Helen99 - We are beginning Four Block at our school this fall. I am just here to "listen". LOL
Stacy/2/Oh - so what grades does everyone teach?
Diane - I teache grade 2 in RI
Helen99 - I teach first in North Carolina
Newf - I teach grade 7 in newfoundland, Canada
Nanci - Hello everyone...I am going to be teaching a 1-2 split when we go back...
Lisa/2/NC - where in NC are you. Helen?
Rachel - I teach 3rd grade in California
Helen99 - Columbus County
Lisa/2/NC - and that is where Helen?
Lisa/2/NC - hey Cathie....long time no talk!
Stacy/2/OH - okay trying this again - major connection problems with this site tonight
Helen99 - sorry, trying to eat supper and type too..Southeastern NC. Whiteville
Lisa/2/NC - Helen, I'm still fairly new to NC
Nanci - I am from Ohio too, Stacy...
Newf - Where do you teach StephG and Cathie?
Helen99 - Lisa and cathie, where in NC are you?
cathie/NC - hello, Lisa and Helen, fellow NCarolinians!!
Lisa/2/NC - Helen, I'm in Forsyth County
cathie/NC - I am in Iredell County, north of Charlotte.
stephG - I may disappear at some point. After lots of heat we are finally getting a storm in MO.
Terri - HELLO ALL! So are we ready to hit the books again??
cathie/NC - Lisa, my sister in law is the media specialist at Clemmons Elem.
Newf - Not really!!!!!!!
Lisa/2/NC - Terri -- some of us have already been in for 4 weeks
Nanci - Working on it, Terri...how about you?
Dusty - Hi everyone. I teach 2nd grade. have been doing 4 Blocks for 2 yrs. Once in 1st and once in 2nd.
pepper - I am in Indiana
Lisa/2/NC - Cathie -- I remember you mentioned that
Terri - oops! I guess I tend to forget! 4 weeks.. already??!! Wow!
Helen99 - I will be in Clemmons in a few weeks. Got registered for the congerence.
Diane - We don't start till Sept 4th
pepper - Hi trying to see if this works
Terri - I was planning on going to school tomorrow to work but we are under a heat advisory tomorrow.. I am concerned..
Lisa/2/NC - Helen, well I will see you at the conference! I'm registering teachers as well as running some sessions
Newf - That's when we start too.
cathie/NC - Lisa, I am sorry to say that I don't teach second. I got moved up to third
Nanci - My school is currently using SFA...the upcoming year will be the last for it...then we are switching to 4-block...I am here to learn.
Diane - But we have 2 prof days on Aug 30 and 31st
Newf - What is SFA
pepper - Where is the conference Lisa?
cathie/NC - Lisa, where can I get info about the conference? Is there a website?
Lisa/2/NC - Cathie -- I got to loop with my first graders this year -- it is going to be a fun year.....I have a fabulous group!
Helen99 - Cool Lisa, now i already have a friend there!!!!
Dusty - I have a ? How do you guys do the Guess the Covered word. On the overhead or on the board?
cathie/NC - Lisa, I have my same class also!!
Lisa/2/NC - Pepper -- the annual 4Blocks conference in Clemmons, NC -- Pat, Dottie, Cheryl, Jim, and others will be there
Nanci - Success For All, Newf...many think it is a good program for "at risk" students, and the students at my school certainly qualify for that definition.
pepper - I do guess the word on the overhead
Stacy/OH/2 - Dusty, I like to use the overhead when I do it - personal preference
Eily18 - Where's the good information about implementing 4-Block? We want to know what happens when people are trained but not really dedicated tot he program.
theteacherguy - We are just training with Connie Prevat (speeled wrong) this week. implementing this year.
Terri - Dusty.. I have done it on large chart paper as well as the overhead..
Newf - I'll have a few students who could benefit from that next year,
cathie/NC - Does anyone use the Scott-Foresman series?
aggie/1/ca - Check out http://www.alt-sfa for an "alternative" perspective on SFA!
Dusty - pepper- do you cover the word with a post it?
aggie/1/ca - Hey there, Lisa! I almost forgot this meeting tonight!
Lisa/2/NC - Cathie -- everyone is NC is using Scott Forsmann this year
Dusty - cathie- we use houghton mifflin.
Stacy/OH/2 - yes the little page marker type posties
pepper - There is a book called implementing the 4 blocks
Diane/RI - We don't have any realy program. We have basals but i did some 4 block stuff on my own last year
cathie/NC - really, Lisa, what do you think of it? I have used it the past 3 days and like it.
pepper - Yes I cover it with the small post-it that are made for page tabs
Lisa/2/NC - Pepper, that book is primarily for principals -- you don't need that one -- the Teacher's Guide to the 4Blocks is best!
Terri - Any McGraw Hill users?
Hockeyrabbit - has anyone heard of a product called highlighter tape? I want to buy some but I can't seem to find any..maybe I am dreaming this up or something?
Dusty - I have found the Month by Month phonics books to be so helpful. My whole word block comes from there.
cloc - anyone trying to do AR along with ssr?
Nanci - Lima, Ohio...very poor inner city school. I would like to know more about this successful school.
stephG - Has anyone heard of conference offered in downtown St. Louis in December? It is on the 4-blocks. My principal Mentioned it to me. It is not one of the authors, so I'm not sure if it someone that actually knows what they are doing. Sorry, I can't remember her name.
Dusty - Hockey- I have heard of that. Try an office supply store.
Lisa/2/NC - Cathie -- I actually kind of like the SF program -- not sure I like the phonics story they combined with a piece of literature
mjn/NH - I do GTCW on a white board. I clothespin the sentence strip to the top of it
pepper - We are using AR
Stacy/OH/2 - I got highlighter tape from Staples or Office Max - they ordered it because it was a regular in stock item
theteacherguy - we are doing AR with SSR. Connie says that students can do it during that time, but they need accountability...
