I have never heard that cross grade level grouping is illegal. And I've worked in many buildings that do it. There are legal issues when it comes to special ed teachers taking non-special ed students. but I suspect those laws are different in every state. As for tracking. If you do it right, cross grade level grouping allows a staff more groups and more options for moving kids based on their needs. Kids should never be given a life sentence. Low readers should be with the best possilbe teachers and the goal should be to accelerate them- there are so many ways to do that. But it takes highly skilled teaching--and the belief that gaps can in fact be closed. Amy > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected]> Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:05:27 -0500> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts> > If we do the across grade-level grouping, some people have said to me that it's tracking and that is illegal. Since all of our kids are in for the whole group lesson then that must get around that some how. I'm not sure of all the legal terms and I think we all call it something different so I don't know what is against the law and what is not.> > Wendy> ----- Original Message ----- > From: susan donnelly<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group<mailto:[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 12:28 PM> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts> > > Wait I agree with Renee > also Isnt this against Inclusion policies for all kids ?> meaning isnt this against the law ?> Susan Donnelly > > --- On Sat, 10/11/08, Renee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote:> > From: Renee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>> Date: Saturday, October 11, 2008, 11:10 AM> > Wait a minute.> > If the high kids are taken out, and the kids with IEPs are taken out, > then you are already left with only part of your class and it seems to > me that it is a PERFECT opportunity for you to go over, reteach, > extend, or clarify lessons already taught, AND/OR to have kids doing > some independent activities while you confer with them individually. I > think your principal doesn't know what the heck he is talking about.> > Renee <-- obviously cranky and getting more and more impatient with > incompetent administrators> > On Oct 11, 2008, at 8:42 AM, Wendy Jensen wrote:> > > Sorry, Amy! I emailed back to you personally and meant to do it to > > the listserv. I wanted to share our exact set up with all of you who > > have been so great in responding to my concerns over this issue. We > > have a 90 minute literacy block that is to include phonics, spelling, > > and reading. EVERY child is in the classroom for whole group reading > > instruction. When whole group is over, the top kids leave for > > instruction with the talented and gifted teacher (these are kids from > > each 2nd grade classroom), kids with IEPs leave to work with their > > teacher and we also have a reading interventionist who takes low kids > > if needed. The kids that are left in the room have differentiated > > instruction whether it be guided reading, independent > > reading/conferences, or small group skill work. However, our > > principal wants to take those kids that are still in our room and > > split them apart into different classrooms based on their ability > > level. If we are all already differentiating with the kids that are > > still in the room, why would we need to break it down further? Then > > it is just a matter of logistics. I feel that a lot of this is just > > "buzz words". We should be doing it because it is the latest> thing, > > not because we have proof that it works for or is good for kids. I > > am not opposed to maybe trying this set-up in a different part of the > > day for a short amount of time. I want to thank you all again for > > your insights on both sides of the issue. I have started making a > > list of questions for the administration and points about things we > > have discussed on this listserve. I learn from all of you everyday!> >> > Wendy> >> > ----- Original Message -----> > From: Amy McGovern<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email > > Group<mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>> > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> > Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 10:35 PM> > Subject: RE: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts> >> >> > Hi Wendy,> > I am wondering how many guided reading groups some of the other > > teachers in your building have.> > Sometimes teachers have too many groups. When this is the case, > > sharing kids is a very good solution. I work with teachers who have 7 > > groups in one class. They have been doing this so long that they no > > longer see the problem with only getting face time with each group for > > a few minutes per day. They resist the suggestion that there could be > > another way. It's hard to change. But sometimes the change has > > greater benefits for all the kids. It may be hard for the teacher, > > but it could work for the kids. Personally, I would rather have fewer > > groups and get more face time per group, to really discuss and digest > > strategies and stories.> >> > I've been consulting for several years now. The most successful > > buildings I've worked in share the kids. My building had a building > > wide reading time from 8:30 to 10:00AM. The kids moved to different > > rooms for the reading block. We got excellent results. It can work > > when teachers take a team approach and work hard to communicate.> >> > Amy715-453-6509> >> >> >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> >> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:53:35 -0500> >> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts> >>> >> You are so right, Bev! I have been sent very thoughtful replies and I> >> appreciate everyone who gave their two cents. I know that it isn't> > >> good for> >> kids, but I also know I need to go in to the next meeting well > >> prepared to> >> defend my position. I have great questions to ask and experience and> >> research to cite. Thanks so much to everyone..I knew I could count on > > >> you!