Debbie Mc. - Hello!
Cindy - Hi Debbie!
Cindy - Gee, where is everybody?
Debbie Mc. - Cindy, have you applied already?
Cindy - Yes. I am waiting for "The Box" coming in June!
moly - this is the very first time I was able to make a chat
Debbie Mc. - Spend your time off going over every word in that box and making notes. Lay out what you need to do for your portfolio and when you want to do it. It helps to have an overall plan.
Debbie Mc. - Moly, where are you from and are you a candidate or an NBCT?
Cindy - Thanks for the advice. I will be taking a two week workshop in June, hopefully, I will get the professional portfolio done!
Debbie Mc. - Remember to leave space for things that you will do during this school year.
Cindy - I have won many classroom grants in the past two years. I hope it helps!
Debbie - I'm writing my science units to take to the testing center and have never taught cells in my first grade classroom and have no idea where to begin and what's developmentally appropriate for my first grade classroom. Help!
Debbie Mc. - It will be the way that you write up how those grants have had significance and how they have impacted your students.
Debbie Mc. - Where did you get the cells topic Debbie? From state or national standards?
Debbie Mc. - I teach first grade and we don't do cells.
Debbie - Debbie Mc. - it was given to us at an assessment center prep meeting as one of the 14 strands in science.
Debbie Mc. - Debbie, I think that sounds very specific for first graders. Maybe sinetag will show up and give us her opinion.
Debbie Mc. - We teach matter and the five senses but do not get that specific.
Debbie Mc. - Debbie, when the topics were listed over the ring, I didn't see cells. Did I overlook it?
Debbie - The topics were were given are matter, reactions/interactions, force/motion, sound, heat, magnetism, light, astronomy, geology, oceanography, meteorology, living things, cells, and ecosystems. I'm fine with everything except cells and ecosystems.
Debbie Mc. - Do you know where they got the topics?
Debbie Mc. - Are any of you first grade teachers?
Sharon - I am!
Kinderjane - I am kindergarten. I guess that is obvious!
Cindy - I'm kindergarten.
Lori In Mn - Kindergarten here too
Debbie - It was given to me by my mentor from Ole Miss and I'm looking at the address from the top : http://home.earthlink.net/~sinetag/ACPrep/Media/template.jpg
Debbie Mc. - Sharon, Debbie was asking about help with preparation for the AC and one of the topics she was given at a prep meeting was cells. I don't teach cells and was saying that I thought that was pretty specific for first graders. What's your opinion?
Kinderjane - Cells sounds way out of line for first grade to me. Too abstract.
Debbie Mc. - That's sinetag's website.Maybe she'll show up and give some help. I need more info to help me. Maybe it's another way of saying something else. That has happened to me before.
Sharon - Hey Debbie! I'm one of the mentors from Ole Miss. Did we give you anything about cells? I don't remember it if we did.
Debbie Mc. - Remember that sinetag also helps MC Gen.
moly - Kinderjane you had written to me. which $40. publication did you buy -portfolios??
Kinderjane - Hey Moly- I happen to have it here. It is called Assessment and Scoring Kit.
Debbie - Hi sharon, this is Debbie from Greenville. This is the list of science content strands that you and Cathy gave out that day.
Kinderjane - Debbie- You are not Greenville, SC are you?
moly - no one at my school has intentions to certify, so I am all alone in this
Debbie - Kinderjane - Greenville, Mississippi
moly - sharon, where in hot south are you?
Debbie Mc. - moly, I was in that boat too. You'll be just fine with the help that you receive from this group.
Cindy - moly, you will get lots of support here.
Lori In Mn - Many of us are working alone-except for this list!
moly - Debbie, it gets daunting - maybe because end of year and I am exhausted
Sharon - Gee...I guess I didn't look at it as closely as I should have. Cathy had all of that stuff run for me when I got there that morning. Personally, I don't think I would worry about cells. Moly, I am in north Mississippi...15 miles from Elvis Presley's birthplace - Tupelo.
Cindy - moly, are you on the EC-GEN listserve?
Debbie - Sharon, so where should I go with ecosystems?
Debbie Mc. - moly, it will get worse, but trust me. You'll be fine. I had no support at all during the portfolio. Didn't know about this ring. You'll be fine.
