momof3 - I'm not a 4block teacher but am a Reading Recovery teacher interested in learning more about 4 blocks. I hope some of you can help me out.
brave1 - Can anyone tell me how their writing and SSR conferences are going? I'm finding that mine take way too long. I'm supposed to get in 5 a day, and just can't seem to do it. Any advice?
momof3 - Do you teach your four blocks to the whole class or do you do small group teaching?
Kathy - I have NO training in 4 blocks but am frantically reading all the manuals teaching myself..
brave1 - Most of 4 Blocks is taught whole-group. But we also do lots of 1:1 conferencing, and small, flexible groups during Guided Reading
Kathy - I love the working with words section....
Marcia/1st - I have not been doing enough of the writing, but my SSR is going very well
Kathy - How do you figure out what level the children are reading at.
Kathy - And where do you get the level books??
Marcia/1st - I am able to conference with 4-5 students per day usually, but believe me, it's hard. There is no time to waste!
brave1 - Hi Marcia! It's MB from the ring. How long do your SSR conferences take per student? Do you have them read you a page, two??? You've been really helpful in the past
momof3 - In my school guided reading is done to small groups but teachers do find it diffucult to get to all the kids. However the teaching is supposed to be for a very specific teaching focus is it the same with four block guided reading or is it more general?
CherBear99 - i am looking for free large letter stencils to print does anyone know where i can get it on the net please
Nan - Cher, why don't you use the stencil font and print them really large like 150 or 200
brave1 - Kathy - I don't use leveled books, except for assessment purposes. We use the basal, trade books, Time for Kids, Social Studies texts, etc. for Guided reading.
Kathy - brave 1.... what are Time for Kids?
Marcia/1st - My conferences are only for about 3-5 minutes. I also used an idea from On Solid Ground to give me a little more time to read with students. Each child has a reading log sheet in folder and they have to write the title of one of the books they read, the author and a short response, like "I like th book." It keeps them busy for just a little longer. I have them read for a while and then I instruct them it's time to fill out their response sheet. Whew!
momof3 - How do you get at the individual needs of students when you teach tothe whole group?
CherBear99 - does someone have stencils that they can e-mail me or something
Kathy - marcia.... Are the kids becoming better writers using 4blocks?
Nan - MB, I try to focus on one main strategy for conferencing and i tell them I will be asking them about the character or setting , or how they visualized etc. That helps get them ready to talk
momof3 - MB what is SSR?
brave1 - Momof3 - to answer your question about Guided Reading - we are usually teach a specific comprehension strategy during our guided reading block. The individual needs of the students are met when we conference 1:1, and when we do flexible grouping. Also, all of the activities we do in 4 Blocks are designed to be multi-level.
brave1 - Thanks Marcia & Nan! I just bought a timer. The kids think it's hillarious when it goes off & we're not nearly done with our activities. They would spend all day reading and writing if they could!
Nan - what grade does everyone teach?
momof3 - Brave 1 How are flexible groups organized?
Kathy - Grade 2
Nan - 6 Special Ed
momof3 - Nan are there any similarities between Reading Recovery and 4 Block literacy?
Cecile - Momof3--When I do my guided reading whole group, I will then meet in smaller skill groups to reoinforce it at their level. I can also do it when they're reading.
brave1 - SSR stands for Self-Selected Reading
Cecile - I teach third grade in New York State
Mary - Hey-I need to know if anyone is using the 4 block literacy program and if they have developed a report card .
momof3 - Does anyone out there have Reading Recovery in their schools working along side 4 block literacy?
brave1 - Time for Kids is a publication much like Weekly Reader
Nan - I haven't a clue about reading Recovery but, I know that I have never seen my students progress like they have this nine weeks
brave1 - Nan - AMEN!!
momof3 - What's the first step to beginning a four block literacy program?
Cecile - momof3 - We don't have reading recovery as a set program, but we have people who have been trained in it and use spome of the parts of it...just not the whole program.
Kathy - How long did it take you guys to implement the 4 blocks..Did you do it all in one year or just do parts of it.
momof3 - Cecile do you know what parts they use?
Nan - Read the Books and join the mailring are the first step
Marcia/1st - I am finding that I was trying to add too much to my day. I think I was focusing on themes too much instead of teaching a skill during minilessons
Cecile - Liss - hello there!
Nan - I started all parts this year at the same time
momof3 - Nan is this your first year using 4 blocks?
Cecile - momof3 - no idea! Sorry...
Nan - Yes, mom
Kathy - I am reading the TE of guided reading and the TE of 4 blocks, plus Phonics Monthly and Covered Word.. Did I miss any books I should be using?
Marcia/1st - I tried to start all of them at once so I could establish procedures, but it does take a while to get the rhythm down. At least it does for me. Like I said, I am really working at getting writing block underway. The kids are actually asking for it.
mcfry - How do you do add the fun stuff and get all 4 blocks done?
Cecile - Nan - you started all four blocks together? Are you crazy? I have only been to on training session so far and that was for an overview...I am already overwhelmed!
brave1 - momof3 - flexible groups can be organized around a specific skill or comprehension strategy. For instance, I might pull all the students who need help with sequencing, or all the students who are struggling with making predictions
Kathy - These books I take to bed with me nightly...Do I need a life or what??? haha
Marcia/1st - Kathy, those sound like the right ones. Those will have all you need for awhile, I would think.
