I've been thinking of how I can have my kids show how they use their
strategies during independent reading now that we have learned many. I
played around with various ways to do it and finally came up with a 2 sided
form I will try out this week. I have added it to the Teaching Tools web
page at:
http://www.u46teachers.org/mosaic/tools/tools.htm
You can find it at the bottom of the Worksheets/Reporting Form category.

I'd love you to have a look at it and tell me what you think. Try it out
with you students. I plan on having my kids tell me how it feels to them.
I realize it is very disjointed to stop and write it all down but this is
just ONE way for me to "listen" into their minds and see how they are
applying the work we are doing. I wouldn't require it all the time,
obviously.

I just realized that this sheet is designed for fiction. I'll have to make
one for nonfiction now since there is no place for determining
importance/non fiction.

Ginger
moderator
grade 3

Remember: if YOU have anything you have created that you would be willing to
share with us, I can add it to the Teaching Tools web page. Just send it in
an attachment to me at HOME at elephant@foxvalley.net THANKS!!!!!!
(Wendy- still waiting for YOUR great sheets!!)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 11:04:16 -0500
From: "Dr. Patricia Watson" <pwatson@sfasu.edu>
Subject: RE: [mosaic] Ginger's new form

Ginger,

I hope you will share your form for non-fiction. I'm beginning to
realize that part of the problem with getting teachers (and preservice
teachers) to see the value of teaching strategies is that they don't
recognize/value their use in their own reading.

I'm going to make a concentrated effort to get my students to become
more metacognitively aware of their own reading processes...and I want
to use forms/methods some of you are using with your students. I think
this adds greatly to the credibility I have with these teacher
candidates.

Somewhere there has to be more connection between good practice in the
K-12 classroom and good practice in the college of education classrooms.

So please share...the non-fiction version will be much more useful for
this purpose for me!

pat
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: "Ginger/Rob" <elephant@foxvalley.net>
Subject: [mosaic] vocabulary question from Carol
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 16:05:09 -0500
Reply-To: mosaic@u46teachers.org
I am forwarding this to the list from Carol.
Ginger
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I have a staff development session coming up on teaching vocabulary
to children to improve comprehension. Does anyone have good suggestions
as to books or how to go about doing a strategy with the teachers that
would be beneficial to them. I know that read alouds and think alouds
are an excellent means of teaching vocabulary and we have presented
those ideas. How can I take it a step farther...We are a Title School
with many children that come to us with vocabulary deficits....This
will be a group of teachers working with K-5 students. The teachers
respond best when we have hands-on explicit instruction. Perhaps I could
tailor one idea or strategy toward the younger grades and another
toward the older? Or should I try to meet all the needs in whatever
strategy I work with? It is hard to decide what to do. I like to
make the staff development times meaninful and useful to the teachers.
Thanks for any help you can give!
Carol
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: "Patricia Watson" <pwatson@sfasu.edu>
Subject: RE: [mosaic] vocabulary question from Carol
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 16:22:45 -0500

Carol,

Absolutely the best vocabulary book for teachers is Words, Words, Words
by Janet Allen. You can read the entire book online at:

http://www.stenhouse.com/0085.htm

She names specific titles you can use the different vocabulary learning
strategies with, but you'll think of many of your own when you see the
examples.

Allen's book is geared more toward upper grades, but I know many
teachers who have adapted the ideas for younger learners as well.

Good luck with your session...

pat

Patricia Watson
Assistant Professor
Secondary Education and Educational Leadership
Stephen F. Austin State University
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: "Ginger/Rob" <elephant@foxvalley.net>
Subject: [mosaic] vocabulary idea
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 16:40:30 -0500

Carol- Do you have access to the Strategy In Action video series? In the
first video there is an excellent example of how a fifth grade teacher works
with her students on vocabulary words. It would be very powerful to show
that snippet to your staff. I will try and explain it in case you don't
have the videos. I'll actually type the part of study guide that talks
about that part.