Lisa/2/NC - Cloc -- I do AR with SSR -- not by choice though
cathie/NC - Lisa, how do you fit in all the activities they give you in one day?
KathyB - I saw the highlight tape at Office Max too
pepper - I would not go to training unless it was Pat, Cheryl or Dottie.
cloc - i tried mixing the two last year, so this year i'm trying to focus on just SSR, we'll see how it goes. i know that the authors do not reccomend it at all
Dusty - Our district is pushing small guided reading groups. Hard to fit everything in. I like Guided Reading the 4 blocks way but have to do the small flex groups too. Hard to fit everything in.
KathyB - we're staring AR at our school this year also
theteacherguy - Connie has them fillout a sheet and have it signed by her before testing with AR..They can only use books they have logged on their SSR Log.
KathyB - Guided Reading too
Lisa/2/NC - Cathie - I don't! The trainers told us that their program was just ONE TOOL to teach reading -- that we didn't have to use all of it -- just what we wanted to -- if you did EVERYTHING, you'd be teaching the same book for 3 years
pepper - We are supposedly getting 4-block training but it is not really .
Helen99 - We did not select a reading program this year. We do AR also and used the money to purchase sets of books that would work with SSR and Ar (hopefully)
cloc - Lisa, i fianally realized i do have a choice, so i'm going for it
Hockeyrabbit - Stacy- is the tape permanent, or like a post it?
cathie/NC - lisa, that's what I thought, but in third we don't have a choice!!
pepper - Dusty that is what worries me
KathyB - choice it the key
Lisa/2/NC - Pepper -- there are lots of wonderful trainers who went to the Leadership Conference -- and Dottie and Pat deem worthy to do workshops in their name
cathie/NC - we group all the third graders and change classes
Hockeyrabbit - I have seen highlighter tape a Walmart etc..but this is not the kind I am looking for..its see through..
stephG - Nanci, the school is WEntzville, Elementary East. It too is very low in all areas. They have done the program K-5 for 2-3 years. The statistics showed great growth during the first quarter of SFA and a few grades continued to show growth all year. The fourth quarter was not a good one, despite all they are continuing with the program. You might check WEntzville, MO on the net for more info.
Stacy/OH/2 - peels right off - I also use the colored transparent book covers. It's on a roll and works the same except you have to cut to fit. Got mine in pink and yellow from Big Lots for around 1.00 a roll, it lasts forever
Dusty - pepper- I actually have to have a 5th block and I know that is not the way 4 Blocks works. But must do as admin. wants.
Lisa/2/NC - No way Cathie! The 5th grade teachers have tried it this year...and some are already saying they want their own kids back
KathyB - what grades do you all teach?
Nanci - Thanks, Steph...
pepper - Lisa We are being trained by Connie Prevate and she has good ideas but has 6 blocks
KathyB - I'm a third-fourth grade looping teacher
Ttalk - Kindergarten
Hockeyrabbit - Stacy- whats the name of the product you got a Big Lots (of course I have to ask what is Big Lots?..we don'have one here)
cloc - great idea stacy!, i teach first
cathie/NC - yes, all our 3-5 do it and I don't think I am going to like it.
Newf - 7 here
Dusty - Kathy- I teach 2nd. But I have done 4 Blocks with 1st too.
Diane/RI - I teach grade 2
mjn/NH - first grade
cathie/NC - KathyB, so am I!!
Newf - What is a looping teacher?
pepper - True Dusty. this is what I am told to do.
theteacherguy - pepper...do I know you? Are we in training together this week?
Hockeyrabbit - Stacy- does the highlighter tape leave marks or ruin the book in any way?
Nanci - 1-2 split here...
Lisa/2/NC - Pepper -- I hear she's good, but she doesn't advocate the true 4Blocks -- she's done her own modifications -- so it's not the true 4Blocks
Rachel - I have a question. What is the purpose of the reading baskets that they say to use during SSR? Why do the children not just select their own books? (I am new to 4-blocks and have read all the books--I must have missed that section) How do you all do it in your classes. I am especially interested in responses from any third grade teachers out there.
Diane/RI - Do any of you fin dit hard to get in all the 4 blocks things that are required? I mean I have to tach math too
KathyB - looping means you stay with a class for two years...you learn both year's curriculum
cloc - looping teachers follow their kids to the next grade
pepper - Lisa-true
Nanci - The Second Graders I will have are looping with me from First last year...
stephG - Does anyone have tips for someone starting the blocks in 3rd grade. I've used it with Title I Readers, but am nervous about the idea of a full class, all year, all day.
Dusty - When I taught 1st grade I good a lot of good writing ideas from a book by Carol Avery...With a Light Touch.
lori - it is very hard to fit in the entire 4 blocks
pepper - Rachel- we were told the book baskets are for K-2 and in 3-5 kids select their own books
Stacy/OH/2 - Odd Lots / Big Lots it's like a dollar store kind of - odd ball items usually cheap - it was just called transparent book covers, for older kids to cover their text books with. It's adhesive and transparent. Works just as well as the highlighter tape. I bet Walmart, Kmart, etc.. would have it too
KathyB - My hardest "thing" is trying to teach all of the grammar skills along with my writing block
Lisa/2/NC - Rachel -- baskets have many different types of books in there -- at the 3rd grade level, there are many more chapter books but also picture books as well to build fluency
Newf - That sounds interesting.
cloc - Diane, i find that i have ti be watching the clock, but that doesn't bother me much, it's a nice way to keep me focused
Diane/RI - I use reading baskets that are leveled. During SSR they go to their basket pick a book and read it then do a story map. Then I chose someone to talk about thier book at the end
Hockeyrabbit - I know this is 4 blocks, but does anyone have any tips for Building Blocks? I teach K..this will be my first time doing this
KathyB - steph...get the Month by Month Phonics book for third
Helen99 - I am nervous about starting....what do you suggest as the best way to get started?
pepper - Diane-I have Saxon Math and it takes a good hour and more like 75 min
lori - the month by month books is wonderful
Nanci - The books are leveled in the basket/box...the students select the book they want for SSR from their level...