Nan - I have problem getting every block done every day because of schedule problems but it is working
momof3 - Maricia are the students engaged in free writing or is the writing structured?
brave1 - Cecile - I used to worry about that, too. But even without all the "fun stuff," my kids LOVE learning this year!
Nan - I had a student teacher too. It was crazy but the kids are doing phenomenal!
momof3 - How long do you spend on each block? and do you connect the blocks or are they all treated seperately?
Kathy - Mcfry... great question.. I was wondering that too.
brave1 - OOps - I meant to address my last comment to Mcfry. Sorry!
Kathy - It is FAll and I USUALLY do LOTS of fun things by now but have just been doing 4 blocks reading and BRIDGES MATH.. is this normal??
Marcia/1st - Mom, most of it has been focused. I want to start more process writing next week. I need to keep focused!
Kathy - My kids love to cheer the word wall words.
Cecile - brave1-I judt don't have the time to do the fun stuff and although I am not doing all four blocks right now, I am doing bits and pieces and they love what I have done so far. I can't wait for the rest of the training.
mcfry - I am finding that if I stick to the "fun stuff", I don't have time for all the blocks.
momof3 - Marcia could you give me an example of what a writing lesson might be?
Marcia/1st - I really think that doing the "fun" stuff could be a lot of peer pressure. The kids are really happy with SSR and it really amazes me.
Kathy - there does NOT seem to be any training in PA? Anyone know of any??
mcfry - I have noticed that my kids are writing more because I am following the WWW block faithfully and the writing block.
Nan - I did national boards last year and the main thing i learned is to really focus on student learning. If the kids aren't gaining something from an activity its not worth doing so, I don't do alot of fun activities anymore and I think they are still having fun but they are learning more
Marcia/1st - When I say peer pressure, I mean pressure on us teachers to "produce cute stuff" to hang in the hall or to send home. Does anybody else feel that way?
momof3 - HOw do you choose the words for the word wall?
Kathy - Mcfry.. when you say fun stuff do you mean like artsy stuff, thematic stuff, bat units, etc??
mcfry - Kathy- yes
Cecile - Nan-that makes a lot of sense! I agree with that. I guess the "funstuff" is not that engaging. I do try to have a point for every lesson:an objective for them to reach.
Marcia/1st - Mom, I am probably not the right person to ask, but I want to have a lesson soon on not using "and" or Because to begin a sentence. I really don't feel real confident about the writing block, even though, I thought I would. Now that it's upon me, it's harder than I thought.
brave1 - Marcia - ABSOLUTELY!! My school is supposedly 4 Blocks, but we are expected to do lots of cutsie stuff. I've mostly been doing writing pieces to hang up, and having the kids draw a picture to go along. So far, no complaints from the bulletin board police!
Kathy - The fun stuff DOES take more energy and YES, I do agree Marcia, with that peer pressure thing and everyone trying to out do the other!!
Nan - my kids love to draw so i usually have them illustrate a favorite scene and then discuss what they liked about that part
Mary - Does anyone have a report card in place for the 4 block literacy program?
pj1 - I'm having trouble with cheering www. In what order do you do it - cheer, write,etc.....It is not flowing for me!
cin-3rd - Anyone else teach 3rd?
Marcia/1st - Think of all of the teacher resource books we buy that are full of "cute" ideas. That's why I liked 4 blocks. It cuts to the chase!
Cecile - cin-I do!
mcfry - I teach 1st grade
Kathy - I never have a set order pj1..... I just do what comes to mind.. I feel like an actor up there..Kids LOVE IT..
Marcia/1st - be right back
momof3 - Kathy, Is phonics a big part of 4 blocks?
Nan - Marcia, I have a great sequential writing program from SRA that teaches to write a sentence by naming and telling more. You can't name by using "and" or "because"
cin-3rd - Cecile....how long have you been using 4blocks?
Cait - How do you squeeze math into all of this?
Marcia/1st - Nan, I would love to know more.
Kathy - mom..... I sure am not the person to ask..I am totally doing this on my own this year..NO DISTRICT TRAINING so what else is new.. They have a monthly phonics book so I would say yes..It is all about making words and the word wall.
cin-3rd - Cait....that has been a challenge for me too....getting math in.
Cecile - cin-just had my first training session in September, so not long! I am just learning about it but I try bits and pieces as I go along. I have 2 more days of training next week so I will know more at that point.
Kathy - you know, I do 3 hrs of reading and one of math and I tell u. that fillsup the day...
momof3 - HOw much training is involved in order to begin 4 block teaching?
cin-3rd - cecile....who is giving the training?
cheryl - Hi! This is my first time chatting, but I am interested to hear what others think about the four-blocks. I've been using it for three years. I teach 4th grade.
brave1 - Cait - I'm having a problem too, with math. I think it's partly my fault, because I get carried away with all the enthusiasm of the kids during 4 Blocks! I'm getting better, though...trying to get in 55 min. of math per day.
Nan - mom, I have had no traing, just lots of reading and talking and flying by the seat of my pants
mcfry - momof3- I am training myself!
momof3 - Do any of you have the 5th block of literacy (I think it's a test project)?
