Month by Month Reading and Writing for Kindergarten |
The Teacher's Guide to the Building Blocks |
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terri-tx - hey, purple,lc,are you here to discuss building blocks
Purple - Yes
terri-tx - me too
Purple - I teach 1/2 day kindergarten. Does anyone else here teach 1/2 day?
lc - I am looking for info on writing workshop. Does anyone have anything good they can share?
terri-tx - I just went to a workshop on writing and bought the neatest book
Purple - Have you read "Kid Writing" lc?
terri-tx - lc,,,,,,it's called Teaching the Youngest Writers
lc - And this is good as a starting point?
terri-tx - My book takes you from Day 1 of kinder, lc
Purple - Hi Ann. Do you teach all day or 1/2 day K?
Ann - All Day
lc - Great. Do you know if School Box carries this?
terri-tx - I don't know what school box is....I bought it from the presenter......lc
lc - Does it come from Building Blocks?
terri-tx - lc......no, but the lady that presenter from the workshop also teaching how to do Building blocks and reccommended this to me
lc - Great! Thanks for the info!
REI - Teaching the Youngest Writer is an excellent resource.
terri-tx -
terri-tx - just bought it last week and I really like it
Purple - How much did it cost, Terri-tx?
terri-tx - 17.95
Purple - Not a bad price for a good resource!
terri-tx - the author is Marcia Freeman
Purple - REI and readergal, are either one of you 1/2 day kindergarten?
JDM - hello, I'm a sub but hope you don't mind me being here
terri-tx - not at all....JDM
JDM - I would LOVE to teach K!
JDM - but right now, I'd take whatever I'd get
Purple - Didn't mean to repeat your words, territx. We must have been typing at the same time!
REI - Purple...no, actually I'm teaching 2nd grade but am a Building Blocks presenter.
terri-tx - I was hoping to get some insight on BB.....I bought the books last summer, but none of the other 4 kinder teachers use it, so I'm on my own
JDM - what is Building Blocks?
Purple - I'm looking for a specific schedule for teaching BB with 1/2 day k. I taught it last year, but I'm not sure I got everything in that I could.
terri-tx - REI where are you located?
terri-tx - I need to go to a presentation
REI - Terri~I'm in IL, but have been traveling throughout the country working with school districts or Regional Superintendents offices.
terri-tx - REI oh, I just came back from Ill.
terri-tx - JDM.....BB is teaching reading, writing and phonics in a developmentally appropriate way
REI - Purple...give me a breakdown of how you fit BB in, if you can.
REI - I'll try and give suggestions (if possible).'
Purple - I'll try, REI. I did the name activities once through. I did the shared reading one week, and the predictable charts the next week.
milymo - I've done Four Blocks for two years with 2nd grade and now I'm moving to k.
REI - How about Morning Message?
Purple - REI, I tried to fit the morning/afternoon message in, but only seemed to be able to once or twice a week.
milymo - Does anyone have Extended Day K?
terri-tx - milymo, do you have the BB books?
Rhonda/K/Ind. - We have full day K.
pez - I teach full day K
Purple - Congratulations, Milymo. Are you happy about the move?
milymo - Yes, I just got through the reading part of it
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Milymo, I was in 2nd when I took time off with my kids. Now going back into K.
milymo - i will get the other books at the beginning of the year.
terri-tx - milymo, are there more than two books?
REI - Purple...it would be great if you could fit Morning Message in everyday. Morning Message is an extremely powerful teaching tool.
milymo - thanks purple! i was hoping to stay with second several more years, but they reduced the number of classes.
Purple - REI, I will just have to make it a priority rather than an "if there's time thing." Do you suggest writing the mm out ahead of time or writing it with the children?
milymo - i am getting the predictable charts one an the reading and writing for kindergarten.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Purple, I believe there was a discussion on the chatboard about 1/2 day schedules, but can't recall if it was K or BB. Maybe that would help too. ?
Purple - I found the predictable chart book very helpful for ideas to go along with my themes.
REI - Purple...MM should always be written with the children.
terri-tx - I have the predictable charts, but didn't know there was a book to go with them......what is it called?