KathyB - I used book baskets in third, but this year I am going to try having kids read more chapters books, so maybe try individual baskets or bags
Lisa/2/NC - Helen -- the best thing to do is to jump into 4Blocks with both feet -- begin it all at once -- that's the easiest way
cloc - peeper, we have BOTH saxon math and phonics, talk about booking it all day long!
Marilyn - I teach 3rd , our dist. adopted McGraw-Hill Series, we are beginning to use AR but I still want to use the guided reading process in small groups in my room..
Dusty - Kathy- do you do Daily Oral Language. Good way to get in some grammar skills.
Nanci - We have a program in our school called Might Math Hour...
cloc - sorry pepper about your name..
stephG - I have the Month by Month and have created ever lessonthey suggest, have my word wall ready and have asked kiddos to bring a binder for writing each day. The assessments have me the most nervous.
Stacy/OH/2 - I tell you - doing 4B last year made the days fly by. Before I knew it the day was over and yet the kids basically ran the day once they knew the procedures well. SUPER!
jersey - could a third grade teacher tell me how they start the year out with word block.
KathyB - no Dusty...that's something I've been thinking about doing...like in a journal format
Diane/RI - we have something caled mimosa( not the beverage) although at times some of us want to have one after teaching it lol
Terri - Are any of you multiage teachers? If so, do you find guided reading to be your most challening block?
pepper - I love the month to month book. I also bought the guess the covered word for 3rd grade
cloc - nanci, please explain mighty math hour...
Hockeyrabbit - Stacy- thanks I will check out Walmart tomorrow
jersey - I agree stacy!
Dusty - Stacy- I agree with you.
KathyB - jersey...get the Month by Month book...it tells you everything!
cloc - stacy, so true!
Helen99 - Lisa, a coworker and I have been at school off and on all summer. Leveling books and making teacher made books in whole class set..I am just nervous about planning and getting it all in.
Brandy - I am new to 4B and today I found that we have ordered workbooks for spelling, phonics, and Literacy Place. I am wondering if I need these for supplements?
Stacy/OH/2 - good luck! I got mine last year, but surely it's still around!
Dusty - Kathy - we just do it on the board whole group. When I taught 4th they did it in journal.
Nanci - ok, cloc...it is coming...
KathyB - you've done a lot of work Helen
jersey - I have the month by month but confused if I do 14 words or five in the beginning.
KathyB - I will be teaching 4th this year Dusty...and I have a big range of abilities
Liz/Oh1 - Does anyone know if you start guided reading in the first month of school or just start with the month by month phonics stuff first.
Lisa/2/NC - Helen -- I'm the type of person that just jumps into things -- I found that was best for me -- then I modified along the way
KathyB - jersey...intro five words per week...work on them all week
pepper - I think you do 5. It is 14 for the month.
Brandy - Second grade you do 5 words for mxm
stephG - Do you feel you used the covered word book. I thought it would be better to relate those lessons to S,S, science and guided reading lessons.
Lisa/2/NC - Brandy -- you're going to find that you may not use all of them
KathyB - Liz...don't try to start all four blocks right away...ease into it
cloc - liz, start guided reading first day of school
KathyB - o the words block, then add ssr, then guided reading, then writing
Marilyn - Our building will be doing the 4-block next year. From what I have read, I like the idea. I am going for training next week. I hope it helps me and the staff.
Dusty - jersey- go through the month by month book and get transparencies ready for Guess the Covered Word and get some lessons ready for Making words. That will give you a head start.
KathyB - o get your routine established by maybe October at the latest
Diane/RI - I hardly ever did cover the word. i did word walls, SSr, guided reading, and writing workshop
jersey - okay but what confuses me is that there should be 20 words a month for each week. I'm confused!
Lisa/2/NC - StephG -- actually both Pat and Dottie advocate that you make up your own sentences versus using the GTCW book -- relate the sentences to your class
cloc - we started by teaching all of our classroom proceudres, school discipline plan, etc, then we started our regular basal
Nanci - How many days of training are required to teach 4-block?
Danielle - I am beginning to implement 4 blocks this year and I am confused about the writing block and what you revolve your topics around or is it just random.
Stacy/OH/2 - You do 5 per week so that's 20 a month
Liz/Oh1 - I did four blocks last year but I was really looking at the month by month stuff and I don't know how you get all the aug/sept stuff in in a day!
pepper - I used the guesss the covered word book not all of it but enough
rmg - Hi everyone! Does anyone have any good ideas about setting up a Literacy Library that will be a resource for classroom teachers?
Dusty - I did Guess the Covered Word, rounding up the Rhymes, and Making Words. The kids like all of these.
Lisa/2/NC - Nanci -- you don't need any training to teach 4Blocks -- just read the books -- the training is very nice though -- but not necessary
Liz/Oh1 - Plus everything else!!1
theteacherguy - We are training in 3 days...
Rachel - I have the same question as Danielle
KathyB - jersey...there aren't 20 per month...usually 14, but remember to add your own words kids misspell in their writing to make the remaining six
Dusty - Danielle...what grade?
mjn/NH - I used many of the GTCW sentences in the M x M book but substituted students names
cloc - lia, i decided to limit the stuff, i omit the interviews unil later
Stacy/OH/2 - Danielle, although you can and will need to do focused writing, the kids can choose their own topics following your minilesson
Nanci - Thanks Lisa...