Cecile - cait--I am also struggling with that. There are days when I can't do math or social studies. It feels like I am always trying to catch up on something!
cin-3rd - cheryl....you have three more years under your belt than I do. LOL
brave1 - momof3 - I had no training. I read the books religiously. I'm having a lot of success. This is my first year as a 4 Blocker.
Cecile - cin- i am getting it through our regional BOCES program.
Marcia/1st - I do math for about an hour and you are right, there isn't much time for anything else. I really like to do centers with the kids. Not literacy centers, but more learning centers. Gives them some time to explore and create and me some time to work with individuals if I need to
momof3 - Does anyone out there find any faults with 4 block literacy or is it all great?
mcfry - Marcia=I am doing centers too.
cheryl - cin-3rd. What do you think of the framework so far?
Marcia/1st - Mom, I have no training. I think you can do it with reading books and getting on mailring. It's just a framework and you can fit it to your personal style
Cait - Are you all doing Building Blocks or 4 Blocks. I am in Kindergarten.
momof3 - What are the key components of the word wall?
Nan - chery, I teach 6th grade sped but, most of my students are about 4th grade level kids
Kathy - Our district wants their scores to be 1400, so we are all just suppposed to teach reading and math
pj1 - I am new to 4Blocks (1st time chatting too) but my kids love it. I am the only teacher in my school who is implementing and it has all been self taught. I am the only first grade class that does not take a morning recess and believe it or not the kids don't mind - they are so engaged they do not miss it! school
cin-3rd - Cecile....our district offers some training, but there are some of us at school that decided to do this on our own. We have a study group that meets every two weeks...keep each other going.
mcfry - I used some of the building block activities at the beginning of the year.
cheryl - I have taught for nine years and can't imagine teaching without it. I really like it. I was able to travel to surrounding schools this year and train upper grade teachers. I am planning to go to the leadership training in North Carolina in January.
Kathy - Do you find it necessary to have multiple copies of books?
Nan - I can't remember. I will look at the catalog and write to you on the ring. I don't think it is. You need the Teacher's book and at least one student book. You can always copy the book
brave1 - momof3 - It's all great. You can use this framework with many different types of textbooks and every type of child. This is my 8th year teaching. I've never felt so energized! I've never seen such quick progress!
Nan - sorry that was suppose to go to marcia
Marcia/1st - Nan, thank you for your help. I will look for your response
Cecile - cin-that sounds great! In addition to the training, there is a "network" that meets every two months for 3 hours to share frustrations, joys, etc. I really think that you need a lot of support to make this work. I am going to the training with a colleague so we can talk to each other if we need to.
momof3 - HOw do you handle kids who are below average in their literacy skills and act out in the group situation?
cin-3rd - cheryl.....I love the framework. It takes the things I have been doing all along and organizes them. There are so many 'best practices' built into the framework. Wish I had had this 24 years ago when I started teaching.
cin-3rd - cheryl....it is my goal to make it to leadership too....after a few more years though.
Nan - I only have 10 students but they love this way of doing reading. No one is a behavior problem
cheryl - It takes a lot of time the first year, but then it becomes part of what you do.
Cecile - mom-I teach 3rd and I have 2 non readersThey actually pay attention and try their best so maybe I'm lucky!
Marcia/1st - Sometimes i wish I had someone to talk to at my school about the blocks. Our teachers get together and plan together, but I am going to stop planning with them. I am trying to incorporate too much into lessons and then the 4 blocks too. I am over planning waaaay too mcuh. Gotta keep focused is my mantra!
mcfry - Nan- You only have 10 students! How lucky! I have 20.
momof3 - Mcfry does it work well for you with 20 kids?
Mary - Hey cheryl- Do you have a report card reflecting the 4 block?
cin-3rd - I have 30 third graders....2 monolinguals.
brave1 - Since I started using 4 Blocks, behavior problems have been minimal. There is no time to act up. And - the best part is - every child is working at his/her level at some point, so frustration isn't a factor like it used to be.
momof3 - Mcfry do you have any behaviour problems?
mcfry - Yes, except my guided reading.
Marcia/1st - One thing that has really helped my kids in phonics is the name activities in Month by Month Phonics for first grade. When we review the names, we cover so many phonics elements and the kids associate them later on to unfamiliar words.
momof3 - What;'s the problem at guided reading time?
mcfry - Yes, I do have behavior problems! What do you do?
Cecile - cin-how do you do it with 30 students???!!! I have 19 and I find that difficult at times!
cheryl - We still use the traditional report card. I find that I have to "plan" to grade papers in order to have enough grades to average. Anticipation Guides are a good way to get reading grades.
brave1 - Marcia - you sound just like me. I am trying to get over my "theme-itis" and my tendency to overplan.
mcfry - I am a trained Reading Recovery teacher so I feel that I need to pull small groups and listen to them read and it takes too much time. I need the lesson on "and". LOL
Marcia/1st - I really don't have too mnay behavior problems. However, 7 of my lowest readers go out part way through SSR so that alleviates some of the problems. Plus, I think the activities change so frequently, the kids are engaged so much, they don't have time to cause trouble.
Cecile - cheryl-what are anticipation guides?
momof3 - I have the luxury of working 1:1 with students as a Reading Recovery teacher so I'm not going to be very helpful to you. The teachers I work with are looking for some new ways of teaching literacy and 4 blocks sounds like it has a lot to offer.
cin-3rd - Cecile...believe it or not, 4 Blocks makes it easier reaching all 30. With the conferencing built into the writing and self-selected reading blocks, it guarantees me being one on one with the students at least twice a week-more than before.
