Hi All! I'm going to steal Kim's idea about the 100 e- mails for our 100th day celebration. My kindergarten class will be participating in a lot of activities on our 100th day-which happens to be on January 27th also-with our "family" classes (a first, second and third grade), and since I'm pretty fond of activities of this nature, I thought this sounded like a good idea. I'd like to put them on a map in the hallway after letting the older students find the location for each one. We may graph them also. If you'd like to send us an email, please send them my school email address, [email removed]!
Some of you seem to be having trouble sending the emails to my school address. If you can't send the email to my school address, [email removed]!
Thanks!
On 1/17/04, Anita/Ky/K wrote: > Hi All! I'm going to steal Kim's idea about the 100 e- > mails for our 100th day celebration. My kindergarten class > will be participating in a lot of activities on our 100th > day-which happens to be on January 27th also-with > our "family" classes (a first, second and third grade), and > since I'm pretty fond of activities of this nature, I > thought this sounded like a good idea. I'd like to put > them on a map in the hallway after letting the older > students find the location for each one. We may graph them > also. If you'd like to send us an email, please send them > my school email address, [email removed]!
Hi I was wondering if anyone had a Building Blocks vclassroom in BC (Canada). We are supposed to be doing classroom visits and I would love to see it all in action. I am using it but do not feel if I am doing it all properly. I used 4 Blocks with my grade two/three class last year and found it a little more easy to follow. Thanks
I am a pre-service teacher and about to start tutoring for our literacy program. I need a great get to know you activity for a one-on-one session. Just let me know if you have any ideas. Thxx
We are located in central Illinois, just north of Effingham. Very interested in the Building Blocks program and would be interested if anyone near by is using this format already in their classroom. I would love to get first hand information!! Thanks for your time.
Hi Cheryl. I've heard that the Raccoon school in the Centralia/Salem area uses it. The Clay City Kindergarten uses it. I live in Fairfield. I use it, though I still use some of the worksheets that came with our reading series (which aren't used in "pure" Building Blocks--I think). Let me know if you need more info.
Our school is just starting Four Blocks. They have allocated $300 to each classroom teacher to spend on books. I was hoping you could tell me, from your experience with Building Blocks, what I need to get, and where? I want to get more for my money! :) I have been looking at Scholastic. Should I get all big books with multi-copies of those? Or should I look more at phonics readers, and that sort of thing? Please help! Thanks in advance, Toni
On 1/29/04, Toni/K/KY wrote: > Our school is just starting Four Blocks. They have > allocated $300 to each classroom teacher to spend on > books. I was hoping you could tell me, from your > experience with Building Blocks, what I need to get, and > where? I want to get more for my money! :) I have been > looking at Scholastic. Should I get all big books with > multi-copies of those? Or should I look more at phonics > readers, and that sort of thing? > Please help! > Thanks in advance, > Toni Hello! Spending someone else's money is so fun! I would think a combination of big books with multiple copies of the book for childrens' and the book on tape (for listening center) AND getting some phonics readers. If your school doesn't have a leveled reading library, check out the website [link removed]!