Purple - Thanks, Rhonda. I'll look through the discussions.
pez - I tried to do MM everyday. Toward the end of the year, the kids took turns writing it
Rhonda/K/Ind. - LOL, thanks for the response Purple. I was beginning to get neurotic and think my posts weren't showing up. lol
REI - Pez~that is exactly what should happen in an successful BB classroom with Morning Message.
Purple - Rhonda, kind of like when none of the students are listening to you at the end of the day?
milymo - It's called "Predictable Charts: Shared Writing for Kindergarten and First Grade."
pez - I found that MM carried over into journal writing. Three little girls always ended their journal entry with Love, Lauren etc.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - lol, yes Purple...but I couldn't see the glazed look on all your faces.
REI - That is great Pez!
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Anyone use BB with their reading series, or do you use it totally independent of one?
terri-tx - thanks, milymo
pez - I also tried to add variety to the ending of MM. For example, during November, a turkey wrote the MM and signed it Love Tom Turkey
Rhonda/K/Ind. - BTW, how long is 1/2 day K?
Rhonda/K/Ind. - That's neat pez.
milymo - Good idea pez!
pez - Rhonda, we use Wright Group and Sunshine Books so it's easy to incorporate it into Shared Reading
Purple - 3 1/2 hours, including specials
milymo - My half day will be 2.5 hours.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Okay, I was always wondering what the time difference was between full and half. Thanks.
REI - Milymo~does that include specials?
pez - Gosh, I've always taught a full day K, I don't know if I could teach 1/2 day
Rhonda/K/Ind. - pez, how long in K?
pez - Rhonda, 23 years
Purple - It's hard to get it all in with a 1/2 day.
milymo - Some specials... We don't get all the specials. We'll have library and I'm not sure what they may add this year.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - pez, I think our series will be easy too, once I "figure" it all out. Overwhelming at first...
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Wow pez, how cool.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - I'll bet it's hard in 1/2. Do you have to cover all the same material as full day K does in other areas/states? (I'm wondering out loud.)
REI - Have to get ready for workshop tomorrow. Bye everyone.
pez - Ever since I started using BB my kids understand the difference between letters and words. We do alot of circling during MM and when they glue their sentences from the predictable chart they can see the 'words'
pez - Bye REI
Purple - I think it varies from state to state, and even between different districts.
pez - Rhonda, it probably depends on the district's expectations
milymo - I will have some of the same kids in my PM class as I have in my morning class. I will have other students who come from the other teacher's AM class.
Purple - milymo, are these at-risk students?
Rhonda/K/Ind. - That's interesting milymo.
pez - milymo, why will you have the same kids?
milymo - Yes, the pm class are students who tested low in the screening.
Purple - How many students will you have per session?
AB - milymo, What a challenge to not do thing "twice".
milymo - My morning class is at 15 now and my pm class has 10.
pez - milymo, nice numbers
pez - I had 23 last year
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Love the small classes!
AB - Great class size!
AB - I had 25 the last 2 years.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - I have 15 right now.
milymo - Yes, AB - that is a concern, but teachers of all day k and upper grades do it all the time, so I know I'll be able to manage
Purple - milymo, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity for those children with more needs.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Yes milymo, it does...I agree Purple.
milymo - I taught k four years ago and had 24. This will be very different. I'm sure more will register before the start of school.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Angie, I don't think it was you.
milymo - I'm excited, but nervous at the same time.
Angie K/IA - thanks Rhonda....I just got out of the tub, so I don't think I smell or anything.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - lol, ahhh a bath! What a nice idea..too bad it's hot here.
Purple - milymo, I feel that way at the beginning of every year!
Rhonda/K/Ind. - hb
Angie K/IA - I have 17 next year. Have my class list right here.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - I feel that way too....I think moving to K from other grades is a BIG difference. I've taught 1st and 2nd, but this seems a LOT different.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Really cool and exciting, but different.
Angie K/IA - I'm so excited...I have a Zachary (for Z) and a Q one too.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Lucky Angie! We draw for our students at the end of July.
Purple - When do you start, Angie?