Mary - Cheryl- What are anticipation guides?
Cecile - cin- you've got a point there! I am finding that too, but still...30 students is a lot!
Marcia/1st - Yes, brave 1, I think things will go better when I think minilesson instead of theme. That has been one point of confusion for me. Do we tie in mini lessons with writing with guided reading and SSr focus?
momof3 - mcfry as a RR teacher do you feel 4 block literacy and RR are complimentary?
mcfry - Marcia- Is my problem like yours. I am planning with 4 other teachers and they do all the cutesy stuff. Then, I feel that I need to do more cutesy stuff. I am the only teacher in my building doing 4 blocks.
c - Is there a chat room for kindergarten teachers using the Building Blocks model?
cin-3rd - momof3 and mcfry....I have been taking a Running Records class from a Reading Recovery teacher, and I have found that 4 Blocks really fits into the 'philosophy' of Reading Recovery.
Cecile - HOw many of you are doing four blocks within a basal reading program?
Marcia/1st - For example, if I am doing spiders next week, do I read a bunch of spider books during the read aloud portions of blocks or do I read books that deal with skill being taught? How would you more seasoned 4 blockers respond to that?
brave1 - Cecile - I am. It works great!
cheryl - Anticipation Guides: Write five statements about the reading selection. You need a before and after section for each number. Ex. _____1. Morning Girl's brother got lost in a storm. _____ The students predict what they think will happen in the before column by checking their predictions. Then they read and see if their predictions are correct. You grade the after side. The purpose of the reading is set and usually all students get the after side correct because they know what they're looking for in the reading.
cin-3rd - Cecile....my classroom size is fairly typical of schools in the area.
Marcia/1st - mcfry, say "NO" to cutesy and shut your door. My kids are happy. And they are doing centers for about 25 minutes per day. No one seems bored either.
Nan - I would read the spider books but focus on the different strategies, do a KWL chart about spiders and read to answer the questions in the L side
Cecile - Cin-where are you?
mcfry - mom & cin-4 blocks works well with RR.
cin-3rd - Cecile....we are. Scott Foresman to be exact.
cin-3rd - Cecile....Phoenix, Arizona.
mcfry - Thanks for the advice Marcia. Where are you? I am in a small town in Texas.
Cecile - cin-us too! How are you doing it? Do you follow the Day 1,2,3,4,5 format?
brave1 - Well, Marcia - as a first year 4 Blocker, I'm not "seasoned," but I use my theme books during read-aloud. I also incorporate my theme into my mini-lesson during Writing. I might be working on "and," in a piece I'm writing about Spiders.
momof3 - mcfry could you tell me a little about the word wall. How do you get the words are they taken from text?
cin-3rd - cecile....you?
pj1 - I'm using a basal - Houghton Mifflin - Legacy of Literacy - 1st year with the series!
Mary - Cheryl-must not teach first grade!
Marcia/1st - Nan, I was going to address features of nonfiction (some of them) and have the kids look at nonfiction books and find the features and record them in a small group during the second segment of guided reading. Some of the books may not be about spiders as I am having trouble coming up with enough books on themes....
Cecile - cin- i am in Canastota, a village outside of Syracuse, NY (central area)
Marcia/1st - mcfry, I am outside Atlanta Georgia
Marcia/1st - Cecile, I used to live in Liverpool. My 10year old was born at st. Josephs hospital in Syracuse!!
mcfry - I use the high frequency words from Rebecca Sitton. I also use words that can make other words. Ex. at, bat, cat, sat, etc.
cin-3rd - cecile.....I follow the stories, but really try to do everything else 4 Blocks way. Have used only Selection Tests in the workbook.
cheryl - I teach fourth, but I have a first grade son. You would have to read the Ant. Guide aloud and have them mark their predictions. Then, do a shared reading. Finally, read the ant. guide again and have them mark what actually happened.
Cecile - Marcia--that is cool!I used to live in Liverpool too!
pj1 - How/when do you fit in centers???
momof3 - who is Rebecca Sitton?
Marcia/1st - Cecile, small world
c - Have you heard of RESULTS? It is an assessment we are using in the Sacramento, CA area. In first grade, there are 100 high frequency words that the kids have to be able to read by the end of the year. They are supposed to be able to spell 80/100 by the end of the year. In our school, we use these to determine our word wall words. It worked great. In K, we use the first 35 on the list
Nan - Marcia, that sounds good too
mcfry - She developed a spelling program and sells it.
cin-3rd - cecile....hubby is from just outside Morristown, NJ.
Cecile - Marcia--cool, huh?
momof3 - Mcfry do you know the name of the spelling program and where I could get it?
Nan - I am starting book clubs next week.
Marcia/1st - Pj1, it is hard, but I try to fit in 1 center rotation every day. My are not literacy centers tho. Mine are more like learning stations
mcfry - You might search the internet for Rebecca Sitton spelling.
Cecile - cin-which scott foresman book are you using? We got th ones that was oublished in 2000.
Marcia/1st - be right back
c - Rebecca Sitton is not that great...more of a philosophy than a good list. Horrible presenter.
mcfry - be right back
cheryl - Has anyone tried sticky-note questions?
cin-3rd - Well, been nice talking to all of you. Best of luck in your 4 Blocks endeavors.
