I need someone who would be willing to guide me through setting up Four-Blocks in my classroom!! I guess you could say, a mentor. I am a 3rd grade teacher at a public school in Georgia. My school does NOT have any literacy program that is mandated by our system. I really like FB and I'm truly excited to implement it in my class BUT it seems like a pretty daunting task trying to get it all organized on my own. I've have purchased "A Teachers Guide to Four-Blocks", "Guided Reading the Four-Blocks Way" and "Making Words for 3rd grade". Are there any other books that can help me get a sense for organizing it all?
My biggest concern is having enough books for SSR and having meaningful literature for Guided Reading. I'm not opposed to the basal but I don't want to feel limited by it. Is there anyone out there who has also done this on their own? Can you offer suggestions? Oh, and there is NO money to be had, so I can't ask the school to help out. THANK YOU for any suggestions!
you've gotten great advice for books. I made sure my kids read daily doing a similar idea for gathering books.
I also used a to z to make books - I taught my second graders how to make their own books. It worked great.
I used scholastic magazine
i used weekly reader
I used national geo graphic too
I also used old basals for multiple copies of stories. we did not read all the stories, but we did read some of them.
I also begged the parents and older kids to donate other books too. For example, If I wanted Clifford, I would ask the fourth graders if thye had the book at home and were done reading it. If they have a baby brother or sister or still want it, don't bring it, but if they are done with it, donate it. the kids do! it was great. I put their pictures it the book
Also I had the kids buy a book from the scholastic book club, we read them for guided reading - pure optional! -- then the parents could decide to donate the book to school classroom library (or not) and I put the kid's picture in the cover with a note 'donated by....' it totally worked!!!!!!!!!!!
I subscribe to Cricket, Spider, and Ladybug Magazines. They cost about 35.00 a year for one copy. But then I will copy the wonderful stories out of them to read and discuss together for guided reading.
I'm going back to first grade after a few years, different school. Last time I taught first I had saxon letter tile cards for each child to keep at their desk. I don't have that this time. I'm thinking of just cutting index cards up to make letter tiles for each child. Anybody still do making words activities? How many of each letter should each child have? Thanks!
If you don't mind spending a little of your own money, the Carson Dellosa letters are really great. I've been using the same sets for six years now. They have big letters too. Dawn/FL
On 7/30/07, Liz wrote: > I'm going back to first grade after a few years, different > school. Last time I taught first I had saxon letter tile > cards for each child to keep at their desk. I don't have > that this time. I'm thinking of just cutting index cards > up to make letter tiles for each child. Anybody still do > making words activities? How many of each letter should > each child have? Thanks! >
Regarding envelopes to take home. I have used regular copy paper, you could also use construction paper, and make my own by folding up about 2/3 of the way, staple on each side, and then fold the other 1/3 down. I have the kids put their names on them, and they bring them back and forth in their MOOSE binders. ( I call mine STAR binders....students taking awesome responsibility) I use these homemade envelopes for word sorting activities, too.
I'm going back to first grade, in a new state. I loved 4 blocks. I used it in SC. Now I'm on the west coast, and it's been a few years. 4 blocks doesn't seem to be as popular anymore. I still want to use several aspects of it. Anybody have a schedule for a typical day? Thanks!
Guess it depends where you are. It is popular around here.
On 8/01/07, deb wrote: school starts 8:20 > 8:30-9:00 phonics instruction (includes spelling) > 9:00-9:40 writing instruction > 9:40-9:55 bathroom break (had to, no choice out of room) > 9:55-10:45 Guided reading - Comprehension lesson - included lit/ss/social studies - varied materials - kids read every day > 10:45-11:15 self selected reading - read aloud, kids read, I conference > 11:15-11:30 math instruction -direct instruction of math game > 11:30-12:10 lunch/recess > 12:10-12:25 bathroom break > 12:25-1:25 math > 1:25-1:50 specials daily gym, music etc. > 1:50-3:40 block for lessons: this time is sometimes a science > experiment; sometimes it is reading project; sometimes it is > divided into a reading and a science time; sometimes it is social > studies and science. Sometimes I give them 15-20 minutes of > recess and a science lesson. This flexibility after the basics is > awesome! > > Dismissal is at 3:40
I want to start my school year out by talking about teamwork as our building is doing a school-wide theme on sports. I need help in coming up with books to read that go along with teamwork. Please help.