"Guided Practice: Leslie introduces a vocabulary and concept chart headed
Page/Word/What We Infer It Means/Actual Meaning/Ways to Remember. She
guides her students to reason through the text to infer the meaning of new
vocabulary words. (Inferring is the strategy readers use to figure out
words in context.) Leslie guides the students to come up with their own
ways to remember unfamiliar words and concepts."

What you see in the video is the teacher with the kids gathered around her.
She has the above mentioned chart up where she can write on it. She has
copied out a short text piece that she has read to them. She then goes back
to a specific paragraph with a challenging word and asks them if there are
any words they don't know. They ask her to reread it. She does and when
she gets to the word "suffrage" they all "yell out" suffrage to let her know
THAT is the word they don't know.

She writes the page number and the word on the chart. She rereads the two
sentences that contain that word and then asks them to share what they THINK
it may mean. She writes a few possibilities on the chart. She replaces the
word they give her in the sentence and they discuss if it makes sense or
not. They rule out some that obviously do not "sound right". Someone
finally gives the right meaning (vote) and they write that in the "Actual
Meaning" column on the chart. (She does say that, as always, she will type
up the chart so they can put it in their notebooks)

She then looks up the word in the dictionary and talks to them about her own
understanding of the word, giving several examples in context.

The students all seem to have a spiral notebook (probably a many subject one
with dividers) and she asks them to turn to their mini lesson section and
DRAW/WRITE something that will help them remember the meaning of this word.
She walks around checking in with several of them to see what they are
putting down in their notebooks.

Then they come back together and several students describe what they wrote
down/drew and why.
++++++++++++++

I thought this would be something I might like to try with my students. It
seems to be a way to make it "their own". It ties the word back to the text
and creates a picture in their mind that hopefully they will be able to call
on when they encounter the word in the future.

You can find the videos at www.stenhouse.com. These are the videos from
Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis based on STW.

Ginger
grade 3
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 20:14:37 -0500
From: motthebug <maps@resourceroom.net>
Subject: [mosaic] Vocab. ideas

I've found many students don't really think "in words" -- much less
think *about* words. By working a lot with words and why we choose one
over another (I remember a great conversation about the word "ignorant"
-- its emotional impact vs. its "dictionary meaning" ) it's great to
watch kids shift and begin to reflect on language.

Here are some vocabulary ideas:

http://www.resourceroom.net/myarticles/vocabulary.htm

http://www.resourceroom.net/myarticles/vocabulary.htm

http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/teaching_techniques/ellis_clarifying.html
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: "Ginger/Rob" <elephant@foxvalley.net>
Subject: [mosaic] info on Ellin in Chicago
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 21:03:32 -0500

Here is the webpage on Ellin's Chicago workshop:

http://www.heinemann.com/shared/products/030424EKIL.asp

If it doesn't work for you, just go to www.heinemann.com and click on the
link at the left under Professional Development for Heinemann Workshops.
Then go to Chicago IL April 24.

I just saw that Regie Routman is listed to come to Chicago in November too!
WOW!!

Ginger
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: Abcde1142@aol.com
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 17:35:07 EDT
Subject: [mosaic] My introduction

Good Afternoon,
I am excited to join this listserv as I am in my first year of doing
Guided Reading. I love what my fifth graders have learned this year and
want
to know more. I feel as though I have finally learned how to teach Reading
after 39 years of teaching.
My training was at Lesley College. One speaker at the Institute was
Shelley Harwayne who I found interesting. At the Institute another
participant told me about Mosaic of Thought and Strategies that Work. After
reading Mosaic of Thought, I realized there were several trains of thought
of
how Guided Reading should be used. I like both books so much that I told a
friend of mine who bought them as well and felt the same as I.
My fifth grade students are amazed at how much they enjoy reading
this
year. The questions I ask are far more difficult than the usual
comprehension questions, but they love answering them.
Thank you for reading my introduction. I look forward to exchanging
ideas and learning by reading your emails.
Alexa Grade 5
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: "Ginger/Rob" <elephant@foxvalley.net>
Subject: [mosaic] recent members/info
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 17:19:43 -0500

We have had a lot of new subscribers recently!! Welcome everyone! I just
want to take a minute and remind you all that the weekly conversations on
the list are archived and can be found at:
http://www.u46teachers.org/mosaic/archive/archive.htm

The archives date back to October of 2001 when we first started, so if you
ever have some time, you might want to visit there and read the past
postings- as there is a LOT to learn from them.