Kinderjane - Moly, I am the only K teacher in my district. There are two first grade teachers at another school that I am working with. There are 3 middle childhood gens. at my school but I am the only EC-GEN there..
moly - no Cindy, should I join for more help?
Debbie Mc. - Jump in with both feet moly. Baptism by fire. Have you ordered your portfolio yet? Summer's a great time to read it and lay out your plans for the new year.
Debbie Mc. - YES MOLY!
Lori In Mn - Absolutely join for support and help!
Sharon - Debbie, When I prepared, I got a first and second grade science book and looked at the topics covered. Then I got an upper elem. book and did some reading to refresh my memory on facts long stored in the back of my mind.
Kinderjane - Moly- YES!!!!! Join the list serve. The best bunch in the world! :-)
Debbie Mc. - Hi, Casey! Are you a candidate or NBCT?
Cindy - Yes. I am getting great advice. Can anyone help her get on?
moly - did anyone make chat last night (8 pm)? for beginners
Debbie - Sharon, good, that's what I'm doing. I just wasn't sure where to go with cells and ecosystems.
Debbie Mc. - Kelly can send you an invitation. It's simpler that way. If she doesn't get here today you can give me your e-mail address and I'll ask her to send you an invitation.
Kinderjane - Where is Kelly today? Does anyone know?
Cindy - Oh, shoot, I thought it was tonight. Will there be more meetings for beginners?
Debbie Mc. - She'll probably be here, just running late.
moly - order portfolio? Debbie Mc, which publication? you mean send $300 now?
Debbie Mc. - That's what I mean moly. If you're sure you want to be a candidate, summer is the best time to start.
Debbie Mc. - Do you have an application moly?
Cindy - Hi Casey! Are you a beginner?
Lori In Mn - Yes,I sent for THE BOX in June last year. I paid the minimum payment and I am very glad I got such and early start
moly - yes I sent for one
Sharon - Debbie, When is your a.c. date? Have you prepared all the math strands?
moly - Lori, you mean application fee?
Debbie Mc. - I started in the summer too. Gave me a great chance to study the standards and plan my year with the portfolio requirements in mind.
Kinderjane - Lori, That was smart. I didn't get started until November. I would do it now Moly. You will have summer to read and think.
Debbie - Yes - the only way to go is to get your box now!!! I got mine in June last year.
Debbie Mc. - Moly, as soon as you get it, fill it out and send it in.
Lori In Mn - Yes, I think I paid $500 last year. I eventually got that money back through state funds/grants
Debbie - Sharon, my date is June 30. I'm planning to complete science by June 1 and start math June 2.
Debbie Mc. - moly, I think that most states got federal money to help candidates with the application fee. Where do you live?
moly - when you study the standards, is that for assessment or portfolio?
Kinderjane - I have started working on math strands. Are ya'll answering each of the questions for each strand? That's what I have started. I have a lot more to do. I go June 28.
moly - I live in south Florida. I wonder if there are any other around this area who are going for cert.
Lori In Mn - You study the standards for both and you live the standards forevermore after!
Debbie Mc. - The standards are the "bible" for National Board Certification. You will incorporate these into the ways that you teach and view the teaching process.
Debbie - Kinderjane - yes, I'm planning to answer all the math questions just like that.
Kinderjane - Moly- the standards are covered in the portfolio and assessment, but they are really about the way you teach.
Debbie Mc. - You are more relaxed if you go in with notes. They help jog the memory.
Debbie Mc. - You're right Kinderjane!
Debbie Mc. - Debbie, do you feel better about the topic of cells now?
moly - Debbie Fl. have you begun the cert. process yet?
Debbie FL - Yes I am a banker and I just finished the AC yesterday!
Debbie - Debbie Mc. - not really, I want to walk in to my testing center feeling totally competent - Hahaha!!!
Debbie Mc. - Congratulations, Debbie. I remembered you in my prayers.
Debbie - Debbie Mc - are you already certified?
Debbie FL - Thanks I felt all the good vibes!
Kinderjane - I have not seen a list of science topics that I feel totatlly comfortable with. They are all so different!
Sharon - Debbie FL, Did you sleep last night or were you wired?
