Re: Needed Help!
Posted by JJ on 6/30/08
I taught a 2/3/4 class for the last few years. I found four
blocks multi-level enough to do most of the things whole
class. (especially SSR and writing.)
The hardest to differentiate and do for the class with mixed
level is working with words and guided reading. I still do
whole class guided reading. I do the three days on the
higher grade level, and two days on the lower level. It
still works pretty well. For example, I use Scholastic News
at the higher level, but use guided reading books at the
lower, either a whole class novel, a poem, etc. This seemed
to work well for me. For working with words, making words is
still pretty multi-level. I will meet with small groups and
do the guided lesson, and then other kids would work on
their own or with a partner, using a sorting sheet I made
that kind of forces them to move beyond three letter words. I
do end up making one of these sheets for each lesson, but it
works well for me. (I KNOW this is NOT four blocks, but
with a huge range, this is what I have found works best.) I
do more centers than four blocks recommends, but this is what
I have to do to make it work.
The one thing I found that did NOT work at all is the word
wall. I had tried using the middle level, but even that was
too easy or too hard for too much of the class. Instead, my
kids have word rings and their own words based on their level
and needs. They do different activities with a partner for
5-10 minutes a day while I walk around the room and help. I
then pull one set of kids a day to do on the back type
activities with their five words while the other kids begin
something else. I have tried to do the www for 3 years and
NOT been successful with the range in my class.
On 6/28/08, Crystal wrote:
> Hi! This year I have taken on a new teaching position at
> a new school after teaching
> K for the last 7 years. I have been hired to teach a high
> 1st grade/high 2nd grade
> multi-age classroom. I was wondering if anyone out there
> has been in this classroom
> situation before and could give me some pointers on how to
> manage a schedule (what
> to teach at what time - -together or split group, etc.) I
> feel there are things
> I'm going to have to teach apart and things I can do whole
> group. If anyone
> could help, I'd appreciate it! Thanks!
> Needed help!
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Needed Help!, 6/28/08, by Crystal.
- Re: Needed Help!, 6/30/08, by JJ.
- Re: Needed Help!, 7/06/08, by KathyB2ndIA.
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