Cecile - cin-bye! It was nice chatting with you!
cin-3rd - Cheryl....what was the 'leadership' application like?
brave1 - I did sticky notes with problem/solution.
cheryl - It's easy. Go to search on the internet and type in four block. Dottie Hall and Pat Cunningham's website is one their. I can't remember the address, but it has part of cunningham's last name and wfu in the address. The application is on their site.
Nan - cheryl, we do fat questions and skinny questions. Fat questions cannot be answered directly from the text "What else could the character have done?" skinny questions are directly stated such as "When did the character do something?"
c - Does anyone here teach kindergarten? I need some info for that.
momof3 - does four block literacy work at any grade level
momof3 - Have any of you heard about the 5th block?
cheryl - Nan, that's a good idea. I will try it.
Nan - Yes, mom it is a way of teaching not a program
Cecile - mom-as far as I know..at least from k-6.
cheryl - oops. their should be there.
mcfry - I'm back.
Nan - When they do book clubs they have to write a fat question to discuss in their group
mcfry - I had to start a breathing treatment!
momof3 - Nan how much time each day is spent on each block?
c - There is a new book about using the 4 Blocks model in older grades...also a good lesson plan book for planning in most teacher type stores. Building Blocks is for K.
Marcia/1st - Nan, great idea-fat and skinny?
Marcia/1st - oops, I meant, fat and skinny!
brave1 - I think the chat rooms should have automatic spell-checks and grammar checks!
Nan - I have 2- 50 minute periods, this is not enough but I manage. I do Word and Writing in one period. Then, I do guided reading everyday for 50 minutes and SSR on Friday and Advisory on Thursday is Drop Everything And Read so we do SSR then too
cheryl - My son did building blocks last year in kindergarten and did very well. I think it can be used at any grade level.
momof3 - Do you find 50 minutes of guided reading to be the right amount of time?
Nan - I have the upper grade books, they are great resources
cheryl - Guided reading can be done 30-50 minutes depending on the age level.
Nan - Some days I need more but most of the time it is okay
Cecile - brave1--I agree with the spell/grammar checks. My fingers are so cold that they aren't working right! Can you believe that it is snowing in central NY right now?!!!
momof3 - thanks everyone for answering so many of my questions. I will certainly have to read up on 4 block literacy so that I can join in again next time
brave1 - Cecile - I feel for you. I'm cold just thinking about snow!
Nan - Wow! I had the top down on my car today!!
cheryl - I got to hear Dottie Hall speak in Springfield, Mo. It was neat to hear this information from the "horse's mouth."
Cecile - nan-lucky you!
brave1 - Nan - you're making us all jealous!
Nan - It was my gift to myself, a convertible
Cecile - nan-where so you live where it is so warm in mid-October?!
brave1 - Nan - are book clubs described in The Teacher's Guide to the 4 Blocks?
Nan - Mississippi gulf coast
REI - Cheryl...I've been fortunate to hear Dottie speak several times. Always walk out with something new...even though I have been doing 4 Blocks for several years.
Cecile - Nan-ahhh, that explains it!
mcfry - How do you keep up with the writing that the kids are doing each day?
Nan - book clubs are in the book, they are small groups of students that read the same book and meet to discuss the book
cheryl - REI, are you attending leadership in January?
Cecile - nan-are you doing book clubs? How many are you currently doing?
REI - Mcfry...I do a Status of the Class right at the beginning. It lets me know what stage everyone is at.
Nan - We are doing Roald Dahl books, The Witches, Magic Finger and one other maybe The Twits
REI - Cheryl...YOU BET!
momof3 - could someone please tell me what a book club is
mcfry - Do the kids keep their writing in folders?
Nan - We start Monday, I taught the process whole group using Sideways Stories From Wayside School
Cecile - mom-look below. Nan just described them to someone else...
brave1 - mcfry - I just started a new writing folder. One side has P - Prewrwriting and F - First draft. The other pocket has R - revising and E - editing. When the kids write each day, I have them put a circle at the top of their papers with a P,F,R, or E in it. It helps me keep track at-a-glance.
cheryl - My 4th graders love author's chair! What about your students?
REI - I teach 2nd. Mine keep their writing in a binder. We have different sections.
mcfry - brave1-what grade do you teach?
Nan - My kids write in notebooks
brave1 - Cheryl - my kids beg for author's chair!
Nan - Mine love all of the sharing. I am looking for a microphone
brave1 - mcfry - I teach 2nd.
momof3 - I'm thirlled to hear about all the process wirting that's going on. I've often thought that it was not happening, but it certainly sounds like it's alive and well.
cheryl - brave1- what grade do you teach?
REI - The author's chair is a definite favorite. It is hysterical when we have visitors and they "accidently" sit in the Authors chair while observing. My kids never say anything directly but oh the glances the visiting teachers get.
Cecile - Good night everyone! It is past my bedtime...I get up at 5:30 AM
Nan - My kids just wrote adventure stories with my student teacher. They worked in groups and did research online about their setting. We had a party with parents and administrators. The students read to the guests it was great
brave1 - momof3 - definitely alive and well. My kids whine when the timer goes off after 20 minutes. They are silent the whole time. I'm amazed at their attention spans when they're interested in what they write.
momof3 - thanks again everyone
cheryl - My fourth graders also enjoy SSR. I read to them on the carpet and they crowd around my chair. It's nice that 4th graders still enjoy being close and hearing stories.
brave1 - Cheryl - 2nd
mcfry - Nan, how does it work with a student teacher?
mcfry - am getting one in January.