Danielle - Second
Nanci - How many new words a day on the word wall?
KathyB - I often used a lot of the Word Block techniques to teach my content areas
Dusty - Liz- you just have to pick and choose. I really used the month by month phonics suggestions.
stephG - I'm also concerned about representing my staff. My principal is asking me to be the building coordinator since I have done the most reading, practicing and attended the most workshops. Can you be too prepared?!
Marilyn - I think the month by month plan would be great. That is the route i will try. Which will include the Arts by the month.
Rachel - So during the writing minilesson, are the kids practicing the specific skill you taught, or are they doing their own writing and you just hope they got the message?
pepper - I found reading the 4 block books helpful
jersey - do I start the first day with words--I taught first for 5 years and I'm moving up.
Lisa/2/NC - Cloc -- 4 weeks into school and I am STILL trying to get through all of the interviews -- other things keep getting in the way of finishing -- but then again, I'm teaching a looping 2nd with 7 newcomers to this year's group -- I just wanted to re-create the classroom through these interviews
cloc - rmg, i read about putting books in baskets, then having teachers names on clothespins, maybe 5 or 6 each, that way they could only check out that many
Stacy/OH/2 - 5 new words per week - Mon and Tues we focus our chant/cheer/writing to the new words, Wed - Fri we review all ww words
stephG - Stacy, I used my English text as a guide for the Writing lessons.
Dusty - Danielle- I teach 2nd too. Did 4 Blocks last year. Was so glad I did.
Diane/RI - I did 5 for the week, I know that is not enough but that is what I did
KathyB - jersey...start your first full week with intorducing five word wall words
KathyB - ay chant and cheer them and include on the back activities
jersey - thanks
KathyB - woops...sorry for typos
Nanci - Where do the word wall words come from?
Lisa/2/NC - Rachel -- it depends on how "bossy" you want to be -- some kids WILL pick up the skill and try it out immediately and others will need to see the same skill presented several times before they try it themselves
cloc - Lisa, i'm not sure if i am doing it write, but we are fitting everything much better into our schedule this way, i will do the interviews starting in two weeks, i'll tie it in with student of the day stuff
Dusty - I did 5 words each week but built on these words. Word families, endings, etc.
rmg - cloc, thanks, I've heard of that too. Any ideas for storing big books so teachers can browse through them easily?
jersey - dusty did you do making words each week?
Nanci - Sounds like a good idea, Dusty...
Stacy/OH/2 - Nanci- your kids writing, common misspells need to be on the ww
theteacherguy - I bought mine from Carson Delosa, but you xcan make your own qwith high frequency words in the Month by month Phoics book
Lisa/2/NC - Nanci -- look in the MxM Phonics book for your grade -- the words are in there -- or you can spend $20 to get Carson-Dellosa's set
Dusty - There are so many things to use in 4 Blocks Goodies at the 4 Blocks chatboard.
cloc - rmg, no ideas there...
Rachel - Thanks, Lisa
Nanci - We line our big books up in boxes...easy to look at, take out and put back in...
Dusty - jersey- i did making words 2 times in a 6 day cycle.
Diane/RI - I found making words very difficult las tyear. I has an inclusion classroom and they weren't able to do that at all
Stacy/OH/2 - If you can hang them, use clothespins to attach to a hanger
pepper - teacher guy are you there?
1/NJ - our district has adopted Harcourt Collections. Is this basal compatible with 4B?
theteacherguy - yah...i'm here
Helen99 - Any suggestions on leveling books that are not on the regular leveled lists?
Dusty - Diane- My making words lessons are lessons using vowels at the beginning of the year. I spend 2 weeks on each short and long vowel.
Nanci - Thanks for your suggestions about the ww words...seems like there ought to be more than 5 a week is all...
Liz/Oh1 - Stacy? I'm going out on a limb here. Are you from Northwestern?
Diane/RI - what words do you use?
pepper - You could have a content word wall
Marilyn - I will be labeling my books in my classroom library to conform the the AR levels and have them in dishpans or baskets. I also teach writing skills with the Writing Process with Power Writing. procedure
Lisa/2/NC - 1/NJ -- I really liked Harcourt when we were looking at it -- it is a good match with 4Blocks -- in my opinion
Stacy/OH/2 - I think any basal is adaptable some more easily - we got HM Literacy Place last year. I found it very compatible but still only used it maybe 10 times.
Dusty - Helen- I have a lot of books that I could not find levels for so...I just put those in a basket by themselves for kids to read in free time.
Stacy/OH/2 - Why yes Liz, how are you? Small world!
jersey - what kind of supplies do you have the students bring for 4b?
theteacherguy - do you mean a content board pepper?
1/NJ - Lisa, do you have the phonics readers. I plan on using them for SSR.
Dusty - Hi michelle. Are you using 4 Blocks this year?
Liz/Oh1 - Fine! This is my first time. I'm still overwhelmed with everything!
Nanci - Is there a web site that one could type in a title of a book and it levels it for you?
Lisa/2/NC - Nanci -- there are other words -- more words that fit the rime pattern of the 5 words you are introducing
Rsok/Ok/1 - hello all
Helen99 - I found a way to level books with Microsoft word but don't know how the levels correlate with the ones in Guided Reading by Fontas and Pinell (sp)
michelle - can anyone help me come up with a "catchy" name for my word wall
stephG - Where did you find the levels for your books? AR levels a little high in some instances
Diane/RI - Nanci that woul dbe great!
Nanci - Thanks, Lisa...
michelle - i want something to spark the kids interest
theteacherguy - Hello Rsok...how long have you been doing 4 blocks?
pepper - content wall-short term-social studies voc words that they might use in their writing.
