Ah Krista, we are in the same boat, different states! I am in a Reading First school using Scott Foresman, the 2000 version! The most recent version has a lot of in depth comprehension strategy lessons (at least in the upper grades--I previewed the 4th grade set when our district was adopting last year) and we are teaching from the old series (there have been two newer versions since this one came out) because that is what we had when we received the grant four years ago and we must be consistent!! As a matter of fact, my phonics instruction is called "Links" and it is 100% scripted. I try to share my ideas with my partners and their response is "wow, you sure read a lot, when do you have time for your family?" ARGH!! (Not to worry, my family is not neglected and they are much happier when I am happy.) So, I'm the lone ranger thinking aloud, thinking aloud, thinking aloud until the cows come home and lo and behold, we (my little guys and gals) are predicting and making connections. Yippe--even it is only my 16, 16 is better than none, right?:-)
On a positive note I have a student teacher this semester and I have already given her my old copy of Mosaic and told her that whatever she did between now and the beginning of the new school year, she needed to read that book cover to cover until it was ingrained in her brain. I told her if she learns anything from me it is that if you want to keep yourself up to date on best practices you need to search for what is best for your children, not wait for some textbook company or an administrator fishing for quick miracle cures (or band-aids for gaping wounds, as I so fondly refer to Reading First) to give you the tools you need. On that note, have a good night and happy reading! Nicole in NC -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Krista Sadlers Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 8:47 PM To: 'Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group' Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Comprehension strategies and Harcourt Oh you should see my plans Lori...I write in SUPPLEMENT and SUBSTITUTE as often as I think I can get away with it. I am very vocal in my disregard for this reading series with all of my administrators and they haven't yet bothered me. My team regards me as the "book queen" because I have a book for everything and often try to share some of my lessons with them. The district is choosing a new reading series for next year - hopefully I'll get lucky and get one forced upon me that is at least half-way decent. My problem is that I came from RI and they allowed us more freedom to teach. After four years I continue to struggle with someone telling me that I'm expected to read from the book and be on page 67 on Tuesday. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ljackson Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 8:37 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Comprehension strategies and Harcourt Amen, and if you are stuck with a pacing guide, then think about the literature you can incorporate into social studies and science. Perhaps you can find more freedom within the content areas and there is so much rich literature to support study in these areas. Lori ----- Original message ----- From: Dan & Nicole Lavinder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: 'Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group' <[email protected]> Date: 2008, 11, Monday Of February 17:41 Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Comprehension strategies and Harcourt > This is my first year in kindergarten after six years in the upper > elementary grades so I feel experienced enough to jump in on this topic. > When teaching 4th grade I always felt like the kids were coming to us weak > in comprehension skills--great word callers but couldn't tell me what they'd > read about; much less have a conversation in a book club. Now that I'm in > kindergarten the focus is on letter and sound recognition (and sight word > recog.) that sometimes I think we underestimate the thinking skills that our > little guys and gals can engage in while listening. So, I am working very > hard to incorporate higher level thinking strategies during my reading > instruction and read alouds. Now if only I could get my teammates to jump > on my bandwagon:-) > > Nicole in NC > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > 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 [email protected] 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. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.2/1272 - Release Date: 2/11/2008 5:28 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.2/1272 - Release Date: 2/11/2008 5:28 PM _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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.
