What is your favorite picture book for this activity? Also how do you manage the block with this activity so that it doesn't take so long! Thanks for the help.
deb - sorry to freak you out! On 8/07/08, Sue wrote: > Thank you deb! I was nervous when I saw you posted after me > because I was afraid you would say I didn't do it correctly. > > On 8/07/08, deb wrote: >> On 8/05/08, Sue wrote: >>> Instead of using a book, I use the poems in the poetry >>> folders that my second graders use. I pass out a n...See MoreOn 8/07/08, Sue wrote: > Thank you deb! I was nervous when I saw you posted after me > because I was afraid you would say I didn't do it correctly. > > On 8/07/08, deb wrote: >> On 8/05/08, Sue wrote: >>> Instead of using a book, I use the poems in the poetry >>> folders that my second graders use. I pass out a new poem >>> just about every day. After the children are familiar with >>> it (read several days)we do the rounding up the rhymes. I >>> have the rhymes already written down on sentence strips in >>> one color and in white I have some of the words that have >>> the same spelling pattern and I put them up on the pocket >>> chart and let the children come up and put them in the >>> correct column. When the words don't have the same spelling >>> pattern, I throw them into a little garbage can with a >>> swinging lid. I do not rip them up because I want to use >>> them again each year. When we decide if the word has the >>> same pattern the children circle them on their copies of the >>> poem. If they don't have the same pattern but do rhyme, >>> they just underline the words. I store the words in the >>> back of a copy of the poem in a plastic sleeve so they are >>> all ready for me next year. >>> >>> >>> On 8/05/08, susan/2 wrote: >>>> What is your favorite picture book for this activity? Also >>>> how do you manage the block with this activity so that it >>>> doesn't take so long! Thanks for the help. >> >> Perfect description of the activity! I love the poem idea!
I did not like the look of the first grade set with the trains. I bought the systematic sequential phonics set instead... will it work? I am using month by month for first grade.
On...See MoreThanks Deb... I'll exchange it. I was sort of hoping the ssp would have the same words, or at least most of the words. I'll have to decide whether I want to have the train set, or just make my own... our school doesn't like us to have too many store bought posters, so I couldn't really use all the posters that come with the set anyway.
On 8/07/08, deb wrote: > On 8/06/08, JJ wrote: >> I got moved to first grade, so am entering all new >> territory. Thank goodness for teacher manuals, because >> otherwise I'd be lost. I never even OBSERVED a first grade >> class during my college years, and have mostly taught 3-4th >> grade... anyway... >> >> I did not like the look of the first grade set with the >> trains. I bought the systematic sequential phonics set >> instead... will it work? I am using month by month for >> first grade. >> >> Thanks. > > > You will want the word cards that come with the trains, just > don't put up the trains - OR - make your own. I can email > you the list of words if you want to print your own on > colored paper. I took 7-10 different colors. > > you can see the wonderful first grade teacher I worked > closely with on my website's wall. She made her own. > > [link removed]
I do not particularly like the posters that much. They are just the directions to the activities. I don't find that they help the kids, I did not use them. I found that the kids do better with creating this type of information / guide with the teacher. I used the posters in my training class to remind the teachers of the procedures instead of the kids. deb
On 8/11/08, Kaleigh wrote: > How much spac...See MoreI just put up my first grade ww. It took 1 whole BB (4 feet tall and 10 feet long!!) I am not sure it needs to be THAT big, but whatever... we will see. In the past with older kids, I would put it all on a door or window and not use too much space. I have seen people do them on their cupboards.
On 8/11/08, Kaleigh wrote: > How much space does your word wall take up? > I do not have as much room as i did last year? > Any ideas?
Like J.J. said, make it work where ever you have. I have seen them wrap around rooms. I have seen word walls of every single size you can imagine. You name a size, yup I have seen it. On cupboards, doors, along the tops of walls, spread around rooms, on an actual bulletin board, anywhere, every where. deb
the research revealed by the Fed's is corruptionKennedy is revealing research of all the corruption and all the misteps of Reading First on his website.
