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Addie k/mo - WELCOME TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD MEETING. TONIGHT'S TOPIC: WORD WALLS AND JOURNALING :-)
Addie k/mo - i am hoping to learn more about word walls tonight. does anyone use them in their room?
Sandy/TX - I have one in my room--we call them "sparkle words"
Peachy/K/NC - I use a word wall.
Rhonda/PreK/IL - I use word walls with my Preschoolers based on the letter of the week
cloma - I would like to learn more, also.
Kim/KS/8th - I now 8th grade isn't exactly early childhood, but could I participate?
Amy k/va - How big of a space does it take up?
Jimmie/ESL/TX - I like that, Sandy. Sparkle words.
Beverly/K/GA - Hi everyone, please tell me how you have done the wordwall? What do you use ? Is there just one or could you have several (One in each center?_}
Addie k/mo - what do you do with the sparkle words, other than display them? do you have specific activities to go with them...and yes, kim, you are very welcome to participate
becca - I started to use one last year but with it being my first year in first grade I didn't get going much with it. I want to learn more too.
Rhonda/PreK/IL - I use the whole side of the room. I leave about 6-8 inches between each letter. I use index cards cut in half to list the words.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - I haven't used one, Addie. I teach 4 to 5 classes of ESL pull out and have struggled with the logistics. Hopefully I can get something figured out tonight.
Sandy/K/Mo - So far I have just done the environmental words.. clock, tv, door that kind of thing
Susan - How do you choose the words you place on the wall?
Addie k/mo - i am planning to use my chalkboard which is about 20 feet long. i plan to cover it with butcher paper.
Jenny 2nd/IA - I have one in my room that we call our "no excuse" words. They are not allowed to misspell them. It goes along with our spelling program.
becca - I used the first grade Dolch words
Sandy/TX - Thanks Jimmie! we use them mostly in our composition writing. For example, I might tell them to include at least five sparklers in a composition.
Peachy/K/NC - I have a long wall where I put up 6' alphabet letters in order. I post the words under the letter they begin with. I usually start with the children's names and then gradually put up words that they see often, such as some in our daily letter. I cut the words out according to their configuration.
Gloria 2/MI - Our Title 1 teacher makes "word walls" on manila folders. It is a place to write the words those kids need most often in their writing.
Dot/rdg1&2/Ma - I've seen the word wall used very successfully in first grade. It's a great resource for writing.
Christy/WV - I start with their names
Sandy/K/Mo - Sandy/Tx what grade?
Sandy/TX - Susan-I got my words from the thesarus on my computer. I put them on bright colored paper and just posted them on a wall.
Rhonda/PreK/IL - Our words are based on the letter of the week. The kids generate as many words as they can think of and I write them. I add stickers to help with the recall.
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Hi! I'm not in ECE but I know that word walls have been helpful for spelling and synonyms. May I join in?
Gumbo/K/La - Do you who use them divide the words according to theme, letter, etc?????? Are all the words just on the board?
Peachy/K/NC - I meant6 inch letters, not six foot letters....LOL!!
Sandy/TX - Sandy/K--I teach 2nd--how about you?
Addie k/mo - christy, that is what i was thinking of doing. how many words to you introduce per week?
Mumae/K/Tx - That's the way I do it, Peachy and add words as we experience them
Sandy/K/Mo - Kdg.
meeha/ece/tx - I am looking for a way to use journaling and word walls with 3 - 5 year olds in a special education class. (Speech delayed)0
Sandy/TX - Rhonda-like the sticker idea! You might even be able to add clip art from a computer program if you couldn't find stickers.
denise/3/nj - I teach third and set up my first wall this year.
Amy k/va - Do any of you use word banks also?
Christy/WV - Depends on what letter we are studying.
Addie k/mo - so where do your experience words come from? big books and charts? or class activities and themes?
Diane/WI/1 - Hello to all-I used my word wall this year as the basis of not only developing writing skill but also as the key component of my spelling program.
Kim/KS/8th - Sylvia, I teach 8th grade, but I am interested in tonight's topic as well.
Amy k/va - We start with names, color words, freq. used words.
Jenny 2nd/IA - Does anyone else find that no matter how many words are up there, the kids still misspell them? It drives me nuts!
Diane/WI/1 - My students used the word wall continually to check their spelling. I had very good success with it.
Luanne/VA - Denise, I also teach third. What words did you use at the beginning of the year?
Addie k/mo - so, christy, you introduce each child's name as you study that letter? do you just use initial letters or any letters in their names?
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Kim!!Hope we don't ask questions that throw everyone off!!
denise/3/nj - Does everyone use a heading I just randomly added words with out alphebetizing them. I just numbered them and then I could help them find them by telling a numberr.
sleepy/MA - I teach 3rd and want to use a word wall in earnest next year.
Sandy/K/Mo - The first grade teacher and I are going to do one together in the hallway we share do you think this will work?
Peachy/K/NC - Amy, I do sometimes, but since I am encouraging "kindergarten spelling", I decided to just use the word wall and they "listen for the sounds" and write down what they hear. At first it may only be the first letter.
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Jenny!! I know what you mean! The words are THERE... but some of the kids just don't use them!
Addie k/mo - sandy, how will the children reference it during journaling time?
Beverly/K/GA - When do you kindgergarten teachers start using the wall?
JanK/WV - This is my second year using my word wall. I love it! We start with names, the words for the letter of the week, add environment print, and Dolch pre-primer words. All words are made on the computer, using print shop with a primary font. All vowels are red, consonants black, and y is grey
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Sandy, will the kids have easy access to the word wall. Bye, Lake.
JJ/NM - That sounds interesting Sandy, would kids be able to get to the wall while they are writing?
Mumae/K/Tx - I put words up alphabetically but numbering is a good idea,denise
Susan - Sandy will the student be able to see if from their desk/table (where they write?)
Sandy/K/Mo - we share the wall can be seen equally by both classes
Dot/rdg1&2/Ma - Sandy, it is a resource for the children to be used in their writing.
Amy k/va - I think it would be nice to have in abc order, teaches dictionary and ref. skills too.
Jenny 2nd/IA - I think 2nd graders are beginning to be more confident in their spelling, so they don't think they need it!
becca - Has anyone used a word wall as a chart or charts. I don't have a wall big enough.
Diane/WI/1 - Jan, like your idea about using Print Shop to color code letters-thanks for suggestion!
Peachy/K/NC - Bev, I start right out with their names in the beginning.
denise/3/nj - I began with the words from oour first them watermelons. I had a great deal of difficulty getting my worrds to stay on the wall I used the area above my bulletin boards and tapee. I need a better solution next year.
Addie k/mo - neat, sandy...i guess i had how our hallway walls are and you wouldnt be able to see them from the room
Rhonda/PreK/IL - I like the idea of color coding vowels and consonants! Thanks
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Denise, I just alphabetize most words. I have a separate list for community stores, local attractions, emotions, local street names, etc.
Gumbo/K/La - becca-------I'm trying to think WHERE to do it, too.....Large room, but no wall space..........
J@Va - there is a SPED teacher at our school that does a terrific job with it--the SPED kids seem to love it!
Mumae/K/Tx - I've used charts ,becca , but they limit you...but that is better than nothing
Peachy/K/NC - I use ABC order and I color code the words so we they can find them, or help each other find them, easier.
Sandy/TX - Denise--what about attaching the words with velcro? You could still move them around if needed. I love that stuff!
becca - Any suggestions out there on space
JJ/NM - Becca, I had each letter of the alpha on a different sheet. It worked o.k.
denise/3/nj - How big do you make your words? I used the paper strips for my pocket chart.