REI - Anyone else going to Leadership?
momof3 - brave 1 is there any way for them to keep writing after the 20 minutes or are there too many other areas left to cover?
cheryl - I have a student teacher. I wish I had been trained like this in the beginning.
Nan - I was just starting 4 blocks so it was crazy. I was trying to get this upand running and she was trying to help. I miss her a lot now
cheryl - I'm planning on attending Leadership.
Nan - It really helped during conferencing and especially during writing block
brave1 - momof3 - good question. I'd let them write all day, if I could. I've had to buy a timer, because otherwise, I'd never teach everything I need to! I guess it's a common problem for 4 blockers.
REI - I have a student teacher as well. She is learning lots (her university has no 4 Blocks knowledge).
mcfry - Nan, what order do you do your blocks?
momof3 - brave 1 how do you publish the students work do you type it up or do they write it out in good copy?
cheryl - I've found that if I tell that they can "only" write for 15-20 minutes they want to keep writing.
Nan - I am at a middle school so, I do not have my students all day. They are all in some regular classes. I teach word block and writing during 3rd period and guided reading and SSR during 7th period
Marcia/1st - How did your workshop go the other day in Paulding County?
brave1 - After they edit with me, they rewrite once, then I type. I'm big into handwriting, so I have them do a nice final copy, even though I type it too.
Cece/1/GA - Better than I'd hoped. Did you know Patrick was in the county on the same day???
mcfry - Thanks for all the help! Marcia, I will shut my door and just too the 4 blocks. I will be less stressed that way.
brave1 - Cece - better late than never!
mcfry - just do the 4 blocks.
mcfry - good night!
Nan - Cheryl, how many days do you read the same thing? I have a hard time getting my students to read something again unless it is a play.
Marcia/1st - No, did he have to do a workshop too?
pj1 - thanks for your help everyone!
Cece/1/GA - Yes, with an elem. school there. I really hope he starts doing these...he can do alot of good around Atlanta.
Marcia/1st - pj1, good night
cheryl - When I have student reread a piece I usually have them reread it to retell it. As long as I give them the purpose they do o.k.
Cece/1/GA - Not to say he can't elsewhere, too!
Nan - We have been doing plays this week. I am going to video them tomorrow and then we will evaluate the fluency, inflection etc. on Monday. It should be lots of fun
Marcia/1st - Well, good. That's great for him.
brave1 - Nan - neat idea to use videotape to evaluate.
Cece/1/GA - How are things with you? Is all going well in your classroom?
Nan - We are doing "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" and " The Three Billy goats Gruff"
Marcia/1st - Cece, yes, you have missed a great discussion tonight about how to fit in 4 blocks with CUTE stuff. We decided to get rid of the cute stuff and teach skills during our mini lessons!! We are all liberated now!
Nan - yes, what is your email?
Nan - oops! did it again!
Marcia/1st - ncnyga@aol.com
Cece/1/GA - YEAH! I'll have to catch it in the archives
brave1 - Let's start burning our bulletin-board cutsie books!
cheryl - I tried a new summarizing lesson today that I got from the Guided Reading book. You put a paragraph on the overhead and uncover one sentence. The students summarize in 15 words or less. Then you show the second sentence. They resummarize two sentences in 15 words or less. You continue showing sentences and changing your summary, I put 15 blanks on the board. They did better than I thought they would do the first time.
Nan - I did that one too. cheryl
Cece/1/GA - As if I have any, brave1. I'm that teacher who likes the bulletin board you can leave up all year!!!
Nan - my kids will need to do this a bunch before they can do it alone or in a group
Marcia/1st - ncnyga@aol.com
brave1 - Cece - thank goodness I'm not the only one!
cheryl - mine too.
Cece/1/GA - Cheryl, I heard Jim discuss using that technique at the Leadership conference. He said it worked wonders with the groups they used it with, that using it over time really improves their ability to summarize.
cheryl - Well, it's bedtime! I've enjoyed chatting.
brave1 - Goodnight, Cheryl
Marcia/1st - Can you do that summarizing technique with first grade? I have a couple that really need to learn this.
Cece/1/GA - That's what I was wondering...You might get the class to list all the main points of a story, and them hone it down to 15 words...?
Cece/1/GA - Marcia, I am doing bat books in book clubs this week and it is really going well.
REI - I better get going. Need to finish my handouts for a 4 Blocks workshop next week.
brave1 - If you guys think of a way to work this summarizing activity into 1st/2nd grade level, will you post it to the ring? I'd love to do it too, but it sounds too difficult.
Marcia/1st - what about spiders? I thought you wree doing spiders?
Cece/1/GA - REI, where?
Nan - night everyone
brave1 - Cece - what books are you using? I'm doing bats soon, too.
Cece/1/GA - I'm saving spiders for the week of Halloween
Marcia/1st - Oh, I have an idea about summarizing. I just saw it ion reading lady.com or something
REI - In Cinncinatti (sp?) OH.
