Kathleen - Susan Jenkinson is a fourth grade teacher in West Columbia, S.C. She has taught the Cunningham Model of Language Arts for 5 years in grades two and four and has instructed teachers on how to use the Model in grades K - 8. She has been assisting teachers with the Cunningham 4-Block model of instruction for the past 3 years for the State Department of Education in S.C. and is an adjunct professor for The Citadel. Teachers.Net is excited and grateful to have Susan here this evening!
Kathleen - Susan, would you begin by telling us what the 4-Blocks Model offers that too many other methods do not?
Susan - Yes, the four block model does something that very few other models do, and that is not throw the baby out with the bath water. Before we went to the 4 block model we used the " trash can" method of curriculum adoption. You know, try phonics, test scores down, try basal instruction, that doesn't raise scores try whole language. The four blocks take the best of all methodologys and uses them every day
Kathleen - Susan, how does one begin with 4-Blocks?
Susan - The best place is to begin with reading. Dr. Cunningham and Cheryl Sigmon have many good books out. Once you have a knowledge base, try it. Some people want to try one block at a time others jump in with both feet. Me, I was a jumper, mind you I didn't always know what I was doing but the results I saw were amazing. After you have tried it, go and watch someone else. You can learn a lot from watching someone else.
Debbie - Could you briefly go over the four blocks and what they are?
Susan - Debbie, briefly, the four blocks are guided reading - instruction of comprehension and fluency; word block - anything that deals with word study...phonics, compound words, spelling patterns, synonyms etc; writing block - any and everything to do with writing : editing, revision, sentence structure, .... Self - selected reading - students apply skills and strategies learned during guided reading at the students own independent level and interest.
Winchester - If I don't have time for all 4 Blocks in one day (I am new at this) Should I continue with the "unfinished" blocks the next day? Or should I start over again?
Susan - Winchester, If you don't finish all 4 blocks then the next day try again, but I would start with the block(s) you didn't get to the day before. I had trouble the first year getting it all in, but it does get better with time and a timer
lisa - Could you explain the difference between the 4 blocks and the Fountas and Pinnell philosophy?
Susan - Lisa, I am currently reading the Fountas and Pinnel book myself. So the only thing I feel I can talk about is guided reading in the 4-block model. The purpose of guided reading is to teach comprehension skills/stategies and reading fluency. Instruction can be done with a variety of materials, basal readers, trade books, chapter books, poetry, newspapers, weekly readers, science texts. Instruction is broken down into three parts: pre reading, reading and post reading. In prereading you build background, introduce voc., preview, predict, and set the purpose for reading. In the reading section the students read in a variety of settings, with a partner, with the teacher, with an aide, independently. The students are reading to search for the "treasure" (the purpose) In post reading, students are bought back together to share the treasure. SOme teachers teach a mini lesson in the pre reading section. Some teach it in the post reading. I have found it very important to vary between grade level and below grade level material.
Jeanne - Can you give me some suggestions in working with the Word Wall for the intermediate grades? Would you use the same format as in the primary grades?
Susan - Jeanne, in my class my word block goes like this, we do word wall words daily. Mon. we discuss why word is a word wall word ( high frequency - odd spelling pattern) Then we work with 2 or 3 nifty thrifty fifty words (from Month by Month Phonics for upper grades), then we do a game or secondary activitity : making words, brand name phonics, What looks right. Tues - Friday we still work with 5 word wall words every day mixing up the new words for the week with words already on the wall. The format is very similar to primary
Pepper - What do you differently with the writing block for upper grades?
Susan - Pepper, in the writing block in upper grades the focus is on process writing. Teaching the variety of types of writing persuasive, expository, research. This writing is done as a guided activity. My writing block begins with a daily language activity(i.e.DOL) then we begin the process. Its kind of an I do mine, know you do yours and I'll help. I alternate between doing a process piece and free writing like the primary grades do.
zoey/2/IL - I teach second grade (and would like to begin to use 4 block) and there is a first grade teacher in my building that is also experimenting with 4 block, can we team up and share ideas or is first and second very different? What are the biggest differences?
Susan - Zoey, definitely team up. The difference you will see between gr 1 - 2 is pacing and materials used in guided reading.
Debbie - How does the 4 blocks compare to Reading/Writing Workshop along with DEAR or SSR and a good Spelling Program?
Susan - Comparing DEAR and self selected reading, the difference is accountability. The conferencing factor really is the difference. Comparing the model to with reading and writing workshop along with DEAR or SSR and a good spelling program, the difference is that the major methods for language instruction are done every day. The scheduling is critical, because not all children learn the same way. By doing all 4 blocks every day you don't leave anyone out.
me - What would a typical first grade day look like?
Susan - me, a typical first grade day, o.k. Guided reading with basal or trade books or big book with 3 days on grade level material and 2 days of below grade level material. Within guided reading , prereading, reading and post reading acitivtieis. Word block. snap clap stomp cheer teacher writes, students write, trace word wall words, followed by a word activity : rounding up the rhymes, wordo, etc.. Writing block: teacher models, provides mini lesson on strategey/skill, students write, teacher monitors or conference, students have time to share, Self selected reading : teacher read a loud, students read while teacher conferences followed by book talk.
Kathy/1/TN - I have been teaching many years. I want to use 4-block. Where do I start?
Susan - Kathy, a great starting place is "Implementing the 4-Block method" by Cheryl Sigmon and "Classrooms that Work" by Dr. Patricia Cunningham. Read up and give it a try. You will probably be suprised that you have been doing a lot of the stuff that goes in the 4-blocks all along. The four blocks provides a frame work for those acitivities so that you do you address all possible learning styles everyday. It would also help to find someone who is doing the model who would be willing to let you observe. I learned more from watching someone else than any other way
Gayle - Please tell me what words should go on the Word Wall and how long?
Susan - Gayle, word wall words are high frequency words used over and over again in print. or commonly misspelled in students writing. Once a word wall word is up it stays up until the end of the year. you should have approx.110 word wall words up by the end of the year. I cut off putting up new words on or about April 15. After that we review whats up
Debbie - About how much time would you spend on each block for a second grade classroom?
Susan - Debbie, each block should be about 30 minutes for second grade. I sometimes went 35 during guided reading depending on the length of the story.
me - This sounds very exciting. Please tell us about your background.
Susan - I started teaching in an "impaired" school. We had tried every possible method of teaching language arts instruction, and by themselves none of them worked. Students population: rural, impoverished. After 1 year with the 4 block model we saw a minimun gain of 1 year 6 months on the Johns IRI. a max. gain of 4 years 2 months. These kids are still gaining in middle school.
Kathleen - Susan, thank you VERY much for the information you shared tonight in response to questions. You can see that there is a lot of interest in 4-Blocks. Would you consider returning sometime to answer more questions?
Susan - I would be more than happy to return
Tony B/CA - ...wonderful Susan. Thank you for your insights.
Kathleen - Susan, Teachers.Net is very grateful for your time and expertise and we look forward to your return visit:-) I will be in touch. Thank you to all who came!
Susan - Kathleen, if anyone wants to get in touch with me, I'm at sjenkinson@aol.com
Kathleen - Thank you, Susan, for sharing your e-mail address. I'll bet you hear from some people ;-)
Susan - Good night. Thank you for allowing a chance to share
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