Sunday, August 13, 2000
Fourth Grade Teachers' Chat
Open Forum
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Susan(Facilitator)
- If there are any fourth grade teachers out there. Are we ready for our
chat?
Susan(Facilitator)
- There are a lot of fourth grade teachers who are interested in learning
new ideas.
Ginny in KY - Are
we discussing any interesting ideas or topics?
Ginny in KY - Well,
my first day is tomorrow! Any advise? I won't sleep all night!
Ginny in KY - How
long has everyone been teaching fourth grade?
Marci in MA - this
will be my 3rd year!
Ginny in KY - This
is my second. I had a 4/5 class last year.
Marci in MA - i still
have so much to learn!!
Susan(Facilitator)
- This is my sixth year.
Marci in MA - What
is your favorite activity?
Marci in MA - for
first day, that is!
Mo/WV - 4th year
in 4th - spent 24 in second
Ginny in KY - I went
to puzzlemaker.com and made a word search using my class list! I plan to
use it first thing in the morn while I'm taking care of paperwork.
Marci in MA - ginny...did
you download it to another program, or just print it from puzzlemaker?
Jenn - no class list
until the week before school starts
Ginny in KY - I just
printed it from puzzlemaker. It was really easy.
Mo/WV - did you do
first and last names on the puzzlemaker?
Susan - I understand
that. Does anyone else face a state writing test and a state reading test
in their state?
Marci in MA - YES!!
MCAS testing here...very difficult for 4th graders
Jenn - There is a
Narrative writing test for fourth in NJ
Mo/WV - state writing
assessment and SAT9
Susan - In Florida,
our schools are graded on what our fourth graders score.
Marci in MA - jenn...what
have the prompts been for the narrative writing test?
Ginny in KY - Marci,
I just printed it from puzzlemaker.
Jenn - It just started
this past year
Jenn - My first year
there wasnt a test
Susan - We have had
prompts like describe your favorite time of year, and things like that
Jenn - it was tell
a story about a shoe you find on the side of the street in a box
Jenn - tell how it
got there and what you do with it
Jenn - really weird
Susan - We have 2
different types of writing tests, narrative and expository. We don't know
what prompt our students get.
Mo/WV - If you could
spend time with someone, who would it be.........tell about your favorite
gift....
Ginny in KY - Mo/WV,
I used first and last names. For example, johnsmith
Susan - Welcome everybody!
We have several conversations going on? Just jump in. I know that fourth
grade teachers are the best. Don't you?
Jenn - 1 of my students
got a 5
Mo/WV - do all of
you belong to the 4th grade e-mail ring?
Ginny in KY - In
Kentucky, students have to turn in a writing portfolio containing a personal
narrative, a transactive piece, a literary piece, and a reflective piece.
Then we also have open response questions and what is called on-demand
writing.
Susan - Wow, a 5.
What did you use to teach writing?
MK - What is the
fourthgrade email ring
tj - this is my first
year in 4th grade classroom
Susan - tj, what
state are you in?
Jenn - 6 is the best
though
Jenn - if it exists
MK - This is my third
year teaching fourth grade in IN
tj - Missouri
Jenn - i just had
them write ALOT
Susan - That's ours
too. I think I'm going to use 6 traits writing this year.
Mo/WV - do you all
have the problem of doing all the teaching of writing in the 4th grade
- not much emphasis put on it in 2nd and 3rd?
Ginny in KY - Susan,
could you tell me a little about 6 traits writing.
MK - Susan I would
like to hear also
tj - Liz are you
in NV?
Marci in MA - do
any of you use the John Collins Method of teaching writing?
Mo/WV - there is
a 6 trait writing session in the archives -
Ginny in KY - Mo/WV,
yes!!! It is very discouraging to have the assessment in fourth grade and
no emphasis in the primary. This year our system required every grade level
to turn in a mini-writing portfolio in attempt to start placing emphasis
in the other grades.
Susan - Our school
is better. Every grade works for the grade our school gets. I went to the
NWREL website and downloaded a handbook for my students. Talking with kim,
I think it targets every aspect of writing.
liz-nv - yes, im
in Nevada
Jenn - I was told
that it was descriptive and had plenty of sheets until two weeks b4 it
was narrative
Mo/WV - mailrings
are one of the choices teachers.net offers - it is great -one for each
grade level
Susan - We're not
allowed to even look at our tests or we face losing our teaching license.
Our kids tell us without asking what they write on.
Ginny in KY - Have
your schools adopted writing curriculums?
jj - MK, where do
you teach in IN? I am from IN also
Mo/WV - I meant before
the test, tho
Jenn - before and
after
MK - jj I teach in
the southern part of IN
Susan - Am I the
only teacher from the south?