Rhonda/K/Ind. - We have 2 k classes and right now we are at 30 students...24 girls and 6 boys (3 are named Adam)! Wild, huh?
Angie K/IA - we have a new principal...he decided we should have more input on the lists. We made them right after roundup, but we had so many kids that we are hiring another teacher! I won't be "the new kid" anymore.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Moving up the seniority ladder Angie!
milymo - I'm back!
Angie K/IA - August twenty something. Don't tell anyone, but I can't wait. I love starting school....a new class....new "toys" ...new crayons. Someday they are going to put me away for liking all that!
Rhonda/K/Ind. - wb milymo
Purple - Wow, Rhonda! I've had years like that where my groups were girl-heavy, and other years where they were boy-heavy.
Angie K/IA - I've got a really girl heavy group too...11 girls and 6 boys right now....something in the water?
milymo - LOL Angie!
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Love that term Purple, "girl-heavy" I'll have to share that one. :0
Angie K/IA - so AB, what/where do you teach (that's my initials you are using)
Purple - I remember with all the girls that we could sit and write and talk and listen for longer periods of time. Especially toward the end of the year!
Rhonda/K/Ind. - I have thought about that Purple.
milymo - My last two years were boy heavy and I'm boy heavy again this year. Interesting because the other two teachers this year were girl heavy... hmmmm....
AB - I'm in KY.
Purple - milymo, sounds like a conspiracy!
milymo - I'm in OH.
AB - Do all of you use Building Blocks?
Angie K/IA - actually, milymo, I really like the boy heavy years. I love the challenge of those rough and tumble "wild boys". (Ask my parents, I was like that in Highschool too)
Angie K/IA - I do! A combonation of BB and Kidwriting does amazing things!
milymo - It worked out well for the personalities though. The first grade teachers made up the lists for the second and I think they have reasons for where they place the students.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Milymo, I'm in Indiana near the Oh/Ky border. You near Cincinnati?
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Angie, I have three boys of my own, so that would be "easy" for me...like being at home, only they would listen better. lol
milymo - I'm up between Cleveland and Akron.
Purple - I began using BB last year, AB, so I'm still learning.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Okay, way put there milymo.
Angie K/IA - no boys at my house (except my husband and DIBELS the kindergarten rabbit who is visiting for the summer). Actually, Madeline, my 4 year old has refused to wear a shirt all summer....that's kinda like a wild boy, I guess.
terry - angie, what is "kidwriting?" do you use a book?
AB - Purple, I'm learning too. Have you seen the book on charts--I think it's new.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Sounds wild Angie. lol
Purple - Predictable charts, AB?
AB - Yes, I saw it advertised on one of the sites.
Angie K/IA - yup. Kidwriting by Eileen Feldgus and Isabell Cardonick. Can only get it through the wright group (www.wrightgroup.org I think). We start journaling the very first day of kindergarten! I loved it.
Purple - I have the pred. chart book, and used it a lot last year. Many of the topics fit well into my themes.
milymo - My two year old year is exploring how it feels to go with only the "bare essentials" this summer too, Angie!
Angie K/IA - I have the book on charts sitting right beside me. If you are just starting out, it would be good, but a lot of the charts you can pretty much think up on your own, I think.
terry - thanks, angie
Angie K/IA - Purple, didn't mean for that to sound "snooty"....
Purple - I think it's nice to have some ideas available when you've got a lot going on.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - I have the pred. charts bk. but haven't looked through it yet.
Purple - I didn't take it that way, Angie. I know you wouldn't be snooty!
Rhonda/K/Ind. - So much to look at and decide on and...and...and...
AB - Angie, That's what I wondered about. I use predictable charts to fit my themes but I always look for new ideas.
Angie K/IA - good. I'm kinda tired tonight....LONG day with a stat class, so I may say stupid things.
kteacher - My district just adopted a new Scott Foresman series. I really want to do BB. Does anyone here use both or another reading series along with BB?
milymo - Who else is the teacher in their school using building blocks? Do they other teacher do letter of the week or something else?
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Angie, are you the Angie with the great web site?
