No apologies needed. I wonder if your principal is concerned about the "down time" kids have when they are not with you. Sometimes this time can be utilized more effectively. I don't know the situation... and it soundsl like you all do a fari amount of differentiating already, but I have worked with a enough teachers and administrators to know that everyone's teaching skills are not equal. You may be excellent at differentiating instruction, but someone else on your staff may not be. Creating more structure for everyone can be a way to improve the learning experience for all the kids. Principals cannot always say the reasons for making changes...just a thought. Amy> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected]> Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:42:32 -0500> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts> > 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]> > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group<mailto:[email protected]> > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[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]> > To: [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]>> > >Reply-To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email > > >Group"<[email protected]>> > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies > > >Email Group"<[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:> > >> > > > 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]> wrote:> > > >> > > > From: Wendy Jensen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> > > > Subject: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts> > > > To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email" <> > > > [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]> > > > 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.> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > 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/> > > > _______________________________________________> > > > 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.> > > >> > > >> > >_______________________________________________> > >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.> > >> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________> > 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. > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------> 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/> > _______________________________________________> 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. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008 _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.
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