We also have two other great resources. Our online book data base where
teachers can add titles used in this teaching, along with comments, can be
found at:
http://www.u46teachers.org/mosaic/strategies.htm

Most recently, we added a "Teaching Tools" web page where you can download
all kinds of great things you may find helpful/interesting/supportive in
your learning/teaching. You can find the "Teaching Tools" web page at:
http://www.u46teachers.org/mosaic/tools/tools.htm

We are a large group with a wealth of knowledge and experience. We can grow
and learn together. As one member said to me today, "We are all smarter
when we share."

Keep the talk coming!

Ginger
moderator
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 02:54:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ila King <ilawk@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [mosaic] My introduction

Thank you for a wonderfully written introduction! I
work as literacy coach with teachers who are somewhat
reluctant to change their teaching practices. I
intend to use your intro to show them how they can
change AND be happy about it!
Ila
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: Abcde1142@aol.com
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 07:34:28 EDT
Subject: Re: [mosaic] My introduction

lla
Feel free. I found out about guided reading for older students when
I
was making an attempted to pass National Boards (I came close, but not
enough
to pass). When I was preparing for the Reading test, a friend who is a
reading recovery teacher was helping me. As he described what would be done
at the primary level, I kept saying this would work better at the
intermediate level because we have so many reading level ranges. That lead
me to taking the course at Lesley. The rest is history. I look for
everything that would help with the process for my students.
I would be happy to talk with anyone who is reluctant to make
changes.
I have been there and can understand their position as well.
Unfortunately,
what they don't realize is the effort that it would take to make the change
would be well worth it. The method they are presently using is good, but
the
changes would make what they are doing better. We all like to stay in our
comfort zone that it is hard to change. Sometimes it is the fear of can
they
do it. Good luck with your group.
Alexa 5th grade
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: Eleanor Sikes <ESikes@macon.k12.ga.us>
Subject: RE: [mosaic] My introduction
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 11:37:11 -0400

After I read Ila's reply, I just had to add my thanks. I, too, will share
your introduction with teachers who need to hear of someone making a change
and liking it.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 13:50:01 -0400
From: Abcde1142@aol.com
Subject: Re: [mosaic] My introduction

Eleanor,
If those teachers could have been in my classroom this morning
discussing the novels the different groups have been reading, the teachers
would change in a heartbeat. I started by explaining something unique about
each one of the books. The students took over and said far more than I ever
would. This meant the rest of the kids listened about a book they hadn't
read (I had four groups with four different books) because a peer was
talking about it, not an adult. I finally had to stop it after 45 minutes
because we had other things to do. Worth making a change? You bet! I
loved every minute of it. The best part was I didn't have to ask "why" for
them to explain their reasoning.
Alexa
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: JLabar1026@aol.com
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 19:25:40 EDT
Subject: Re: [mosaic] vocabulary question from Carol

In a message dated 4/15/03 5:29:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
pwatson@sfasu.edu writes:

> Absolutely the best vocabulary book for teachers is Words, Words, Words
> by Janet Allen. You can read the entire book online at:
>
> http://www.stenhouse.com/0085.htm
>
>

Wow! There are a whole bunch of books that you can down load on this site.
Very cool/

Get Adobe.

BG
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: "Andy & Shelly Kennedy" <pristine@aclass.com>
Subject: Re: [mosaic] My introduction
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 18:37:29 -0500

Welcome Alexa.........Kudos to you for demonstrating lifelong learning =
to your children and all of us!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 19:22:32 +0800
Subject: [mosaic] Vocabulary/Word Study
From: Susan Richardson <iuuk@go-concepts.com>

I am looking for a guideline for vocabulary/word study for 6th grade. Our
district is going to use the new Fountas and Pinnell k-2 phonics word study
program but we just can't seem to find something for 3-6. I know individual
spelling list is the way to go but I just don't think the teachers are
ready. Any ideas anyone?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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