Kathy in PA - You
can find out more about 6 traits at: http://www.nwrel.org/eval/writing/
jj - Oh, I teach
in Northwest IN
Ginny in KY - Susan,
I'm from KY. That's the south, I think!
Susan - I'm in Florida
Susan - We have the
FCAT and writing test to deal with
Jenn - are there
any narrative writing sites that anyone knows about
Susan - I found a
website with prompts related to six trait writing. Go to that website.
You'll find it.
Marci - Do any of
you know of any websites for using picture books to teach writing?
Susan - Yes, we are
the only grade level that test those 2 things. We have a lot of pressure
till February when we give the test.
jj - Marci, I use
picture books to prompt writing
TenTen6 - Marci,
I don't know of a site for these books, but I have a list at school. I
will try to remember to post
Jenn - Susan youre
writing test in Feb?
Mo/WV - how many
students do you all have, last year I had 27 - this year 22
Marci - ok...thx
tenten...will you post on upper elem?
Susan - Yes, our
writing test is in Feb.
Jenn - Wow, ours
is in Dec.
jj - I had 29 kids
last year.
Mo/WV - ours is in
march
Alison G - LOL Mo,
heard of lots that do that around the WV Pennsylvania area
TenTen6 - I'm in
NC and our writing assessment is in March. I am assuming this is what you
all are referring to
MK - I had 22 student
last year the year before I had 28 with 13 special needs
Alison G - we test
in March
Marci - i had 21
kids last year, 20 this year
Lori/OH - Anyone
had experience with looping...?
Ginny in KY - We
test in April. I feel lucky!
Alison G - Ginny
where in KY are you?
Jenn - 19 last year
approx 23 so far this year
Susan - I have taught
drop out prevention the last 6 years. This is my first year going back
to a regular class. I looped the past four years and loved it.
Marci - jj...what
is your favorite pic book and activity?
jj - Our test is
in September, but the state test is done in 3rd grade
Ginny in KY - Alison,
Morehead.
jj - give me a minute
to think
Alison G - No looping
here, but I taught 2nd gr. two years ago and so I will have most of my
same kids again this year
TenTen6 - I had experience
with looping and it was the best thing I have ever done. I wish there were
others in my school who would agree to do this.
Marci - ok!
Alison G - I have
too many fa. picture books.....
Lori/OH - I am going
to try to do centers this year along with guided reading...hope it can
be a little different for them than last year...
Kathy in PA - I loop
with 4-5 graders. In our urban school, it seems to work out great for the
kids. It's a stabilizing force for them.
Marci - jj...did
you see the lessons in Mailbox about using pic books to teach writing?
Mo/WV - alison, that
happened to me when I went from 2nd to 4th - they still are the same neat
kids
Alison G - I am going
to do spelling centers.
Lori/OH - My principal
is very supportive of the idea...
Alison G - Anyone
out there teaching Success For All's Reading program?
Susan - I love looping.
I think it really makes a difference in our students. It helps when you
test in fourth grade to start preparing in third. How do you do spelling
centers?.
jj - Marci, The Principals
New Clothes, Brother Eagle, Sister Sky, Grandpas Teeth, Double Trouble
in Walla Walla
Mo/WV - my kids always
ace the spelling tests, but do poorly on spelling on the SAT 9
Alison G - I had
a rough class last year, so this will be a nice welcoming experience...I
love the group of kids i will have this year.
Ginny in KY - What
is looping?
jj - My kids are
the same about spelling. I think the subject of spelling is a farce
Lori/OH - I am in
a portable with another fourth grade teacher...we are setting up four centers
in both rooms and we will take alternating days to teach guided reading
groups and then keep Wednesdays for whole group instruction/mini lessons
where needed
Alison G - where
you travel up a grade level with your group of kids, and have them for
2 years
Susan - Looping is
where you stay with the same students for two years and move us with them.
TenTen6 - Several
of the books we use in writing came with a list that actually suggests
what areas of writing are best taught using the specific book; for ex some
are really good for teaching single moment in time or clear beginning,
or voice, etc
Alison G - I don't
like to "teach" spelling either, so I thought if I did some phonics things
in centers for 15 min. a day i could call it spelling
Lori/OH - Anyone
done "Making Words"? This is a hands on approach to spelling and will teach
multi-level spelling in one lesson
swerky - Does anyone
loop from fourth to fifth grade?
TenTen6 - I love
making words even for fourth graders
Alison G - Lori,
sounds interesting...is there a website to visit to learn more?
jj - We are doing
the Making Words progra form the 4 Block methd for spelling this year
Kathy in PA - We
use Making Words by Patricia Cunningham (and Making Big Words) as our "spelling"
program.
