| The Four-Blocks
framework was developed by teachers who believe that to be
successful in teaching all children to read and write, we have to do
it all! Doing it all means incorporating daily the different
approaches to beginning reading.
The Four Blocks--Guided Reading, Self-Selected
Reading, Writing, and Working with Words--represent four different
approaches to teaching children to read. Daily instruction in
all Four Blocks provides numerous and varied opportunities for all
children to learn to read and write. Doing all Four Blocks
acknowledges that children do not all learn in the same way and
provides substantial instruction to support whatever learning
personality a child has.
The other big difference between children--their
different literacy levels--is approached by using a variety of
formats to make each block as multilevel as possible, providing additional
support for children who struggle and additional challenges for
children who catch on quickly.
(Cunningham, P.M., Hall, D.P., and Sigmon, C.M.; The
Teacher's Guide to the Four Blocks; Carson-Dellosa Publishing,
1999; p. 3.) |
