Kathleen - Welcome to Teachers.Net's 4 Blocks Literacy Model Meeting.
Eve - I have very exciting news. i have been a building level administrator for 16 years. Now I am going to teach and work with teachers about 4-blocks. I am so excited!!!
deb - I have been teaching this way formally for two years and training others for about a year.
Tara Z. - I tried my best this year with it on my own. Next year will be better.
deb - eve- are you training your teachers?
Eve - Yes, I can't wait for next year to begin.
Tara Z. - I am very excited about it and have a few teachers coming aboard.
deb - 4 blocks spreads slowly... but surely
Tara Z. - I have a question. What do you send home for the at home reading with the four blocks?
Eve - Yes, I have been trained and have trained the teachers at my school for the past five years. It's been a great "trip."
Sadie - My school uses 4-block in K-3. We have modified it and teach a modified version in 4-6. This is our second year.
deb - I use the little books that you can copy (black line masters) ; scholastic news magazines, and poems
deb - eve - so are you leaving your district to train all over, or staying in your district
Eve - It has been great to see the progress of my students in 4-blocks. They have shown tremendous growth.
Sadie - I really like the strategies. They help our children to depend on themselves when reading.
NancyD - Tara Z., I do making words on graph paper squares and then send them home in an envelope. Kids love to challenge their parents to find the mystery word, and show them all the little words they can make, too.
Tara Z. - Our parents are used to the old basals coming home. They are all looking for a hard bound book. They call it a "big" book.
Eve - I will be teaching at a school in our district and helping with teacher training in that school , but I do training in other places as well.
deb - tara, 4 blocks isn't a curriculum, you can still send home the basal if you want too.
NancyD - black line master little books and poetry pages
NancyD - stories we compose together run off to go home
Sadie - My children take home making words for homework each night. They have letters that were run off on tag board and laminated.
Tara Z. - Deb and Nancy, thanks for the info. Those are good ideas.
deb - were any of you at IRA? I was in the group with Dottie and Pat presenting on 4 blocks at the pre conference about 4 blocks
NancyD - and, yes, the basal, too!
Tara Z. - I ripped apart the old basals to make little books. Our reading curriculum for one more year is Pegasus.
Lynn/SC/3 - i wanted to ask about the new guided reading book... is it out in the stores and catalogs yet?
Sadie - My principal and several administrators from our school were there.
Eve - The new guided reading book is now available. I ordered mine today.
Tara Z. - I guess I can send the individual little books home. They are the stories from the basals. That would work. We did poetry and Scholastic News too this year.
Kathleen - Hi. I saw someone interested in the new guided reading book and other materials. Just want to remind you that Apples n Acorns is an official sponsor and has all of the 4-Blocks materials you need. http://applesandacorns.com or e-mail Lori at appnacorns@aol.com
Tara Z. - Eve, have you read it? Is it packed with good info?
Eve - I have not received the book yet. I expect it to arrive Friday.
Eve - I can hardly wait to see the new book.
deb - what I like about the new book is Jim's comprehension advice. You will see his influence in the chapters
Eve - Do you find that your teachers continue to be enthused about the instructional strategies in 4-blocks. We are still very excited after 5 years.
deb - Jim is Pat Cunningham's husband by the way
Lynn/SC/3 - that is what i am looking for.... that and some good ideas for writing block.... it seems too scattered for me.... i want skills and progression and a book would really give me some guidance...
Debbie - we have had several schools visit over the past month...everyone is very excited about 4-block! :)
deb - I think 4 blocks has renewed many teachers energy and excited for teaching. It is HARD work, but the pay offs are incredible!
Debbie - Our test scores continue to rise because of 4-block.
Lynn/SC/3 - eve, i wonder in my district... it is mandated, and so many teachers are fussing about it... i think they pick bits and pieces and then don't see the results they are looking for.... i get a bit worried that it will be abandoned like so many other things, and because the program wasn't done purely...
Eve - Debbie, our do too. It's incredible to see the difference in our students' performance in reading and math.
deb - Dottie and Pat aren't planning on writing a writing block book. They refer you to Donald Graves, Lucy Calkins, etc.
deb - maybe they'll change their mind, but I doubt it
deb - lynn, I have wondered about the mandated schools and whether that works.
Debbie - how does 4-block help your math scores? Ours still need work.
Lynn/SC/3 - i also think that too many don't want to put in the hours.... and you really can't blame them... teachers either teach well or they have a life....