Susan - Lori, our
whole school district is moving to four block reading. I like it. I taught
my third graders last year the making words. They could spell all the words
that are important on a writing test.
Jenn - Does anyone
have a handwriting workbook?
jj - Yes
Lori/OH - I used
it last year and really love the word wall...have left it up for them to
use this year too.
Ginny in KY - Oh,
thanks Alison. I've heard of that, but never heard it called that. It does
sound really cool. At the private school where I was in TN, we had the
same kids from fifth grade through eighth grade. I taught middle school
math there. So we had the same kids for four years!!!
Susan - Yes, we don't
use it.
TenTen6 - I also
like to use Nifty Thrifty part of the book- Month by Month phonics for
upper grades
Alison G - i do not
teach handwriting and will not teach it.......
Alison G - i do not
expect my kids to write in cursive either
Jenn - I find it
hard to teach
jj - I liked the
making words as well
swerky - We do not
teach handwriting either...we continue practicing though.
Marci - tenten...where
did you get that list of picture books to teach specific areas of writing?
Alison G - i want
to write so that the state testing people can read it
MO/WV - We do cursive
all year - on everything at my insistance
Susan - Has anyone
tried the 3 ring reading circus in four blocks book?
Jenn - especially
the way it gives examples of letters
jj - I dont expect
them to write in cursive either -
Lori/OH - Susan,
I really like four blocks...my kids could spell those easy words they miss
on State proficiency test. My third graders were prepared for the fourth
grade test last year so I think it helped to know where I needed to take
them... Taught fourth grade for six years
Ginny in KY - Alison,
what is your philosophy of not making your students write cursive?
Alison G - We practice
cursive when writing in our journals each day
TenTen6 - How do
any of you find time to teach handwriting. I am scrambling for enough time
to do what I am already doing. Usually, third grade teaches cursive for
us. It's the least of my worry. I guess I need to pay some attention to
it.
Susan - We can print
on the writing test. It's O.K
Jenn - I expect cursive
all year
Lori/OH - I am going
to include handwriting practice in my spelling center this year.
Alison G - Because
I've heard of kid's not having their state tests graded because it couldn't
be read........so I have them practice whatever is best for them
Alison G - so that
the state people can grade their tests
Susan - I did handwriting
along with my wordwall last year.
TenTen6 - Marci,
someone (another teacher in our district) gave it out at a grade level
sharing meeting
Jenn - I fit it in
at Phonics time
swerky - Our state
testing doesn't require cursive...just legibility. What's with cursive
when word processing is the "thing".
Marci - thx kathy
jj - the 4 block
method says you shouldn't worry about things being done in cursive
Susan - I need more
time in my school day. What about you?
TenTen6 - Ours also
swerky
KB/pa - what activities
does everyone give for spelling homework? My traditional ones are getting
boring, even for me!
Lori/OH - I have
two students who CANNOT write in cursive...
Marci - i agree susan!
MO/WV - it is in
our state's instructional goals
Alison G - Our state
testing doesn't require it either so I just ask for mastery in print or
cursive whatever the child is comfortable with.....a lot of kids aren't
developmentally able to write in cursive in my building
swerky - I do too.
They are in OT and can not physically handle cursive.
TenTen6 - I have
also read where cursive in spelling is confusing or can be confusing for
kids. Ok my screen went blank where is everybody?
jj - How long has
everyone been teaching?
Jenn - 3rd year
Lori/OH - We are
having so much trouble getting anyone qualified for spec.ed services anymore
that you have to work with them to produce their best work,
MO/WV - 29 years
here
Alison G - I will
be a 3rd year teacher
Marci - this will
be my third year
Lori/OH - 13th coming
up
tenten6 - This is
my 5th year. It doesn't seem like it's been that long.
KB/pa - 11th year
here
Ginny in Ky - We
word process our portfolios and we tell the kids to write in whatever handwriting
is their neatest. But for the rest of the year I encourage cursive.
jj - This is my 10th
swerky - I've been
teaching 14 years jj
Kathy in PA - Need
good Websites or books on learning centers/stations. Any ideas?
swerky - Ginny, me
too. We do some things in cursive but I'm not upset when students can't.
MO/WV - so you teach
typing skills to your kids, ginny?
Ginny in Ky - Lori,
I wish I had your prob. of qualifying people for spec. ed. It seems like
everyone in my school is. I have six currently on my roster!
tenten6 - What other
kinds of tests do you all have to administer in 4th grade?
