[MOSAIC] confusion
Hi, I am confused and am unsure what I am doing incorrectly. I posted a comment but never saw it listed on the website. However, people have e-mailed me in response to my post, so I know it landed somewhere. What setting should I have checked so that I can see all the posts? Thanks, Linda ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
[MOSAIC] Written response to DRA level M
Many of the teachers in our county act as a scribe for our students that are not developmentally ready for the in-depth written responses that are required on DRA2. The written portion for the student will come with time, maturity, and practice. Alicia From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tue 5/20/2008 10:57 PM To: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] End of Grade Testing Although I have no answer specifically to Angela's situation her post prompted me to write some of my concerns for first graders. I would like to know especially from teachers who administer the dra 2 how they introduce the written element of the test which starts at level M. Never given this test previously. I can see why it might not be appropriate to administer the level M test to first graders however our district cut off is level M... although my fluent readers can sail through the decoding and even answer those comprehension questions at the end orally as well as support their responses with evidence from the text (at least some of them can) ... that is a far cry from writing their responses. The length alone is daunting! Plus we have not taught them to enter responses in their notebooks like that. We use sticky notes and graphic organizers kids use their reader's notebook responses more for fueling their chats with their buddies.. I would think that somewhere after J and before M.. there is a need to formally show kids how to answer questions (whether literal interpretative or reflective) in written responses that are more formal summaries My high flyers are aware of the kinds of information that might need to add but certainly they talk their way through this more than write their thoughts.even the graphic organizers I provide are more for stream of thoughts . I am interested to know if you do take formal steps to teach this kind of writing. does it occur in your reader's workshop or your writer's workshop or does it more naturally occur when they are developmentally ready? I know as a grade level we added a unit of comprehension called retelling (verbal) before we even gave the DRA in the fall because at those early levels kids do not even know what elements to include in their retells our response was overwhelmingly successful and kids did way better at the beginning of this year as compared to the results we gathered the year before. I am wondering if the same holds true for beginning the writing of retelling. ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. **Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod000301) ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
Re: [MOSAIC] confusion
I am not getting all the posts either. I just got one about DRA scribing that did not connect to any other I had read. mosaic@literacyworkshop.org wrote: Hi, I am confused and am unsure what I am doing incorrectly. I posted a comment but never saw it listed on the website. However, people have e-mailed me in response to my post, so I know it landed somewhere. What setting should I have checked so that I can see all the posts? Thanks, Linda ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. ___ Sent through e-mol. E-mail, Anywhere, Anytime. http://www.e-mol.com ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
Re: [MOSAIC] Help I need some info re a Daily Five list serve
Okay, I'll admit it! I am NOT smarter than a fifth grader! I cannot figure out how to join The Daily Five listserve on Google groups. Can anyone help me??? Bev _ Change the world with e-mail. Join the i’m Initiative from Microsoft. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?source=EML_WL_ChangeWorld ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
Re: [MOSAIC] confusion
There are several reasons emails don't post, but the most common is that messages are too big. More on this on the archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/mosaic@literacyworkshop.org/msg03691.html. Just a reminder that should send your individual questions about not getting or seeing emails to me. I'm in the process of moving and so only checking things about once a day so if you see a message held if might be a day before I can get to it. As for why you are seeing only some messages, I can only guess that this is likely a local problem. We don't have an excessive number of posts in queue. Thanks, Keith Mack [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.literacyworkshop.org -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Linda Crumrine Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 4:21 AM To: Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org Subject: [MOSAIC] confusion Hi, I am confused and am unsure what I am doing incorrectly. I posted a comment but never saw it listed on the website. ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
[MOSAIC] end of grade testing