> >>> >> Wendy> >>> >>> >>> From: "Beverlee Paul" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> >>> Reply-To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email> >>> Group"<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>> >>> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension> > >>> Strategies> >>> Email Group"<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>> >>> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts> >>> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 07:11:16 -0600> >>>> >>> Hi Wendy - You've gotten such thoughtful replies, and I'd> like to > >>> kind of> >>> sum up my experience and these replies and say: I think he'd> need to > >>> have> >>> a> >>> truly compelling reason (not an excuse) to change to this and I > >>> think he'd> >>> have kind of a hard time doing so. He needs to think, "In> what way > >>> would> >>> these children be better served out of the classroom rather than> in > >>> the> >>> classroom?" If there's no really good answer, I think the> conclusion > >>> is> >>> obvious. Bev> >>>> >>> On Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 5:16 PM, chelo echaves> >>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:> >>>> >>>> hello Wendy> >>>> I am not a teacher in the sense that most of you here are but> I love> >>>> reading and am involved in our own Public Library here in Cebu> City,> >>>> Philippines. My love for reading is whats keeping me here at> MOSAIC > >>>> :-)> >>> I> >>>> learn alot here and not just about reading. I learn about> people's> >>>> generosity and bigness of heart always trying to find ways to> help > >>>> and> >>>> better themselves in order to be better at helping children> >>> read-Amazing!> >>>> Anyways, experiencially I do this-I do what my gut feel tells> me to > >>>> do.> >>> You> >>>> are your best and worst critic but I can sense your deep love> for> >>> children> >>>> to find their way through reading. so I am definite you will> do > >>>> whats> >>> best.> >>>> Blessings> >>>> Chelo> >>>>> >>>> --- On Thu, 9/10/08, Wendy Jensen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> wrote:> >>>>> >>>> From: Wendy Jensen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> >>>> Subject: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts> >>>> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies> Email" <> >>>> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>> >>>> Date: Thursday, 9 October, 2008, 6:19 AM> >>>>> >>>> My principal just asked us (again) today about how we would> feel > >>>> about> >>>> ability> >>>> grouping kids for reading across a grade level. So, all the> low > >>>> kids go> >>> to> >>>> one> >>>> of the 2nd grade teachers, all the low-mid go to a different> 2nd > >>>> grade> >>>> teacher,> >>>> all the middle kids go to another 2nd grade teacher and so on.> We > >>>> would> >>> do> >>>> this> >>>> during a time in our reading block when the ELP or TAG kids> leave > >>>> the> >>> room> >>>> and> >>>> the lowest kids leave the room for extra help. I'm not> really > >>>> thrilled> >>>> with> >>>> this idea and many teachers in the building feel the same way.> Do > >>>> any> >>> of> >>>> you do> >>>> this grouping within your reader's workshop? I just> don't think it > >>>> is> >>>> the appropriate time to do that. I've worked hard to train> my kids > >>>> how> >>>> reader's workshop runs, they get to choose books, and have> longer> >>> periods> >>>> of> >>>> time to read. Many of the teachers in the building do small> guided> >>> groups,> >>>> however, I am the only one using a reader's workshop> approach. He > >>>> has> >>>> brought this topic to the table time and time again and we> always > >>>> tell> >>> him> >>>> we> >>>> don't want to use that approach, but for some reason he> keeps > >>>> pushing> >>> it.> >>>> I> >>>> realize there's not just one way to teach reading, but> I've seen > >>>> such> >>>> great results with reader's workshop and comprehension> strategies > >>>> that I> >>>> would hate to see that all go away. I'd love your thoughts> on this> >>>> "set-up". I think if I have more input I might not> judge it so> >>>> harshly. My first reaction is NO WAY! Thanks in advance!> >>>>> >>>> Wendy> >>>> _______________________________________________> >>>> Mosaic mailing list> >>>> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> >>>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to> >>>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/> > >>>> mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.> >>>>> >>>> Search the MOSAIC archives at> http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive>.> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> New Email names for you!> >>>> Get the Email name you've always wanted on the new @ymail> and> >>> @rocketmail.> >>>> Hurry before someone else does!> >>>> http://mail.promotions.yahoo.com/newdomains/aa/<http://mail.promotions.yahoo.com/newdomains/aa/>> >>>> _______________________________________________> >>>> Mosaic mailing list> >>>> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> >>>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to> >>>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/> > >>>> mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.> >>>>> >>>> Search the MOSAIC archives at> http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive>.> >>>>> >>>>> >>> _______________________________________________> >>> Mosaic mailing list> >>> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> >>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to> >>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/> > >>> mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.> >>>> >>> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive>.> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________> >> Mosaic mailing list> >> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to> >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/> > >> mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.> >>> >> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive>.> >>> >> >> >> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -------> > See how Windows Mobile brings your life together—at home, work, or > > on the go. See > > Now<http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093182mrt/direct/01/<http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093182mrt/direct/01/>>> > _______________________________________________> > Mosaic mailing list> > [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to> > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/> > > mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.> >> > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive>.> >> >> "The ultimate goal of education must be to get each one out of his > isolated class, and into the one humanity." > ~ Paul Goodman> > > _______________________________________________> Mosaic mailing list> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org>.> > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive>. > > > > > > _______________________________________________> Mosaic mailing list> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org>.> > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive>. > > _______________________________________________> Mosaic mailing list> [email protected]> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.> > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _________________________________________________________________ Get more out of the Web. 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