Alison G - Anyone
have an idea for me.....my theme is stars in my room....I have a back of
a bookshelf that is plain so I was going to display my cooperative math
group team posters ....any good catchy titles having to do with stars out
there?
swerky - I do a lot
of word processing with my students. That's where the business world is.
Susan - I agree that
fourth graders should be able to write in cursive and legibly. But, where
is the time. In Florida we are preparing them for two tests. If they do
not pass them, they fail.L
Ginny in Ky - tenten6,
we assess reading and science also in fourth grade, along with writing.
Lori/OH - We have
lots that need it...in an urban district in central ohio...they say we
are qualifiying too many....give me a break...very frustrating, especially
with tough state standards
Alison G - We assess
reading, writing, sciece, citizenship and math
KB/pa - we give the
Terra Nova - in October
Jenn - any advice?
Ginny in Ky - Susan,
so your kids are held accountable for their scores?
Susan - How do you
assess citizenship?
Jenn - KB we have
the Terra Nova too
Alison G - Where
in Ohio Lori, I am in Hamilton near cincinnati
tenten6 - In NC,
we test reading writing math and there is now an open-ended assessment
that combines reading and math. How do you assess citizenship?
jj - WE give the
Terra Nova as well
marci - we assess
reading, writing, math, ss, and sci...2 long weeks in May UGH
Jenn - in March though
swerky - In PA we
do a test in fifth grade...the PSSA test. All year we prepare the kids
in fourth grade.
Lori/OH - Teach in
Springfield City Schools
KB/pa - Where are
you, Jenn?
MO/WV - SAT 9 here
in April - 4th and 6th grade test scores go to test
Alison G - It's basically
state history, with a little citizenship rights and respsponsibilities
thrown in there (fair play, etc)
Kathy in PA - In
PA we have standards test in Grade 5. Our district has New Content Standards
test at the end of fourth grade. State is threatening to take over our
district if student scores don't improve in two years! Yikes.
Alison G - Not to
far from me........
Lori/OH - Our district
is in "academic emergency" at this moment...have never worked harder in
my entire life...
marci - what are
your favorite read alouds??
KB/pa - swerky -
i was a 5th grade teacher for 6 yrs, hated the PSSA!!!!!
Susan - Yes, we are
also. Our school missed by one point being an A school to get more money.
We are a C school because of that one point.
miflag - In Illinois
in 4th we test science and social studies
Alison G - We are
too Lori
swerky - I loop KB
so every other year I have fifth grade.
MO/WV - one thing
that has helped our test scores is daily oral language
jj - Favortie read
alouds...Holes, Tales of a 4th grade noting, Skinnybones,
Lori/OH - I love
"Indian in the Cupboard" books, "Chocolate Touch",
tenten6 - Our tests
are based on our state's standard course of study. These ar also high stakes
test that can result in retention for students in 3, 5, 8 grades and possible
assistance teams in schools that don't do well.
Ginny in Ky - Susan,
our schools are held accountable, but not the kids. And they know it, so
they really don't put forth their best. Very frustrating, as well.
Alison G - I really
thought the Giraffe, The Pelly and Me was a cute book
Lori/OH - Hope the
state works on these tests and the funding problem....could help
Susan - We have Jeb
Bush as our govenor. He has pushed this testing. His brother running for
president is for this also.
Jenn - Theres a boy
in the Girl's Bathroom
KB/pa - I think that
would be great - you'd have some control over what happens!
tenten6 - I enjoy
reading the Wish Giver aloud as well. I have read Holes aloud and it was
a sure hit. At first I didn't think they would like it.
Susan - It makes
a difference when they know they can fail. Parents are even worried.
Lori/OH - Our scores
are published in our local paper...strange that county schools get much
higher scores
marci - Jenn...I've
heard of that book, and wasn't sure the content was appropriate, but i
guess it is !
jj - My kids loved
Harry Potter
MO/WV - running out
of time is another favorite of mine
Lori/OH - We joked
about having to pave the parking lot so the fourth graders can drive to
school
tenten6 - Why is
that strange Lori/OH
Jenn - yes it has
to do with a new boy in school who just stumbles in
Alison G - Our state
has a 4th grade guarantee going into effect where if the kids don't pass
they fail 4th grade
Jenn - nothing x
rated
marci - do the kids
enjoy it?
Ginny in Ky - Susan,
wish we could get the kids and parents concerned.
marci - lol
Alison G - if it
had been in effect last year...something like 53,000 4th graders would've
failed in Ohio
MO/WV - so far, we
have to have the parents ok to hold back a child
Jenn - for the past
2 years
Susan - Ours are
all over the media. We are very proud of our school and score. We are a
title one school. We had no fourth graders retained due to testing last
year.