Rhonda/K/Ind. - kteacher, I was wondering the same thing.
milymo - I meant the "only" teacher.
Angie K/IA - I'm afraid I've been kinda cheating, with my building blocks though. I had so many really high kids, I used some of the first grade stuff.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Our other teacher loves BB too and was incorporating it some last year I believe.
Angie K/IA - my site is www.mrsbonthuisclass.com if that's the sight you were talking about.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - YES! I love your site! It's an honor to "meet" you. I emailed you when I first saw your site. Awesome!
Angie K/IA - I am all alone with my Building Blocks. I'm supposed to use Scott Foresman,but I'm not. My curriculum director is happy with my scores and all that, so they are kinda letting me do my thing.
terry - milymo, I'm the only teacher that wants to use BB
Angie K/IA - gosh Rhonda, thanks. That makes my day.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - I think that is what you said in your email too.
milymo - What do they others do terry? I was the lone ranger with Four Blocks too.
Angie K/IA - now you've made two of my days!
AB - My school uses Four Blocks. So there is support availble.
terry - milymo, they do the themes things, but do alot of paperwork and rotate the kids aroind to get all their activities in
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Yeah!
terry - sorry, around
Angie K/IA - I'm doing my stat research paper on Letter of the Week vs. teaching letters in context.
terry - I have come from a 2nd/3rd grade classroom for 7 years to kinder and I really think BB is more of what kiner students need
Angie K/IA - I think giving up Letter of the WEek is really hard for some teachers....especially if they've "organized" things around it for years.
AB - Angie, What does the research show-Letter of the week or letters in context?
terry - I teach letter of the week, what do you think is better? Angie
Angie K/IA - One thing I've learned in this stat class...you can find research to defend anything. Actually there is not ALOT out there. What I've seen has been very supportive of teaching letters in context.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - I think that is true of everything Angie...both sides always have research, etc. to support their argument, so it's all in your presentation of the information really.
milymo - I saw how Four Blockks works, and I am determined to implement Building Blocks this year!
kteacher - When making the individual sentence strips for each child to cut and paste on his page, do most of you type them or handwrite them. Any tips or timesavers for this task each week. I want it to be as simple and organized as possible.
Angie K/IA - yes new, it is!
milymo - Sorry about my typing tonight everyone - I'm doing several things at once.
Rhonda/K/Ind. - Hi new! You can have my seat. I need to go teachers. Take care all!
terry - bye, Rhonda
Angie K/IA - I type them, kteacher. I made a template in word that I just type it into every week.
new - kteacher- I thought we could just cut up the predictable chart that we made on Monday and Tuesday.
AB - I type because it's faster.
Angie K/IA - me too AB
Purple - I'm off to bed! Think I fell asleep at the computer! Farewell, everyone!
Angie K/IA - night purple!
AB - I don't cut it up because some students look to the chart for self checking.
new - kteacher- i also like doing it that way so kids can read back the sentence strip as I cut it
kteacher - I think you can cut it up...but I like to have mine a certain size for the class book
Angie K/IA - hmmmm...new, never thought of doing it that way, Might save time. I'll have to think about it. thanks for the tip.
new - AB- I understand. I also get too much print that in a few months it is too much and that way it controls some of the print...?
Angie K/IA - I don't do mine on sentence strips, I do them on chart paper....although if I changed to sentence strips, I would need a new POCKET CHART, and I LOVE POCKET CHARTS!
AB - I agree but I send the charts home after a time so the students can play "school".
Angie K/IA - I'm off to go shop for pocket charts! Nice chatting with you all!
AB - bye
new - does anyone ever cut them on the onset/rime level if they are ready for it or is it always at the word level?
terry - good night, all
AB - I have only done the words-but it does take it to a new level.
new - AB- do you leave the period mark next to the last word or is the punctuation mark another part of the sentence to rebuild?
kteacher - How many days does it take you to complete your predictable chart and how many kids do you usually have? I know the book says it may take up to 3 days to complete.
milymo - My students liked taking home our Writing Rhymes Charts this year.
milymo - new and kteacher, such good questions! I need to know too!