On 8/03/07, Denice wrote: > I want to start my school year out by talking about > teamwork as our building is doing a school-wide theme on > sports. I need help in coming up with books to read that > go along with teamwork. Please help. > check out Beth Newingham's website and scholastic blog...she has AWESOME ideas including one on a theme of teamwork
I'm just about sold on trying Four Blocks this year, but I have a muiti age classroom Some first some second. How would I do the guided reading block with such a range in reading ability? The independent reading will be a cinch, but how to cover all kiddos with one lesson, from which basal? Any suggestions from you pros?
I also teach a multiage (2/3/4) and find that guided reading is the hardest block. I have had to adapt the program, both for making words and guided reading.
-For making words, the 5 word wall words a week were not working well for me (wow, look at that alliteration!) anway, I ended up doing 5 individual words a week from their journals. I had kids who just don't need the high frequency words because they just "get" spelling. They spell most words in their vocabulary correctly. So I did vocab with those kids, as well as the making words suffixes, prefixes, root words, etc. This year I will have to do small groups for the making words aspect. While it is multi-level, it is not multi-level enough to meet the needs of 7-10 year olds in one classroom! I am going to have to do small group instruction for this one. My kids kept word rings, and each index card had their five words for the week on them. I tried to include all the words from the grade level list, as well as words they used a lot in their journal. I came up with activties for them to do with a partner instead of the word wall chants. I did the chants and word wall words for about 4 months, before I decided it was not working for the older kids at all. I was using 3rd grade words. It is just too hard for me to do in my class.
- For guided reading, I did a poem a week for the beginning of the year. I had some 2nd graders who just were not ready to read at the level the 3rd and 4th needed. In fact, I had one who was low for 2nd grade. Poems are great for comprehension, but not overwhelming to the kids who aren't reading really well yet. We began the year with a poetry unit.
When I did whole class guided reading, I had to wait until I was sure that my lowest readers could read it well enough, or with some assistance for me. There was no way I could give a book much lower to the rest of my class. The books I chose (3rd grade level) were already too low for many kids, and were mostly a comprehension activity, or getting information from a text. There were times I did stories that were too hard for my lowest readers. I sent them home ahead of time and had them read with an adult, or have the adult read to them. Then they could participate in the discussions. I would usually say on the first day, go read it (alone generally, but sometimes with a partner.) If some kids did not finish on day 1, they read with me on day 2. I find that reading twice was good for a picture book in my class, but I have older kids. A longer story, we would read 3 times, over the course of a week, with discussions and activities in between.
I did extra time for SSR because my guided reading was not every day... it was too hard to keep the strong 4th graders engaged, and I did not want to do guided reading groups and centers. My SSR was 45 minutes a day, read aloud 20 minutes. I did a mini lesson with different kids at different times. My lower kids stayed with me one day a week for 1/2 hour, while the others had some volunteering opportunities. (I planned this) That way I could do reading lessons with them. When the lower kids volunteered, I did more complex lessons with the other kids. I also met with each kid in SSR more often than the book suggests. I would have SSR when I had a TA in the room. We would each target a few kids. My lowest readers read with us every day. By mid-year they were at grade level. My strong readers also did book reports to extend their learning. This is how I dealt with not doing the lower level part of the guided reading. Since I had 4th graders, I couldn't bear to read 2nd grade level books for 2 days a week. It's just not fair to them. They were already reading 3rd grade books most of the time in guided reading.
I also did book buddies... that was the best thing I did all year! I had the kids who needed fluency and extra reading practice, really read the story they were to read to their book buddy over and over again. Then, they would read it to the book buddy. Sometimes they shared books they published themselves with the book buddies, or the book buddies read to them. We did it every week.
I only did book club groups once, at the end of the year. It worked so well, over the summer I have been scouring thrift shops and planned 3 units with book club groups to do genre and author studies with.