MK in IN - We read
the boy in the girls room out loud with each student having a copy of the
book
Jenn - Only the beginning
is in our reader
Ginny in Ky - Alison,
wow!! Does that wake up the state?
Lori/OH - Differences
between home lives aside, our schools have just replaced a 12 year old
social studies text book for the coming year...we will have PE every other
week, art and music once a week alternating quarters...
tenten6 - It was
my understanding that our tests were to measure teacher perfrmance as in
are we teaching the curriculum. However, the students can be retained if
they do not show proficiency. Confusing huh?
Jenn - so I bought
the book from Scholastic
Alison G - That's
great Susan...what are your tricks???? We are Title One also
MK in IN - We must
have the same reading series Jenn
marci - i just love
using
pic books to teach writing!
MK in IN - What pic
books do you use Marci
Jenn - Name is drawing
a blank
Alison G - Lori,
how can you do that when it is mandated that students get those specials
so many minutes a week in Ohio?
Susan - We have the
Blast Off books and spent some of Title one money on a Success center lab
with computers and a teacher working on writing.
jj - I am really
lucky - we have PE twice a week, art, music, and library once a week as
well, and computer lab twice a week
marci - Thank you,
Mr Falker, Oh, The Places You'll GO, The Paperbag Princess, just to name
a few!
MK in IN - Jenn does
it have a book a -f
Alison G - all of
our title one money goes to the Success For All reading, and math programs
Jenn - I yeah thats
it
tenten6 - I feel
lucky to jj. We have art pe music computer lab and media once a week
Ginny in Ky - I must
be REALLY lucky. We have PE every day, music once a week, and art once
a week.
Susan - This year,
we had a new school built up the road and now we've lost half our population,
teachers and staff. This is tough. Has anyone gone through that?
Jenn - Hopes, Dreams,
and Wishes is the first one
marci - i am lucky
too...gym twice a week, art, library, music, computer lab,
MK in IN - Do you
like it Jenn We do new adoption next year.
miflag - Is anyone
doing a theme for the year? If so, what?
Alison G - we have
pe 2 x's, music 2x's, art and library once....computer lab 15 min. every
day
Susan - Yes, football.
jj - yes, except
I was on the other end. I was in a small school that doubled in size
marci - MK...do you
use pic books too?
swerky - We have
music and pe 2 x's and Lib. computer and health 1 x
jj - My theme is
based on the show "Survivor"
Jenn - Hopes, Dreams,
and Wishes is the first one
miflag - 6 day block-
pe and music 3 xs, art once, library once, computer lab 2xs
MO/WV - 2 PE, 2Music,
2 library
MK in IN - I am really
pushing writing this year. I am going to use everything I can think of
Susan - Wow, that's
interesting jj. How are you doing that? You too Jenn
Jenn - I dont like
the wb though
MO/WV - neat idea
jj
marci - MK....do
you have any favorite pic books? I am always looking for new ideas!
Alison G - our writing
scores are good...it's transferring what they know in reading to everything
else
Jenn - thats my reading
series lol
Kathy in PA - No
themes, but we are going online for Olympics, AustraliaQuest, elections
and MayaQuest.
jj - Each of the
4th grades are going to be a "tribe" and I made tags to look like the symbol
they use on the show.
tenten6 - MK in IN,
I made a new committment to writing this year also. I decided that I needed
to include more real world reasons to write and not soley focus on the
assessment
jj - Trying to think
of an art project ot go with my theme
Jenn - I usually
have them write about their dream house, car, etc
Jenn - illustrate
it
marci - jj...what
kinds of activities willyou do about survivor?
MK in IN - We just
read in silently and do vocab on it the first day then read it outloud
the second day with a quiz on vocab then listen to it on the third day
and do a study guide on it then go over it on Friday and test
Alison G - They could
make flags for their tribe
Skyler - In my state....we
have 4th grade testing in writing narratives and it is very stressful
miflag - Am I the
only one who hasn't been into their classroom yet? School starts in 9 days!!!
Susan - I do football
because my AR board is a football board and I take my kids to an FSU football
game. One of the FSU players is from our town and I challenge them to read
so many books for a reading party. Last year, my 13 at risk third graders
read over 2000 points for a reading party.
jj - like that -
thanks Alison
tenten6 - Skyler,
ours is also narrative but could either be imaginative or personal prompt
Skyler - NC?
Alison G - you could
also have them make a paper mache' mask to represent their tribe?
marci - what kind
of quizzes, MK, and for what book?
tenten6 - yes
jj - Keep them coming
Alison:) :)
Ginny in Ky - Skyler,
how many pieces do they have to write?
