[MOSAIC] Literacy Coaches
A great book for anyone trying to figure out how to build community in a school is Learning Along the Way by Diane Sweeney. When our Literacy Coaches were hired, the 'job' description was vague...This book helped put things into perspective, and at the same time Coaches realized that their job was to help teachers. Teachers that were receptive to a coach coming into their classrooms were approached first...other teachers needed to realize that coaches were not there to 'evaluate' them. Check out this book for some more ideas. I think you can find it on Amazon . Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] teaching parents how to read to their children
You may find some additional information here to share with parents... Lots and lots of information. Jean/NJ http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/parents ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] Teaching students to evaluate text
Is he familiar with Elin Keene's "Mosaic of Thought"...that book opened my eyes to comprehension and how I read! It became my go to text as I read it with a Study Group at my school. I became a better reader and I know I became a better teacher of comprehension because of that book. Jean/NJ - Original Message - From: To: Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 6:36 PM Subject: [MOSAIC] Teaching students to evaluate text One of my colleagues (a 4th grade teacher) approached me today about beginning to teach his students how to evaluate the texts they read and deepen their comprehension. At first, I thought he might consider determing importance of the information in the text, but he is looking for something more - evaluating within a text and possibly evaluating across texts. I'm not even sure he knows where he's going yet - he's excited to take his kids somewhere else and I think he'll know more about that direction and things he wants to teach once he gets going Does anyone have any experirence with teaching this, or suggestions that he might try? I admit, this is new for me as well. Thanks. Linda Reading Specialist Medford, NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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 Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] [OT] 5th grade word study
Michele, You may find what you need here...it http://www.wfu.edu/education/fourblocks/Leadership%202007/MbM%20Phonics%20for%204th%20and%205th%20grade%202007%20A&K.pdf is a power point presentation given by Amanda Arens and Karen Loman at the Four Blocks Leadership Confernce last January. You can find additional Conference notes at www.wfu.edu/fourblocks Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] word study_resource books
I forgot to add the link for two new books that may be helpful too. http://www.arensenterprises.com/Books.htm Jean ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] 3rd grade word study_Linda
In the Four Blocks, the third grade word study is similar to what is being done in the 1st and 2nd grades depending of course on the backround that the children already have in 4Blocks Word Study. The first day you would introduce the five new word wall words; second day, sort the words; third day making words activities and the fourth and fifth day would be extending lessons with additional vocabulary work that sometimes is also done during Guided Reading. The link below will give you information that Deb Smith(a member of this group) has complied regarding vocabulary. I am sure you will find many ideas here for your use. http://www.readinglady.com/mosaic/tools/Vocabulary%20Ideas%20compiled%20by%20Deb.pdf Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] (mosaic) 3rd grade word study and vocabulary
Linda, If you are familiar with the 4Blocks, the 1st,2nd, and 3rd grade Word Block are similar in format...First day intro. 5 new word wall words. Second day review words, Third Day, Making Words, Fourth Day, review and Sorting Fifth day Review new and previously introduced words. Vocabulary instruction can also be part of the word block but usually 'spills' into the Guided Reading Block when you are introducing content specfic words or words that are needed for Guided Reading. Deb Smith, a member of this group, has a lot of ideas to share in the link below... http://www.readinglady.com/mosaic/tools/Vocabulary%20Ideas%20compiled%20by%20Deb.pdf Jean/NJ (the first time I tried to send this email, it didn't come through, so I am trying again.} ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] Round Robin Reading
Joy, I am sure you have considered this, but how about setting up a schedule for partner reading. That way, when your TA is filling in, the kids will already be assigned a partner and will know what is expected of them during their reading time. The TA will be able to observe, assist, and monitor the class, as well as see how well the kids do in this environment...everyone will be on task! Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] Round Robin Reading_partner reading
Just a clarification...when I mentioned partner reading, I was talking about two kids, that I partner up, sitting together and reading a section. Partner reading , in my room, is completely orchestrated by me. I pick the partners. I use DRA levels and match kids up. If I had 24 kids in my class, I would list them from highest DRA to lowest, cut my list in half, and then the person listed number 1 would be partnering with person number 13. I do this because I want the highest working with the middle student, and the middle student working with a lower reader. I find that if two 'higher' readers are together, they tend to be a little bossy, and their personalities actually work better with a middle reader. My middle readers work nicely with a lower reader and seem to be more helpful then bossy. Hope this makes sense. Oh, there are days when some partner groups don't work out and I have to make changes, but on the whole, it seems to work . Sometimes I do let the kids choose their own partners, but mostly partner groups in my room are set up by me. Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] (Mosaic) textmapping