Cece/1/GA - brave1, I have 4...Gail Gibbons book, Screech! A book about bats, Sandra Markle's Outside and Inside Bats, and a Bats book by Scholastic. I have 3-6 copies of each book
brave1 - Thanks, Cece. I appreciate it.
Cece/1/GA - That's great! You're doing them alot, right? How are you liking it?
Marcia/1st - It's the one with the picture of the hand. Maybe I will just write it up and send it in. I was thinkig of a way to summarize the elements of a story. It may not be exactly what we are lookig for, but the kids have to identify those. I'll try to write it up and send it in soon.
Cece/1/GA - brave1, if you want the ISBN's I can get them at school.
brave1 - Marcia - that would be great!
Rhonda - Am I too late?
Cece/1/GA - marcia, I use versions of the gingerbread man with story elements in dec. That handout would be helpful!
Cece/1/GA - Hey, Rhonda
Marcia/1st - Cece, with the book club-after they choose the club/book, what purpose do you set for them? How man days do they meet in their book club?
Cece/1/GA - I just got here too!
Rhonda - Hey all
REI - Cece...I love it. Not ready to give up my classroom and hit the road full time yet - I enjoy teaching too much for that. I'm getting pretty busy though.
Marcia/1st - ooh, I do gingerbread man too
brave1 - Cece - I'd really appreciate it. I need to get multiple copies. Can you post them to the ring?
Rhonda - Have you guys talked about reading comprehension tonight?
Marcia/1st - Cece, do you think those particular titles range in reading ability?
Cece/1/GA - Marcia, I use Deb Smith's anticipation guide here at teachers.net. We go over it on the first day and list yes/no. Our purpose for the days we read is to discover how many of the statements are true/false. I usually do it in 4 days...we have a field trip so it will run into next week.
Cece/1/GA - yes, brave1
Marcia/1st - Cece, thanks. that is helpful. Perhaps the same questions could be geared to spiders as well.
Cece/1/GA - Marcia, the range is very wide. Sandra Markle's is so difficult I actually read w/that group.
Cece/1/GA - Next week we will do a predictable chart on bats for some easier reading on the same topic. That will balance out the 2.
Cece/1/GA - Well, you'd have to change the questions, but it would give you an idea of the format
brave1 - We'll have to share GR ideas for the gingerbread theme later in the year. I'd love to hear what you all do!
Marcia/1st - I wasn't going to do bats per se. Was going to focus on spiders and perhaps read Stellaluna and do connection activity over a two day period.
Cece/1/GA - It is amazing how many versions there are! I even have a cajun version!
cheryl - I'm back. I put my kids to bed .
brave1 - Cece - Oh, WOW! I'd love to get a look at your classroom library!
Cece/1/GA - someone posted an amazing batquest on the mailring that using stellaluna as the jumping off point. It'd be great for the gifted 1st graders~
Marcia/1st - Great idea, Cece, I haven't been using the predictable charts that much as a follow up to our guided reading. I see how they can be useful for lower readers. I have a lot already made from kindergarten which we read, but may want to try to get kids to hlep me write new ones with more factual information in the.
Cece/1/GA - brave1, my classroom looks like a library exploded in it!
Rhonda - Is anyone doing any good Making Words lessons in 1st?
brave1 - Cece - I'm jealous! Too bad you're all the way in Georgia. I'd have to invite myself over
Cece/1/GA - Marcia, I think the nonfiction can really make the predictable chart more multilevel for 1st
Cece/1/GA - brave1, where are you?
Cece/1/GA - Rhonda, are you looking for seasonal ones?
Marcia/1st - brave 1, I don't feel like I have enough books, but I copy and laminate all kinds of reading material. I pick up extra Weekly readers in library (at any level), old phone books (take out the pages for sex therapists, tho
brave1 - Rhonda - I'm doing "pumpkins" this week. I teach second, but I bet you could work it out.
Marcia/1st - I did scared and it had a lot of VCe and ea words in it
brave1 - Cece - I'm in Wisconsin.
Rhonda - I did pumpkins last week with 1st, and it went well
Marcia/1st - The kids did pumpkins in their homework packet this week
Nan - There is lots of material available online for reading too
Cece/1/GA - Marcia, I always try to read through the phone book when I travel to do workshops. You can really learn alot about towns by their phone books!
Rhonda - Do you guys have a basal you like for GR in 1st?
Marcia/1st - I saw one of the kids "reading" the phone book the other day. What a crack up!
Cece/1/GA - You might get different regions to share phone books with your class...then you could teach them neat things about other places
cheryl - Cece, how often do you do workshops?
brave1 - Marcia - LOL!! I spend almost my entire paycheck on books, and still don't feel I have enough. I guess I'll turn to the phone book...
Cece/1/GA - Rhonda, we use Harcout. 1st is ok, but the 2nd grade is better.
Rhonda - I"ve been hearing quite a bit about Harcourt and Houghton Mifflin
Cece/1/GA - Cheryl, this month, I have about 9 booked. Several got delayed from September. I have only 2 in November.
brave1 - Marcia - LOL! I spend almost my entire paycheck on books, and still don't feel I have enough. I guess I'll turn to the phone book...