AB - I treat the punctuation seperately. Usually I spend 2 days. I have 25 students.
new - k- I take the traditional week. Monday and tuesday for dictation. Wednesday for rereading, and Thursday for sentence building (be the words). Friday we make the big books and we also include an art media to go with it such as watercolor or tempra. How about you?
kteacher - Is everyone here using BB exclusively or does anyone use another program along with BB? I treat the punctuation sep. too
dd - just logging on, what's the discussion on
kteacher - I HAVE to use the Scott Foresman program too It comes with 22 big books that are perfect for BB so I'm trying to do both...just wonder if I'll be able to. I really want to just do BB
new - k- balanced literacy......I put our districts manual on my desk just in case LOL
dd - We use the Wright group books
milymo - This is my first year. Is there a way to do BB and letter of the week (or two letters of the week).
kteacher - milymo~Are you half or full day K?
dd - We don't really do a letter of the week. We teach all the letters in content
new - dd- do you have enough to introduce a new book a day during guided reading?
milymo - I'm half day regular and half day extended day.
new - dd-I only asked because thisis why we don't just use Wright Group
dd - We have poems on charts and big books. We do a book and a poem a week. We stay on one big book for the whole week.
dd - Our reading facilitator has alot of other books we can check out from Mondo
kteacher - I think half day reg. K is hard! It seems like you try to cram everytyhing in at such a fast pace. What will the other K teachers be doing? A letter a week? Are they interested in trying BB?
dd - I teach in a full day program
AB - dd-That's what we do too. Also I spend more than one day on guided reading.
new - K- half day is hard. And in California, with the standards we are expected to do a lot in just 3.5 hours
dd - Yes, we usually use 2 of the guided reading books a week
milymo - The other teacher will be doing 2 letters a week starting at the beginning of the alphabet. She is somewhat interested in BB, but I may have to do some proving of it to her.
kteacher - I think half day reg. K is hard! It seems like you try to cram everytyhing in at such a fast pace. What will the other K teachers be doing? A letter a week? Are they interested in trying BB?
milymo - I will have half of her morning class in my afternoon class.
kteacher - oops...don't know why that re posted
milymo - Our kindergarten day is only 2.5 hours.
dd - We have lots of other big books in our library
dd - I'm working on literacy centers for my kids to do while I'm teaching guided reading
kteacher - Milymo-This year I went very slow with BB and just did bits and pieces to try it out. You might try that this year since you will be limited on time. OR if you are allowed to do your own thing then you could really go with the BB and try the whole thing!
dd - Ya'll have any new ideas
AB - Tell me about your literacy centers.
new - When the big books are contructed does everyone put them into the class library for independent reading. I tried something new this year, we recopied them and made them into little books for homework. Its a lot of work and I don't think I'll try it next year. Anyone with similar experiences?
new - AB- I use centers also. i keep the same ones because they are open ended and multi-leveled
dd - I use pocket charts, magnetic letters, playdoe to form letters, lots of writing equipment for making books, puppets and listening tapes
milymo - I'll probably go full tilt, I'm just nervous.
mlw - How have teachers used enviromental print in the classroom? I would like to expand on this next year.
milymo - new, our copy machine has a
dd - I had regular centers last year (housekeeping, art (changed it out to fit our theme), writing, painting at the easel, overhead, etc. I'm still planning on using these but I'm wanting to do centers as use them sort of like a "workjob"
milymo - oops... magazine feature that would make the individual books quickly.
new - mlw- when we read the room and when we need a writing resource for interactive writing or for journal writing. Environmental print gets to be a lot of fun. Try empty cereal boxes on the board. They make a nice 3-D bb
dd - I usually use the big class books we have made in our big book center
AB - I use centers related to the theme but include literacy in each center.
dd - Our big books stay in our classrooms
mlw - yes, i did have students bring print in put them on a board but did not use them too much
new - gotta go...nice chatting
mlw - hope to improve this year
mlw - I have had much success in student writing since I have started using building blocks
dd - Yea, I usually try to include a book for each center but usually the kids end up playing with the equipement or do the activity rather than read the book
kteacher - bye new!
