The Four Blocks Net Blog 
Planning for Working with Words
During this school year, I have been working closely with one of my districts to plan carefully and conscientiously during the Working with Words block. Our goal has been to stick strictly to the Month by Month (Hall and Cunningham) books at each grade level and plan according to all of the suggestions given in those easy to follow resources.
I often tell teachers that if I could give everyone one assignment for each summer, I would ask that each teacher re-read the first month of the Month by Month book for her grade level. Especially in first and second grade, that first month of the year requires different kinds of word work to get students back in the school groove.
Even though I see even veteran Four Blocks teachers using the Month by Month books as a planning resource, I am not sure everyone reads ALL that the Month by Month books have to offer. For example, in Month by Month Phonics for Third Grade, the extensions suggested in the month of October show how valuable words like pretty, prettier, and prettiest are. The suggestion is to show kids that now that they are writing pretty, prettier, and prettiest, it will help them spell happier or smelliest.
These are perfect on the back activities but they are only helpful when used and TAUGHT to the students. Students do not automatically make the transfer to other words with –y when adding er and est endings to those words. Your demonstration of that skill is necessary for the payoff.
On the same page in Month by Month Phonics for Third Grade, the book suggests putting the kids into teams of three or four, and suggest one of the spelling change patterns such as “y to i and add es”. Students then work in those teams to brainstorm as many words that follow that pattern that they can think of. This is perfect practice for getting the transfer from words like countries.
This week I was also modeling Working with Words in a first grade classroom and it was the first week of actual word wall words. It was a great reminder as to why we do NOT do On the Back activities in first grade until November. It takes a full 15 minutes to get first graders to write the five new words in their “best handwriting” with correct letter formation on the handwriting paper.
Don’t try to make time for On the Back activities in first grade yet – just concentrate on getting those words chanted, written correctly, and checked. The Month by Month book introduces On the Back activities to first graders in November. There is a reason for it – trust the book!
If you haven’t read your grade level Month by Month book lately, now is the time! Just read it one month at a time. It typically isn’t more than 20 pages of text and you will be a better Words Block teacher because of it!
I read your blog and thought "how wonderful." I am surprised how many questions I am asked that ARE answered in the MXM books. Also,you are right in telling teachers we do things different in the first months of school and Pat and I usually have a good reason for doing most things.
When did you find time to write this blog? Please try to keep it up!
Dottie Hall
Director of the Four Blocks Center @ WFU
Reply to this
Amanda,
Thank you for this wonderful blog! These were exactly the words we need to be reminded of at the beginning of the year. With all there is to do I see a tendency to rush in, full speed ahead. Thanks for reminding us to take it easy and build the foundation in this block. I can't wait for more! Dawn
Reply to this
Amanda,
Thank you for a great blog. Your entry reinforced why we need to continually refresh our memories on the basics. Many people have created a lot of fun activities based on Working with Words, but it is critical that people keep the focus on the instructional activities ground the block as Pat and Dottie intended.
I am looking forward to reading more entries.
Bev Smith
Four Blocks Consultant
Reply to this
I really appreciated this blog too... I have a split one/two class ,and even though I have been a devoted four blocks teacher for the past 5 years, this is the first time I have used it with first grade. I love it... and I am excited about what I am already seeing. I purchased the MXM phonics for grade one, read it and then promptly forgot about waiting til November before trying On the Back activities! No wondere the poor litle ones are a bit lost on that part!!! I will amend that immediately, and I have the books sitting here ready to re-read as soon as I finish this entry!
Reply to this
Hi Amanda,
I worked with you a couple of years ago when you consulted with Albion Public Schools in Albion, MI. I happened upon this blog today, and I enjoyed reading your article. We Albion teachers are still working hard at implementing Four Blocks in our classrooms, but we miss you and talk about our important sessions with you often. I am hoping that this blog will be a way for me to continue to learn from you!
Thanks,
Letitia Kotas
2nd grade teacher
Albion, MI
Reply to this
Letitia,
I was just emailing with Mary Petro the other day and thinking of you all in ALbion. If it ever works out, I would love to come back and see how things are going. We are also going to try to better with posting more often.
Thanks for reading! Amanda
Reply to this
I've been using the 4 Blocks framework for about 8 years, now, off and on. I was on the off cycle when I was given hints big time to teach the way the other teachers were teaching. Let me say this for history and posterity: once using the framework, then moving away from it, did not work well. My students were dragging at the end of the day. I was dragging at the end of the day. Having returned to the framework in the upper grades, Big Blocks, my students and I are more energized, more excited about learning.
When the students leave at the end of the day thinking the school day was too short, they were totally absorbed in their reading and writing. When students volunteer to stay in for recess to finish a writing piece, or to finish a classroom work, it is not because the weather is cold ( they finish up and leave for the great outdoors), but because they got excited about working on and finishing something with empowerment.
On the grade 5 level, I often have to use the gr.1-3 format because that is where many of my challenged students are at the beginning of the school year. The students notice the difference when I stray from the framework. I notice the difference in their responses and level of learning excitement. I am still tweaking what I do, forever tweaking! Each time I become more proficient. Each time, the students, as the year move on, become more proficient as more highly motivated learners. Some even frighten themselves about what they are able to do without a lot of interference from me.
Thanks for having this blog. I just discovered it.
Zanada Maleki
Gr.5/Lewiston, Maine
Reply to this
Zanada,
I am glad to hear you are back with the framework! We are very excited about the potential of Big Blocks and what it can do for upper grade students. We are also going to get back on line with this blog. So keep looking for new installments. Thanks for reading! Amanda
Reply to this
Ann,
I will teaching a 1/2 split next year for the first time since I began using Four Blocks. Do you have any helpful tips or advice in planning Four Blocks instruction in a split class? Any advice would be so appreciated.
Susan
Reply to this
I just happened on this blog when I goggled Patricia Cunningham after Edition in prep for September. I had the good fortune to be invited to Teacher's College to hear P speak years ago and was inspired to work with my Junior First students. Feeling on my own and hope there are some New York City people who might like to talk. Very happy to have found you!
Ann
Reply to this
Great blog. Is it still active?
Reply to this
Unfotunately, at this time we are not active. We are working to keep the site active and provide current materials to the reader.
I appreciate your comment and hope we can get new content posted soon.
Sincerely,
Jeff
bloc.FourBlocks.net
Reply to this