Lynn/SC/3 - i know i am going to regret that i said that
Eve - Lynn,teachers so often complain about what is mandated. Sounds like the teachers need a good staff development session on the philosophy.
Tara Z. - I wish I had someone as excited about Four Blocks as I am at my school. That is why I rely on the mailring and other references so much.
deb - because the kids learn to think and learn to read, the math scores rise too.
Celeste/ - What amazed me this year is that our Words block reached one of my students who is borderline MR, and she can read about 20 words on her own now, and writes about 30. This doesn't sound like much, but she is STILL working on letters of the alphabet and colors after two years of K and one year of first.
deb - lynn, you are right. You hit it right on the head
Tara Z. - Lynn, that is exactly why there are not other teachers real excited about it in my school. Too much work. They leave every day at the first possible moment.
deb - I find that I have a lot less correcting of papers, etc now though. I take less home and really have gotten more organized. I feel I am much more effective. My time is busy but well spent
Debbie - I have a student who was reading at K level when he came to me in Jan.---he is now reading at a 1.5 level
Eve - The teachers at our school say that initially the planning and preparation was very time consuming. Now they say that the planning and collaboration make it easier and less time consuming than it was before.
Lynn/SC/3 - i am doing my end of year johns... with my weaker kids since i have to hold end of the year conferences and get them into summer school.... i want so and so to attend summer school, and mom is looking at scores that have a 1.5 gain in just one year and i am losing my battle.... 4blocks is really working!
deb - the purpose of 4 blocks is that teachers TEACH. Too many teachers don't really teach. They assign dittoes
deb - end of the year johns means what?
Tara Z. - I also had a student that came in at a 1-2 (K) and I tested him today. He is at a 19-20 (2). That is unbelievable. I love it!
Eve - Deb, you are so right!! The power of this model is the direct instruction!!
Lynn/SC/3 - informal reading inventory, jerry johns
NancyD - I think the planning is much easier and more effective with 4 blocks...
deb - We just gave the new version of Gates. I am curious about the results. I should get them back on Friday. My 2nd grade class average in Sept was 1.0
Eve - Nancy, the teachers at my school echo your thoughts.
deb - lynn -- ok, I call it IRI, so I wasn't sure what johns was
Lynn/SC/3 - weaker kids may not pass the PACT, but they have really shown improvement.... kids who formerly were making only 1/2 year in a year, making up some of the loss and getting over a year's growth for a year.
Debbie - Has anyone seen the new 4-block planning book?
NancyD - I think it's because the 4blocks gives us a "framework" for each day. I'm not reinventing the wheel. :)
deb - a few districts that I have trained have the too much work philosophy -- but with follow up training every other month, they are buying into it
Eve - Yes, I have seen the planning book. It has lot of good points in it.
KathyB/1st/IA - Yes, I have and I think I am going to love it!
deb - debbie - yes, new plan book
Lynn/SC/3 - the only problem with the planning book is all the time it takes to fill it out!
deb - I like the new plan book for a guideline of how to plan and a quick reference for subs. I won't use it daily though
deb - I have a computer generated lesson plan that is much quicker
Eve - we use a version that I created at our school. It has some of the same features as the plan book, but is a daily sheet.
Debbie - Do you let your subs continue with 4-block and guided reading?
KathyB/1st/IA - I agree Deb about the use of the plan book.
deb - debbie - yes subs continue. BUT I leave LONG -- two page directions
Tara Z. - Yeah, I know. I will probably scan the charts off to the sides and make a template for the blocks like I had this year. The plan book is still a lot of writing and rewriting. But it has some great info in it.
Debbie - I too use my own computer generated lesson plan.
deb - I also have the sub play WORDO for word block
Eve - OUr subs do not follow to the letter. We have modified plans for them.
KathyB/1st/IA - If I know I am going to be gone for just one day, then I will probably plan a review.
deb - plan book was simply because so many teachers were asking for one
Lynn/SC/3 - have you ever found that by the time you leave your plans you are so tired that you decide
Lynn/SC/3 - it isn't worth it to take off?
deb - lynn -- to simply come in and teach such a well prepared day!!!!!!!!! absolutely!
mickie - I generated a computer plan for each month. The details of each block are listed and I "fill in the blanks" .Sure made it nice for my sub when I was gone.
Lynn/SC/3 - hahahaha, deb, a woman who thinks like i do!