Diane/WI/1 - As the year went on it was one of my students who came up with the idea of alphabetizing the word wall---that was after only one lesson on abc order.
Amy k/va - Addie, do you do the letter picture chart from Success in Reading and Writing. I hang them from the ceiling and I could staple the words from the letter chart.
Dot/rdg1&2/Ma - Gumbo-try hanging wire across window area then hang charts for word wall.
Kim/KS/8th - Denise, I heard that hot glue works well. I haven't tried it myself. Need to test to see if the paint will peel off first.
becca - Sandy, does your school have a waxer? It's better than velcro and cheaper for you.
Sylvia/4-5/CA - I also added a separate smaller list of words the kids ask for but may not use again... That list is also by alphabet letter.
Addie k/mo - i was thinking of using the puter to make mine. so you do different letters different colors, so they can see onsets and rimes? do you cut the word out around the letters so that configuration is a clue?
sleepy/MA - I would like to know what words should I start with, with my 3rd graders? Dolch words? Then take vocabulary words from the units?
Mumae/K/Tx - Some can be hung from the ceiling but some schools dont allow this because of fire hazards
denise/3/nj - I am so glad to hear tthat other classes are using them I am the only teacher in ourr school 3-6 that had a wall.
Sandy/TX - Becca--we do, but it never seems to get the right amount on! Just a big mess!
Cindy - Someone referred to Dolch words. Can someone enlighten me on what those are?
Peachy/K/NC - I make my words the way Pat Cunningham suggests in PHONICS THEY USE. I write them on diff colored butcher paper and cut according to the shape of the word.
denise/3/nj - What is a waxer?
Mumae/K/Tx - becca, what is a waxer?
becca - Lakeshore Learning Materials has a commercial word wall?
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Good for you, denise.
Gumbo/K/La - Dot---good idea, but one of my walls is glass(acrylic)-------center areas there and nothing sticks to it anyway...........
Addie k/mo - hot glue works on those cinderblock walls, but dont try to pull it off when it is still hot, it will peel the paint. when cool, it just comes off with no damage to the paint...trust me, personal experience
Kim/KS/8th - If you have tracked ceilings, you can use plant hangers that are specially made for the tracks. I use them for posters.
JJ/NM - Sleepy, when I was in second, we started with only one word for each letter. First meeting on the word wall. Then students added the words from their writing from then on.
becca - Cindy, Dolch words are one form of high frequency words, Leveled by grade
Sandy/TX - Mumae--is this in Texas (fire hazard) or a school code?
Sylvia/4-5/CA - sleepy, when I started, I began with Dolch or other high frequency words. I also looked at some previous year's writing and chose words that kids frequently misspelled...
Diane/WI/1 - Like the idea of cutting the words out to show configuration, would have helped my very visual readers this past year. Lakshore word wall is very nice-velcro, etc. Easy to use and manipulate.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Cindy, Dolch words are the most commonly used words. Children should know them by sight.
Beverly/K/GA - My director has a thing about putting everything at the child's level. Have any of you had trouble putting them up higher on the wall?
Mumae/K/Tx - Dolch words are high frequency words that dont particularly have a spelling rule.....
Sandy/K/Mo - our walls are cinderblock or yucky cheap panneling.. so NOTHING sticks.
Gumbo/K/La - peachy-------how do you color-code them?
becca - A hot waxer is a machine that puts wax on the back of posters. No tape needed. Just reapply when it starts not to stick
Mumae/K/Tx - No, we dont have this rule in
Addie k/mo - hot glue, sandy!! on the cinderblock, not the panelling
Christy/WV - I alphabetize and color code our word wall. Consonants are pink and vowels are yellow.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - becca, that sounds like a cool machine!
Sandy/TX - Becca-about how long will a waxed item stay on a wall? Do they fall off with changes in the weather?
Sandy/K/Mo - will do that now :-)
denise/3/nj - How do you group your words by catagory, such as community in a different place or sstill in the adc order but in a different color?
J@Va - sandy have you tried using the hold-tu putty? It works well on any surface and it is removable and reusable?
Mumae/K/Tx - Texas, I have seen it posted on the chatboards in different places
Mumae/K/Tx - I want one of those waxers---sounds great!
JanK/WV - When I make the words from Print shop, I use the card format for cards. They are about half the size of piece of typing paper. I print them on card stock paper. This way, I can use many of the same words from year to year, and they are durable, and basically the same size. We also have individual alphabet cards that we use during our make words lessons. We also make the words from clay, write is shaving cream, pipe cleaners, or use magnetic letters. The kids make the words in may ways, and then we hang the word on the word wall. We also cheer for the word, clap, snap, stomp, etc. as we spell the word outloud.
Sandy/TX - Guess I'd better ask before I hang things from the ceilings!
sleepy/MA - Thanks sylvia and JJ. I guess I could have my kids find misspelled words in their writing.
denise/3/nj - How much does a hot waxer run?
Christy/WV - Denise, now what do you mean?
Peachy/K/NC - Gumbo, acyually, I just write them on diff colored butcher paper. The the children can identify them, like: it's the lond RED word under C.
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Something else that I found VERY useful is the pocket chart. I had sentence strips cut into large rectangles. Whenever someone needed a words spelled, that was not on the word wall, I wrote it for them, they took it to their seats to copy and then returne
sleepy/MA - That's great Jan. I like the part about the cheering! Great idea:)
becca - I think they cost around $200 but I'm not sure
Luanne/VA - Mumae, our PTA bought us a waxer, it's great. They usually buy whatever we need.
Addie k/mo - jan, do you have a scheduled time for word wall activities or do you use them as sponge activities?
Gumbo/K/La - okay, peachy.....
Christy/WV - We cheer too!! It's a lot of fun and the children get really excited!!
JJ/NM - Sleepy, we just had them practice on the board first or look in the dictionary. Once they got a correct spelling, they put it up on the board. We found this gave ownership to the board and the students used it more.
Sylvia/4-5/CA - ...and then returned it to the pocket chart. Others were able to use the correctly spelled word at their seats... and then they returned the word to the pocket chart again.
Susan 1/FL - what are some of the activities you do with your word wall?
Sandy/TX - Sylvia--I really like those ideas!
becca - Jan, do you do the mindreader game and the other suggested activities by Cunningham
denise/3/nj - I love the using the pocket chart idea before the word goes up?
Peachy/K/NC - My kids use it when they "read around the room" at center time.
Christy/WV - We schedule it in the afternoon. The children cheer the name, have a puzzle of their name, pick other children as letters of their name, and spell it. Then the child's name goes on the Word Wall.
denise/3/nj - Does anyone know where I can find a third grade Dolch list?
Susan 1/FL - Where did you find the activities suggested by Cunningham?
Kim/KS/8th - becca, what is the mindreader game?
Diane/WI/1 - My students will choose to write the word wall words for a free time activity-even some of my lowest readers.
Mimi - hi interested in journals
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Thanks Sandy... Tried and true! I think the pocket chart worked the best for my students. Most of the kids would rather get the word from the pocket chart, rather than walk over to the word wall and copy the word...
sleepy/MA - I also have heard of teachers using a shoe caddy ( like the kind you would hang on the back of a closet door) Sylvia. that way each letter can have its own pocket.
Gumbo/K/La - I just ordered the Cunningham book yesterday from Carso Dellosa.......local teacher store had none left......
becca - I found the activities that I use in Successful Classrooms They Can All Read and Write
Luanne/VA - Denise, ask your Title I teacher. She should be able to give you a copy.
