________________________________
From: Beverlee Paul <[email protected]>
To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group
<[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2008 10:00:38 AM
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts
I think I'd just like to express this: What I'd consider as a good reason
to do such a thing would NOT include it being easier for teachers. That's
not why we're here.
On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 7:54 AM, Renee <[email protected]> wrote:
> I would like to just throw a wrench into the works, or however that
> metaphor goes. I have two objections to ability grouping across
> classrooms. One is that research shows that the lower groups tend to
> stay lower without role models. But that's not my main objection.
>
> My main objection is that it detracts from the overall classroom
> community component of learning, as well as takes away from the
> opportunity to extend beyond "reading time" in real, authentic ways. If
> something comes up in reading that triggers a real, teachable moment,
> it is useless because some of the kids go away in an hour, and other
> kids (the ones who would have been there, otherwise) return, not having
> been present when whatever it was came up. It makes it harder to teach
> thematically in ways that truly connect to each other unless all the
> teachers are doing the same thing, in which case there is no reason to
> have been trading kids around.
>
> Just my two cents, again.
> Renee
>
>
> On Oct 8, 2008, at 7:49 PM, Wendy Jensen wrote:
>
> > Thanks for all your great thoughts and kind words on both sides of the
> > coin. I love getting other perspectives because I don't always see
> > the big picture right away. I think it is important to view all sides
> > before jumping in. Especially when it comes to primary readers.
> > Another question hit me as I was reading your responses. If within
> > our own classrooms, we differentiate by doing individual conferences,
> > small skill groups, and small guided groups that are flexible, what do
> > you think would be the advantage to doing the across grade-level
> > groupings instead? My first thought is that it is the same thing only
> > different logistics. Also, does it rattle any of the kiddos to be
> > moved from one classroom to another so often? What are your
> > observations of this. It sounds like they handle it fine. I'm
> > curious what you think because I would bet that this comes up in our
> > discussions. I appreciate your responses and you have given me food
> > for thought on the topic...keep it comin'!!!!
> >
> > Wendy
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: elisa kifer<mailto:[email protected]>
> > To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ;
> > Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email
> > Group<mailto:[email protected]>
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 6:26 PM
> > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts
> >
> >
> > Regardless of whether the kids are pulled out by ability or you are
> > grouping
> > with your guided reading groups, I am a strong believer in pulling
> > groups
> > based on ability. BUT, more importantly, these groups MUST BE
> > FLEXIBLE. If
> > the groups are going to be flexible, then I think it would be great.
> > Why
> > hold your strong students back with skills and strategies they have
> > already
> > mastered, and vice versa. I use a similar technique. Some of my
> > very low
> > students go to a 2nd grade classroom for reading instruction, and
> > her top
> > kids come to me for reading instruction (3rd grade). Within our
> > classrooms, these students are in flexible guided reading groups.
> > It works
> > for us, and it helps with planning.
> >
> > On Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 6:16 PM, chelo echaves
> > <[email protected]>wrote<mailto:
> > [email protected]%3ewrote>:
> >
> >> hello Wendy
> >> I am not a teacher in the sense that most of you here are but I love
> >> reading and am involved in our own Public Library here in Cebu City,
> >> Philippines. My love for reading is whats keeping me here at MOSAIC
> >> :-) I
> >> learn alot here and not just about reading. I learn about people's
> >> generosity and bigness of heart always trying to find ways to help and
> >> better themselves in order to be better at helping children
> >> read-Amazing!
> >> Anyways, experiencially I do this-I do what my gut feel tells me to
> >> do. You
> >> are your best and worst critic but I can sense your deep love for
> >> children
> >> to find their way through reading. so I am definite you will do whats
> >> best.
> >> Blessings
> >> Chelo
> >>
> >> --- On Thu, 9/10/08, Wendy Jensen
> >> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
> >>
> >> From: Wendy Jensen <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
> >> Subject: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts
> >> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email" <
> >> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
> >> Date: Thursday, 9 October, 2008, 6:19 AM
> >>
> >> My principal just asked us (again) today about how we would feel about
> >> ability
> >> grouping kids for reading across a grade level. So, all the low kids
> >> go to
> >> one
> >> of the 2nd grade teachers, all the low-mid go to a different 2nd grade
> >> teacher,
> >> all the middle kids go to another 2nd grade teacher and so on. We
> >> would do
> >> this
> >> during a time in our reading block when the ELP or TAG kids leave the
> >> room
> >> and
> >> the lowest kids leave the room for extra help. I'm not really
> >> thrilled
> >> with
> >> this idea and many teachers in the building feel the same way. Do
> >> any of
> >> you do
> >> this grouping within your reader's workshop? I just don't think it is
> >> the appropriate time to do that. I've worked hard to train my kids
> >> how
> >> reader's workshop runs, they get to choose books, and have longer
> >> periods
> >> of
> >> time to read. Many of the teachers in the building do small guided
> >> groups,
> >> however, I am the only one using a reader's workshop approach. He has
> >> brought this topic to the table time and time again and we always
> >> tell him
> >> we
> >> don't want to use that approach, but for some reason he keeps pushing
> >> it.
> >> I
> >> realize there's not just one way to teach reading, but I've seen such
> >> great results with reader's workshop and comprehension strategies
> >> that I
> >> would hate to see that all go away. I'd love your thoughts on this
> >> "set-up". I think if I have more input I might not judge it so
> >> harshly. My first reaction is NO WAY! Thanks in advance!
> >>
> >> Wendy
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Mosaic mailing list
> >> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
> >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to
> >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/
> >> mosaic_literacyworkshop.org<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/
> >> options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org>.
> >>
> >> Search the MOSAIC archives at
> >> http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive>.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> New Email names for you!
> >> Get the Email name you've always wanted on the new @ymail and
> >> @rocketmail.
> >> Hurry before someone else does!
> >> http://mail.promotions.yahoo.com/newdomains/aa/<http://
> >> mail.promotions.yahoo.com/newdomains/aa/>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Mosaic mailing list
> >> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
> >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to
> >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/
> >> mosaic_literacyworkshop.org<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/
> >> options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org>.
> >>
> >> Search the MOSAIC archives at
> >> http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive>.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Elisa M. Kifer
> > Third Grade Literacy Teacher
> > Fox Meadow Elementary
> >
> >
> > "Love of reading and writing is not taught, it is created.
> > Love of reading and writing is not required, it is inspired.
> > Love of reading and writing is not demanded, it is exemplified.
> > Love of reading and writing, is not exacted, it is quickened.
> > Love of reading and writing is not solicited, it is activated."
> > -Russell Stauffer, 1980
> > _______________________________________________
> > Mosaic mailing list
> > [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
> > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to
> >
> > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/
> > mosaic_literacyworkshop.org<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/
> > options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org>.
> >
> > Search the MOSAIC archives at
> > http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive<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..
> >
> >
> "The most important office in a democracy is the office of citizen."
> ~ Barack Obama
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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.
_______________________________________________
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.