MK in IN - For our
reading series. we do that sort of schedule
Alison G - LOL JJ
I'm thinking
MO/WV - or even a
paper mask stressing symmetry
Skyler - for the
test or do I assign throughout the year?
Alison G - Did anyone
send me star ideas? I must've missed them?
Susan - I'm not familiar
with survivor. What are the tribes?
MK in IN - What do
you mean star ideas
MO/WV - thinking
alison
marci - is mae from
Tx here?
jj - Is your opening
theme stars alison?
tenten6 - Alison
G- have you ever heard of Wish Giver, by Bill Brittain? It would be a good
read aloud and kind of has the theme of be careful what you wish for
Ginny in KY - For
the test.
Alison G - I have
a bookshelf where the back is exposed so i thought i would have my kids
make cooperative posters to represent their math teams...looking for a
title to put on it .....continuing with my star theme
jj - One of the things
I so with stars is called H"all" Stars. The class gets stars for hall behavior
Alison G - I can't
do Wish Giver because our 5th grade uses it intently the following year..love
the book though
Jenn - Skyler where
do you get any info on narrative writing from?
Alison G - Oooh I
like that JJ
Susan - jj, how do
you do that? I don't know how long. They just told me we could start at
8.
MO/WV - All Star
Math
Ginny in KY - Skyler,how
many pieces for the test?
jj - Hey Now Your
A "Math" Star - like Smashmouth
Ally - does anyone
have advice for new 4th teacher
Skyler - one....it
will either be a personal narrative or imaginary
MK in IN - There
is a book called Laura's Star that is good
Alison G - JJ You
are good!! and they would knw that song
Ginny in KY - We
have four pieces!
tenten6 - Skyler
I am in NC. are u?
jj - The class gets
stars if they get complimentsfrom hall behavior - 10 stars =a small treat
Skyler - yowsers
Ginny in KY - Lots
of good ideas here! Wish I were this creative!
Susan - jj, where
do you come up with your ideas. They are great. So creative. Thanks for
sharing.
MO/WV - read Harry
Wong's book and Parents on your Side Ally
Alison G - Ally,
go in strong!!!
Ginny in KY - Sklyer,
plus they have a piece to write during the testing. The four pieces are
a portfolio which we work on all year.
Skyler - yes...I'm
in NC
Ally - sounds good,
i read harry, got some good ideas from him
chloe/TX - JJ, who
came up with the hall stars idea?
marci - How did you
like Harry Wong's book, MO?
Ginny in KY - Ally,
be consistent with their behavior.
MO/WV - It was great
- worked on my procedures today
Kathy in PA - For
bibliography, go to Sandra O'Barry's website: http://geocities.com/oberry1790/narrativebibliography.htm
jj - I got the survivor
idea from the upper elementary chatboard and the H"all" star idea from
a student teacher
Alison G - I LOVED
Harry Wong...
Jenn - I dont like
the part about putting up all those posters
Jenn - but in general
it was good
tenten6 - Ginny-
I wish I could have a portfolio instead of a one day test that decides
whether or not my students are proficient writers. I keep a portfolio for
them anyway but they are judged pretty much on a one day test.
Skyler - We keep
writing portfolios for the year in my school, but writing is part of NC's
accountability program for 4th and 7th
Ally - do you do
much teaching the first week?
MO/WV - parents on
your side has a great homework policy to draw from, also good open house
ideas, and discipline plans
Skyler - the writing
test is not a true measure of what the kids can do!!
tenten6 - Skyler,
how are you all doing in your part of NC with writing. We have had a roller
coaster ride of scores. Last year, we mad a 30 point gain.
Alison G - I start
teaching the FIRST day....I just incorporate my rules/procedure expectations
right along with it
Susan - I've done
where if they get a compliment from me they get one point. If they get
a compliment from someone else, they get two. I roll the dice and that
is the number of points they have to have in hall behavior to get a treat.
I call them slam dunk points.
marci - the first
couple of days for me consist of getting to know you activities, and teaching
procedures
Alison G - I start
teaching the FIRST day....I just incorporate my rules/procedure expectations
right along with it
marci - the first
couple of days for me consist of getting to know you activities, and teaching
procedures
marci - we begin
units on the third day...we use the Responsive Classroom model
jj - I like yur idea
of rolling the dice Susan
MO/WV - found this
site yesterday - it was great! http://www.newmanagement.com/
MK in IN - I start
teaching the first day but I incude fun things to do and I take no grades
the first week
Jenn - The first
three days are usually activites
Jenn - I will start
SS on the Fri
jo - What is the
responsive classroom?