Could someone please give me a sample schedule for Building Blocks? I have the planning book but cannot to save my life get in all they suggest. I need a real life everyday schedule!! Thanks
Are you full day or half day. If you are half day, like me, I alternate my predictable chart and my Shared Reading from week to week. I totally understand how you feel. You try to do everything and then all these crazy holidays pop up on you, Groundhog Day, Valentine's... Ug! I think the thing is to just do your best! :)
On 2/02/04, Stephanie wrote: > Could someone please give me a sample schedule for Building > Blocks? I have the planning book but cannot to save my life > get in all they suggest. I need a real life everyday > schedule!! Thanks
On 2/02/04, Stephanie wrote: > Could someone please give me a sample schedule for Building > Blocks? I have the planning book but cannot to save my life > get in all they suggest. I need a real life everyday > schedule!! Thanks
It's really going to depend on whether you teach full day or half day Kindergarten. I teach full day, so I have the luxury of not having to limit the activities because of time restraints. Here's my schedule:
8:45 Unpack, eat breakfast (all of our Kinders get free breakfast) 9:15 Opening Circle -- calendar, days of the week, Daily News (Shared Writing), ABC chant, sing songs 9:45 A.M. Literacy Block -- Shared Reading, Predictable Chart, Blackline little books (read together and color) 10:25 Specials (Music, P.E., Dance, Art, and Fitness) 11:00 Math Block (we use Investigations plus NC Math Strategies) 11:30 Lunch 12:00 Bathroom/prepare to go outside 12:15 Outside recess 12:45 Prepare for Read, Write, and Rest time 1:00 Read, Write, and Rest 1:30 Put away nap things 1:40 Snack 2:00 P.M. Literacy Block -- 3 small groups manned by myself, my assistant, and the Literacy Specialist 2:35 Free Choice Centers 3:15 Clean up/pack up 3:25 Closing Circle/Announcements 3:30 Car riders are dismissed Bus riders are dimissed soon after unless the buses are running late, like they usually do. Sometimes it's 4:00 before we put them on the buses.
I just took over this class in January after they had to create 2 new classes in early December (the hired teacher got sick after a week...the assistant took them for 3 weeks....and nothing got taught or learned the entire month of December!) My class was created from the throw-aways from the other 6 classes....several very severe learning difficulties...and two very severe ADHD boys. But, I'm not complaining...I love my class!
Knowing that they had not been taught anything during the entire month of December, I thought I was going to have to hit the ground running and get them caught up as quickly as possible....despite how low they supposedly were. I thought my class was way behind academically only to find out from the Literacy Specialist that I am actually ahead of the other 7 classes! My kiddos are doing great! I just had to brag on them a bit!
For K teachers: do your students know how to recognize/write out of order all numbers to 100 by the end of the year? I always thought counting to 100 was pretty standard, but our first grade teachers think they should enter 1st being able to write them and recognize them. Mine can always write them on a chart, but not all can write them when told to. What do you think? Thanks.
I am struggling with my 5 year old's kindergarten teacher about writing backwards. everyone I have spoken to says it is normal and developmental. How do I deal with this?
For the teacher: tell her that it is a special plan your child is doing. The patterns of the letters - both forward and back - are essential to later math learning. I would talk to her from a place of knowledge and don't engage her. If she gives some kind of bogus junk, just look at her.
For your kid: start talking about mirror images. Daughter's name is Kate and when we look in the mirror, we say that it is Etak (Kate backwards). Let your child see her/his work in the mirror and talk about writing it both ways. Do the bug thing (stand up your signature and then do a mirror version to stand next to it - looks like a fun bug). Allow backward and forward writing. Encourage them both. Then have him/her "test" others on which is easier and faster to read. Let him/her decide which to keep writing and for what. Write backwards for secret codes and write forward for stuff that's important for others to understand.
I was wondering how many of you that have been to a building block workshop would suggest going? I have the guide for teachers and I'm reading it now. Does the workshop just cover that stuff or does it do more?
I would definitely suggest going to a workshop if you have the opportunity. Some of the info will naturally be from the book, but it is so useful to listen to someone who has actually used BB. You'll also learn new ideas that aren't in the book.
On 2/15/04, Lisa wrote: > I would definitely suggest going to a workshop if you have > the opportunity. Some of the info will naturally be from > the book, but it is so useful to listen to someone who has > actually used BB. You'll also learn new ideas that aren't > in the book.
If you ever get the opportunity to see Debbie Arechiga present Building BLocks. She is WAY MORE than the book!!!!!
Some of you seem to be having trouble sending the emails to
my school address. If you can't send the email to my school
address, [email removed]!
Thanks!
On 1/17/04, Anita/Ky/K wrote:
> Hi All! I'm going to steal Kim's idea about the 100 e-
> mails for our 100th day celebration. My k...See More