Susan 1/FL - What Cunningham book?
Rhea - Thanks Addie! I hope I haven't missed to many great ideas.
JanK/WV - We do this during the morning block, along with our other language arts lessons. Becca, please tell me about the mind reader game!
Sandy/TX - I understand Sylvia--I have lots of kids that just like to cluster (and visit!) around my word wall instead of WRITE and make CORRECTIONS!!
sleepy/MA - Denise I found one on the primary chartboard. I just scrolled down the topics until I came to one on dolch words and there was a link.
Peachy/K/NC - Her books are at teacher stores, Susan. She has a book called Month by Month Reading and Writing In First Grade. Co-authored by Dorothy Hall.
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Sleepy! The shoe caddy sounds like a GREAT way to economize on space, too!
denise/3/nj - Sylvia I think I missed a part. Do you post the words that you have in the chart later on?
bart46 - My kids also have little notebooks in their desk that they write words that they have trouble. If they ask me to spell a word I make them write it in their notebook.
Sandy/K/Mo - Hi Cathy
Addie k/mo - i have ordered the month by month kindergarten book, by cunningham, but it hasnt come in yet
Peachy/K/NC - Neat idea, bart.
cathy k/pa - Denise, go to a search engine and type in Dolch Sight Words and you will get a site to visit.
becca - Kim, the mindreader game: I'm thinking of one of our words for the week. Write what you think it is. It has 5 letters write your next guess. It has an e in it. Write your next guess. It is a color write your next guess. Did you guess red? You read my mind.
Sandy/K/Mo - 1st. grade teacher had them make a dictionary. I had to explain who Cunningham was to our bookstore.. they ordered but not in
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Denise, Quite honestly, because the words went back and forth, the word cards got lost eventually, but it was enough just to make another since I had the word strips all cut and ready to go.
Gumbo/K/La - I have a chart with envelopes labelled from A to Z from year before last----let kids put name cards, colro word cards in pockets......forgot all about it.........maybe I can adapt that .......
Addie k/mo - neat game, becca!!!
sleepy/MA - My kids have a "Have-a-go" sheet in their desk to try to spell the words that they have trouble with. My word wall this year was pretty crummy!!
becca - Sorry I meant 3 letters, but you get the idea
Sandy/TX - Becca-did you say this game was in Cunningham's book or did you create it yourself?
Addie k/mo - becca, what grade do you teach?
sleepy/MA - What about Journals?
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Sleepy, different things word with different groups. I've realized that I begin EVERY YEAR with a word wall, it the kids don't "take" to it, I bring it down after the first quarter and try something else. Don't give up!
Peachy/K/NC - My class liked Cunningham's game called WORDO. You can adapt it to any theme and use the words that you put on the word wall. It's like Bingo, sort of.
Amy k/va - What other act. can you do with the word wall?
becca - I teach first. My kids did it at the beginning of the year and loved it. Some who aren't risk takers will try to wait to guess so you really have to encourage any answers and check to make sure that they are taking a guess. It's a great way to practice writing those words but it's fun!
Luanne/VA - Please tell me about Cunningham's book.
denise/3/nj - Who is cunningham?
Addie k/mo - that does sound fun, becca....what about journals, does anyone have anything to share about journals?
Christy/WV - You can draw pictures of the word you're putting on the Wall. Make a classroom book.
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Amy, I've used the word wall to have kids from 2nd grade up look for word patterns, rhyming words, or even count syllables....
TeachK-1/IL - When you alphabetize the words do you just put all words beginning with that letter under the beginning letter or do you alphabetize more than first letter of word?
Kathy/5/IA - I'm just kind of hanging out. I don't know much about word walls, wondering if any of the concept can be adapted to 5th. I hear good things on the Cunningham book from lower elem. teachers
Amy k/va - Good idea Christy.
Peachy/K/NC - What grade do you teach, Luanne? She has several. Phonics They use is forprimary, including K.
becca - For those of you who use names on the wall , Do you do Star of the Day?
Amy k/va - Kathy, I guess you could do a voc. word wall.
JanK/WV - Sylvia, I know what you mean. My last year's class loved to write words and stories for journals. But this year's class was much better at reading orally, and loved to read all the Sunshine Books from the Wright Group.
Diane/WI/1 - Need ideas on how you use journal writing in first grade please-last two years have been a bit of a struggle with that.
Luanne/VA - Third, could I use it?
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Kathy... I teach 4/5 I LOVE word wall!! Lots to do with prefixes, suffixes, synomyms, root words!!
Peachy/K/NC - Teach, just go by first letter for kindergarten.
Christy/WV - I don't do Star of the Day. Tell me more.
Kathy/5/IA - I'm sure it has been discuss, but what is the basic idea behind word walls.
JJ/NM - Kathy, you could still use a word wall, just words for 5th grade.
sleepy/MA - I think I'm going to have a difficult time next year with this. My school is going to be ability grouping and I'm wondering how this is going to effect my words. Different teacher teaching part of my kids is going to make things...uh...different.
becca - Diane, I'm going to try 5th grade writing buddies for next year. Has anyone done this?
Kathy/5/IA - Tell me more Sylvia
Peachy/K/NC - Any third grade teachers here who use Pat Cunningham's books?
TeachK-1/IL - Diane, I used pre-written DOL (daily oral language) sentences for journal. These sentences go with stories. They correct DOL sentence and have to add sentence of their own.
sarahw/2/TX - Peachy--just getting into the cunningham books--love 'em!!
Sandy/TX - Sarah 2--you're in Texas? Me also (and 2nd grade)
Sylvia/4-5/CA - Well, I HATE to say it.. but I REALLY have to go! I'm STILL at work!! This has stimulated my thinking on word walls... especially for my second language learners!
Addie k/mo - i would think that the basic concepts behind word walls is to expose children to print and phonemic awareness and to provide a resource for student writing
sarahw/2/TX - Hey Sandy ^5!
Kathy/5/IA - My 5th graders were writing buddies with an ESL 1st grade and a third grade. Work out very well!
Fran/gr 2/TX - I use the word wall with content units as a vocabulary center for writing as well as a reference for the uni of study.
JanK/WV - Well my teenage son says it is his turn on the net. Thanks for sharing!
sleepy/MA - Bye sylvia, thanks for the great ideas!!
Amy k/va - I do jouranling in K. I try for everyday, but it sometimes gets left out. I do it at the end of the day after we have done a lot with the theme and worked with phonics and sight words. I usually have them journal on the theme. After the have written, I have them read it to me. Some write sentences, some need help sounding out, and some randomly write so I write above it for them.
Sandy/TX - Sarah--where did you get your books? Were there good ideas for 2nd?
Beverly/K/GA - When do you start journal writing with your kindergartners?
sarahw/2/TX - fran--do teh high frequency words and vocabulary words go on het same wall? do you differentiate them somehow?
bart46 - Kathy/5: I'd like to hear more about writing buddies.
Sandy/K/Mo - Bev.. I do journal writing first day of school in kdg.
Christy/WV - Start journaling the second week of school.
Amy k/va - The first week of school. Usually they draw a picture and I write the sentence. (LEA)
becca - Christy: Star of the Day-draw a child's name out of a bag each day. Ask lots of questions about the child, I write them out on a form and send it home stuff like what's your favorite food. Go over the letters in the child's name. Talk about any applicable phonemic skills for example: Chris and Cindy begin with C but sound different. Chant and cheer spell the child's name. Cut apart the child's name and let random students put it back together in the pocket chart. Star checks for correct spelling. Everyone goes to their seat and draws the star and writes his name 5 times. Star takes all his pictures home.