Just last week teachers in my district were informed that we are going to the 4 Blocks Literacy Model and implement it this year. With that in mind, in my building we are going to do a 4/5 Literacy Block and group according to reading levels. We have the STAR program in place, but we are looking for something else that could be used. Any great ideas out there for assessment tools?
In doing the Big Blocks Literacy Model, what are some ideas out there for using for the Guided Reading portion of the Big Blocks. Specifically: basals, trade books, simple reading passages? What do teachers use for this portion? Where does one find reading materials for what the students are to be reading?
What materials do you have? I use lots of materials for comprehension lessons. I use everything you mentioned and more. Most districts provide materials for reading for students. Four Blocks is a framework, not materials. We read materials and encourage comprehension in the Guided Reading block. You can use your basel or your science book or your social studies books or your level texts, or scholastic etc. Hopefully all these choices.... Does this help?
We are going to have a traveling smartboard that we will be able to use this year. I was wondering if anyone has used it for Working With Word lessons, or others geared to 4 blocks? Thanks.
On 8/27/08, jab wrote: > In our meetings yesterday we were told that the district > would like us to be switching over to using the workshop > model for reading. Since I've been preparing my 4 blocks > program all summer (school has been more or less the > Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading model for years) I now > have to look further into this. My question is, so I don't > feel foolish approaching my literacy coach, am I right that > the SSR and Guided Reading portions of 4 Blocks are like > workshops? It seems to me that, as with writer's workshop, > SSR begins with a mini lesson or introduction to particular > books and set the children to task working to try to > incorporate that skill/method/genre/etc. and close the > session with a share of positive examples by certain > students. Also as with writer's workshop, the teacher is > conferencing with individual students along the way. Can > you tell me how this might be different from what one calls > Reader's Workshop? > > TIA, jab
TO make what your district is asking reading workshop and what you have worked on all summer blend:
During your read aloud, do two or three think alouds of how to do a skill or strategy, therefore making it an interactive read-aloud.
Then have the kids practice (guided practice) using either the small text or different texts, but you are guiding their thinking. This is their comprehension lesson right?
Then move the kids into independent practice. Sometimes the kids read a book you give them (you pull a small group and read with a group). Sometimes the children are reading independently the books they picked by themselves independently. The teacher individually confers with the students about the skill/strategy taught that day.
This is blending SSR / GR together so you would/could make reading workshop work for your district.
Writing Workshop no changes Minilesson confer with students while they write Sharing
Words Block - some schools call this their skills blocks instead.
On 8/27/08, jab wrote: > In our meetings yesterday we were told that the district > would like us to be switching over to using the workshop > model for reading. Since I've been preparing my 4 blocks > program all summer (school has been more or less the > Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading model for years) I now > have to look further into this. My question is, so I don't > feel foolish approaching my literacy coach, am I right that > the SSR and Guided Reading portions of 4 Blocks are like > workshops? It seems to me that, as with writer's workshop, > SSR begins with a mini lesson or introduction to particular > books and set the children to task working to try to > incorporate that skill/method/genre/etc. and close the > session with a share of positive examples by certain > students. Also as with writer's workshop, the teacher is > conferencing with individual students along the way. Can > you tell me how this might be different from what one calls > Reader's Workshop? > > TIA, jab
Any ideas? Their spelling doesn't match their reading ability, so I...See MoreI have a huge range in my first grade class. I KNOW four blocks is multi- level, but more than half my class is reading chapter books already like Magic Tree House and Junie B. Jones. I think they do fine during SSR and writing, but I'm worried about the other two blocks.
Any ideas? Their spelling doesn't match their reading ability, so I think the mxm phonics should be ok--- but they are complaining it's too easy!
Of the other half of the class, there are about 1/4 who are not reading at all and 1/4 who are just beginning readers.
I can't seem to decide what to do for guided reading... what should I be using!?!
In the GR block, even though the reading selection might be below the reading levels of some students, you need to teach your students to use the comprehension strategies. Also, if you have students reading Magic Tree House books, can they really understand the content? The comprehension strategies can be taught to all students, even non readers, so the lesson will be multi-level.