In many ways I like that the DRA 2 moves to a summary at level 28. I feel at this level and beyond, kids need to be able to summarize and pull out important ideas so they can track through a longer piece of text. I think writing a summary is different than writing a written retell--though I think the samples in the DRA 2 teachers' guide are written retells--because I want only the most important events in a story. I'm interested that you have a level 28 as a benchmark for grade 1. Ours is a 16, and we've agreed to only use the 28 for exceptional students that we think can do a written summary--and who have worked on doing so during guided reading. The written summary gets a bit tricky when students who would be able to give you and oral summary (not retell), but can't write it as well. We try to limit the cases in which the teacher scribes but some times its necessary. After talking about it during an EMPOWER writing class I took, I've also found that summary writing during Interactive Writing or Shared Writing is a great way to help kids synthesize ideas because they have to be brief. In the class, a class of 25 teachers worked together to write a summary of a Time for Kids Explorer (gr. 2-3) edition article. It was tricky, but we got into great discussions about what to leave out, how to craft sentences that helped us synthesize ideas, and how shades of meaning (word choice) was important to maintain the intent of the original author. Megan Reilly Padilla Reading Specialist Natick, MA mosaic@literacyworkshop.org on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 12:00 PM -0500 wrote: Message: 8 Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 22:57:39 EDT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] End of Grade Testing To: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Although I have no answer specifically to Angela's situation her post prompted me to write some of my concerns for first graders. I would like to know especially from teachers who administer the dra 2 how they introduce the written element of the test which starts at level M. Never given this test previously. I can see why it might not be appropriate to administer the level M test to first graders however our district cut off is level M... although my fluent readers can sail through the decoding and even answer those comprehension questions at the end orally as well as support their responses with evidence from the text (at least some of them can) ... that is a far cry from writing their responses. The length alone is daunting! Plus we have not taught them to enter responses in their notebooks like that. We use sticky notes and graphic organizers kids use their reader's notebook responses more for fueling their chats with their buddies.. I would think that somewhere after J and before M.. there is a need to formally show kids how to answer questions (whether literal interpretative or reflective) in written responses that are more formal summaries My high flyers are aware of the kinds of information that might need to add but certainly they talk their way through this more than write their thoughts.even the graphic organizers I provide are more for stream of thoughts . I am interested to know if you do take formal steps to teach this kind of writing. does it occur in your reader's workshop or your writer's workshop or does it more naturally occur when they are developmentally ready? I know as a grade level we added a unit of comprehension called retelling (verbal) before we even gave the DRA in the fall because at those early levels kids do not even know what elements to include in their retells our response was overwhelmingly successful and kids did way better at the beginning of this year as compared to the results we gathered the year before. I am wondering if the same holds true for beginning the writing of retelling. ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
Re: [MOSAIC] End of Grade Testing
teachers who administer the dra 2 how they introduce the written element of the test which starts at level M. The level 28 is where the comprehension piece begins with writing. That is the end of grade 2. What we have done is have someone from the reading team do it for the teacher. This has helped the teachers out and also limits the amount of testing at that level. Since many students in grade 1 aren't familiar with how to answer these types of questions, unless they fall in the advanced range at a level 24 - perhaps it doesn't need to be administered. I think the written response to text is something that is taught more heavily in grade 2 as grade 1 works on the oral component. We began to call the summary on the DRA2 a written retelling for our grade 2 students. Because that's truly what they are looking for until level 38 and up. Teachers used the format of the summary sheet for whole group modeling through read alouds and some follow up in small guided groups. We also found that we needed to teach the interpretation reflection numerous times. When you teach inferring - that's a great time to make up questions like the DRA, Why do you think... The reflection became something they would chat about after any read alouds and guided reading books were finished. Hope this helps! Kelly AB ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
Re: [MOSAIC] End of Grade Testing