Susan - I do an ice
breaker. This year, I'm doing large puzzle pieces and letting them piece
them together. If you have a large ellison machine. They have them.
Jenn - textbook is
TOO big to wait any longer
Alison G - We spend
our first two weeks doing an intense Getting Along program also...
Susan - I do an ice
breaker. This year, I'm doing large puzzle pieces and letting them piece
them together. If you have a large ellison machine. They have them.
Susan - I don't know
what a responsive classroom is either
MO/WV - I'm doing
a bingo type set up where they write the answer to their favorites and
then find a buddy that matches
marci - responsive
classroom is a model for community building, morning meeting, etc. here
is their website http://www.responsiveclassroom.org
Ginny in KY - We
are starting the curriculum on day 2.
marci - Susan...I
am doing that activity too
Kathy in PA - We
use Boys Town throughout school, so first days are spent reviewing procedures,
building community, etc.
MO/WV - we start
on a tuesday, therefore we will start in with everything on wed
Susan - Bye Jenn.
What is Boys Town?
Alison G - which
mailring are most of you on? I am only on the fourth grade one, should
i be on another?
marci - There's a
lot of info about responsive classroom....i have their handbook, and morning
meeting book
marci - does anyone
do morning meeting each day?
Alison G - I don't
have time in the mornings so I have Class Council at the end of everyday
jo - i don't yet,
but am interested in starting it up this year.
marci - it is a lot
of fun....our morn mtg consist of greeting, sharing, activity, and newsboard
marci - maybe next
week we can share specific ideas
jo - are your activites
from responsive classroom?
marci - some are
from the responsive classroom...some are from other teachers
Susan - Does anyone
have a good idea for teaching reading comprehension.
marci - ok...you
can do "telephone" a short message whispered to the person sitting next
to you, I'm sure you're familiar with this one!
MO/WV - on worksheets,
highlight answers to questions in the text
Alison G - in our
reading program we have listening comp. everyday....I read aloud teaching
a particular skill for 20 min. every day
jo - i use graphic
organizers, charts, and discussions
MO/WV - KWL charts
Alison G - We cross
out unnecessary information within text
marci - i only use
3 graphic organizers throughout the year for writing..too many really confuses
my kids
Alison G - I agree
marci..what do you use?
marci - four squares,
t-charts, and KWL
jo - i just use graphic
organizers for setting, plot, and character
marci - i use a lot
of t-charts as venn diagrams
MO/WV - have any
of you used the Kelly Wingate books on grammar, paragraph writing, reading
comprehension
marci - yes, i almost
forgot...i use a story map for teaching story elements
Alison G - not familiar
with four squares?
Alison G - I LOVE
tcharts
Susan - What are
tcharts?
marci - four squares
is basically a sheet of paper, folded into four boxes...
Alison G - two headings
underlined with a line through the middle...good for comparing
marci - and it can
be used for teaching the kids to write four paragraphs
Alison G - I use
them for descriptive writing....what does something Look Like or Sounds
like
marci - in the beginning
of the year, i also use the hamburger model for teaching paragraph writing
MO/WV - we start
off with a chart where we put the title, what do you thing the story will
be about (after looking at pictures and title), prediction( after reading
the first page), purpose for reading, change prediction(after reading more),
visualize a part of the story, and finally summarize in a couple of sentences
Marci - can you elaborate
on the descriptive writing alison?
Marci - great idea
mo
Susan - Fourth grade
teachers need alot of good books to teach writing and reading. Media specialist
are important.
MO/WV - we share
predictions and it is good for some of the poorer students to see that
the smarter ones don't always get their prediction right
jo - has anyone heard
of Lincoln Baldridge framework?
Susan - No, who or
what is Lincoln Baldridge framework?
jo - I went to this
seminar over the summer, it is a system to use in the classroom, like setting
mission statements, goals
Susan - Same as me.
I just got my class list. Do you have yours?
MO/WV - did you learn
anything jo?
jo - I am going to
use a lot of the info. They have the children use these data folders to
keep track of their progrss by using graphs. I really liked the idea about
making goals, and setting measure for them.
Susan - My problem
is we are losing students everyday to the new school up the road. It is
a K-8 school and students are leaving because they siblings are moving
to middle school. I have 22 students on my list right now. But if we loose
more teachers., I'll have 30 something. I teach in Panama City, Florida.
MO/WV - what part
of florida susan? and what part of mass jo?
Susan - The northern
panhandle. We have the famous white beaches.
jo - Last year was
my first year. I was sooo amazed to see the things my children endured
and overcame
jo - have you read
love and logic?
