ERIC Number: ED447428
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1999
Pages: 8
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Four Blocks.
Education Commission of the States, Denver, CO.
This paper provides an overview of the Four Blocks framework, a teaching framework developed by professional educators, that aims to teach all children to read by providing daily exposure to a variety of instructional approaches. Four Blocks is intended for use in regular, heterogeneously constructed K-3 classrooms. It supports individual learning styles through the use of four different teaching strategies or blocks: Guided Reading, Self-Selected Reading, Writing, and Words. The framework allows at-risk students to receive specialized programming, such as Reading Recovery or Success For All, and to benefit from this model as well. Children of varying ability levels are assigned to each group to reduce the potential for peer- and self-perception as a poor reader. Case studies support the effectiveness of the Four Blocks approach. Since 1990, the program has been implemented in first-, second-, and third-grade classrooms in all states throughout the United States. Sections of the paper discuss background, philosophy and goals, program components, evidence of effectiveness, professional development and support, implementation, costs, considerations, contact information, and policy issues and questions. (Contains 13 references.) (SR)
Descriptors: Heterogeneous Grouping, Individualized Reading, Instructional Effectiveness, Instructional Materials, Phonics, Primary Education, Program Content, Program Descriptions, Reading Instruction, Reading Programs, Reading Research, Reading Writing Relationship, Word Study Skills
Education Commission of the States, 707 17th St., #2700, Denver, CO 80202-3427. Tel: 303-299-3600; Web site: http://www.ecs.org.
Publication Type: Information Analyses; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Education Commission of the States, Denver, CO.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A