Debbie Mc. - I had only one topic remember, but cells is really stretching it for first grade. I think it might be worded differently. Sharon are you still here? What do you think?
Debbie Mc. - Yes, thank goodness and thank God! I am an NBCT!
Kinderjane - I am going to read over science textbooks from first and second grade.
Debbie - Debbie Mc - what do you mean you only had one topic?
Lori In Mn - What about the math strands Kinderjane? As far as I can tell the national standards have about 6?
Debbie FL - I slept just fine after a margarita! I feel out of it today>
Sharon - I'm not sure I would even know how to prepare for cells> I would concentrate on topics that I KNEW were first grade.
Debbie Mc. - I mean I only have experience with the topic that was given to me at the AC, so I just giving an opinion.
moly - I teach in a private school, would that make a difference ?
Kinderjane - I agree Lori. Some of the others, like problem solving, are woven into the others.
Debbie Mc. - moly,make a difference in money or going through the process?
moly - Kinderjane, how long did it take for you to receive assess. publication?
moly - going through process?
Debbie FL - Moly you will get the money from the state but not the county
Debbie Mc. - I teach problem solving separately. Or the strategies for problem solving.
Kinderjane - Moly- It had to be back ordered when I ordered it- probably in September, but it seems like I had it in 3-4 weeks.
Debbie FL - Moly are you thinking about starting this process?
Dana (carbag) - Wow, what's this I see about "cells"?
Sharon - I have a first grade addendum for NCTM Standards in front of me. The strands are: patterns, number sense and operations, statistics & probability (data),geometry & spatial sense.
moly - I am, but still nervous.
Dana (carbag) - Congrats on getting your AC over, Debbie! I was sure thinking about you.
Kinderjane - Debbie Mc.= Do you think we should prepare for problem solving as a separate area?
Debbie FL - Moly what private school do you work at? Sharon if you are prepared for those strands of math you will be just fine.
Debbie Mc. - My math strand was not worded as one of these. I had to think about it before starting to write. I was surprised at the wording.
Dana (carbag) - Sharon, so is there only 4 main strands to work up for the AC?
moly - Debbie Fl, Hillel Community Day in North Miami Beach
Debbie Mc. - I'm just saying that I teach strategies separately. The wording at the AC might be different from what you are used to seeing.
Sharon - Those are the ones that are listed in this first grade addenda series.
Dana (carbag) - Debbie FL, do you think those 4 strands will cover what we need?
Kinderjane - I went to an NB meeting in a neighboring county today. The lady who did it said they will use several different questions in a year. Like we all might get different math strands. Is that what ya'll have heard?
Debbie Mc. - That is true kinderjane. Different topics are used in the same year.
Debbie FL - Moly do you know that the state will supplement you to start this process? Dana I would add measurement.
Sharon - Kinderjane, That was true last year.
Debbie FL - I have heard of people getting different topics during the same year. My friend and I got different kids for the literacy question.
Debbie Mc. - I used my math textbook for help me plan strands. That helped a lot.
Debbie - Debbie Mc - what is NBC?
Sharon - Debbie Mc., I received word from my Super this week that I can go to Orlando in October. Are you going?
moly - should I contact candidate subsidy in Fla.- address in app. form???
Debbie FL - Use Serafin's outline it helps so much.
Debbie Mc. - National Board Certification.
Dana (carbag) - Ya'll the AC just scares me to death! I didn't feel that way about the portfolio!
Kinderjane - Debbie Mc- Are you second grade? Seems I remember that!
moly - what is Serafin outline? have seen this name in the archives.
Debbie - Debbie Mc - what's the difference between NBC and NBCT?
Debbie Mc. - I'm working on getting the funds now. Hopefully. My assist. super is helping me. He thinks I need to go. Did you get the letter about the workshop in UTAH?
Debbie FL - Dana what part scares you?
Debbie Mc. - National Board Certification and National Board Certified Teacher.
Debbie Mc. - First grade.
Debbie FL - Serafin's out line comes from the onelist do you know about that? Moly
Sharon - Dana, The best advice I received for the AC was to write about my teaching. If you have been teaching the standards it will come out. The hardest part is the time element. Even so, when the standards are embedded in your teaching they will naturally come out in your writing.
moly - no I don't. I am on kindercorner onelist, but that is all
Sharon - No, Debbie Mc. I don't know about a w/shop in Utah.