Hi Linda, Thought I would jump in on the textmapping question...I have used it successfully in grades one and four...In first grade we scrolled the book, My Little Sister Ate One Hare...a counting book by Bill Grossman, and had a lot of fun with all of the counting activities... In fourth grade we used it with our social studies text...it helped tremendously with outlining, and also with identifying the conventions in a non fiction text... I think you will find that textmapping can be used with almost any grade...and there are so many uses for it too! Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] (no subject)
I'm not sure what grade you are talking about, but on the following link, you will find someideas that you may want to share with parents. Jean/NJ http://www.readingrockets.org/families/buildskills ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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] Authors and Illustrators
You can find video interviews with Patricia Mac Lachlan and 50 other authors and illustrators at this site. Jean/NJ http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] Kindergarten preparation
Check out www.readingrockets.org... you will find some handouts for parents that you may want to include... handouts can be downloaded in several languages... http://readingrockets.org/article/7834 Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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] Centers/Literacy Stations
Would someone please explain to me the difference between Centers and Literacy Stations. Perhaps it's me, but I never had success with centers. I always felt they were too much work and I guess I wasn't organized enough to keep up with them. When our district embraced the Four Blocks framework, I was thrilled. I really felt I had a handle on what the kids were doing at all times and knew that they were fully engaged in each Block. We have since moved to a more Reading and Writing workshop approach and that seems to suit our students as well. Now the buzz is that we are going back to groups and Literacy Workstations. I am a little bit concerned. My philosophy has been that teachers teach children and not centers. I know I can count on this list serve to help me see the light. Thanks for any input on this subject. Jean/NJ [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] Creating a plan for family involvement in literacy
Eunice, You may get some ideas from these sites: www.readingrockets.org and it's partner www.colorincolorado.org Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] Book leveling site
I like the leveling site at Scholastic. Lot's of good suggestions for other books too. Jean http://bookwizard.scholastic.com ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] RtI_Attention Debbie
Debbie Wrote: We keep an assessment wall in our conference room that does not show teacher or student names on the front of each card, but it is a great visual for keeping us all tuned in to how many kids are having trouble and how much trouble they are having. Jean says: Hi Debbie, We also are using an Assessment Wall at our school to help us address the needs of all students at our school. Please email me off list. I would like to share what we are doing at our school and find out a little bit more about how you are using your Assessment Wall. Thanks. Jean [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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] Assessment Wall
Debbie Wrote... > We have a large bulletin bard in our conference room that we use for this. > DRA levels go across the top. Individual cards with numbers on the front > and student info on the back.are pinned under the correct DRA level. They > are color coded for grade level so at a glance it is easy to see where the > students are and if there are any students drastically behind grade level. > We also use colored dotd on the front to indicate special services. I hope > this makes sense teacher name is not on the cards. I also maintain an > excel data base with all students and their DRA levels. This allows me to > monitor progress because I put the date in the cell that indicates the > level. I use this database to also keep students and teachers names aqnd > the assessment wall number assigned to each student. I think the > assessment wall is a Linda Dorn thing so you might find pictures and more > info on her site. Sorry I don't hqave an exact site but you can google it. > HTH. Debbie > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T Jean says: This sounds exactly how we are using our Assessment Wall. At this time, I am the one in charge of imputing data and keeping our data base up to date. Teachers have taken over moving their own cards and this has certainly helped not only with maintaince of the wall, but encouraging those teachers whose students were not moving along to ask for additional help and/or begin to focus on SSR and DRA. I can send you more information tomorrow that I have on our Wall. All of my info is a school. Jean/NJ home: [EMAIL PROTECTED] school: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] persuasive texts
'I Wanna Iguana,' by Karen Kaufman Orloff ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] strategies for figuring out unfamiliar words
> 3. (similar to #2?) Look for chunks I know in the word, blend them > together and make a couple of gueses at how this word might sound. Does > that sound like any word I've ever heard before and might know the > meaning of? One thing I would add is that I ask my students to "say" all of the letters. This way I know they are looking at the whole word and since I tell them 'our brains are always looking for patterns', they may retrieve something they know to help them. I have used this same strategy with first graders and fourth graders. Jean/nj ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] what book is GRTFBW?