Lisa/2/NC - 1/NJ -- we adopted Scott Forsman -- but their readers looked like the McGraw-Hill ones I used a couple of years ago when I taught in California
Dusty - Liz- I started collecting 4 blocks materials 3 years ago. This is my 3rd year teaching this way and I am just now beginning to feel comfortable.
Diane/RI - I tried that Micrososft thing i think mine is an older version I couldn't do it
Stacy/OH/2 - Nanci - there is, I just can't find my saved link right now to do that - I'll keep looking
rmg - nanci, try leveledbooks.com. It's a book warehouse, but you can find the levels of some books and you don't have to buy them.
Rsok/Ok/1 - I am not doing 4blocks, but am Very interested in learning about it.
Nanci - Word Wall seems to fit the bill and my First and Second graders use the term easily...
michelle - we just adopted the Scott Foresman as well Lisa
Danielle - Is anyone using the McGraw Hill basal
Nanci - Thanks Stacy...
stephG - Michelle, I am using our mascot, the lion. The title will be, We aren't LION, we know these words!
Stacy/OH/2 - I understand Liz - tonight the conversation is really moving fast!
Nanci - Thanks RMG...
Liz/Oh1 - Dusty, thanks I am trying to fit phonemic awareness, morning messages etc. and I don't know how I'm going to get it all done but I usually do.
pepper - WE have Houghin Mufflin
michelle - that is great steph
Lisa/2/NC - Danielle -- I used the new McGraw Hill a couple of years ago when I taught in Oakland, California -- it works well with 4Blocks
cloc - lakeshore has a great wordwall, it has all the words with velcro on the back so they stick to the blue material, it's very eye pleasing, we bought ours about 4 or 5 years ago
pepper - steph-catchy name
Dusty - I found that putting my word wall up high above my alphabet was too hard to get to. I put it down on my cupboard doors this year.
Rsok/Ok/1 - We are using our OLD basal from Heath...we are supposed to adopt reading this year...so I am very interested in learning about this.
michelle - that is kind of the what I am looking for
theteacherguy - RSOK: I am just traing...it is exciting and the results seem awesome...I can't wait to get started.
Danielle - A few of us at our school are going to try/ so far so good
jersey - supply list any one??
Stacy/OH/2 - If I remember correctly Pat was a consultant for the Houghton Mifflin Literacy Place basal
Dusty - Liz- phonemic awareness fits into the Word Block!
michelle - I am trying to get the teachers excited about word walls and many of them have asked for other names
Rsok/Ok/1 - What would you advise for a new program?
Nanci - I would like to put the Dolch lists for grades 1 and 2 on my walls...
cloc - jersey, i would ask for post it notes, index cards, popscicle sticks, colored ones, a ...
Lisa/2/NC - rsok -- if you are looking for 4Blocks success stories -- read "True Stories from 4Blocks Classrooms" -- 30 stories from teachers using 4Blocks
stephG - I asked my students to bring in lots of loose leaf paper, and a 1 inch binder for the writing block. Other than that, nothing special.
Indy - I am a 4Block Coach/Trainer in Indiana
Dusty - Also- a way to get the content areas in..(soc studies and science) is use these materials during guided reading block. Also can use Weekly Reader there too.
Rsok/Ok/1 - Thanks Lisa
cloc - jersey, i would ask for post it notes and index cards, too
jersey - cloc-popscicle sticks-for what?
Lisa/2/NC - Stacy -- no, Pat wasn't a consultant for HM
Danielle - jersey, they use a reading recording folder to keep track of what they read
Stacy/OH/2 - I am supplying the kids with red, blue, yellow, and green folders (to correspond to each block green=g.r., etc.), they are bringing in a spiral notebook for the writing block, a 1 in binder for poetry. Last year, I used steno notebooks for ww word, this year I'm making my own with a binder.
pepper - Indy When are you doing a training in Indiana
stephG - I am really enjoying the True Stories book, it has been helpful
Rsok/Ok/1 - Indy....what would you advise a new comer to 4blocks????
Liz/Oh1 - Dusty, are you able to do all the www stuff during the thirty minutes?
Dusty - Nanci- we used Rebecca Sinton words...they are very similar to Dolch words.
Dusty - Stacy- I like the idea of the colored coded folders.
Stacy/OH/2 - She's listed in the manual for something with her picture, I just don't remember what for
Indy - Do you have any books on implementing 4Blocks?
cloc - i use them when we are looking for specific story elements, like setting, characters, etc. We call them "magic sticks", i got the idea off the mailring this summer, you can buy colored ones from Wally world
Lisa/2/NC - Steph -- do you remember the story on page 124? That one's my story, if I may brag a bit
Rsok/Ok/1 - Does anyone know how to find a trainer in the Oklahoma area?????
Nanci - Thanks, Dusty...
Rsok/Ok/1 - Indy.....no....I have nothing.
Stacy/OH/2 - It might have been for the making word connections in the lessons
Dusty - Liz- sometimes my word blocks goes a little longer but most times I do. You just have to pick and choose.
Nanci - Ohhh...I like that idea, cloc...
Lisa/2/NC - rsok -- look on Pat and Dottie's site http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks -- click on training
pepper - There are good bookmarks in the teachers guide to 4 blocks
Liz/Oh1 - Stacy, I just went to a workshop with Cheryl Sigmon. She had a neat idea using composition notebooks for www. she had them cut in half at Kinkos. These looked like they would work really well also
Lisa/2/NC - rsok -- they are listed at the bottom of the page
Indy - I would suggest buying 2 books first. The Teacher's Guide to 4-Blocks and Phonics Month by Month - they're excellent!
