FOUR BLOCK “Lay out your daily schedule in blocks following the balanced literacy model.”

1. FOUR BLOCK“Lay out your daily schedule in blocks following the balanced literacy model.”

2. Guided ReadingSelf-Selected ReadingWriting Working With Words

3. Four-Blocks is a balanced literacy framework. • It is a comprehensive language arts model that allows students to develop their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills toward becoming effective, literate communicators.

4. We are going to tell you about Guided Reading and Self-Selected Reading.

5. In Guided Reading teachers choose material for children to read and a purpose for reading, then guide them to use reading strategies needed for that material and that purpose.

6. Types of reading material include: *big books *anthologies *magazines *little versions of big books *copies of trade books *basal readers *sections from science and social studies books

7. This is the time teachers guide to apply reading skills and strategies in the context of “real” reading. “Children and young adults develop literacy by having a variety of real literacy experiences and a considerable amount of explicit instruction.”

8. The teacher skillfully connects students to the text with what are called pre-reading activities. • establishing prior knowledge, teaching critical vocabulary, setting a purpose for reading and leading children to make predictions

9. Guided Reading is spent in shared reading lessons with predictable big books.“Wordless books are useful for introducing concepts such as the parts of a book and the idea that a book presents a story or information.For all learners, they can motivate students to write.”

10. Books are read together in a variety of choral, echo, and other formats. • Focuses on comprehension • Objective is to gather meaning from print • Learning to predict • Learning story elements: plot, setting, characters, etc. • Reading shifts from reading together to individual reading or reading with the teacher

11. This is the most controversial block of the four. It calls for thinking outside the box. “This process involves teaching students to generate questions that require them to integrate information and think as they read. (self-questioning)”

12. Self-Selected Reading • This ensures that all children experience daily read alouds and time for reading books of their choice and on their level.

13. Today, kids spend more time with computers than with books. • Self-selected reading is also called Reader’s Workshop • Individualized and personalized

14. Children choose what to read and what parts of their reading they want to respond to. • Children have the opportunity to share what they have read.

15. Steps in Self-Selected Reading

16. Step One Usually begins with a teacher read-aloud. “The Read-Aloud Routine is designed to help children developed vocabulary, oral language, and comprehension strategies.”

17. StepTwo Children read on their own level from a variety of books. “You want to help children learn to select books for themselves.”

18. Step Three While students read on their own, the teacher conferences with two to three students and records progress. Some teachers spend part of this block with a small group reading an easy book together and giving instruction “on their level.”

19. Step Four Ends with three to four students sharing their book with the class.

20. 3 Ways to Read • Pretend • Picture • Reading the words

21. Conferencing is Three Pronged

22. 1. Focus on comprehension “Many factors and elements interact as a child learns to read. However, within the process, two big jobs work together-decoding and comprehension.”

23. 2. Focus on the student’s ability to support comprehension using text or illustrations.

24. Focus on the student’s ability to use the reading cueing systems! Giraffes Swaying Sideways

25. MANAGEMENT

26. Students should maintain a folder containing the book they are currently reading (if not finished) and a reading log (a list of total books read).

27. Teachers should maintain a reading portfolio for each student containing a record of each conference as well as reading logs—these logs are completed by each student.

28. QUOTES

29. “Children and young adults develop literacy by having a variety of real literacy experiences and a considerable amount of explicit instruction.” Children and adults develop comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills by doing “hands-on” activities in everyday life as well as being directed by teachers or peers.

30. “Sometimes the best way to help children understand a particular piece of literature is to read it aloud and discuss it with them. This type of reading helps to activate already acquired knowledge and develop background vocabulary and concepts; it also is a way to model real reading.” This goes along with prior knowledge and knowledge learned by experiencing it. If you read to your students and ask questions as you read, your students will give more feedback that helps the entire class understand different meanings of the same story.

31. “You want to encourage students to continue to read and think about what they are reading, as well as to feel good about themselves and what they are writing in their journals.”

32. “A balanced literacy program combines teacher-directed instruction and student centered activities.”

33. “Visualizing not only enhances comprehension, it enhances enjoyment!”