Four Blocks: Recent Comments

Comment on Planning for Working with Words

Four Blocks — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:33:16 GMT

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

Comment on Planning for Working with Words

Nancy Hale — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:02:25 GMT

Great blog. Is it still active?

Comment on Writing & Writing Maps

Dawn Brown — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:04:01 GMT

Hello! Thank you for the wonderful blog! It was interesting to read about your work as it mirrors what I've been doing with schools as well. We have seen that regularly assessing writing and adjusting instruction accordingly can lead to great gains on the state assessment in Missouri. I think it is important that we strive for a sense of balance - what we know is essential in creating enthusiastic and proficient writers with what we know they will need to do on our assessments. I have seen too many formulaic five paragraph essays - interestingly these don't score particularly well on MAP! Looking forward to more articles! - Dawn

Comment on Planning for Working with Words

Amanda — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:28:37 GMT

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

Comment on Planning for Working with Words

Amanda — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:27:03 GMT

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

Comment on Planning for Working with Words

Ann Prescott — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:23:25 GMT

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

Comment on Planning for Working with Words

Susan Maurer — Sun, 06 May 2007 00:51:31 GMT

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

Comment on Planning for Working with Words

Zanada — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:18:14 GMT

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

Comment on Planning for Working with Words

Letitia Watson Kotas — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:53:41 GMT

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

Comment on Planning for Working with Words

Ann McGregor — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 01:15:12 GMT

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!