Addie k/mo - for journals (we call it writing workshop) the kids are allowed to write and draw whatever they want. i encourage inventive spelling. i try to teach mini lessons at the start of the time to show the kids how to come up with ideas, or to make their words and pix go together. beginning sounds, etc.
Gumbo/K/La - HOW do ya'll start and progress with journal writing in Kdn????
Rhea - I started journals on the second day of school with my K class....
sarahw/2/TX - Sandy--I've borrowed Phonics they use and Classrooms that work from friends (will get my own soon) and I am on a waiting list for Month-by month phonics for 2nd grade. (September)
Addie k/mo - i start writing workshop at the beginning of the year
Luanne/VA - Kathy, what did your 5th graders do with the 3rd graders? Sounds interesting!
sleepy/MA - I just have my kids write in their journals as just "Free Writing".
Christy/WV - I send The Gingerbread Boy book home with a gingerman and children tell about their adventures with him.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Beverly, our PK teacher does journaling with her little ones. They draw a picture, "write" (scribble or use letters) if they wish, then tell their story during share time. They are really into journal time and are so sweet when they listen to their classmates.
Amy k/va - I also do a lot of modeling with class dictations on charts.
Rhea - I usually give them a topic...like draw a picture about our favorite snack or movie and then they tell me about their picture and I write one word for them
Kathy/5/IA - We met with the ESL 1st grade twice a month. The first grade teachers usually had the "idea" planned. My 5th graders were pair up with the 1st graders. Since I have some ESL students my self, we made sure if the 1st grader need a spanish speaking 5th grader we pair them up together.
Addie k/mo - some of my kids start out with scibble writing. i used to write for them and let them dictate, but found it was hard for them to switch to their own writing if they were used to me writing. any commments on this?
Diane/WI/1 - month by month phonics for first grade-excellent resource
Peachy/K/NC - I start mine journaling the first day of school.
sleepy/MA - Anyone teach 3rd and ability group their kids?
Amy k/va - Addie, I usually meet with those kids and help them sound out what they want to say.
Sandy/K/Mo - I let them do the scribble writing but have them draw a picture that explains their writing. Gives me clues. Mainly want them to get use to writing
Kathy/5/IA - With the third grade class, we met each Friday. The third grade teacher and I planned a variety of writing activities. We started out with"Flat Stanley".
greenptgal - we teach k and start journals the 2nd week of school wedo it everyday They can write about anything
JJ/NM - Addie, I have found this to be true too! They had a difficult time writing when they had been using dictation.
Peachy/K/NC - Yes, Addie. I agree about having them do their own writing. Scribbling is fine, then we go on to "kindergarten" writing where they write what they hear.
Beverly/K/GA - Thanks Jimmie, that makes sense. I was wondering if my kids were really unusual because most of them didn't know how to hold a pencil well when school started.
Christy/WV - Sandy...I like that idea...
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Addie, I'd let them do the scribble writing. They usually know what it says. :)
Gumbo/K/La - Ya'll must have small classes and aides to get to the kids individually.....
Addie k/mo - i am hoping that the word wall will encourage more writing in writing workshop. my kids this year, just werent much into writing when given a choice. they could write well, when it was an assignment, but when it was writing workshop, they preferred to draw.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - No, Beverly, we have lots of kids at our school who don't have those basic experiences with pencils, crayons, scissors, etc. when they come to us.
Fran/gr 2/TX - I mademy wall out of bricks and the vocabulary goes on its own brick. Each is given a category so the children learn to look on the wall for the words they need
Amy k/va - I think journaling after labeling a picture about what they are writing about helps.
JJ/NM - We did writer's workshop with the Kinder.(I'm in 2nd). It really worked well.
sleepy/MA - I guess noone ability groups their kids, figures. My school is going backward instead of forward.
denise/3/nj - I teach third. Our school only does ability grouping wwith reading. I have a class of mixed students. The other teachers complain; they liked ability grouping much better than hetero. mix.
Mary - I don't start journal writing untill January. By then we are up to the the letter M as we do letters of the week. By then they have a few letters to use with invented spelling. Do you think I am waiting to long? They seem to do very well once they get the hang of it.
Diane/WI/1 - when do you start journal writing in first grade?
Gumbo/K/La - .......I find my kids don't like to scribble write------say it's not 'real' writing........
Sandy/K/Mo - I had word cards.. used phonics pictures and spelled out the words they used when they wrote if they wanted. Kept them on our writing table
meeha/ece/tx - If they want you to write it for them, and they do their own 'scribble writing', then go for it -- if they don't ask, don't do it! (But I would have them 'write' before you do your writing.) I have been known to 'dot' letters and have the kids trace my writing to get the feeling for writing words.
sarahw/2/TX - Fran--so several words may be on one brick?
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Addie, let them draw, but then conference with them and ask them to tell you what their picture is about. When they tell you a little, stop them and say, "Write some of that down." You might even tell them you'll ask them to share at share time.
Christy/WV - Have children stamp a picture with picture stamps, then write a story about the picture.
Susan 1/FL - I start journal writing the first week of school. I accept picture but I ask for one word on each page. "Write the sounds you hear."
Luanne/VA - Sleepy, we used to group in Math, but decided we would rather have our own groups.
TeachK-1/IL - I started journals first full week of school. At first it was strictly copy the sentence with no errors in it and illustrate what they wrote;.
denise/3/nj - Fran do you label your catagories?
greenptgal - We start with picture and one letter id Fro m their journals we can see the letters that are needed. We also teach a modified Open Court Just the letters and sounds We are goig to be ding more phonemic awareness activities this year How do you use word walls in kindergarten
Rhea - I do th "dot" letters also....it really helps some of my lower students in learning to write their letters
sleepy/MA - I'm not happy about the ability groups, Denise. We just found out about it today and I'm VERY confused on what is going to happen. I can't imagine just putting all the low kids together and going for it...
Mimi - I really don't start until January when they have learned the sounds then we do it in steps a und a word a sentence etc.
Addie k/mo - that is a good idea, jimmie, i need to spend more time doing that. many times i am trying to work with a certain student and the journals keep them "busy". this could account for the quality of work
Christy/WV - We start with the most important words to them--THEIR NAMES!!
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Gumbo, have a mini-lesson on different forms of writing. First draw a little picture and say, "Some writers write like this." And that's OK. Then do some scribbles..."Some writers write like this, and that's OK." Then proceed through the stages of writing. Talk about it's OK to be where you are.
alisha/K/TX - Like Amy, I find I must do a lot of modelling first before introducing journals.
Kathy/5/IA - I need to take off - I'll have to get a copy of the Cunningham book. This all sounds interesting. Being an upper ele. teacher - I'm so glad to hear how much your younger students are writing ! Keep up the good work!
Mimi - lots of modelling and thinking out loud and sretching the word
Christy/WV - We choose kids whose name starts with the letter of the week.
cathy k/pa - I like that idea Christy, tell us more about using their names
Peachy/K/NC - Bobbi Fisher has some good advice on journaling and conferencing about it in JOYFUL LEARNING.
meeha/ece/tx - I know what you mean, sleepy -- scary, isn't it!:-(
Kathy/5/IA - Did it freeze up in here - just sent a message and it didn't show up.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Yes, she does, Peachy!
denise/3/nj - Sleepy, it soundds worse than it is. They said that it actually helped keep the pacing going when everyone was more on the same speed.
Diane/WI/1 - Teach-your students handle DOL right off the bat at the beginning of first grade? Or do you make up your own sentences to start with. You must do a LOT of modelling.
sleepy/MA - Does anyone pick spelling words from the kids journals and have individual spelling words for each child?