Debbie FL - what area are you seeking> Moly
Debbie Mc. - It was only for certain parts of the US. Promoting NBC.
Dana (carbag) - ALL OF IT! I have test phobia from my college days! I can not judge time well in everyday life - so I am afraid the time will get away from me at the AC. I have heard if you don't answer ALL the questions you automatically get a "1"
Kinderjane - Dana- You have plenty of time to prepare. I feel like if we prepare it won't be so bad. This is our last week of school and I can't think much about this stuff this week.
Debbie Mc. - Dana, if you take in some notes, you will relax and do fine.
Kinderjane - Next week I will jump in.
Debbie FL - Dana the time is available on your screen at all times if you want. Did you get one of those CD's it gives a good look at what to expect at the AC.
Dana (carbag) - Sharon, I sure do hope so!
Dana (carbag) - Thanks for the reassurance Debbie and Jane!
Debbie FL - I used all of my notes and I was glad I had them.
moly - no Debbie, I belong to kindercorner onelist only
Dana (carbag) - Yes, but the CD is broken on my computer. I HAVE to get another one - soon!
Kinderjane - I haven't used the CD yet----next week! :-)
Debbie FL - It also has it in the back of the AC book it is exactly what you will see. Pluse they give you a chance to practice first.
Kinderjane - Dana- When is your school out?
Debbie Mc. - Ah, Sinetag. One of our candidates has a question for you.
Debbie FL - Moly check out the ec-genNBCT. Most of us are on it. It has been a great source of information and support.
sinetag - and what would that question be?
Debbie - Sinetag - waiting for you to come on. I have this list of science strands with your web site address at the top. Under life sciences, listings include living things, cells, ecosystems. Where do I go with cells and ecosystems?
sinetag - did you get the K-3 California Science Standards that I sent out as an email to the list
Debbie Mc. - I said that I thought that cells was very specific for first grade.
Debbie - Sinetag, no, I didn't get it. This list was given to me at a mentoring session in Mississippi.
moly - how do I join onelist for ECGen?? sounds like I could sure use the help!
sinetag - you got my list at a mentoring session in Mississippi? I'm scared!
Debbie Mc. - moly, Kelly can send you an invitation. It's simpler to join that way. But she will have to have your e-mail address. If she doesn't join us today, you can give it to sinetag, sharon, dana, kinderjane or me or anybody. We'll see that she gets it.
Debbie FL - Moly go to onelist.com and look for the ec-gen NBCT the one with around 300 members and add that to your onelist.
Debbie Mc. - sinetag, it's not just Hollywood Blvd that you're well known.
moly - do you want me to send my email now?
sinetag - hey you've been talking to my past
sinetag - Cells, Genetics, and Evolution
sinetag - B-1 What are cells? What are their component structures and their functions? How do they grow? What is the biochemical basis of life and of metabolism?
Debbie Mc. - Sounds like a first grade topic to me.
Debbie - Sinetag, slow down! This is Mississippi that you're talking to. Make this appropriate for me and my first graders.
Sharon - Sinetag, Do you actually teach that stuff to California 6 year olds?
Debbie Mc. - Don't let yourself get carried away with these topics. It will be a topic that you will have probably used in your classroom if you've been using your state or national standards.
Sharon - I agree, Debbie Mc.
Dana (carbag) - Debbie, where are you from in Mississippi? I am in Booneville.
Debbie - Sharon, okay, now I feel better. I feel much more comfortable talking about your little boy Alex. haha
Sharon - Don't you just love him?
Debbie Mc. - sinetag, you're scaring them to death.
Dana (carbag) - The thoughts of a topic like "cells" is what is scaring me! I would just go blank I am afraid!
Debbie Mc. - They don't realize how much you know about those big ideas and topics.
