Fountas-Pinnell

Anyone have experience with this reading program?

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

Me! Me!!

F and P are our gurus pretty much.
We have trained on them for four years. We've thoroughly studies their RW model.
Ive also seen them at a conference that I went to on a grant.

What do you need to know??

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

yes, what questions do you have, do you have any knowledge of it

there is a website http://fountasandpinnell.com/
that might helpa little, although it is more for the leveling of the books

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

My understanding is that it's more of a philosophy than a program. In a nutshell, ideal reading instruction involves kids independently reading "just right" books on their reading level while getting instruction and support from the teacher in a book that is slightly above the "just right" level. Running records are used to place the kids in the correct independent and instructional level. (Hope this is correct- I had so much stuff thrown at me when I was a literacy coach!)

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

We do guided reading---and follow F&P. There books are pretty good.

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

I'm currently reading this book... of course, I'm also on a language arts kick. I know teachers that use the ideas, and they've had success.

I really like their ideas so far - I just wish I had the time to really do a great LA program.

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

There's also a section on independent reading - and how important it is. They have a chapter called 'the first 20 days' that helps you set up independent reading in your classroom.

They say to break your LA block into 3... 60 minutes for reading, 60 minutes for writing, and 30-60 minutes for word study.

There's a lot about inferring, and connections, questioning and responding to the text.

I've only read a few chapters though - wish I could be of more help!

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

What grade level will you be teaching?

When I taught 3rd we had kids work up their indep. reading time through the year, so that their stamina would be on par with the state test in March. While the kids worked on their "just right" level independently, I met with guided reading groups - it was flexible - sometimes I met with kids at a particular guided reading level (1 above indep.) other times it was to meet with kids who were missing the same concepts, i.e. cause and effect or compare and contrast.

In Kindergarten, it's a bit different. Kids work at the fab 5 centers - phonics, vocab, phonemic awareness, fluency and comprehension. The kids had time to read "just right" books on their own and they met in guided reading groups with me each day. You can't get to every group every day, but they hope you meet with the lowest at least 2-3 per week and the other groups at least 2x.

I worked at a Reading First school so we had to teach 30 minute skills block, 90 minute reading block and a 60 min writing block...keeping kindergarteners interested in reading/centers for 90 minutes at the beginning of the school year stinks!

It works though, they come out great readers!

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

I agree with what the other posters have said.
We do Guided Reading and Independent Reading in 3-6. The younger grades do centers.
There are several of their books that are helpful that you can even check out online before you go.

It is a great program and I am really happy using it.
Please FM if you have any more q..

esp if you need ideas on RW/the Literacy Block.

Message edited 8/1/2007 11:32:09 PM.

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

It would be 4th grade so guided/independent reading right?

Re: Fountas-Pinnell

I am fourth, how funny.
Yes, it is all about the Independent Reading and Guided Reading. We start with the first twenty days, which are mini lessons set up to get the kids into RW and their Indep. Reading.
GR follows, with small group instruction just above the Independent level.