GRTFBW Guided Reading the Four Blocks Way by Pat Cunningham, Dottie Hall, Jim Cunningham (2000) ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] textmapping and social studies.
Dave! I have just introduced the use of textmapping to one of the fourth grade teachers that I work with. We used it for Social Studies in Guided Reading . I felt it was necessary to model determining importance with our SS book because the content is so dense, and by using the scroll and seeing the whole layout of the unit, the kids had a good idea of what we were planning to do. Not only did we list the elements of non-fiction text, but we could easily determine what was going to be important and worked in groups to highlight important information. Needless to say, modeling everyday has been essential . I certainly feel like the total experience has been great! Taking in slow through the chapter will enable the group to prepare for working in groups in the next chapter... Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] Differentiated Instruction
Myra, I agree with you 100%. I can;t understand why Administrator's think Differentiated Instruction and homogeneous grouping should go hand in hand. Our district has been following the 4Block format for several years. The school I work in was privileged to have Pat Cunningham, one of the creators of the Four Blocks framework, come to visit our school. Pat wrote about our school in her book,Schools That Work, that she co-wrote with Dick Allington. Our Self-Selected Reading Block and the Writing Block are completely differentiated during the individual conferences we have with each child. Notes are taken each week when we meet with individual students so that instruction can be tailored to the individual needs . Of course the SSR block has each student reading books on their own levels. How much more differentiated can you get? The Guided Reading Block allows teachers to choose from various formats while practicing comprehension strategies. Our district was one of the lowest performing schools in the state, but we have made steady gains over the years and are certainly moving in the right direction. I believe that Four Blocks was a big part of our turn around. But here is the kick...just today I was notified that I will have to attend a meeting on differentiated instruction and then set up a grade level unit specifically detailing how I am going to differentiate in the classroom. I wanted to scream, " Have you been around to the classrooms lately?" Hmm, I wonder what supervisor went to a presentation on Differentiated Instruction and decided to make this requirement. Thanks for letting me get this all out. Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] 2nd language learners
Heather, Check out www.colorincolorado.org you may find some useful information at this site. Jean/NJ ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
Re: [MOSAIC] Combining reading, writing, and history standards
Kim, I just returned from Washington where I presented a workshop called "Integrating Rich Content into the Reading Blocks." Mainly the presentation focused on how our district is creatively using this block of time to provide required reading instruction without sacrificing rich content such as Science and Social Studies and linking all information to our Core Curriculum Content Standards in Writing, Language Arts and Social Studies. If you would like a copy of the packet that was distributed, please email me off list and I will email the link to you as soon as it is available on line. BTW, the conference was the Quality Educational Standards in Teaching(QuEST) Conference that is a biannual conference hosted by my teacher's union , the American Federation of Teachers. Jean/NJ [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: "kimberlee hannan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" ; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 9:31 PM Subject: [MOSAIC] Combining reading, writing, and history standards > I am sitting down with a few teachers in my department soon to put together > three sets of standards: reading, writing, and history. I have empty page > syndrome. I hardly know where to start. Do any of you teach both ELA and > History with a combined set of standards. What does that look like? How do > you do it? Do you give them equal time or do you emphasize one or the > other? > > Any ideas or opinions? > > -- > Kim > --- > Kimberlee Hannan > Department Chair > Sequoia Middle School > Fresno, California 93702 > > > Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, let go of what you can't > change, kiss slowly, play hard, forgive quickly, take chances, give > everything, have no regrets.. Life's too short to be anything but happy. > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ___ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > 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 Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