Eve - We have emergency plans at our school. these are simpler and less teacher directed.
KathyB/1st/IA - I agree being gone is a lot of trouble, but it is also a great way to see what the kids will make the SUB do! I mean that in the most positive manner!
Lynn/SC/3 - i haven't taken a day this year..
Tara Z. - yes, lynn, I have thought that. And then I come back and the plans were not followed at all. Was it the sub or my assistant that made that decision? I will never know.
Debbie - Yes, I hate to take off...I have 2 days of inservice!
Lynn/SC/3 - and you have all these papers to grade that weren't done the way you wanted them to be done....
deb - :) I hate to be absent. I have a "theme" day for emergency absences too. My lessons for Sylvester and the magic pebble are posted under the lesson board under 4 blocks literacy
Eve - It is simpler to be "there" isn't it?
Celeste/ - My assistant loves the framework of the blocks, and the structure has made it very easy for her to pinch hit for me when I'm out, testing, etc.
Debbie - I try to leave mostly review work...sadly a lot of ditto work!
Lynn/SC/3 - sure is.. wonder if i will get a perfect attendance pennant like the kids??? hahahaha
KathyB/1st/IA - Eve, that is why your emergency plans come in handy, so it doesn't matter how well the Sub follows your plans.
deb - one sub tried to skip ssr block. the kids explained to her WHY they needed this time ... lol...
Tara Z. - Mine wants to be the teacher and do her own thing, Celeste. You are lucky.
Lynn/SC/3 - assistant? celeste are you in teacher heaven?
Tara Z. - Lynn,how many students do you have?
Eve - It helps that the emergency plans have lots of things like read alouds and letting the children write.
deb - I have a teacher assistant too -- but also 8 sped kids of 20
Lynn/SC/3 - i came on because i need an idea.... in the fall the kids had to write.... and stupidly, several of us chose hurricane floyd since it had just come through.... our last writing of the year must be comparable to the first... any ideas for a topic? this goes into the perm records
Lynn/SC/3 - tara, i only have 20 this year
KathyB/1st/IA - Any ideas on how to get other teachers in your school to try 4 Block?
deb - special place
Tara Z. - I have 25 students--1 Spec. Ed, 2 ADHD (that are now not taking med.), 2 low IQ.....
deb - favorite place
deb - "first"
KathyB/1st/IA - There aren't any workshops/conferences even close to my area.
deb - first lost tooth, first time rode bike, etc
Eve - The most effective way to get other teachers involved is for them to see the success of others.
deb - IA is how far from Michigan?
KathyB/1st/IA - I made site visits on my own time and with my own money and LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!
deb - special person / important person
Tara Z. - Lynn, we had the kids write about their favorite place to go. And then attach a rubric to it.
deb - You are welcome to come to Michigan for training
Lynn/SC/3 - has to follow the theme of the first... and it was a hurricane that came through and everyone had to evacuate.... now we find out they have to be similar.... what would follow with that?
Eve - Our "reluctant" teachers were very anxious to try it out when they saw the test results of the other classes.
KathyB/1st/IA - Depends on what you call far -- to Michigan.
deb - you could repeat the hurricane thing so that you can compare apples to apples
KathyB/1st/IA - Michigan is probably 9 hours one way.
deb - Well, you'd be driving so it's up to you. :) You are welcome to come Aug 14-15 to South West corner for training
deb - It is $140 which includes breakfast, lunch, and $70 in books
Lynn/SC/3 - my only fear with a follow up on that is that the writing would be weaker in content since the evacuation was so long ago and the emotions are not there.... most of the kids spent over 12 hours on the interstate... never got out of town... very emotional writing, but unskilled
KathyB/1st/IA - Currently the only testing that I have to do is in reading. We give the skills and holistic tests to go with the basal/anthology.
KathyB/1st/IA - I want the test results to be good, but nothing can replace the student motivation! It is terrific!
deb - maybe you could have them write about their favorite place and include the weather elements, and why feeling safe influences their fav place?????
Celeste - Lynn, I don't know if it would open old wounds, but could the kids write about their lives changing after the hurricane? One of my kids ended up with a rescue cat from the hurricane, which they named FLOYD....lol.
Eve - Kathy, you are so right! The students get totally immersed. They love the interaction of the 4-blocks.
Lynn/SC/3 - good idea! thanks deb and celeste... thinking about safe places.....