I think our school does a wonderful job at teaching test taking as a genre. For example, after teaching determining importance using non-fiction trade books and children's literature, we go into main idea and teach them the kinds of questions they might see on a test that are asking about main idea and we practice with short selections and one or two questions, just like you do. I actually use Test Talk lessons in my room and they are wonderful. We teach the kids to use RUNNERS (Read the title and predict, Underline key words in the questions, Number the paragraphs, Now, read the selection and Enclose key words, Reread the questions and answer yes or no, Select the best answer by analyzing) when taking these types of tests. All of this has worked in the past! However, this practice did not prepare the students for the lengthy selections this year. The breaks are built into the test (50 minutes, 3 minute break, 45 minutes, 3 minute break, 45 minutes) so we have no control over that unless the student has an IEP or 504 which allows for other modifications. There is an online survey that we will complete tomorrow about this new test and I plan on being quite blunt on the fact that 8 very long selections is too much for 3-5 grade students. These kids are 8-11 years old! I believe that is the only way for us to communicate with the state department on this issue. I am glad to see others are having the same issues. I just wish we could come up with some solutions! mosaic@literacyworkshop.org writes: Although in MN we don't have tests like the ones described here, we too = have been discussing and debating the importance of test practice. = Although our reading instruction is done through wonderful children's = literature and non-fiction text, the learners are tested on short = passages -- read 3 paragraphs and answer 5 questions. =20 I hate to admit this to this group, but until now test practice has been = our best weapon! A few of us have decided to (buy and) study Test Talk = (Greene Melton) this summer and teach test taking as a genre next = year. =20 =20 Are you allowed to break the test into sections? Test/Break/Test =20 Can you speak to someone in your state office? (Dept. of Educ?) We = have test-writers who listen to teachers and sometimes make adjustments. =20 I was going to comment on the grade you teach, but frankly the = conditions you describe would probably challenge most of US! =20 By the way, does student promotion depend on these results? Or is it = like the MN test which is really testing the teachers? Angela Hatley Almond Fourth Grade East Albemarle Elementary School ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
Re: [MOSAIC] sundance vs primary toolkit
I hope that this discussion stays on the list, as it most certainly pertains to comprehension instruction!! The Sundance online samples are amazing, and many teachers on the list have said they really like it...the cost between the kits is quite different though. $120.00 for PTK and $279.00 for Sundance. (Don't know if I can explain nearly $300.00 to my husband!) The one thing I noticed about the Sundance kit is all the resources it comes with...even a reproducible try this at home story. I would like to continue hearing from people who use it. Aside from price, are there any cons? Lisa Szyska 2/3 IL ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
Re: [MOSAIC] confusion
Me too! On May 21, 2008, at 9:19 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am not getting all the posts either. I just got one about DRA scribing that did not connect to any other I had read. mosaic@literacyworkshop.org wrote: Hi, I am confused and am unsure what I am doing incorrectly. I posted a comment but never saw it listed on the website. However, people have e-mailed me in response to my post, so I know it landed somewhere. What setting should I have checked so that I can see all the posts? Thanks, Linda ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/ mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. ___ Sent through e-mol. E-mail, Anywhere, Anytime. http://www.e-mol.com ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/ mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
Re: [MOSAIC] sundance vs primary toolkit
Hi Lisa, We have just been trying a few lessons so I do not pretend to be an expert on the kit. However, we have not found any cons. Some of my teachers are ordering one of the kits (either fiction or non-fiction) and then for $105 ordering the leveled readers from the opposite kit. That way, after they introduce and model the strategy, the kids can have practice using the strategy with both fiction and non- fiction. Then they will reinforce the strategy in their guided reading groups. I did not always like the think-aloud examples in the teacher's guide, so I used what I thought was better. But, I think we will always use our best judgement and adapt whatever we use. Did you see that it also has quick comprehension checks for each of the text selections? The questions are pretty good. Hope this helps, Linda On May 21, 2008, at 4:47 PM, Lisa Szyska wrote: I hope that this discussion stays on the list, as it most certainly pertains to comprehension instruction!! The Sundance online samples are amazing, and many teachers on the list have said they really like it...the cost between the kits is quite different though. $120.00 for PTK and $279.00 for Sundance. (Don't know if I can explain nearly $300.00 to my husband!) The one thing I noticed about the Sundance kit is all the resources it comes with...even a reproducible try this at home story. I would like to continue hearing from people who use it. Aside from price, are there any cons? Lisa Szyska 2/3 IL ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/ mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
Re: [MOSAIC] Help I need some info re a Daily Five list serve
the Daily Five is on Yahoo Groups, if it is the one I belong to :) here is a link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Daily5/ On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 9:21 AM, Beverlee Paul [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Okay, I'll admit it! I am NOT smarter than a fifth grader! I cannot figure out how to join The Daily Five listserve on Google groups. Can anyone help me??? Bev _ Change the world with e-mail. Join the i'm Initiative from Microsoft. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?source=EML_WL_ChangeWorld ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