Debbie - Sinetag, tell the truth, did you make up this list yourself, and put these two topics at the end to freak us out?
moly2 - DebbieMc it is me, Moly-got bumped and had to sign on moly2
sinetag - Shall we try it again?
sinetag - Cells, Genetics, and Evolution
sinetag - Kindergarten through Third Grade
sinetag - B-1 What are cells? What are their component structures and their functions? How do they grow? What is the biochemical basis of life and of metabolism?
sinetag - All living things are made of smaller structures, such as tissues and organs. These structures perform the vital functions of life and help the organism to interact with the environment and survive. [Scale and Structure, Systems and Interactions]
sinetag - B-2 How are the characteristics of living things passed on through generations? How does heredity determine the development of individual organisms?
sinetag - Kindergarten through Third Grade
sinetag - Living things resemble their parents because all parents pass on their physical characteristics to their offspring. In organisms with two parents, the offspring normally inherit characteristics of both. Usually, closer relationships mean more similarities: brothers and sisters tend to resemble each other more closely than cousins or distant relatives do. [Scale and Structure, Systems and Interactions]
sinetag - B-3 How has life changed and diversified through time? What processes and patterns characterize the evolution of life?
sinetag - Kindergarten through Third Grade
sinetag - Today, there are a great many kinds of living things, including plants, animals, fungi, and may one-celled organisms. The fossil record indicates that at one time there were only very simple, one-celled forms; but through time, the larger (many-celled) plants and animals evolved from these simple forms. As climates have changed through time, the variety of life has changed accordingly and increased tremendously. Life has been on earth for a very long time. Fossils tell us about past life, most forms of which are now extinct. [Evolution]
sinetag - All living things have features that they inherit from their parents. All life forms are related to each other because they share common features. Living things are grouped together on the basis of these features, which they have inherited from common ancestors. [Evolution]
sinetag - Voilà - THE END
Dana (carbag) - Sinetag, how do you plan "hands-on" developmentally appropriate topics like this?
Sharon - Sinetag, what grade do you teach?
sinetag - "Use a magnifying glass to find the smaller parts of items (e.g. skin, parts of leaves, fabric).
sinetag - 3rd
Debbie - Sharon, you know in Mississippi we teach this in relation to insects and basic needs for life.
sinetag - "Label body parts and plant parts as part of the whole and discuss what would happen if one of theparts were missing of different.
Debbie Mc. - Remember, the rubric says that you will interpret information from a child's drawing. It won't be diagrams ofcells, etc.
sinetag - "Take a nature hike and find the smallest part of a whole (e.g., part of a leaf, feather).
sinetag - "Use a toilet paper tube to view a large stationary object (e.g., another student) at various distances that are increasingly closer, draw successive view and discuss the differences.
sinetag - "Observe and describe living things (e.g., sunflowers, pine cones, honey combs) and find the smallest pattern.
sinetag - "Given an unfamiliar object, students will make a prediction drawing of what the object will look like with a hand lens. Students will than view the object with a hand lens, draw it, and compare it to their prediction."
sinetag - Yes, but you then have to plan instruction.
sinetag - hope that helps
Sharon - Debbie, I think I have my science lesson plans for the first few weeks of school next year!!
Debbie Mc. - Look at your scoring guide and read the rubric for analyzing children's work samples. Don't freak out.
Debbie - Sinetag - thank you and I'm ultimately impressed.
sinetag - hey it's just cut and paste
Dana (carbag) - Okay, I can see where you are going now, Nancy!
Debbie Mc. - We're all impressed sinetag.
sinetag - don't mean to take over your conversation, sorry!
Debbie Mc. - Hey, it helps them understand cells, genetics, and evolution.
moly2 - sinetag, where did you cut and paste from?
Debbie - Sinetag - they had already told me about you before you got on!
sinetag - The content is from the 1990 California Science Framework for Public Schools and the activities are from the 1995 California Challenge Standards for Science
sinetag - (Debbie - don't be afraid!)
Sharon - Dana, Is your email address on the OneList?
Debbie - Sinetag - I'm using this list of 14 science content strands from you like it is a bible. Do I need more topics, or is this going to leave me prepared for my test?
Debbie Mc. - sinetag, now I'm sick. It's raining cats and dogs here.
Dana (carbag) - Bye Nancy, don't get sunburned!
sinetag - I think if you prepare those strands well, you ought to be covered
moly2 - by the way, does the onelist have archives?
Debbie Mc. - moly, here's Kelly. She can invite you to join~
Kelly - You can read all the messages that have ever been posted! They're all right there at the EC_GEN site on onelist.