Addie k/mo - i am thinking that i will introduce one child's name per day, whoever the leader is until they are all introduced. what do you think?
Christy/WV - For example, letter Aa...well let's find someone who has a name with the letter A.
Amy k/va - And if you do an activity like pictures and word, where you label a picture by echo spelling things children see in the picture, the students eventually see how you sound out words to write.
sarahw/2/TX - mimi--turtle talk?? My teaching partener for summer school introduced the class to turtle talk so we could stretch out the sounds (like a turtle would say them) the kids (end of 1st) like it
becca - Speaking of ability grouping, I will have the worst case possible a first made up of the lowest kindergarteners
Karen - Diane, what is the month by month phonics that you use for first graders?
Addie k/mo - when you do the name puzzles, do you draw the lines for the kids to cut on, or do you just tell them to cut it into a certain number of pieces?
Becky - Can anyone tell me if you have to click update every time to see the new speaker?
Christy/WV - Let's say it's Allen. We would see if Allen can first recognize his own name when I lift it up for everyone to see.
JJ/NM - How does everyone make their journals?? Construction paper??
Susan 1/FL - Love the Turtle talk!!
denise/3/nj - My school gives us a spelling curriculum :-(
sleepy/MA - Denise, we're not doning it for the pacing. We have to do it because the IOWA test scores aren't high enough.
janet/k/nj - hiya! I'm special (ed) K and my kiddos are not sure at all how to write anything...they get so frustrated...any suggestions?
meeha/ece/tx - becca -- how did that happen?
Addie k/mo - you shouldnt have to click update unless you are posting
Gumbo/K/La - I do name, address, and phone number puzzles.......kids do them every morning, then sign-in books........
Sandee/K/CAN - My Kinders start their word wall at the beginning of the year using their own names under the letters of the alphabet. They see whose name begins with what letters, whose is the longest,/ shortest,/ double letters/ hyphenated names, etc. Then we go on to colour words( in color) shapes words and weather words, along with the days of the week. Once we start journals and dictation ( draw a picture of what they did on the week end) and dictate to me what they want to say about their picture. I print it for them and they copy under my printing the sentence(s). Then they can choose a word from their dication that they want to put on the word wall, that isn't already there. They also have word boxes, they copy words from the wall that they use or recognize and keep them in their word box. as sight words , writng words or learn to spell them.
greenptgal - hi janetk from NJ
Sandy/K/Mo - Does anyone else do ech spelling?
Addie k/mo - we use notebook paper and the kids keep it in a three ring binder
alisha/K/TX - Addie - Sounds great!
denise/3/nj - I used a spiral notebook for my journals this year.
Amy k/va - My students jouranls are in spiral notebooks. Sometimes we make special shaped journal though.
Christy/WV - There is also a puzzle of each of the letters in his name A-l-l-e-n. He finds 5 kids to come up the the front and be a part of his name.
Peachy/K/NC - Addie, the Cunningham book has a great part on using kindergarteners names. She does use one a day and I really like her other activities for that, too.
bart46 - Hey, what's Turtle Talk?
Sandy/TX - We do Saxon Phonics and it has its own spelling program
meeha/ece/tx - janet -- I'm early childhood special ed -- my kiddos range from nonwriting to copying nicely. I dot the letters or let them trace over my printing (in a light marker) with a darker marked -- twe read it before and after, identifying letters as we write.
Peachy/K/NC - I use a loose leaf note book.
Addie k/mo - i cant wait til my book comes in!!!
Christy/WV - Then we cheer Allen's name. Give me an "A"...And so on...
becca - Meeha, the kindergarten teachers don't like them to repeat k. The older teachers don't like the low ones. We had one and then this year one k teachers had 25 that needed transition the other had 6, thus I went from first to transition
Rhea - To make my journals, I use newsprint paper I think it is called and I put in enough for the whole month, then I fold it over and staple a piece of construction paper to the outside for a cover. Every month they get a new one and we do different covers depending on the theme of that month.
denise/3/nj - Do you provide the 3 ring binders or do they?
cathy k/pa - Christy, I think my all boy k next year will love the cheer!
Jimmie/ESL/TX - becca, you'll have 31 of them???????
greenptgal - In Kgn we use 4loose leaf pages stapled together that are sent home each Thursday in their Folder. On Fridays we write in a bound notebook. We keep it all year and it is a good record over time on their writing progress We use it at conferece time as well
Addie k/mo - it was part of their school supplies and each child had to bring a pack of notebook paper too.
sarahw/2/TX - bart-- Turtle talk is saying a word slowly and stretched out in order to hear the sounds.
Peachy/K/NC - They provide the binders and one large pack of unlined paper.
Amy k/va - Sandee, I use word boxes too! Students can make sentences and sort them under an abc strip.
Mimi - sarah yes I start off by going down a slide ifyou get what I mean
Sandy/TX - Becca--how is your transitional program? Pretty successful? Just wondering--we pushed for it but didn't get it.
Addie k/mo - oh, i understand the puzzle thing, now :-)
JJ/NM - Does anyone respond back to the kids in their journals. I have found this provides modeling and encourages reading.
Peachy/K/NC - having it in one book so we can go back and look through it, especially for conferences.
Addie k/mo - why do you have all boys, cathy?
Christy/WV - Can anyone give me a name of a good book on actually making books to do journaling in?
Addie k/mo - what kind of boxes do you use for word boxes?
becca - Jimmie, no I have half about 15 my friend teaches the other half
Jenny 2nd/IA - I always respond to their journals, but it gets really old after a while!
meeha/ece/tx - What a good idea greenptgal!
Sandy/TX - JJ-did it one year--was lots of work but the kids loved it (this was 4th grade).
Addie k/mo - i dont, but one of our first grade teachers does and the kids love it!
cathy k/pa - addie, my am class just happens to be all boys! The pm session has more boys in it too. Only 5 girls in the class!!!
Rhea - I take time every morning and conference with each child about their jounal and make comments....
JJ/NM - Jenny, do they tend to write the same thing??
Mimi - JJ/NM I do a home and school journal I ask a question and they answer or tell me something
Peachy/K/NC - JJ, I decided not to write in their journals, but I feel real tempted at times.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - JJ, good for you. Having the teacher respond back is very motivating and gives writing a purpose. Most people I've heard recommend that you respond about once a week (doesn't have to be daily).
Addie k/mo - that will be interesting, cathy :-)
Amy k/va - I usually make a big deal if someone writes a lot and let them go read to the principal. Soon everyone tries to write a lot!
sarahw/2/TX - Mimi--a slide would be fun too!
Kat/Kathleen/K/CT - Hi, Addie, great crowd here tonight!! ;-)
Peachy/K/NC - Not yet, Kat.
greenptgal - Our first grades and up repond back In kindergarten we talk with each child about his journal while we are helping them
Gumbo/K/La - rhea--------how many kids in your class?
becca - Sandy, 1/3 of our transitionals go to 2nd the next year. The others are usually top of the class first the next year
TeachK-1/IL - I was teaching first this past year, after Christmas I started writing notes back to them in their journals, I would see them showing the others what I wrote and sometimes they would ask me why I wrote certain things. It is hard to keep up with on a daily basis though. Doesn't leave any time for a home life.
Christy/WV - Rhea...I agree with the conferencing with children about thier journal...That's very important.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Whew! becca, i was worried for you there for a minute. We have a developmental 1 program at my school. They keep the numbers really small (16 or under...preferably under).