Marilyn - Has anyone read and used The Teacher's Guide to the Four Blocks by Carson-Della Pub. co.? What do you think of it?
Rsok/Ok/1 - Thank you Lisa!
Dusty - Good bookmarks in 4 Blocks Goodie pages.
cloc - also. instead of writing the elements directly on the sticks, i made a big chart with the sticks on them and then laminated it, then i just write in what i want them to look for that day
Stacy/OH/2 - That's an idea!
Rsok/Ok/1 - Thank you Indy..I will do that!!
pepper - Marilyn- I like it.
Lisa/2/NC - Marilyn -- that book is a "must have"
Indy - Marilyn - I have and I love it!!!
Danielle - Marilyn, I keep going back to it. I love it
Indy - No problem Rsok!
stephG - LOVED the TEacher's Guide, sorry Lisa haven't made it that deep in the book, but looking forward to reading.
Nanci - http://beautiful.midnight.tripod.com/renn/mrsrennspage.html
Liz/Oh1 - Dusty, thanks for your help!
Dusty - Good luck Liz!
jersey - did you ever think of usign the colored sticks for the parts of the story--blue=setting, green=characters, etc.
pepper - Nanci What is that web site?
Nanci - That is my web site...for students and parents and fellow teachers...you are all invited to check it out.
cloc - jersey, i did but we go farther than just what the four colors allowed, so this way i can gear it to exactly where we are
jersey - has anyone started back yet?
Nanci - We go back the 27th...
jersey - gottha!
Lisa/2/NC - Jersey -- I've been back for 4 weeks!
cloc - three days ago!
Dusty - I would also suggest the book With A Light Touch by Carol Avery for you 1st grade teachers. Great ideas for beginning writing.
Stacy/OH/2 - not til the 22nd
Danielle - jersey, not yet, the 27th
stephG - Do any of you participate in the 4 blocks digest. It seems like a lot of e-mail. Has it helped anyone?
Rsok/Ok/1 - We start back the 15th
Stacy/OH/2 - Wow Lisa when do you get out?
stephG - Not till the 29th
jersey - lisa where are you in nc?
Lisa/2/NC - Stacy - we're year round -- but we get out May 30
pepper - we go the 20th
BL - Lisa-any suggestions for getting started ie procedures, strategies?
cloc - steph, i got many good ideas at the beggining of the summer, then it sort of got crazy with people complaining and actually getting kind of rude
pepper - What is the 4 blocks digest?
Rsok/Ok/1 - Lisa,,,how do you like year round school?
Dusty - steph- I was on the 4 blocks mailring a few years ago...I just couldn't keep up.
Lisa/2/NC - Jersey -- I'm in Forsyth County -- that's Winston-Salem (birthplace of 4Blocks)
BL - routines?
Helen99 - Teacher go tomorrow and kis the 20th
Stacy/OH/2 - steph, I'm on the mailring and it helped a lot in the beginning!
Joan - Marilyn, I thought that was you
stephG - I noticed the rudeness also. It kind of put me off and made me nervous about posting anything.
Indy - theteacherguy - Is she from Fort Wayne?
reva - Have any of you gotten spam from a loan company? The teacher.net addy is at the bottom of the message.
Lisa/2/NC - rsok -- I like year round -- we're on single track -- but I've also done multi track yr -- but I still love having my summers off
pepper - How do we get on the mailring? teachers.net?
Liz/Oh1 - steph, I subscribed to it but it had so many grade levels at the same time. Instead I joined my grade level mailring from teachers.net. I get a lot of good ideas but it is a lot of email. Well worth it
Stacy/OH/2 - Now, I'm still on it simply because I'm afraid I'll miss something
Dusty - I have a large 3 ring binder divided into sections for each block...everything I find pertaining to each block goes in there. I have been collecting for 3 years. I have shared it with many of my colleagues.
cloc - steph, i really had to unsuscribe because i didn't have the time to read all of them, but that's where i got some great ideas like those popscicle sticks
Stacy/OH/2 - yes pepper you can do mailring or digest form
stephG - I thought I was on the 3rd grade mailring, but have yet to receive anything.
Indy - teacherguy - No, not all!! I just can't figure out how to send you my message.
jersey - steph-there hasn't been much-I'm on that too!
Rsok/Ok/1 - Lisa, I have wondered about the advantages to year round and the disadvantages.
pepper - steph I teach 3rd Where are you located. I am in IN
Marilyn - the 23rd. I am scared again. Do any of you use Power Writing for your writing lessons?
Lisa/2/NC - BL -- model, model, model every procedure, etc -- I also demand that they do it exactly -- but I also explain why I am expecting them to follow the procedures exactly -- when they get into the rhythm of each of the blocks -- you relax and it runs itself
Nanci - I like your 3-ring binder idea, Dusty...
stephG - Any assessment ideas?
cloc - dusty, i read where one techer had a binder for each block, it matched the colors from the book, i have two binders, i outgrew my first one
theteacherguy - select my name in the send to: pull down then type message and click update
Stacy/OH/2 - No - I'm going to try 6 Trait this year with my writing
theteacherguy - select my name in the send to: pull down then type message and click update
Indy - I have heard of some people training, and they are not true to the Cheryl Sigmon format - so be careful!!!!!!
Helen99 - I have collected two big notebooks of ideas and info this summer for beginning 4 Block this fall..Maybe too much and getting confused.
Lisa/2/NC - rsok -- there is less time off -- so much less need to review extensively at the beginning of the year -- my school adds one more piece -- almost all of us loop with our classes -- so we can start instruction on day 1
Stacy/OH/2 - I just started the color coded binders for my resources, materials, etc
Liz/Oh1 - Stacy, did you buy the 6 trait writing book? I thought about doing it also.