Debbie - Bye now! But Sharon, I'm am going to see if Cathy taught her first graders all of this.
Kelly - I was supposed to ask these for Kay - one is, does the Iowa site have all four AC exercises in simulation? I thought there were only two there, but Kay asked if that's true - or if she missed something.
Kelly - Her second question was - is there a score under 1.0? I think there's a "one minus" - which I think would be a 0.75
Sharon - Debbie, Cathy taught reading and language arts. I think that she just downloaded all that stuff and ran it off for ya'll...just looking for as much stuff as possible to put in your hands.
Sharon - I have never taught cells to my first graders but I have done most of the strategies that she mentioned. Maybe I just didn't know I was teaching cells. You think?
Debbie - Sharon, thanks for all of the help and I'm the one who wrote the hate email that Cathy read to you guys during lunch and my child is now telling me she hates national board again. I'm leaving - It's time to go cook. See you later. :o)
Debbie Mc. - Kelly's right about the 0.75. Scores range from 0.75 to 4.25.
Dana (carbag) - Is it true if you don't complete all the questions in an AC area, you get a score of 1?
Kelly - Dana - have you survived the graduation?
Debbie - Sharon, weren't you at the lunch with Reba when Cathy read "my momma hates national board, my daddy hates national board, the few friends I have left hate national board, my daughter hates national board, etc." ?
Kelly - Debbie Mc - how are things down your way? Going well?
Debbie Mc. - It's raining cats and dogs. Did I tell you that my assist super is trying to get my way paid to the NBCT conference in Orlando? I'm tickled pink.
Kelly - Debbie Mc! You give me incentive to try to go! :)
Debbie Mc. - Come on over. We'll go together and you can share my room. Free board!
Kelly - Debbie Mc is already certified, Becca. I'm a banker. The rest are candidates (I think!....am I right?)
Kelly - Debbie Mc - I'll work on it....
Becca - I teach 2nd grade. Which certification is best for me?
Debbie Mc. - Sharon is the NBCT Sharon.
Sharon - Yes, Kelly, and I've just found out my super is sending me to Orlando.
Debbie Mc. - That's a hard decision Becca. If you want to teach older students, go MC Gen. If you want to teach younger students, go EC Gen. 2nd grade teachers can go either way. :)
Becca - Actually, I want to teach 2nd grade. Not older or younger. I have taught first, but my degree is Elem. not EC.
Kelly - Sharon- I REALLY want to go.......but I'm not sure I can talk my district into it again. They helped me go last time, but I was going to go anyway because of a family commitment .... and I was just lucky that the district helped me go....
Debbie Mc. - I've never been and I really want to go.
Kelly - Becca - you're smart! Second is GREAT! I'm sort of working back there.....it was my FIRST job 31 years ago! Haven't taught it since. But next year I'll have a 1-2 split class....working my way back to second before they put me out to pasture!
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, there may be a split 1/2 at my school too. And I've felt a twinge to ask for it. But I've never taught 2nd grade before.
Kelly - Sharon and Debbie - you should BOTH go! It's really awesome. I felt SO energized being in the midst of all of those ACCOMPLISHED teachers! A lot of people with me were not teachers - and THEY felt the energy - they were laughing saying "Oh, NOW we see why you get so excited about these folks!" :)
Debbie Mc. - I've worried that trying to teach a split would be hard. I've done a split k/1 and it was hard with readers and nonreaders.
Becca - 2nd is the best grade there is, I think. I've never known anyone not to like it.
Kelly - Oh , Debbie Mc - you'd love it! It's a great age. They can actually DO something by themselves.....but still are little precious ones! :) Go for it - and we'll struggle together! I know Four Blocks will work great in that situation.
Debbie Mc. - Kelly, is four blocks going to work okay with the Houghton Mifflin series that I have to teach?
Kelly - Debbie - this split would be easier than K-1. The second graders will really be able to DO stuff to help you with the first graders!
Becca - I've read about 4 blocks, but haven't been to a workshop. Talk about it some...
Kelly - I'm excited about it, can you tell?
Debbie Mc. - How will I teach to that many ability levels in one room without feeling like I'm not meeting everybody's needs.
Debbie Mc. - Yes, I can.