Jenny 2nd/IA - Lots of times I give them ideas--our school goal was Lifeskills, so we wrote a lot about those.
Kat/Kathleen/K/CT - Peachy, not yet here, too...great meeting..I couldnt get in earlier, such a crowd ;-)
denise/3/nj - I respond to part of the class each week or so, I also will respond if the children leave it open for me on my big chair. I have found tey are willing to discuss things in writing that they may be too embarrassed to talk about in person.
Diane/WI/1 - I don't respond to their daily writing in their journal-only to those that I collect for progress evaluation-the students know ahead of time that I will be collecting them and responding to what they have written-to avoid the past problem with writing jou
Addie k/mo - i am going to have to work on the conferencing thing with journals
Sandy/TX - Thanks, Becca--sounds like a great program. Wish we had one!
cathy k/pa - hi kat!!
becca - I'm sorry someone keeps sending me messages but they don't stay on the screen long enough for me to read them. Post here or e-mail me : mreid@hcis.net
Rhea - I had 27 students for most of the year
Kat/Kathleen/K/CT - becca, try scrolling the little frame at the bottom..a priv. message could be hiding there
Addie k/mo - i can identify rhea, i had 26 most of the year.
sleepy/MA - I read my kids journals but I don't comment. I want them to write...you know...to write. I didn't want to feel like I was judging what they were saying. I would look in every now and then to see if they were doing what they were supposed to be doing.
Peachy/K/NC - Rhea, do you have an aide?
Sandy/TX - I agree, Denise--you learn a lot reading those journals!
Jimmie/ESL/TX - becca, you can use the little scroll bar at the bottom to pull back up those messages. :) But the message wasn't from me (hehehe). :)
JJ/NM - Wow Rhea, how did you set up your conferences? Time??
Amy k/va - Addie, I conf. after they write and then after each one cof. with me they get their mat and rest. So the rest of the class isn't going c5razy!
denise/3/nj - Wwhen/how do you conference about journals?
greenptgal - I'm signing off for now It was great fun I will try to visit again Lots of interesting conversations
Jenny 2nd/IA - Wow! 27! I have 23 in the morning and only 15 in the afternoon. NIce!
Kat/Kathleen/K/CT - I record on the backs of some journal pages to use later for their folders to go on to gr. 1
denise/3/nj - in my grqad. course they recommended that we respond by using the mini post-its.
Addie k/mo - that sounds good, amy, i am going to have to rethink my schedule because my specials are at a different time next year
Rhea - I do journals first thing in the morning when they come in. I have a full time aid so every day we switch, she takes all the boys and I take all the girls. That way we both know what the students are doing and how they progress. It usually takes about 30 minutes to see them all
Kat/Kathleen/K/CT - And I thought the room limit was 21, but we have more than that!
JJ/NM - I've heard of that denise. Have you tried it?
Addie k/mo - THIS IS JUST A REMINDER TO EVERYONE, BUT IF YOU NEED A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE, YOU SHOULD EMAIL KAT SO SHE CAN SEND YOU ONE!!!
Peachy/K/NC - When I conference with the children about their journals I write what we notice and date it on a separate piece of paper which we put in a pocket of their binder. Then, in a month, we conference again and notice things they are doing.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - denise, post-its are wonderful. I use them all the time. So do my students. :)
Peachy/K/NC - When I conference with the children about their journals I write what we notice and date it on a separate piece of paper which we put in a pocket of their binder. Then, in a month, we conference again and notice things they are doing.
Kat/Kathleen/K/CT - Do you all conference very time the kids write in journals?? I don't have time!
alisha/K/TX - I'm thinking of using a rotation system next year to give me more time with indiv. students. Anybody out there already doing that?
Jimmie/ESL/TX - denise, post-its are wonderful. I use them all the time. So do my students. :)
Rhea - I wish I had fewer students, it would make it much easier. At one point this year, I had 31 students.
Sandee/K/CAN - Just found this neat scribbler at W almart today; It's called CATECHESE- think it is for French Immersion as nom, ecole,and annee is in French at the front , of the 32 pages. Great for beginnig jornals, as 3/4 of the page is blank and bottom has about 9 lines to print their first dictation. I start them off with only one sentence first term, then 2 or 3 next term, then last term as many as they want. Anywaays, these scribblers appear great, so I bought 40 - for both of my classes in the fall. Parents can reimburse me when their child starts K - as they are only $1.50 each. I used spiral note books last year due to the blank side to illustrate, but found the pages tore, and only writing one sentence per page- seemed somewhat of a waste for my Kinders.
Addie k/mo - THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD MEETING!!! YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY AND CHAT!!! CONTACT KAT FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION IF NEEDED. THANKS, EVERYONE!!!
mad kat :-| - Addie, thanks for jumping in on short notice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Addie k/mo - sandee, those sound neat. they probably dont have them at our walmart in missouri, though
Rhea - Sandee---when do you start your journals?
Gumbo/K/La - Sandee----you can buy papaer with just a few primary lines on the bottom and most of it blank--------can always xerox copies of it and staple together to make journals.......
mad kat :-| - Addie, thanks for reminding people about the certificate of participation..I'll make them, but be sure to e-mail your whole name, not just your first name :-)
Gumbo/K/La - thanks, addie!
Addie k/mo - no prob, kat! when i got here, i didnt officially know if i was supposed to or not, so i just did and no one said, "hey its my turn!!!" imagine that????
Laura/Iowa - Do word walls work in other kdg. classrooms?
JJ - How do you respond to student's journals? What do you say?
Peachy/K - We don't use lined paper in K. What about others of you?
mad kat :-| - Addie, you didn't get my e-mail saying I would be late?? uo,oh, I'm sorry..
Tabs/k/Mo - I made my own form to use as a journal. then I run it off on the copy machine
mad kat :-| - I use lined paper in my journals, assorted at the writing center
Rhea - I don't use lined paper until after Jan/Feb of the year....
meeha/ece/tx - I usually create a 'story paper'for summer school journals -- a rectanagle or oval at the top for a picture, lines at the bottom for printing. (Don't use lined during the year, as the kiddos are just learning to write. Use 'em in summer school as a 'boost ' for grade one.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Peachy, our kinders start out on unlined paper, but begin using lined paper in the spring.
Addie k/mo - we use the notebook paper because it is three hole punched and cheap, not for the lines. most kids ignore them, but a few use them
Gumbo/K/La - We used lined paper for homework notebooks.....
mad kat :-| - I agree, addie, they use them when they're ready, I don't make them
mad kat :-| - I mean, when they are ready, I will instruct,but not before they are really ready
Addie k/mo - i did use some lined story paper during late third and fourth quarter this year, cause the kids were ready this year, but i dont always
Peachy/K - Addie, mine start using those lines in their journal when they are ready, but just ignore them untill they are ready :).
Addie k/mo - that is what i have found too, so i dont worry about the notebook paper lines
Jimmie/ESL/TX - That's the beauty of watching children learn. If you're a good kid watcher, they show you when they're ready to move on. :)
Tabs/k/Mo - What is a word wall?
mad kat :-| - I should change my log-in name, I'm not mad now that the system is working properly
Michael in Toronto - I glue a short journal starter in everyone's journal to get them started. This morning the y had to list 7 things they did not like.
Addie k/mo - well that didnt stop "prince", i mean "the artist"
not mad anymore kat - okay, oh, I just saw your warnings about leaving and coming back..but it seems ok
meeha/ece/tx - Hi, Michael in Toronto! Hi, canuk! There are certainly a lot of Canadians here tonite!
Karen - How big is your word wall? Kat?
not mad anymore kat - Mickael, what age are your students?
