think i want to teach in that kind of setting, though...not yet, anyway!
elle - I liked it while I was there, but I don't think I would do it again
elle - are you going to get your masters later?
amysue - you prob. didn't care because it was your first teaching job, anyway....that's how i will prob. be, too
amysue - i want to get my master's and am looking for teaching in a place where a univ. is near
amysue - i don't know yet, what i want to get my master's in, so i want to teach about a year or so (maybe 2 years) before i get it
elle - our school pays for us to go back to school
elle - so I went and got mine asap, it was great, a degree that is paid for
amysue - that is wonderful!!!!
amysue - what did you get your masters in?
elle - be sure to specialize in something, mine is just in elementary ed, mistake, should have specialized
amysue - since texas places such an emphasis on reading, i am really thinking about getting it as a reading specialist, possibly
elle - and with a masters you can teach college, if you want to
amysue - my degree is EC-4
elle - where in Texas are you, we are going to Texas this spring for a wedding
amysue - there's no intention of teaching college yet at all in my plans of life!! haha - i only want the little ones!!! not the big kids!
elle - LOL
amysue - i am in abilene....wonderful place
amysue - i always tease my peers and say I dont even know if i could teach 1st grade since they are too big and have their own desks at thtat age...lol!
elle - we will be travelling to Dallas for my sister in laws wedding at the end of April
elle - I used to think that too, I used to think K was too old, I liked preschoolers
elle - but I wouldn't trade K for the world, it is great
amysue - thats about 2 1/2 hours from here...not too bad at all...i have gone there quite often and am thinking about looking for jobs outside of dallas
elle - I have 3 sister in laws and they all live in DAllas
amysue - i had originally always wanted to be a daycare director, but then, K is what i have had my mind on for a long time and it hasnt changed at all...i just love that age more and more
elle - it is about a 15 hr drive from here, LOL
elle - I thought about daycare also, but too much red tape to wade through
amysue - too bad you don't live in dallas or closer and we could exchange ideas and talk teacher stuff alot! lol - so, you are in Nebraska and they are all here? wow
elle - I could give you my email?
amysue - - esp. 3 year olds - i do alot of stuff with 3 year olds at church
elle - I am a youth group leader at our church, so I go from my little ones to big ones, jr high and highschool
amysue - somehow, that stuff got erased from earlier, but i was just saying that i liked the 3 year old group (basically), too
amysue - i like middle school, too, and think i might have to teach "bigger kids" at church just so I am not overwhelemed with little kids in my life 6 of the 7 days in a week! lol
elle - the scary part is, most of the jr high and high school kids I have in youth group I had in K, LOL
amysue - yikes - they never leave!!!! haha
elle - LOL
elle - it is neat to see them grow up and mature, well some of them anyway
amysue - my mom had her first "shocker" when one of her student's wedding announcement was in the paper
elle - yep, my first group will graduate in two years, eek
amysue - and you have taught at this school how long? the same school, right?
elle - I have saved a video of them in K, can't wait to show it
elle - yep
elle - to show it at graduation
amysue - oh, that is so neat! they will love it
amysue - do you have K scrapbooks you do for each year of teaching?
elle - oh I am sure they will, hehe
amysue - they won't thank you for it, for sure, but they will remember it without a doubt! lol
elle - I don't do scrapbooks, but I do have a video for K roundup and show it every year, it has pictures from every class
amysue - i think i really want to do a scrapbook or something for each year of teaching capturing sample work, pictures, etc. of the class each year and have a nice collection by the time i retire...lol
elle - scrapbooks are nice, I just have never had the time to do them
elle - it would be nice to have one for each year
amysue - well, i am single, so it's not like i have a family or other to attend to, either
elle - yes, I remember those days, had lots of time to work on school stuff
elle - now I am married with two little ones of my own
amysue - so that means you dont have time to do anything else but collapse when you come home!
elle - and they are wanting some attention so I better go, nice getting to know you amysue, would you like me to post my email?
amysue - if you want to...but, it doesnt matter...i would love to e-mail (if you want) but if you dont want to post it for the whole world to see, i understand! lol
elle - ellmeier@curtis-ne.com
amysue - okay - thanks....i will definately e-mail you sometime...would love to get more ideas from you...
elle - I would love to hear from you and see how your job hunting goes
amysue - nice talking to you - hopefully, we'll talk again....good evening! and have fun with your K kids!
elle - see ya amysue, good luck
elle - bye bye
amysue - bye to you....