Dusty - cloc- I sure wouldn't want anything to happen to my binder....it has so many ideas in it.
Dusty - Helen- try to organize your notebook into 4 sections. That will help.
Rsok/Ok/1 - Lisa,,,,how far do you loop?????
cloc - i know, it's become my little bible of sorts
Liz/Oh1 - I also started using binders for my materials.
Lisa/2/NC - Indy -- any trainer who is on Pat and Dottie's website have been observed and trained by Pat and Dottie -- and they both stand behind them -- you can find the list at http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks
Stacy/OH/2 - I've not bought it yet (want to), I'm supposed to go to official training in November, right now I've read a lot and come up with a minilesson outline for each trait.
Nanci - Would 6 Trait Writing be compatible with 4-Blocks?
Helen99 - I did..two sections per notebook
Rsok/Ok/1 - I have a friend who loops for 3 years with her kids..she loves it
pepper - Do any of you use the 4 Blocks lesson plan book?
stephG - Don't think this went before, Pepper, I'm in the St. Louis<MO area
Dusty - cloc- Month by Month phonics has become my Bible. My lesson plans for the word block come right out of there.
Joan - Is there a web site to explain 6 triat?
Lisa/2/NC - rsok -- most loop just a total of 2 years like 1st to 2nd grade -- but we can loop for 3 years if we want to -- my kiddos are begging me to teach 3rd next year
Stacy/OH/2 - Very compatible from my understanding. I asked Cheryl and she wholeheartedly agreed
jersey - i used the plan book last year.
Liz/Oh1 - Nanci, at a workshop I went with cheryl sigmon, she said 6 traits fit in well.
Helen99 - Pepper, I bought it but have seen some examples of good planning done on another template
stephG - I am planning on useing the plan book. Can't imagine organizing w.o it.
Dusty - pepper- I have a copy of the pages from the 4 blocks lesson plan book but I make up my own plan. They suit me better.
Nanci - Teachers.net has a 6 trait site...
Marilyn - I ordered the 4 block plan book for this year.
Lisa/2/NC - Nanci -- there are teachers on the mailring who do 4Blocks and 6Traits
theteacherguy - Connie has said that the four blocks for upper grades pan book is done poorly.
Nanci - Thanks Stacy and Lisa...
pepper - What are 6traits?
jersey - the plan book was okay but i like soem of the templates I got off the mailring.
Helen99 - 6 traits?????
cloc - Indy, we went to visit a school in ga that had received a school of excellence award, after we visited with them we implemented lots of their ideas, they were doing four blocks, now we have scholls visiting us, we won the irs's reading exemplary award in 200o for our state, find the schools in your area that imlement and visit they love to share
Joan - Would it better for intermediate teachers to use the primary 4 blocks book, and modify?
Rsok/Ok/1 - We have to use a specific plan book each year that the school provides......
Stacy/OH/2 - http://www.6traits.cyberspaces.net/ http://www.nwrel.org/eval/writing/ these are two sites about 6 Trait
Lisa/2/NC - Jersey -- I agree! it is much easier to plan using the templates that others have offered, then creating your own
Dusty - jersey- are any of the templates available anywhere else?
jersey - i'm not sure, I haven't looked.
theteacherguy - brb all...have to tuck the kids in!
Rsok/Ok/1 - Thank you Everyone for your help!! I will start my search!!!
Lisa/2/NC - Joan -- it depends on the reading level of your upper grade kiddos -- if the majority of the class is on grade level -- then do Big Blocks -- but if the majority is below grade level -- like below 3rd grade, then do 4Blocks
Dusty - jersey- maybe those that use specific ones could submit them to 4 blocks goodies.
jersey - any suggestions for some one going to third from first with 4b.
jersey - good idea-dusty!
cloc - dusty how do you submit? i saw that question posted on the ring LOTS
Dusty - jersey- make sure you have Month by Month phonics for 1st grade.
Joan - O.K I'm a rookie. What, or where, are the 4 blocks goodies?
Dusty - cloc- I don't know. I just found the goodies pages myself..loved what I found.
jersey - I'm going to third from first.
Lisa/2/NC - cloc mentioned something about visiting 4Blocks classrooms -- that's one of the best things to do to really see 4Blocks in action
Stacy/OH/2 - Submit to Mary@teachers.net I submitted awhile back and it still isn't posted. She's been really busy from what I've gathered
pck - help! i am going back to teaching after staying home with my kids for 12 years! Man have things changed in the teaching world! I will be teaching 3rd grade and want to use 4 blocks. I don't think I can do all at once. Any suggestions on which block I should start with???
Dusty - Joan- the goodies are on 4 blocks chatboard. At the top.
cloc - have you used the working with words/on the back page yet? it is great! so easy and exactly what i was going to make myself, then wham, there it was!
jersey - okay lisa, I'm coming to NC Saturday for two weeks. If I'm in your area, could I stop in?
theteacherguy - what is the address for pat and Dottie's page again?
stephG - PCK, I would start with the Guided reading
Marilyn - I need help in student movement within the classroom for small group work and independent work. Any ideas?
Nanci - I need to go now...thank you for the great ideas! Best wishes for a SUPER new school year...
Joan - Thanks Dusty, I haven't really explored the site, yet. I went there and immediately came to this chat room, since we are starting with 4 blocks.
pck - steph, really? I thought that would be the hardest!
cloc - by nanci
Stacy/OH/2 - bye Nanci
Lisa/2/NC - Jersey -- my classroom door is always open! I've had tons of visitors last year -- and we have had a couple visitors already -- plus more coming to visit when they come for the 4Blocks conference at the end of the month
Dusty - Gotta go now. Thanks for such great ideas. Good luck in your classrooms.