Debbie Mc. - Becca, Kelly teaches using 4 blocks. I'm just now going to the workshop. What about you Sharon?
Kelly - Oh, Becca - I love it! It's what I've TRIED to do on my own for all of my career! It's a balanced literacy program that allows YOU the freedom to pick and choose what to use......just gives you the framework in which to do it! Write to me at lkelly46@cs.com and I'll connect you to wonderful resources. The main website for great information is Laura Kump's site.....www.readinglady.com. Teachers.net also has great stuff http://www.teachers.net/4blocks/ ....Cheryl Sigmon's articles are here. They really explain lots. She's one of their main presenters.
Becca - It does sound really good (from the reading I've done). Thanks for the info!
Kelly - Debbie - you DO meet everybody's needs........especially in the Writing and the Self-Selected Reading blocks. Those are really at each child's level...... Comprehension is taught in the Guided Reading block all together. Think about it. You can teach comprehension skills to everyone at once....by reading anything you want. During that time you aren't working on phonics or anything else. It's a BEAUTIFUL setup. Try reading some of Cheryl's articles (I've printed out every one of them!) and visit Laura's site. Between those two things, anyone could get started with Four Blocks!
holly - Kelly, thanks for the email attachments. I'm doing my best to get things in a logical order for the AC
Debbie Mc. - I'm afraid to take on a split class and do NBC mentoring too. I feel like I'm stretched to capacity now.
Kelly - We've lost several people! Hope I didn't scare them off!
Becca - I'm in Alabama & we are focused on phonics (again). It's a requirement next year. Hard-core phonics...
Sharon - Hey, I'm back from a long distance phone call. One of my mentees...going to the AC Tuesday and needed some moral support.
Kelly - Holly!...THAT Holly! Great! Glad to help. That's what we're here for!
Debbie Mc. - You didn't Kelly.
Kelly - Becca - do you have a scripted program?
Becca - Not in reading, but we do in math.
Kelly - The Word Block is the 4 Block answer to phonics. It is WONDERFUL! We just tested my kids....and they have done VERY WELL
holly - I see your talking about language arts instruction.
Becca - Is there a phonics component in 4Block?
Kelly - Even my ones with LONG lists of problems......they have done well (for them!) Of course, the high kids don't struggle with words......so they did fine. My middle group did tremendously!
Kelly - Becca - you teach phonics through the Word Block - and then in their writing......
Kelly - in their writing you teach them how to USE what they know about words
Becca - From my reading, I gather that you build words using letter cards??
Debbie Mc. - Becca, I also satisfy that requirement teaching Word study. I spend about 10 minutes on it everyday.
Becca - Is word study like a mini phonics lesson?
Debbie Mc. - Yes, you have a sound for the day. The kids give you words with that sound and you discusss the sound using the words. I don't particularly like it but it satisfies what I have to do.
Kelly - On Friday we did what they call "on the back" activities. I gave ten words down the front of the page....words from our word wall......and then they turn over their papers for the "on the back" words. For example, I gave "play" on the front. (it was a word wall word this year). On the back I asked them to spell "way". Gave them "see" on the front .......and "tree" on the back. Stuff like that. Gave them "look" on the front.....and "looked" on the back (to check for endings we've learned)....
holly - Sorry I can't stay. I'll be checking the transcripts later. I'm moving from kindergarten to first grade next year, and I'm looking for great ways to implement word study, comprehension, and fluency strageties. I'll be reading through your comments later. bye!
Becca - It doesn't sound too bad. We do a Daily Oral Lang. activity.
Debbie Mc. - Is that from a printed teachers guide, Becca?
Kelly - Becca - I think that's a good strategy, too (DOL)....I didn't use it consistently this year and I was just telling my aide that I intend to use it daily again next year ......this was my first year with implementing Four BLocks, so I'm still learning what I want to use with it!
Becca - But most of the entries are SS or Science related so you're teaching content also.
Debbie Mc. - Mine are not SS or Science related. They're just sentences of different types.
Becca - In mine, you have 2 sentences per day for a week. At the end of the week those sent. can be written as a paragraph with a topic sent. & details.
Debbie Mc. - Must be an updates version of what I use. But, I remember that I do first grade and not second.
Becca - They're very different.
Kelly - Bye for now!
