SUBSCRIBE chat center Gazette|Chatboards|Lessons|Projects|Classifieds|Mailrings|Jobs|Harry Wong|Live!|Advertise SUBMIT POST ALL POSTS TOP POSTS Share | Print | Report Post 4 Blocks Teachers Chatboard Search Teachers.Net Advanced Quick Links: Set Hot Now... • September 2008 Gazette • Teacher Tech Center • The Lesson Bank Most Popular • Set Your Quick Links • Chat Center • All Chatboards • Lesson Bank • Teacher Mailrings • Project Center • Classified Ads • Live Chat & Meetings Select by • State/Region • Grade Level • Curriculum • Interest Group • Teaching Method Special Topics • Technology • Languages • Hot Topics • Career Center • Distance Learning • Fundraising • Tutoring Center • Teacher's Bookshelf • Free Printables • Classroom Photos • Meeting Archive • Teaching Articles • Library • Web Tools • Webring • Search • Advertise   Post: need help figuring out big blocks Posted by fourth grade teacher on 7/15/08 Can someone help? I've used Four Blocks for several years, but am switching grades to fourth and will need to figure out how to use Big Blocks. Our school has a rotary system for 6-8th grades, and some rotary (to a lesser extent) for 4-5. Our day is split into 50-minute blocks with a bell ringing in between each block. When all is said and done, I have four 50-minute blocks every day with my homeroom to teach math, science, social studies and language arts. It would be easiest (for me and for my students) to plan in 50 minute blocks. I plan on alternating science and social studies units. Would this make sense? - writing block 4 times a week - SSR/reading workshop block 4 times a week - science/social studies block 5 times a week (include GR here 3 times a week, save the last 2 blocks for experiments/simulations/hands-on activities) - math block 5 times a week - working with words and class meeting (split the block in half) 2 times a week Does this sound like it would make sense? Am I focusing too much on some things, and not enough on others? Also, I have a question about interactive student notebooks. I'd really like to try them in science/social studies this year. I'm just not sure how to fit them in, since they require a lot of processing/responding as opposed to just reading. Would a 50 minute guided reading/content block make sense if it were divided like this: 10 minutes whole group - introduce topic, teach vocabulary, set purpose for reading, etc 20 minutes reading - textbook, book clubs, 3-ring circus 15 minutes responding in ISN (to be completed as homework if necessary) 5 minutes sharing I'm just not sure if I'm trying to do too much by using Big Blocks AND ISNs. I just don't have enough time in the day, especially when I compare my schedule to those that I see in professional books! Thanks for any help! RESPOND TO THIS POST START A NEW THREAD RETURN TO CHATBOARD Posts on this thread, including this one need help figuring out big blocks , 7/15/08, by fourth grade teacher. Re: need help figuring out big blocks , 7/16/08, by brad. Re: need help figuring out big blocks , 7/16/08, by Steph/4/TX. Re: need help figuring out big blocks , 7/16/08, by SEL (OP). Re: need help figuring out big blocks , 7/16/08, by Step/4/TX. Re: need help figuring out big blocks , 7/16/08, by SEL (the OP) with a few more questions. Re: need help figuring out big blocks , 7/16/08, by Steph/4/TX.

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