Good luck!
On 8/06/07, Pat wrote: > I'm just about sold on trying Four Blocks this year, but I > have a muiti age classroom Some first some second. How > would I do the guided reading block with such a range in > reading ability? The independent reading will be a cinch, > but how to cover all kiddos with one lesson, from which > basal? > Any suggestions from you pros?
HiPat! I saw that you taught a 1-2 multi-age class. I am also going to be teaching the same thing this year with the 4 Block model. I was wondering if, now that you've done this, if you could share what you did with your 1st and 2nd graders. Scheduling is concerning me and not getting to everyone. If you could give me some pointers for this upcoming class, I'd appreciate it. Thanks a lot! Crystal - -
I am looking for a 0-6 point student friendly writing rubric for second grade. I want my students to be able to use it to reflect on their writing, as well as myself to give grades. Dawn/FL
Well, we returned to school today and this is how mandatory PE will be handled at my school. Our PE teacher will double up classes twice a week. On the other days, the classroom teacher will be responsibile for providing PE. We have been dictated a time in our schedule to do this and this will be a structured activity. There will be no more recess. In my case, 15 minutes has been scheduled before lunch, and 15 minutes after. The problem is I have been left with ZERO minutes to get them ready for or to the cafeteria, so there is no way they will get that 15 minutes. I guess I will do a quick "shake break", then we will go to lunch. After lunch, I will set up 2 or three activities: kick ball, jump ropes, etc. There's no way they can all do the same activity and be active. I am curious to hear how other Florida schools are handling this. Dawn/FL
On 4/19/08, Dawn/FL wrote: > Keith, isn't it ironic that our governor passed this law and then > budget cuts would be made so that it can't be implemented. I > totally agree that students need physical education. My issue was > the governor mandating how much, therefore, cutting into my > instructional time. Since the beginning of the year when I > originally posted on this issue, my school has gradually ignored > the intent of the law. The kids still have PE with the PE teacher > twice a week, but on the other days, we basically just let them > play. I only have them play for about 15 minutes (just like I > used to do). We just don't call it "recess". We call > it "classroom PE". No one is checking up to see if it is done, so > we do what we want. Dawn/FL > > 4/04/08, Keith Edgeworth wrote: >> A Florida Lake County Elementary School had PE 5 Times a week, >> totaling the required 150 minutes per week. Thanks to budget >> reductions and the Administration not valuing PE, PE was >> completely cut from the curriculum next year. So now being out >> of a job, this Lake County school will have regular teachers >> take their students out for 30 minutes a day of recess to meet >> the requirement. Thanks Lake County and the Elementary School >> which no longer values PE enough to keep it in the curriculum. >> I predict an increase in the already pathetic fitness and health >> of our students. It is of no surprise based upon the overall >> poor fitness, health, and general obesity of a substantial >> portion of the teachers and administrators. Great job local, >> federal politicians, and apathetic administrations. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 10/04/07, Michele wrote: >>> Oh, yeah -- this is a mess!!!!! >>> >>> We have 10 minutes of “Deskercise” each morning on AM news, >>> then we have PE between 1 and 3x per week. We have 3 PE >>> teachers, but we also have 8 3rd grade teachers, so the >>> schedule is marked Day A, B, C, D, E, F and G, and we go to PE >>> 3 times per cycle. Depending on how the days fall, it can >> range >>> from one to 3 PE classes per week. We were also told that >>> movement in music didn't count. We have to do a 20 min. >>> structured PE/Recess daily to make up the rest of the 150 min. >>> We have a specific time we must do this, on top of 90 minutes >>> uninterrupted for reading, 60 min. for math, 30 for Social >>> Studies and 40 for Science plus a 30 min. lunch each day. When >>> you add up all of these minutes, it's 30+ minutes more than we >>> actually have in a school day, yet we’re still expected to do >>> it all. We are told to integrate sci & soc st into reading, >> but >>> we CANNOT teach sci or soc st