Susan - I understand
jo, I taught drop out prevention till this year. I love working with those
kids. They are special to the heart.
MO/WV - read love
and logic
Susan - Have you
read the new book about Winn Dixie? That is a heartwarming book. Great
read aloud.
jo - my school is
starting to implement l L and L. Love DAHL!!
jo - does your school
offer these novels, or do you buy them? L & L abv for love and logic,
sorry!
Susan - Does anyone
else have books picked by their state to read to children? We have Sunshine
State books. They were great last year. Has anyone read Bug Boy,or Fire
in the Sky?
Susan - What about
101 ways to bug your parents?
jo - that's awesome
that your school has them. We just have basal which i can't stand. Have
to get novels ourselves
marci - haven't heard
of that one susan...is it good?
Susan - No, they
are levelized by middle, beginning or intermediate levels.
MO/WV - our school
has harcourt brace which I hate so use the old silver burdette a lot
Susan - We did a
writing assignment. They had to come up with 101 ways to bug your students.
MO/WV - I am not
allowed to use trade books for teaching reading
marci - we use harcourt
brace for math, along with Terc Investigations
marci - really mo?
wow!
Susan - You have
to be kidding, MO?
MO/WV - I can read
to them tho
Susan - What is wrong!
Is it your principal or school district?
MO/WV - principal,
but she does everything by the book
marci - we don't
even own a basal in fourth grade
MO/WV - I read to
them and we do worksheets on the chapters
jo - does anyone
use centers?
jo - that's great
marci
MO/WV - do the kids
have to buy the novels or does the school supply them?
Susan - I would like
too. Can't find the time. Do you have any good ideas?
marci - i sometimes
wish we had a basal, just to refer to for the sequence of teaching skills
marci - the school
supplies the novels
Susan - I like having
a basal and supplemental books. Our reading series comes with trade books.
MO/WV - our old silver
burdette was great - hopefully we will adopt that one again next year
jo - my principal
wants us to use centers, i dont know much about them
MO/WV - we adopt
new books every 6 years
marci - What is the
silver burdette series called?
Susan - We have that
now. We adopt reading books next year. We adopt every 5 years.
marci - what novels
do you do?
MO/WV - Silver Secrets
MO/WV - Tales of
a 4th grade nothing, running out of time, georges marvelous medicine
jo - zeely, trumpet
of the swans, esio trot, how to eat fried worms
Susan - I don't know
the name. I know we have 6 books to read through. The nice thing is that
for every basal book, there are 2 trade books. I do a reading circus. I
have one group with me. I group reading with a buddy a trade book and 1
group reading AR books. I don't have to have any worksheets or papers to
grade.
MO/WV - have done
fried worms in the past, ramona books
marci - have any
of you read ella enchanted? if so, did you like it
MO/WV - haven't read
it
Susan - No, does
anyone use the Harry Potter books. I'm afraid of them.
jo - me either, looks
hard
MO/WV - I can't get
interested in them
marci - do you all
read novels yourself before you read them to your kids?
jo - i haven't used
harry potter. i leave it for the kids to enjoy by themselves
MO/WV - I do
Susan - I'm afraid
they'll offend parents with religious view about witchcraft and wizardry.
jo - sometimes i
do, if i don't i know it is a good sorce from other teachers
MO/WV - no sense
in taking the chance when there are so many good books out there
marci - there are
so many new novels i want to read this year, but i don't think i will get
to reading them all beforehand...I just hate reading them for the first
time when I read them aloud
jo - check to see
if they are on tape, listen to them in the car.
marci - i totally
agree MO
MO/WV - read some
cute frog prince type stories this summer - can't remember their names
tho
marci - good idea
jo
Susan - I don't read
the books beforehand. I like to be as surprised as the students at endings.
If I come to something students shouldn't hear, I leave it out.
marci - good idea
susan!
jo - do you have
a lot of testing in your districts?
MO/WV - toooooo much
jo
Susan - Most of the
books in our libraries are safe. Yes we have alot of testing. ALOT!
jo - me too. it's
horrible. everyone teaches the test to make our scores high, it sad.
MO/WV - our 4th grade
has always been in the top three in the county - lot of pressure to keep
it up
Susan - Our fourth
graders are so scared they are going to fail. Some of them freeze up on
tests Some students are not good test takers.
MO/WV - I tell them
it is a time to show off what they have learned all year
MO/WV - we have IGO's
we have to master - must be what is on the test, altho teachers are not
allowed to look at the test
jo - we have district
tests for each subj, plus state testing
MO/WV - this has
been great tonight - I dont much care for the regular chatrooms
marci - Have a good
night!
Susan - Goodnight.
See you next Sunday.
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