mlw - we wrote in journals 3 days a week the other 2 days we had specials i teach half day so only had time for 3 days of journal writing
dd - That's why I want the literacy centers to be at a different time
kteacher - Time for me to go too! Bye!
dd - What sort of activities do you do in your literacy centers
milymo - I need to get my baby to bed. Good night everyone!
mlw - what reading series do most of you use i have harcourt
dd - I use the wright group
mlw - i have used building blocks for about 2 years now how long have the rest of you been at it
dd - I love it because not only does it come with alot of big books but there are 6 packs and the listening tape to go along with the big books. The big books is therefore reinforced in the listening center
AB - dd=Well, If the theme was community helpers, I tried to include "real" resons to write. Shopping lists, Patient charts, Bills, Signs. etc
AB - I will use Scholastic this year.
dd - Yea, I got cha. Seems like when I'd put things out like that in the housekeeping or writing, the kids would pay attention to them but not so much in the block, art or painting centers
mlw - any tips for organizing books i have so many and try to rotate book baskets but things get crazy
dd - I'm familiar with the Scholastic books but I'm not familiar with their reading program. Does it include alot of big books?
AB - dd-I had that problem too so I had to encourage writine in some areas.
AB - Scholastic will be new for me. I hope it has enough resources.
dd - We did alot of journal writing and shared writing in the classroom and also they wrote alot of inventive spelling stories so I didn't feel so bad when they just wanted to play
dd - I'm curious as to how Scholastic is set up
AB - I go for training in early August.
dd - I organize my books according to themes
mlw - has anybody used Tucker Signing Strategies for REading
dd - you'll have to let me know if you like it or not. Are you familar with any of the materials
AB - no, tell me about it.
dd - Never used Tucker signing Strategies
mlw - each letter is assigned a sign
dd - would like to hear about it
mlw - different from amrican sign language
mlw - students learn to sign words
dd - so the kids learn sign language at the same time
mlw - it is just another strategy some use it some don't
dd - how it that teaching them the sounds
mlw - some of my students have had great success using it
mlw - no, they do not acutually use the same sign that the deaf use
AB - I've gotta go Thanks !
mlw - we say the sound as we make the sign
dd - I see--
dd - what state do you teach in
mlw - indiana
dd - I teach in louisiana
mlw - do you teach all day or half day
dd - full day
dd - how about you
mlw - i teach half day
mlw - wish that i taught all day
dd - do you teach two sessions
mlw - yes two sessions
mlw - how long have you been using building blocks
mlw - i really like using bb
dd - i taught half day in texas but i prefer teaching all day. you can get so much more done
dd - 3 years
mlw - i agree with that
mlw - many of my students left k reading and writing very well
mlw - i have had much more success with bb then the previous methods i have used
mlw - do you teach word families
dd - i had 4 students going into the first grade for reading
mlw - i teach word families
dd - yea i teach word families
dd - carson delosa makes a set of picture posters with the word families on them. I laminated these and the kids can use a dry erase marker and come up with alot of words writng on these posters
mlw - i have sets of laminated words i use too
dd - do you use literacy centers
mlw - we do stations wear my activities change alot
mlw - not sure what you mean by liteacy centers
dd - get on kinderkorner web site and check it out. its a neat site
mlw - do you do name activities at beginning of year
dd - literacy centers are just centers set up for the kids to do while you're teaching guided reading. they are all based on reading--making words, writing, using the overhead, using magnetic letters, books, puppets etc.
mlw - i love using the name activities so do my kids
dd - what are some of your name activities
mlw - tell me more with what you do with guided reading
mlw - we cheer the name count letters in the name cut name apart and put back together etc.
dd - while i'm taking a group (all leveled at the same reading ability) the other children are working on centers. I take about 3 groups a day
mlw - we talk about if the name is a short or long name
mlw - how many do you have in your class
mlw - each day i do a new name
dd - i have the kids write their name in several colors over and over each letter, we put the names on our word wall and make a big book of names
dd - i have 22
mlw - students draw apicture of the student of the day we work on details and students write the name of the student of the day on their paper
mlw - i made a book of names too it was an abc book
dd - how many do you have
mlw - i had 13 in my morning class and 14 in my afternoon
dd - that's alot of kids
mlw - how many years have you been teaching dd
dd - do you teach half or full day kat
Kat - i will be teaching full day kindergarten next year
mlw - kat do you teach half day or all day
dd - have you heard of literacy centers kat
Kat - i taught half day last year
Kat - yep
mlw - kat are you new to building blocks
dd - what are some of your activities in your centers
Kat - i have been to several workshops
mlw - i will be attending my 3rd workshop this summer
rsok - hi...am I too late to chat?
