Balanced Literacy at Spackenkill!
This blog is dedicated to open communication having anything to do with Balanced Literacy here at Spackenkill. Feel free to make comments, ask questions, and share best practices! This summer we will be working together to create a scope and sequence in grades k-6 as it pertains to all aspects of literacy. Check out MyLearningPlan.com to sign up and join us in this exciting work. Looking forward to great discussions!
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Good luck with the blog, Barbara.
This summer I’m looking forward to dipping into Levine’s A Mind at a Time…and painting my house!
Michael.
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:57 pm
There were many connections in A Mind at a Time to the research relating to Balanced literacy. As you read Mel Levine, be sure to look for those connections. Happy reading! Barbara
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:10 am
Mel Levine speaks about “output failure” instead of “laziness”. I have always believed that children, even on the high school level are not lazy. Who would want to be? His definition of output failure is essential to my understanding of how children succeed, and unfortunately, fail. I think it is something we should all think about in terms of helping children succeed.
July 3rd, 2007 at 6:27 pm
A great quote from Mel Levine that supports my thinking is “Appreciating learning differences is the 1st step. Celebrating the differences is the goal.” Knowing that students learn differently and accommodating for those differences allows both learner and teacher to be successful.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Great idea. I’ll visit often. I did send you a question regarding BL but on your email. I did this before visiting here. Good luck.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Thanks Steve,
I will be happy to help you find the best resources for your 6th graders as you begin implementation. I will send you links to a variety of publishers that appear to have rich resources for middle schoolers. Barbara
July 5th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Thank you Barb. Have you ever used teachingbooks.net? I was wondering if this would be more appropriate for middle school than a-z. I’m going to try to get a free trial but was looking for your input. I asked Dawn E to check it out and give me her 2 cents as well.
Steve
July 5th, 2007 at 11:22 am
I have explored the teachingbooks.net site and see no evidence of “leveled books” . Remember the issue of variability when exploring books (such as basals) as was discussed with Jim Wright at the RTI conference. When you get your free trial, check that out. I’m putting together the links for resources and will pass them on to you. Barbara
July 5th, 2007 at 11:56 am
I did come accross an area in the site where the books listed were leveled such as 7-A, 8-B etc. I need to do more research however on it. I just spoke with John F…Thank you! No longer works for Rigbie(sp?) and has no “programs” for grade 6 as a result. I like your idea of kits to start with and this will be my direction at this point. We’ll talk more tomorrow. Thanks for everything!
Steve
July 5th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
I saw that leveling system but it did not reflect Fountas and Pinnell nor any other system I know. Great that we have the scoop on John F. I’ll discard that business card! See you tomorrow.
Barbara
July 13th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
I was pleased to read Mel Levine’s opinion that “in many cases with bilingual children, it is best to stress English in school and work hard on the language levels while maintaining for at least a portion of each day the native language for everyday conversation at home.” [p.145]
Aside from doing their homework, I don’t emphasize using English at home. Home is a place to relax and let go, to really communicate with family members. Anything that impedes that isn’t healthy, in my opinion. I encourage my parents to read to their children in their native language as it’s an excellent way for the children to retain and progress in their first language.
I believe — from my many conversations with bilingual families — that the danger is greater that the children will lose their native fluency while acquiring English (or while struggling to acquire English). Then they can find themselves not proficient in either language.
I loved reading, “Oral language needs to blossom progressively in all children, and we can help it along through rich verbal interactions.” [p.147]
That’s the hallmark of what I do with students, and it’s where I believe I can best help my students. Whether it’s reading aloud to them and talking about what we’re reading or teaching them new games or asking them about what they do outside of school, the more opportunity I have for verbal interaction, the more I see — and hear — them using English and gaining proficiency.
And making those connections with my students is all part of welcoming them to the community of English language users. That’s what it’s all about from an ESL standpoint.
I was shocked, however, to read, immediately following the above quote, “A firm home rule could stipulate: ‘In our family we only communicate in complete sentences.’ ” [p.147]
This is laughable. And a recipe for non-communication between parents and children.
While having or not having children at home doesn’t necessarily qualify or disqualify anyone from having expertise when it comes to educating young people, I have to question whether anyone who would write such a statement has lived with and/or reared children. At least in the last 25 years.
[The blurb on the back of "A Mind At A Time" says that Dr. Levine lives on a farm with his wife, Bambi, and many animals. No mention of children.]
A quick perusal of the self-help section or parenting section of any bookstore will show all kinds of books on getting along with your children and how to communicate or interact more effectively with others.
Grunted monosyllabic responses to dinner table questions are typical, perhaps, for teen-age boys, and no amount of rules regarding “how we speak in this family” is going to change that. Nor should it.
Parents need to keep the channels of communication open, and anything that impedes that — like a school-type rule — is courting disaster.
Well, that’s enough soapbox oration from me for today! Thanks for reading.
Michael.
August 12th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Dutchess County Boces School Library System provides our district with free access to TeachingBooks.net
You just need to register and select which levels and subject areas you would like access to. See e-mail below.
Dutchess BOCES School Library System has purchased a license to
TeachingBooks.net for everyone associated with Dutchess BOCES SLS to
freely use TeachingBooks from school, home or library.
COMPLETE EDUCATOR ACCESS: Click on the following link and fill out the
profile for unlimited access to customized and comprehensive K-12 book
and author materials:
Or, easily access thousands of author programs, book guides, book
readings and author websites without registering by visiting:
Password = dcboces
TeachingBooks.net is a diverse and constantly growing online collection
of author programs and K-12 book-related materials.
· Original movies revealing the book creation processes (filmed in
the studios of award-winning authors and illustrators!),
· Audio excerpts of professional book readings, and
· Book guides and engaging resources, which span thousands of
children’s, YA and non-fiction titles.
Available online, anytime, all TeachingBooks materials facilitate the
discussion and integration of books throughout the K-12 curriculum.
Learn more at:
· — a brochure reviewing the
features, benefits and strategies for using TeachingBooks,
· — a listing of
authors we have filmed for TeachingBooks original programs.
We look forward to sharing author programs and K-12 book resources with
you. Let us know if we can help.
TeachingBooks.net
(800) 596-0710
info@TeachingBooks.net
Rebecca L. Gerald
Coordinator
Dutchess BOCES School Library System
900 Dutchess Turnpike
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
P: (845) 486-4840 ext. 3061
F: (845) 486-4833
E-mail rebecca.gerald@dcboces.org
URL: http://www.dcboces.org/library
School Library Systems Association of New York State
Celebrating 20+ Years of Improving Student Achievement
August 13th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Hi Tanya,
I spent a bit of time last night exploring the site and found much valuable information. I think it might be a good idea to have a tutorial of sorts on opening day to provide staff with a minilesson on how to navigate through all of the wonderful resources. Let’s talk about how that might look. Thanks for always finding us great links and materials! Barbara
August 21st, 2007 at 7:17 am
I found this course this summer awesome. Thanks again. I found an interesting article as I was looking for somethings for the beginning of the year. http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/teachstrat/balanced.htm#dealing
August 21st, 2007 at 8:52 am
Thanks Dawn. The workshop this summer WAS awesome. I am so impressed with the quality of the work that we accomplished and the meaningful conversations that took place. Most impressive was the professional exchange between Nassau and Todd teachers. I look forward to working together this school year as we move from very good to great!