Michael in Toronto - 2/3 ages 8-9
not mad anymore kat - My wall wall is small..started late, no room!
Michael in Toronto - I taught jk/sk last year
Addie k/mo - i am planning to use my chalkboard (which i rarely use) as a word wall next year. it will be about 20 feet long
Peachy/K - That's about the size of mine, Addie.
Tabs/k/Mo - i used sheets of chart paper and taped them to the window shades, I don't have enought wall space
JJ - Cool idea Addie. Is your board magnetic?
not mad anymore kat - Beverly, were you here earlier?? If so, welcome back. otherwise, welcome to our word wall/journaling discussion
Karen - Kat, I'll be teaching 2nd grade this year. Is a word wall appropriate for that age?
Michael in Toronto - Charts? You can start Choose-a-Chart!
Addie k/mo - i am going to cover it with a pretty color of bulletin board paper (light blue) and put alphabet letters across the top.
not mad anymore kat - TAbs, window shades, doos idea..can you retract them when not in use?
Addie k/mo - no, jj, it isnt, wouldnt that be useful? i might not cover it up if it were magnetic
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Yes, Karen. We had a 4/5 teacher in here that uses a word wall. You just adapt any words/activities to meet the needs of your students.
not mad anymore kat - Karne, oh yes, Michael do you use a word wall for your grades 2/3?
Peachy/K - Mine is red, Addie, and I used those pre cut alphabet letters at the top.
Joni - I've heard of people who have very little space using chart paper, and then hanging it on hangers to make a word closet. Hi! I've never made it before!
canuk - word walls go from K at least through 6
Tabs/k/Mo - I usually keep the shade half way down due to the glare
Addie k/mo - i am thinking about printing out this cute animal alphabet from print shop
not mad anymore kat - addie, what version of print shop?
Michael in Toronto - no I don't use it. My children are turning into very good spellers and they just have personal word books.
Addie k/mo - and maybe the sign lang. symbols also on print shop
Karen - It seems like a word wall would take up so much room. What about work of the students?
not mad anymore kat - Gumbo has some cute fonts programs..she'll have to tell you about them nes=xt meeting
canuk - you can also have word family wallslike /ing/, alk/ etc.
Addie k/mo - i am not sure, kat...it is a fairly new one, i bought it last summer. it came with kodak live pix for free
Jimmie/ESL/TX - I used to have a magnetic blackboard at my other school. This one doesn't have one. :( I miss the magnetic blackboard something awful!!!!!!
JJ - Addie, I think there is spray you can buy to make your chalkboard magnetic. Anyone heard of this?? I was thinking being able to put words up with magnets on the board, you could play games with the word wall as well as use it for writing.
Joni - I'm wondering (and I know I'm late) what do you all do with your word walls? I feel like I don't utilize mine enough.
not mad anymore kat - Karen, space is always an issue in EC/Primary rooms, but there have been some good ideas here tonight
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Karen, the teachers at our school put the word wall up in the room and student work in the hall.
Addie k/mo - never heard of that, JJ, will have to check into it
Michael in Toronto - I really believe that if you do a lot of process writing and teach self-editing and do a ton of poems and songs, you'll notice amazing progress in spelling
not mad anymore kat - Jimmie, I wonder if the magnetic paint would work on your non-magnetic board??
Addie k/mo - i havent made mine yet or used a word wall, so ask me this time next year :-)
not mad anymore kat - I have heard of the magnetic paint, just saw jj's post
Peachy/K - Joni, do you do "read around the room"? Mine like to use a pointer and "read " the word wall and other things
Tabs/k/Mo - I had the words up but I'm not sure that my students really used it that much.
Rhea - I know that the company that makes the magnetic poetry has a type of paint that makes things magnectic...maybe it can be used for chalkboards
Addie k/mo - i use the front of my overhead projector cart as a magnet board for the kids to use letters at first and magnetic words that i have later in the year
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Oh! My little hopes are being lifted. Could I really be a fairy godmother and get my board ready for more exciting times???? Have to check this stuff out and see if my principal will allow me to do it.
not mad anymore kat - I just started a word wall, has only a dozen words, but there are losts of other places in the room where words are posted and the kids refer to them for their writing..taking them out of pocket charts to copy, then replacing them
Joni - Michael, I agree. Spelling is SOOO developmental, but with lots of immersion, spelling gets better. I've seen it in the two years I was with my kids.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Michael, I agree with you about the writing and editing! :)
Addie k/mo - joni, are you familiar with pat cunninghams books??? she talks about word walls and different games you use to practice the wrods. i dont have the book, yet, or i would be more specific
Tabs/k/Mo - I use a pocket chart with lots of vocabulary words. The kids use that
Michael in Toronto - I think a lot of time can be wasted on spelling programs and tests
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Ditto here, Michael.
canuk - My word wall contains frequently misspelled words arising fromthe kids own work it grows during the year
not mad anymore kat - WE WILL BE SELLING CUNNINGHAM BOOKS VIA AMAZON LINKS..WATCH FOR THEM..HE;PS TEACHERS.NET WHEN YOU BUY VIA THE LINKS BOB PUTS UP
Tabs/k/Mo - Our first grade spelling words are taken from the reading program
Joni - Thanks for the info about Pat Cunningham. I just ordered her Month by Month for First Grade today. :)
Addie k/mo - kat, my room is full of print too, daily news charts, math board, poem charts ,picture word charts, etc.
Michael in Toronto - My kids write huge amounts and the payoffs are huge
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Not that I never teach spelling, it's just a matter of "how" I teach spelling.
not mad anymore kat - didn't mean to shout, but i wanted to be sure you saw the important info ;-)
Peachy/K - Oh boy!! Sounds great, Kat!
not mad anymore kat - Addie, and I'll bet your kids use them to support their writing??
Addie k/mo - nma kat, they will sell like hotcakes, i think! they seem to be all the rage among the early childhood set
Michael in Toronto - more charts mentioned. send them home with the kids for homework
JJ - I agree Michael. Used to use spelling test and found that the kids learned more from the use of the word wall on a daily basis! I did check spelling and kept a list of words that kids were spelling correctly. They seemed to remember better by using the words in their writing.
Karen - Joni, please tell me more about month by month for first grade. Does it have a lot of phonemic awareness stuff?
canuk - making words from Cunningham is a really powerful learning tool
Joni - Yes, Peachy, I do read the room (especially in first), but when I teach second (I loop), I didn't have as much to do with the word wall.
Addie k/mo - yes, they use the charts for writing support and for reading during our read around the room center
Beverly/k/GA - Do you all recommend any other"must have" books like Cunningham for beginning k teachers?
not mad anymore kat - Laura, are you still having trouble?? e-mail me kat@teachers.net
Jimmie/ESL/TX - You're right, JJ. Spelling doesn't have enough meaning to stick in their heads if they have no purpose for spelling the words they are to learn.
Peachy/K - Beverly, I highly recommend JOYFUL LEARNING by Bobbi Fisher.
Joni - I ordered the Month by Month for First Grade based on the recommendations from the Primary or EC message board. I haven't seen it ye! I really trust you guys, huh?
JJ - Kat, anyway you could try to get Cunningham for a chat?? Just curious? Seems like many people are interested.
Addie k/mo - some of my antsy boys would copy entire poems this year. they would work several days on the same one. kids that would never do that much work if i told them they had to!!!
Michael in Toronto - Got to go soon. We had our placement meetings on friday. Next year I'm teaching 3/4 which means I get to keep my entire class.
not mad anymore kat - Based upon the turnout here tonight, there is a great deal of interest in topics related to writing and reading support practices
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Is that good, Michael?
not mad anymore kat - Addie, what made them so motivated this year?