content at that time - we must >>> still do sci & soc st blocks daily to address content. We can >>> ONLY do reading strategies during the 90 min. reading. >>> >>> Then, we have to schedule our push -in groups, pull-out >> groups, >>> mainstreamed groups and speech/lang. groups while not >>> interfering with their reading or math blocks. It is actually >>> not physically possible to do what we are told we must do each >>> day. It is also physically impossible to meet all the needs of >>> the various groups within the time constraints we are given. I >>> have experienced, dedicated teachers at their wit’s end and >>> ready to quit because of it all. The ultimate frustration is >>> being asked to do what is literally impossible. We are lovin’ >>> life right now, as you can imagine… >>> >>> :o) Michele >>> >>> >>> >>> On 8/18/07, ace/1st wrote: >>>> I feel lucky! With the breakdown, we can add this and that >>>> and it adds up during the day and to 150 min a week. We count >>>> the regular PE once a week, the music teacher actually does 15 >>>> minutes of physical activity once a week (that was a relief to >>>> hear!!!), our recess will be a little more structured, and the >>>> nutrition will be in at snacktime. I don't think this is >>>> really what the intention was from Shaq and Gov Crist, but >>>> unless they fund it, it's tough to do what they want! I will >>>> have to note in my planbook what we are doing. Not sure how >>>> that will look yet! We start Monday and I'll see how everyone >>>> is doing it. Funny how everyone forgets about transition >>>> time! Good luck! I'll check in with you down the road :) >>>> >>>> >>>> On 8/15/07, Dawn/FL wrote: >>>>> Well, we returned to school today and this is how >>>>> mandatory PE will be handled at my school. Our PE teacher >>>>> will double up classes twice a week. On the other days, >>>>> the classroom teacher will be responsibile for providing >>>>> PE. We have been dictated a time in our schedule to do >>>>> this and this will be a structured activity. There will >>>>> be no more recess. In my case, 15 minutes has been >>>>> scheduled before lunch, and 15 minutes after. The problem >>>>> is I have been left with ZERO minutes to get them ready >>>>> for or to the cafeteria, so there is no way they will get >>>>> that 15 minutes. I guess I will do a quick "shake break", >>>>> then we will go to lunch. After lunch, I will set up 2 or >>>>> three activities: kick ball, jump ropes, etc. There's no >>>>> way they can all do the same activity and be active. I am >>>>> curious to hear how other Florida schools are handling >>>>> this. Dawn/FL
On 4/19/08, Dawn/FL wrote: > Keith, isn't it ironic that our governor passed this law and then > budget cuts would be made so that it can't be implemented. I > totally agree that students need physical education. My issue was > the governor mandating how much, therefore, cutting into my > instructional time. Since the beginning of the year when I > originally posted on this issue, my school has gradually ignored > the intent of the law. The kids still have PE with the PE teacher > twice a week, but on the other days, we basically just let them > play. I only have them play for about 15 minutes (just like I > used to do). We just don't call it "recess". We call > it "classroom PE". No one is checking up to see if it is done, so > we do what we want. Dawn/FL > > 4/04/08, Keith Edgeworth wrote: >> A Florida Lake County Elementary School had PE 5 Times a week, >> totaling the required 150 minutes per week. Thanks to budget >> reductions and the Administration not valuing PE, PE was >> completely cut from the curriculum next year. So now being out >> of a job, this Lake County school will have regular teachers >> take their students out for 30 minutes a day of recess to meet >> the requirement. Thanks Lake County and the Elementary School >> which no longer values PE enough to keep it in the curriculum. >> I predict an increase in the already pathetic fitness and health >> of our students. It is of no surprise based upon the overall >> poor fitness, health, and general obesity of a substantial >> portion of the teachers and administrators. Great job local, >> federal politicians, and apathetic administrations. