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Home : 2003 : January : 4

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By Ruth

Hi Maggie.
I can relate to your situation because the year I was hired, it was in October, and I was just plopped in my new classroom. No help with anything. I scrounged for materials and did spend my own money as I still
do every year. Garage sales are good too. However, over the years I have become a little more creative and make many of my own materials. With the Internet and wonderful sites like this one, there is a wealth of information and materials for the taking. Does your school provide you with all the necessary novels? Enough for the whole class? Is there not any money in the district for teachers

to spend on materials for use in the classroom? In our district each teacher gets $160 a year, (other non-inner city districts around here get much more) but when I was a new teacher I did not know this. Ask about this. I have to buy the materials first with my own money and then fill out a paper to get reimbursed and there is of course a deadline, so if you miss it, “OH well” they tell you. Find out!!! They don’t always tell you. I also have written grants, which I will be doing again soon. Our district notifies us about them. Some grants I didn’t get, but a couple I did. It doesn’t hurt to try. One year I won a grant for over 1,000 dollars, and I got a lot of materials for my room, and some furniture (nice cubbies for storage materials and a big book rack) plus, sometimes when you go to conferences they will supply you with materials. I get what I can where I can. Sad to say but I do spend my own money, as do other teachers to get the necessary materials to have a more enriched learning environment. (At least now we can deduct some of it on our taxes) Every year I buy tons of books at the scholastic book fair for half off. I also check books out of the school’s library as well as the local library at times too. You could do this to have books on your shelf and choose new ones every other week for independent reading. I have also contacted churches and requested any old books that families don’t want any more. Salvation Army or Good Will sometimes has books. Also, in my building there were tons of materials put away in a closet, not being used, so I took what I could use in my classroom. What about your reading department? CALL!!! They usually have tons of books and materials they can send to your building on loan. How about any veteran teachers in your building? Are they willing to share? Or at least be somewhat helpful?

Are you teaching part time or full time? You have said 3 sections of 4th grade reading so I was wondering. Are you expected to do centers in only an hour and ten minute time period? Is that required also? Does your principal have other expectations for your reading plan, or do you have some independence here?
First, it seems that you need to determine the daily schedule as to what you are going to teach within that time period. And it sounds like you are being told what you have to teach (some aspects) and when. So you will have to work around that. It sounds like you will have no down time within that hour and ten minute period so it will be important to have a set plan.

There are different philosophies on Guided Reading, some say small group others say whole. I prefer small groups. I have found small group reading is more beneficial and students make greater gains, but again that is my opinion. But that doesn’t mean I never do any whole group. I do do some. With our state tests coming up soon, I have been doing whole group reading lessons using short stories. Focusing on reading strategies and test taking skills diligently. However what I think you need, and what your principal wants, is to see a plan that includes a balanced literacy approach. So you will have your vocabulary, you will have your guided reading with different genre, some whole group some small group, and some independent reading as well. Writing would also be included but it doesn’t sound like you have to teach that.
The fact that you don’t have basals isn’t so bad. We have basals but they aren’t my sole material for my teaching points. I think novels, or what I call literature studies are much better. I do use the basal but I use it for more independent work for my students and I focus on Lit Studies. My class did do Stone Fox at the beginning of the year. I bought one of the literature guides from our teacher’s store and I also found lots of info on the Internet. My fourth graders like the story but some said it was too easy. Stone Fox will not be a long unit for your students I think they will read it quickly but it is a very good story. I will try to post some links for Stone Fox and I hope they work.

http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-7.html

http://www.gp.k12.mi.us/ci/eng/k5/third/fox.htm

http://www.nancypolette.com/LitGuidesText/stonefox.htm

I know it can be frustrating not having the materials you really need to teach properly but it sounds like you are a dedicated teacher and want your students to succeed. I am sure all will work out. I hope this has helped some.
Ruth