Lynn/SC/3 - celeste, where are you?
KathyB/1st/IA - Some years by the late in the year I am "tired", but not this year! They love to remind me what I have "forgotten!"
Celeste - I'm in NC
deb - we write out the directions and make sure everyone is saying the same things in their introductions to what to write about
Lynn/SC/3 - i am teaching summer school again this year... just 4 blocks and math.... going to be like i died and went to heaven
deb - I am scoring the writing rubric sample pieces right now. They have improved since two years ago when we did baseline
Eve - The teachers at our school will be using a lot of 4-blocks strategies in the summer.
deb - summer school here is only including 2 hours of 4 blocks
deb - I am training the teachers
Lynn/SC/3 - 6 hours, 2 of math, 3 of LA.... going to be wonderful
grace - I have a question about the making words block. Way back when we first got on the Internet I found a site that would 'make words out of a big word'. Now that I'm into 4-blocks I NEED that site but can't find it. Anyone ever come across anything like that?
deb - lynn, how many kids
Eve - Our district requires that we address specific skills in summer school, but we do this through the "holistic" approach of 4-blocks.
Lynn/SC/3 - only 12
deb - we have 10-12 kids in summer school with teacher AND full time aide!!!
Celeste - grace, that site is http://24.2.81.10/fcgi-bin/jumble.pl
Lynn/SC/3 - that won't be hard, eve, you can teach any curriculum objective with the model
Eve - Wow! We don't have aides in summer school.
Eve - You're right, Lynn. It is good instruction, isn't it?
deb - we wrote a huge grant
deb - the teachers get $1600 in materials for 21 days of summer school!
Lynn/SC/3 - i think that the hardest thing for teachers to grasp is that it ISN'T a curriculum, it is a delivery system... you can use any basal.... any decoding set of skills.... you just decide HOW you are going to teach it
deb - grace, the Franklin speller from Walmart will help with the making words too
Eve - Our teachers don't get nearly that much for materials. We just try to hold over from the regular school year.
deb - eve, the materials, books, money is the motivation for the summer school teachers to teach
Lynn/SC/3 - for my making words, i use a CD from American Heritage Dictionary, cost me 20 dollars from office depot.... it has an anagram feature, and you can use it for rhyming words since it has a wild card feature
Eve - Now that I have declared that I am going to teach next year, the teachers at our school are worried that someone might try to inhibit their use of 4-blocks. i keep assuring them with just that idea, Lynn.
deb - I mainly use the Month By Month PHonics for second grade and just use the making words from there
grace - wow thanks Celeste. I love the 'making words' part of the word block but like to have the word relevant. I will look up the Franklin Speller as well...hmmm and see if I can find the CD too
Lynn/SC/3 - we did photosynthesis today.... loved that the words ranged from shy to hypothesis... and we reinforced science since my clues for the larger words were the meanings from science
deb - I don't know how anyone can know about 4 blocks, know how to teach it, and simply not do it. I couldn't stop teaching four blocks even if I was reprimanded
Eve - I agree, Deb.
deb - not that I spelled that right!!
Celeste - Grace, that site has helped LOTS when I've been using a words from our science units as "big words" in making words lessons
Eve - The philosophy, rational, and just plain common sense of 4-blocks has appealed to me from the time I heard about it.
Lynn/SC/3 - and isn't it wonderful that you teach common sense stuff too when you do making words..... it can't be an f, there IS no f, has to be ph, only letters to make the f sound....
Kathleen - Cheryl Sigmon 4 Blocks Column - http://teachers.net/4blocks/column.html
deb - Dottie told me that really good teachers are flourishing under the four blocks model. I must say that I agree! I have seen plenty of really good teachers GROWING incredibly!
Kathleen - Four Blocks Chatboard --------- http://www.teachers.net/mentors/4blocks
sharon - I heard about the four block model through the teachers net chat and I'm really interested
Lynn/SC/3 - teaching the blocks way has made me think about how i teach, what i want to teach, and just plain made me have to learn to understand what i am doing.... no more mimicking the basal stuff under the story with no meaning
Eve - It is so refreshing for me to hear of your successes with 4-blocks in other places. we have visitors from lots of places, but we are isolated in doing 4-blocks in our district. I love networking with ya'll this way.
Kathleen - sharon, are you a member of the Teachers.Net 4-Blocks mailring?
sharon - No, not yet
Kathleen - Teachers.Net mailrings http://teachers.net/mailrings
sharon - how do i get in the mail ring?