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 10/04/07, Michele wrote: >>> Oh, yeah -- this is a mess!!!!! >>> >>> We have 10 minutes of “Deskercise” each morning on AM news, >>> then we have PE between 1 and 3x per week. We have 3 PE >>> teachers, but we also have 8 3rd grade teachers, so the >>> schedule is marked Day A, B, C, D, E, F and G, and we go to PE >>> 3 times per cycle. Depending on how the days fall, it can >> range >>> from one to 3 PE classes per week. We were also told that >>> movement in music didn't count. We have to do a 20 min. >>> structured PE/Recess daily to make up the rest of the 150 min. >>> We have a specific time we must do this, on top of 90 minutes >>> uninterrupted for reading, 60 min. for math, 30 for Social >>> Studies and 40 for Science plus a 30 min. lunch each day. When >>> you add up all of these minutes, it's 30+ minutes more than we >>> actually have in a school day, yet we’re still expected to do >>> it all. We are told to integrate sci & soc st into reading, >> but >>> we CANNOT teach sci or soc st content at that time - we must >>> still do sci & soc st blocks daily to address content. We can >>> ONLY do reading strategies during the 90 min. reading. >>> >>> Then, we have to schedule our push -in groups, pull-out >> groups, >>> mainstreamed groups and speech/lang. groups while not >>> interfering with their reading or math blocks. It is actually >>> not physically possible to do what we are told we must do each >>> day. It is also physically impossible to meet all the needs of >>> the various groups within the time constraints we are given. I >>> have experienced, dedicated teachers at their wit’s end and >>> ready to quit because of it all. The ultimate frustration is >>> being asked to do what is literally impossible. We are lovin’ >>> life right now, as you can imagine… >>> >>> :o) Michele >>> >>> >>> >>> On 8/18/07, ace/1st wrote: >>>> I feel lucky! With the breakdown, we can add this and that >>>> and it adds up during the day and to 150 min a week. We count >>>> the regular PE once a week, the music teacher actually does 15 >>>> minutes of physical activity once a week (that was a relief to >>>> hear!!!), our recess will be a little more structured, and the >>>> nutrition will be in at snacktime. I don't think this is >>>> really what the intention was from Shaq and Gov Crist, but >>>> unless they fund it, it's tough to do what they want! I will >>>> have to note in my planbook what we are doing. Not sure how >>>> that will look yet! We start Monday and I'll see how everyone >>>> is doing it. Funny how everyone forgets about transition >>>> time! Good luck! I'll check in with you down the road :) >>>> >>>> >>>> On 8/15/07, Dawn/FL wrote: >>>>> Well, we returned to school today and this is how >>>>> mandatory PE will be handled at my school. Our PE teacher >>>>> will double up classes twice a week. On the other days, >>>>> the classroom teacher will be responsibile for providing >>>>> PE. We have been dictated a time in our schedule to do >>>>> this and this will be a structured activity. There will >>>>> be no more recess. In my case, 15 minutes has been >>>>> scheduled before lunch, and 15 minutes after. The problem >>>>> is I have been left with ZERO minutes to get them ready >>>>> for or to the cafeteria, so there is no way they will get >>>>> that 15 minutes. I guess I will do a quick "shake break", >>>>> then we will go to lunch. After lunch, I will set up 2 or >>>>> three activities: kick ball, jump ropes, etc. There's no >>>>> way they can all do the same activity and be active. I am >>>>> curious to hear how other Florida schools are handling >>>>> this. Dawn/FL
Perhaps Readinglady.com is not the place to find these bookmarks. I will look when I go back to school next week, and I'll let you know.
On 8/20/07, Diane wrote: > Diane 2 > Readinglady may be the place but where do I find the book marks > on her site? > > Thanks Diane > > > On 8/18/07, diane2 wrote: >> On 8/17/07, Diane wrote: >>> Hi, >>> Several years ago I printed a book mark with fix up >>> strategies on it. I can no longer find it. Does anyone have >>> the web site? >>> Thanks >>> Diane >> >> Hi too!! I printed a book mark from readinglady.com that >> had reading strategies on it. I hope this is what you want.
If you haven't heard of this and you teach primary, check it out. There are decoding and comprehension bookmarks, posters, and charts that you can print out.
you've gotten great advice for books. I made sure my kids read
daily doing a similar idea for gathering books.
I also used a to z to make books - I taught my second graders
how to make their own books. It worked great.
I used scholastic magazine
i used weekly reader
I used nationa...See More