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Re: need help figuring out big blocks
Posted by Steph/4/TX on 7/16/08
Wow! You've got a tough schedule! So, do you HAVE to teach in
4 50 min blocks each day? Or can your blocks of instruction be
different than the four time periods that your bells dictate?
If you have to stick to the bell schedule, it sounds like you
are on the right track. Although, I do agreet that you need to
make sure you do 30 min of WWW at least twice a week. If you
can keep your class meeting short, you should be able to do
that without a problem. If you don't have to be constrained by
the bells, post your time schedule and maybe we can come up
with something different for you!
I also think that your plan for using the notebooks sounds
good. But just keep in mind that if you are wanting to do more
lengthy assingments or activities in them, you need to plan
those for the days that are devoted just to science/SS.
I also moved up to 4th last year after teaching kinder and 1st
for 9 years. It took me some time to get all of the Big Blocks
books and really figure it out. But, by the end of the year,
we were doing great and I loved it! I would love to compare
stories as we go throught the year and stay in touch about how
things are going! It seems like most of the posters here
(although there aren't many) are primary teachers, so it's
nice to here from someone else who teaches upper grades!
HTH!
Steph :)
On 7/15/08, fourth grade teacher wrote:
> 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!
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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