Indy - pck - I would suggest beginning with SSR and the Writing Block. Also, be sure to purchase The Teacher's Guide to Four Blocks and Month by Month Phonics for #rd Grade
Lisa/2/NC - Jersey -- I'm in Winston-Salem -- let me know when you want to come for a visit
Dusty -
Stacy/OH/2 - bye all - thanks for an enjoyable chat!
cloc - lisa, do you do training?
Stacy/OH/2 - See ya very soon Liz!
pck - thanks indy...i already have both! I just feel SO overwhelmed!
jersey - okay how do I get in touch wiht you? I'll be in Duck for a week then down south, I could stop in.
Joan - Marilyn, do you have that month by month phonics book?
stephG - It just seems the most structured to me and alot like the instruction you would already be doing during your reading time. Working with Words is probably the most fun for the kids, so if you feel intimidated maybe start there.
Lisa/2/NC - cloc -- I haven't done training yet -- but am beginning to get into it now
Liz/Oh1 - bye everyone, this chat room is great. I'll try it again.
Indy - pck - I know - it is a first. Just start out slowly. Do you have a school you can go and observe?
Marilyn - No, not yet, Joan.
pck - do i just use stories from the literacy textbook and format them to 4 blocks
jersey - i agree with steph-the word block seems to be the quickest to catch on to.
Lisa/2/NC - Jersey -- my email is nakou_nc@hotmail.com
Joan - Is anyone familiar with the Logical Phonics program?
pck - indy-there probably is one to observe once school starts again. But I have to get thru the first week!!
Indy - Joan - haven't heard of it.
stephG - By literacy textbook, do you mean reading book? If so, that is how I am starting and adding in S.S,. and Science info as the year goes on,.
cloc - pck, what grade do you teach?
Indy - pck - don't forget to model, model, model!!!
stephG - PCK where are you located.
jersey - pck i used all kinds of literure and fit them in the blocks
pck - i will be teaching 3rd
pck - i'm in san antonio texas
stephG - me too.
jersey - lisa I'll send you an email before I leave to let you know if I'm coming your way-thanks!
Marilyn - Does anyone use volunteers to help with their 4-block classrooms?
theteacherguy - does anyone have the url for dotttie and pat's page?
Lisa/2/NC - http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks
pepper - Indy do you have any training soon? or first sememster
pck - wow steph ...small world
Marilyn - To Indy, I agree, model, model, model. It works.
theteacherguy - Thanks Lisa!!!!!!!!!!
cloc - theres a school called Lafayette Primay Center, they presented at a leadership conference, their website is great, they have notes fron the conferences and one was on how to transition form k to firts, and then the first month of first grade, maybe they have the same for third
jersey - pck-we have a new teacher coming from your area this year. do a lot of teachers in your area do 4b?
jersey - cloc- do you know the web site?
Helen99 - pck and Steph..I am not in Texas but am a McMurry grad..Abilene
Indy - pepper - My colleague and I are training several different school systems right now.
Lisa/2/NC - cloc -- that's Joe Fuhrman's school -- his website is http://www.blocks4reading.com -- he's a great presenter
SAM - hello indy!
cloc - jersey if you wait a minute i'll log off and then come back with it, ok?
Indy - hello SAM
jersey - thanks-lisa
cloc - nevermind, lisa has it! how did you get that so fast?
Lisa/2/NC - cloc -- it's an easy site to remember -- plus I'm on his site a lot
Helen99 - Joe's site is really good. Has ppt slides and lists etc. I got a lot from there when researching.
cloc - yeah, i see that now, i though it had alot of //:: tt etc
Indy - SAM - I'm back!!
SAM - how did you do the face-cute!!
Lisa/2/NC - well, it's a school night! guess I should say goodnight
Indy - I just typed in a colon and shift 0.
pck - jersey- yes i think it is really spreading. At least I know our district is really pushing 4 blocks
cloc - good night all
jersey - lisa I'll be in touch> thanks
SAM -
stephG - pck, don't panic, just remember 4blocks is an organzational tool, not so much a teaching method. YOu are still teaching your curriculum, just organzied differently. YOU CAN DO THIS
Helen99 - Good night all and thanks for the ideas..see you the 25th Lisa?;
Helen99 - ;o
Joan - Marilyn Where do you plan to get volunteers?
pepper - teacher guy did you get my private message
pck - thanks steph I feel better already!!
jersey - cool!
SAM - indy- i guess you can send me a private message if you want to keep chatting!
Helen99 -
pck - i sometimes feel like I am going to have to write my whole curriculum!!
stephG - Thanks to all for making my first chat room a good experience. pck, keep in touch, we can help each other through the year and if you're ever in ST. Louis, :MO let me know. Time to put the kids to bed.
SAM - did you read Cheryl's article?
Marilyn - I'm still the dreamer. We'll see, Joan.
Helen99 - pck that is the way I feel..kinda overwhelmed
pck - thanks steph!
jersey - any suggestions for some one going to third from first with 4b.
pck - helen- glad i'm not the only one. I am really excited about it just don't know where to start
pepper - I love reading Cheryl's articles on teacher.net
Helen99 - I am a 4b beginner so I am lost
pepper - Connie says do it all right away and I don't see how that is possible
Helen99 - Those are my feeling exactly. I see alot I like and have used some parts but putting it all together scares me.
pck - not only am i new to 4 blocks, but i have been out of the classroom for 12 years! Double whammy
SAM - it is a great place to get help!--her articles!
SAM - indy- i am going to check my mail-send me an instant message if you want to!
Helen99 - I haven't exactly been out..been teaching thirty years, but was out last nine weeks of school with heart problems and am getting ready to return this fall.
Marilyn - Good luck all and good night.
pepper - I have made copies of them and kept in a binder
pepper - night all
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