Addie k/mo - yes, i agree on the bobbi fisher book
Michael in Toronto - that means I can walk in the first day in September and not have to get to know everyone and establish rules, routines and expectations
Michael in Toronto - I've got a great class, so it's very good
Joni - In my school, parents REALLY want to see spelling tests. I have trouble recitifying this with what I have seen in the classroom. The words from the tests are rarely spelled correctly afterward!!
Addie k/mo - i dont know, they just liked to do it!!! i let them get out of their seats and lay on the floor close to the poems if they wanted to, as long as they were working...maybe that was it
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Yes, Kathleen. I posted a message to Leah on one of the chatboards and I've received email from about 5 other people as well!
not mad anymore kat - Michael, do you call it Looping when you keep your class? that's what we call it
Michael in Toronto - We even started Flat Stanley last week and will continue the first day back in September
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Then I'm excited for you, Michael. Not having to establish rules and routines will save you lots of time. And knowing your kids already will save even more. :)
Beverly/k/GA - I got the Bobbi Fisher book hearing about it on the mailring- You guys are good, I'd get anything you suggested.
Joni - Speaking of Bobbi Fisher, have you all read Thinking and Learning Together? It was done after Joyful Learning and it is super!
canuk - Writes's notebook by Ralph Fletcher takes a new slant on journals through k-12
Michael in Toronto - looping? We call it "keeping your students for a second year"! Ha!
Addie k/mo - michael, that sounds great!
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Sounds as if it can be a really exciting year for both you and the kids, Michael.
not mad anymore kat - JJ..I have Pat Cunningham coming in July..watch for an announcement of date and time soon!
Tabs/k/Mo - That's a great thing about multiage and loopin classes
Karen - We call it Teacher Continuum, not looping
JJ - Cool Kat!! You guys are good!
Jimmie/ESL/TX - I've read Thinking and Learning Together. It's been three years though.
Peachy again - Yes, Joni, I have that one, too. It is for K and !st.
Addie k/mo - kat, i hope i am home!!!! not during the t.net roundup please!!! or near the 4th :-)
Michael in Toronto - The Superintendent visited today and walked in as we were doing flat Stanley tableau
not mad anymore kat - canuk, not familiar with Write's Notebaook..
Joni - I felt like Thinking and Learning really got down to the nitty gritty of things in a primary classroom. I'd recommend it to anyone in primary.
not mad anymore kat - I'm avoiding big events during the round-up :-)
Marla/k/PA - What is the consensus on looping tonight?
Michael in Toronto - She loved the idea of Flat Stanley being sent all over and was really impressed by the class made books I've been sending home at night for Borrow-a-Book
JJ - Michael, what is flat Stanley tableau???
Karen - Kat, do you have the date in July or is it a secret? :)
Tabs/k/Mo - I like the idea, but love multiage best
Joni - LOOPING IS AWESOME! I can't think of one bad thing about it. It really builds community in the classroom. The parents are already "on your side" as well.
not mad anymore kat - Karen, I think it will be the 14 th 9 pm, but she has to confirm the time
Jimmie/ESL/TX - So all in all, it was a good visit for you Michael.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Hello, strange.
Michael in Toronto - The book with Mother's day acrostic poems had a comment sheet on which mothers have been writing their own poems. That really impressed her. I've got my parents writing poetry!
Addie k/mo - i would like to try looping, i think... as long as i could go into first and keep doing things with big books and centers,etc....that is not how our firsts operate :-( i wouldnt want to have to conform to their ways (very traditional)
not mad anymore kat - Michael, that is truly wonderful, the way you have the parents involved!
Peachy again - The chat room will be full that night, Kat!!
Michael in Toronto - I must say though that I did not really want to keep my child who pooped in the urinal last week!
not mad anymore kat - Peachy, maybe we should build an addition! Bob?
Addie k/mo - oh yeah, and please, not on a friday night!!!! (we never seem to be home)
Joni - Addie, first graders need all the great stuff you do! You should go for it. I know it's hard to be out on a limb all by yourself all the time, though. :)
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Michael, that is fantastic!!! Parents writing poetry.
Peachy again - Can't blame you for that, Michael!! LOL!
Addie k/mo - every party has a pooper....
Karen - Michael, do you send home only class made books or other types of homework kits?
not mad anymore kat - Laura never did make it in :-(
Michael in Toronto - Write newsletters and send home good books and homework every night, and parents will think you're FABULOUS!
Tabs/k/Mo - Michael that the down side on looping, you have the bad with the good
Joni - I agree, Tabs!
not mad anymore kat - Michael, my dily newsletter really wins over the parents!
Michael in Toronto - read my posts about my Choose-a-Chart program
Addie k/mo - well, i mentioned it to the prince. and there would have to be a first grade teacher who would loop down to k...and right now, that is not an option
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Addie, LOL!!!
Peachy again - Daily, Kat?
not mad anymore kat - well, addie, keep working on it
Joni - Yeah, you really kind of have to have a looping partner, someone who will switch with you each year.
not mad anymore kat - Yes, daily, handwritten (I have an assistant and I have a planning period every day)
Addie k/mo - but, if there is one thing i have learned is the only constant that you can depend on is that things change!!! maybe someday soon, there will be a first grade teacher who will go for it
JJ - Well, I need to go! It was great chatting with all of you!
Tabs/k/Mo - Addie, sometimes it hard to soar like an eagle when you have to work with some turkeys
not mad anymore kat - Michael, I didn't see your choose-a-chart program, on the main chatboard?
Peachy again - WOW, Kat!! I snd one every Friday.
Michael in Toronto - it's in the primary board
Addie k/mo - i do a weekly newsletter too, couldnt handle daily
Joni - I'm impressed, Kat -- a daily newsletter??!!
not mad anymore kat - Peachy, I used to do monthly then weekly,now daily
Beverly/k/GA - I thought I was doing good to get a weekly newsletter that I usually did late Sunday night.
Addie k/mo - LOL, tabs
not mad anymore kat - ok, Michael, I'll look for it, thanks!
Addie k/mo - tabs where are you in mo (sorry if i have already asked you that before and dont remember)
Tabs/k/Mo - my co-worker sends a daily note on each child's pan sheet
not mad anymore kat - my daily letter is not a masterpiece, mind you. I tell the story, main activities, reminders
Michael in Toronto - is anyone in Toronto?
Peachy again - Need to get some Z's. See you all soon, I hope. Night!
not mad anymore kat - Michael, I'm in Connecticut
Joni - Nope, I'm in Indiana
Karen - Kat, doesn't that take a lot of paper as well as time to send out one each day? We are having a HUGE paper crunch at our school.
not mad anymore kat - I have go do a few more report cards tonight. Thanks all, and Addie, thanks again for taking care of things here!!
not mad anymore kat - Karen, we don't have a shortage of paper, but I know that many schools do..yes it uses alot of paper
Joni - I'm gonna go too! I'll let you all know how the Month by Month book is. Nice chatting with ya.
Tabs/k/Mo - Karen, our schools sends so many junk papers home with the kids,I'm surprised that parent get around to reading class notes
Beverly/k/GA - This has really been awesome. Thanks for all the great ideas.
Jimmie/ESL/TX - Wow! It's almost 10 pm here. I still have my reading to do for the literacy institute tomorrow!!! Gonna be another late one, I guess. I had a great chat, ya'll. :) See ya later.
Addie k/mo - i am taking off too, nite all!!!!