Kat - last year was difficult with half day
dd - and what have you gotten from them, hi rsok
dd - rsok, do you teach half or full day
rsok - I am starting with 4 blocks this year and my kindergarten teaching buddy is considering doing the same.
dd - do you do centers in your classroom if so what sort of centers do you do
rsok - I teach 1st grade.....all day...but our kindergarten is full day
mlw - i have learned from each workshop
dd - what reading program are you using
dd - we use the wright group
Kat - any suggestions for full day centers
mlw - i also have 2 books for guide teachers guied to building blocks and also month by month
rsok - I have a computer center/reading center/math centers
mlw - use harcourt new to me this past year
dd - do you have shared reading, writing and guided reading
rsok - we were supposed to get new reading series this year..........but it was a no go...so back to using our old "Heath" series which is 12 years old.
Kat - i just received a new book using predictable charts
dd - what company--i'm looking for some predictable charts
mlw - oh my we get new reading series about every 5-6 years
mlw - rsok what state do you teach in
dd - i love doing predictable charts , it gets the kids so involved
mlw - i love doing predictable charts
rsok - we should get a new series that often...but the last 2 times we could not find one we liked better than our old one
mlw - we turn each chart into a class book
rsok - Oklahoma
dd - what company did these predictable charts come from
rsok - predictable charts????
Kat - predictable charts by dorthy hall and elaine williams published by carson-dellosa
rsok - we had chosen ScottForsman, but our funding may not be available
mlw - example of predicatable chart is each child state somehing I like apples. Mrs. W
dd - i have some with my series but not enough. have t o look into these
mlw - next childmight say I like cookies
mlw - I like oranges
rsok - ohhhhhhhhh I see
mlw - i like is the predictable part
Kat - we have scott-forsman
rsok - of course!!!
dd - how many charts come in the series--do you know the price
rsok - do you like scott forsman?
mlw - students thaen touch read their sentence
Kat - this is just a book with examples and many great ideas in it
rsok - I am going to my 1st workshop in 2 weeks.....I will ;have to drive 3 hours one way to go
mlw - we take each sentence and cut apart each child cuts the words of their sentence aprt and then builds the sentcen again
dd - can you get it at any teacher supply place
Kat - i think so i received mine at a workshop
mlw - i feel these activities have helped my students understand concept of what a word is what a letter is what a sentence is
Kat - yes i really like the predictable charts and activities
dd - going to a phonemic awareness workshop this summer
Kat - we would make a class book out after we were done
mlw - does anybody use Dr. jeans cd's
mlw - she has lots of good songs for phonemic awarness
rsok - have you heard of the program called "Johnny Can Spell"????
Kat - no
rsok - we have a Dr.Jeans cd
dd - no but i have just heard about her. i want to order some of her cd's. how are the cd's
rsok - very good
mlw - i love the cd's i have 3 of hers
rsok - where are you all from?
mlw - i attended oneof her workshops she is excellent
Kat - indiana
mlw - i am from indiana
dd - i'm from Louisiana
mlw - dr jean has a website you can order cd's there
rsok - Oklahoma here...
mlw - never hear of johnny can spell
dd - what part of oklahoma
rsok - southwest
dd - never heard of johnny can spell
rsok - do you know Oklahoma well?
Kat - anyone use the waterford readng program
rsok - It is a phonemic awareness type program
rsok - no
Kat - it is a computer program for early intervention
mlw - kat do you know about Tucker Signing strategies
mlw - no to the waterford program
Kat - mlw no have you used them
rsok - what advice would you give a kindergarten teacher considering the building blocks program?
mlw - go for it
dd - i love bb
rsok - what books would you recommend she buy?