Marcia/1st - brave 1, we have that leveled book library which I have been leveling the books with F & P levels (slap my hand, I know) and that's mainly what my kids read duirng SSR. I also have table tubs on each grup of desks with a wide variety of reading material in it. This is used for early finishers or monring work mainly.
cheryl - Are you still teaching?
cece/1/GA - booted..sorry! Yes, I'm teaching, have a 13 month old, and am going crazy!
brave1 - OOps - sorry I double-posted. Got booted.
cece/1/GA - I really love doing the workshops. Teachers are wonderful, and I get to meet some great ones! (Like Marcia!)
Marcia/1st - cece, that anticipation guide---is it under literacy lessons on the chatboard page?
Marcia/1st - thanks so much for the compliment!
cece/1/GA - I think so...I found it by searching for bats
brave1 - Cece - neat phone book idea! When I come to Georgia, I'll get yours. Just kidding.
cece/1/GA - I just copy and pasted it into a word document and changed the font size. Easy!
cece/1/GA - Actually, I'll send you an AL, TN & GA if you like...I am near all 3!
brave1 - Marcia - thanks for the info. I won't tell anyone about you using F&P
Rhonda - What's everyone doing with writing in 1st these days?
Marcia/1st - Who was doin pumpkins? I just checked the 4 blocks literacy lesson plans and there are about 3 units on there about pumpkins
brave1 - My computer keeps freezing up. I'm back.
cece/1/GA - My minilesson today was writing about bats...showing them how to NOT copy the book, but look for words if they need spelling...we are also trying to publish everyone this month
cece/1/GA - hey, brave1
brave1 - Cece - can you imagine the postage on those things? I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Rhonda - cece, that sounds good....the kids love to publish things I know
Marcia/1st - cece, would you call that a focused writing lesson? I am curious as to the difference.
cece/1/GA - It's hard to find time to publish everyone...
Rhonda - so, were they writing facts about bats?
cece/1/GA - I would think more focused, but I didn't require everyone to write about bats...so it could be more focused
Rhonda - we tried writing an acrostic about pumpkins and it bombed
Marcia/1st - okay, I see
cece/1/GA - I modeled a short paragraph on what I had learned about bats. I want them to put information they know into their own words
brave1 - Marcia - I'm doing pumpkins. Also, regarding leveled books - did you see the new A-Z printable books? They're on the site with the Tommy books. They look pretty decent.
Marcia/1st - Have you ever read "The Important Book?" It has great writing spin-off ideas
cece/1/GA - Marcia, I might make it more focused by having a form to organize the writing, and then showing them how to put it into a paragraph form
Rhonda - I think I need to use that book marcia. It's been mentioned on the listserve
Marcia/1st - brave 1, I also got on another site the other day called readingatoz.com. They had books you could download
cece/1/GA - Rhonda, do one as a class, and then your brightest ones will pick it up...it might spread from there. That's a neat idea, I haven't thought of doing that!
Marcia/1st - The kids really responded too. They wanted to write something right away. It ws lunch time!
Rhonda - the acrostic? We did BUS together
Marcia/1st - rhonda, too funny!
cece/1/GA - My class really loves to write!
Rhonda - Here is what we came up with.......
cece/1/GA - Well, sometimes it takes a while for them to catch on!
Marcia/1st - perhaps "bus" was too short of a word for them to catch on
brave1 - You guys are great! Thanks for the chat. My computer is acting up, so I'm going to log off soon.
Rhonda - Bopping along Usually on time Stopping for (kid's name)
cece/1/GA - sorry brave1, if you're ever in GA, stop by and see me!
cece/1/GA - Wow, Rhonda, that's good. I can see where pumpkin would be hard!
Rhonda - I think we'll stick with the 3 letter words awhile LOL
cece/1/GA - Maybe you could try Vine...or Fall???
Marcia/1st - I guess that would be hard to do when you think about it.
Rhonda - yes, vine or Fall.............
Marcia/1st - don't acrostics require some knowledge of parts of speech? some knowledge of how phrases are put together? Do you think that was the difficult part about it, Rhonda
cece/1/GA - I like the phrases rather than just a word..it makes it flow
brave1 - Thanks, Cece. Talk to you guys on the ring. Goodnight!
cece/1/GA - goodnight!
Rhonda - yes, acrostics take some thinking for most first graders I think
cece/1/GA - Marcia, speaking of fall...I have my stack of fall books waiting by the computer to type in for you. Haven't forgotten...haven't had time!
Marcia/1st - Yes, that sounds better with phrases and probably easier for 1st grade. Not quite as limiting.
Rhonda - Well, I think you guys want to go and so do I
Rhonda - goodnight, see you on the list
cece/1/GA - Night, Rhonda
Marcia/1st - Cece, were you going to do that? I thought it was spider books. I have found some that I have, but I don't have multiple copies of them. She's right, I have to go to bed. I am so sleepy
cece/1/GA - I have several spider books...They are all together...I can try to get to it Friday. Tomorrow is a field trip to the pumpking patch!
Marcia/1st - OOh, we went today!
cece/1/GA - Wish I'd thought, I could have met you Monday and let you borrow them!
Marcia/1st - It was beautiful! What a great fall day and a great outing for first grade
cece/1/GA - Good to talk to you again! We need to meet again soon.
Marcia/1st - I've got to get to bed. You are going to have to leave too, or else talk to yourself
Marcia/1st - yes, let's do
cece/1/GA - I've been known to do that! Night!
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