Hi Wendy, I can understand your reservations about moving students across grade level(s).
This is a sensitive subject for many teachers. I taught 2nd grade in a building that grouped by ability. Though it certainly did make creating thematic units more challenging, the trade off was very productive reading time with my students. Instead of having 5 or 6 groups, I had one or two depending on the year. I was able to teach some writing & spelling along with reading because I had more contact time with my students. This system worked well in my school because we functioned as a community. Children did not feel displaced because they left their homeroom during the reading block. In fact, quite the opposite was true. Student were aware that we, the teachers, worked as a team to help them succeed. There is not doubt that it takes leadership and team work to make cross grade level groups effective. As someone else pointed out, the key to success is flexible grouping. Teachers need to meet regularly, talk about the student's needs, review data and move kids accordingly. It can work if you work at it. Good luck! Amy McGovern Reading Teacher Educational Consultant > Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:24:39 -0700 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts > > > > > > > ________________________________ > 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. > _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ Hotmail®:…more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_more_042009 _______________________________________________ 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.