Kathleen - sharon, use the url I posted. It's easy to sign up.
grace - I'm excited that after 'dabbling' in 4 blocks my principal has told me to cut the workbook 'umbilical cord' and go for straight 4 blocks. Trying to keep a foot in both camps is truly exhausting.
Kris - Hello, what advice do you have for someone starting four blocks next year?
deb - What I like about four blocks is that teachers are searching, and thinking NOT just following the teachers guide
deb - grace !! good for you!
sharon - what should i read to explain exactly what the 4 block model is?
Connie - Hi ....4 blocks has made my teaching innovative and flat FUN
Eve - This is a very teacher intensive model. Teachers have to think about what they are doing and why.
sharon - Kris, me too!
deb - kris, read The Teachers Guide to Four Blocks, Phonics They Use, Classrooms That Work, Mosaic of THought, and Strategies That Work, Join the mailring, read the info on various sites, and don't panic!! ha ha
Eve - This is a fun way to teach, isn't it? I love the times I have gone into the classrooms to model. It has been great for me as a principal.
Kathleen - kris, read transcripts of past chats in the 4-Blocks section of the Teachers.Net Archives http://teachers.net/archive
Celeste - When I taught at a non-4 Blocks school, I had to get the kids through all the basals at their grade level. 1st and 2nd at my current school use 4 Blocks, and although we do have target reading levels, we can use whatever materials we want. The basals can sit on the shelves. I like the freedom to incorporate plays, poems, trade books, etc.
Connie - I've always thought my weak area was writing. Not any more. My first graders are prolific writers...and it's all their fault through the use of 4 Blocks! Really!!
Kris - I am finishing my training year in Reading Recovery so I have been forced to think about what I am doing and why. The big difference is that I had to think about one student and now I will have to think about a whole class. Thanks for the titles and info.
grace - It does mean I have to be very ..accountable. I need to be able to show colleagues that this isn't another fad. I am thinking about what I do and what the kids need.
Eve - I get excited when I talk about 4-blocks. my spelling suffers.
Kathleen - Key to understanding and implementing are Cheryl Sigmon's articles at http://www.teachers.net/4blocks/column.html
Kathleen - eve, I love that enthusiasm!
deb - the reading strategies used in reading recovery will help with guess the covered work, conferencing during ssr time, and guided reading when you are supervising the comprehension groups
grace - Yes Kathleen, the articles have really helped me. I eagerly await each one.
Kathleen - Of course Pat Cunningham's web site has unfiltered information about 4-Blocks, you can reach her site from the Cheryl's articles page. Pat's url: http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks
Eve - The understanding and expertise of teachers is essential to the success of 4-blocks. It is not for the weak minded.
Kathleen - From here you can get to everything: Teachers.Net Four Blocks Center http://www.teachers.net/4blocks/
deb - "weak minded" --- so nicely worded! ha ha lol
Jennifer - Deb, who wrote Strategies That Work?
deb - Stephanie Harvey
deb - published in Feb 2000
Jennifer - thanks
deb - it is the next book after Mosaic of Thought. It applies their theories into practice
Eve - In hope everyone has a great end of the school year and that test result will show what I know to be a very effective instructional delivery system.
Lynn/SC/3 - i want to go for national certification... and i know that teaching 4blocks will take me a long way when i start that portfolio.... it has made me think... and grow in the understanding of my curriculum and how to teach it
Kathleen - For training information: http://www.ergsc.com and SDR: (800) 678-8908
Ginn - I am planning on using the 4 Blocks Model next year in my 2nd grade classroom. What do you suggest to get started?
Eve - You're right, Lynn. I can see where 4-block will be great when seeking National certification.
Eve - Get the Teacher's Guide to start with.
Kathleen - Thank you to all who participated tonight. If you haven't signed up for the 4-Blocks mailring, go to http://teachers.net/mailrings
Kris - The teachers in my school who started four blocks this year felt that their kids handled the standardized testing very well. They thought that all of the comprehension work really helped the kids, too. Not that we teach to pass a test, but it doesn't hurt to have "proof" that it works.
Kathleen - I will post updates on training in the 4-Blocks mailring. Goodnight all!
Kathleen - Ginn, e-mail me kathleen@teachers.net and I'll send back some info about training. Be sure to put in your e-mail subject line: Kathleen, HELP! 4-Blocks :-)
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