Kat - if you can go to a dottie hall conference go
Kat - she is great
mlw - it is a great way to teach letters and sounds in a more integrated approach
dd - alot of predictable big books and charts
mlw - teachers guide to building blocks and month by month activiies for kindergarten
Kat - are you using the Tucker signing method in your class
mlw - yes i am
rsok - is there a book called building blocks????
Kat - yes
rsok - thank you mlw...I missed your response
mlw - do you like tucker signing method
dd - go on the teacher net and get on the building block chat
rsok - thank ;you so much for the information
dd - you can learn alot about it
mlw - your welcome
Kat - how do you like the Tucker signing
rsok - I will tell her ....she is very interested
rsok - have a great evening!!
mlw - i like tucker signing i acutally went to a workshop and am trained to be a trainer for this method
Kat - that sounds interesting i would like to know more
dd - is it sort of like reading recovery
mlw - these workshops are presented under Ruby Paynes company now I think
mlw - no
dd - i'll have to do a little research on it
Kat - our school is slowly phasing out reading recovery
mlw - it is just another strategy some will use it some will not use it
mlw - i have had success with my esl students using this method
dd - we don't use reading recovery anymore
Kat - i will do some research on the signing
mlw - our school does not use reading recovery
Kat - we couldn't service enough of our students
dd - tell me more about your name activities mlw
mlw - hope you find out some good information about the Tucker signing methods
mlw - we do special student of the day at the beginningof year
dd - what other fun activities do you do at the beginning of the year
mlw - i pull a name out of bag i say this person is a boy or girl we use process of eliminaionto find out our student
mlw - we take lots of field trips too
dd - i do alot of kchicka boom boom activitis
dd - chicka chicka boom boom activities
mlw - will do lots of work with letters and sounds at beginningof year
mlw - i also have folder of books i read for back to school
mlw - we make our name book at beginning of year
Kat - do you have a phonics program
dd - we don't
mlw - no phonic program just use bb and reading series
dd - do you
mlw - i don't feel the need for phonics prgram kids get sounds also from tcker signing
Kat - our reading series has a phonics wkbk
mlw - i try and relate letter sounds to names of students
dd - i do do alot of oral language activities--not much on worksheets
mlw - for example i might say ball starts with the same letter and sound as bob
mlw - kids love their names
mlw - i am also not big on worksheets
Kat - do you integrate art with these
dd - that's a good idea. there's something about using names of the students that makes it so easy for the other students to remember what name starts with what letter
mlw - i do some because i feel that they need to learn how to write name on paper and
mlw - we also practie writing letters in rice trays and shaving cream
dd - we do more handwriting mid semester
dd - we do alot of inventive spelling
mlw - i also don't stress handwriting even though it is a state standard for me some just are not ready
dd - sometimes parents have a hard time seeing this!!!
mlw - i am also big fanof inventive splelling
Kat - i have done the shaving cream but haven't tried rice trays yet
dd - the rice trays seem like a good idea
Kat - yes
mlw - i tell my parents that their childrne are taking baby steps in the writing process just like when they learned to walk you did not scold them when the fell down but encourged them' it is the same with wrting and using inventive spelling it is a process not to be rushed they needs lots of encourgement
dd - have you ever tried dying the shaving cream--kids love this. squirt a small amount while the kids are playing with the shaving cream. they love watching the shaving cream turn colors
mlw - rice trays are good but sometimes a bit messy
mlw - i will have to try dyine shaving cream sounds fun
Kat - no i haven't tried the dye but good idea
dd - oops--small amount of food coloring
dd - you can do orange for halloween, green for christmas etc.
mlw - ok i'll use food coloring instead
mlw - don't want hands turning colors
Kat - it has been nice talking to everyone i need to get going
dd - thats why while they are playing with the white shaving cream squirt a small amount into the cream
mlw - another activity we do later in year is i give kids a highlighter and aks them to find words letters number in a page of newspring they love doing this
dd - it's 9:45 over here--getting tired, nice talking to you too
mlw - i meant to say newsprint
