This year I have a problem that I have never had in the 10 years I have been teaching. I have too many adults in my classroom during guided reading time! Most years, it has always been a struggle to meet with enough students. This year there are three adults in my classroom during guided reading: myself, my co teacher, and the ESOL teacher. We all run groups and many of the students get more than one guided reading group. I have been very pleased with the results. I feel that some of our students are making gains relatively quickly.
So, what my kids may be doing may look different than other classrooms just because I have an abundance of adult hands. When students are not meeting with groups they are doing one of two things:
- Reading to self
- Independent Reading Response projects
I had originally intended on introducing partner reading but since students have so little independent time, I am not.
I introduced Read to Self using the Daily Five model.
If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it. It is a wonderful resources, with step by step instructions on how to guide students on how to be independent during reading time. All the activities in the book focus on the main domains on Language Arts/ Reading and it is research based. When I had more independent time for students, they did more of the Daily Five activities.
This is a picture from two years ago- I left my camera with my new, classroom pictures at school! Whoops! |
We do several lessons on “just right books” including a lesson by our school librarian, I PICK lesson from Daily Five and a mini lesson that I guide based on riding a bike. I use the riding a bike analogy to introduce just right books.
Mandy Gregory is a 2007 and 2012 Teacher of the Year. She has taught Kindergarten- 4th grades in both the general education and inclusion settings. She is currently a 1st grade Special Education teacher. She is the owner and creator of Mandy’s Tips for Teachers website (www.mandystipsforteachers.com) and has over 13 years of teaching experience. She is married with two beautiful children.
Hi Mandy,
I have the same issue in my classroom. I too have 2 other adults in my room during my reading time. The children have very little independent time but they will benefit greatly from the adult support no matter what level they are. I would love to "test drive" your reading response projects!! I need hold my students accountable for what they are reading independently and showing how they can apply the skills that they are learning in class. I hope I can help you!!
~Lesley
[email protected]
I follow your blog and have been a regular visitor to your web page as well. I forgot to mention that in my previous comment!!
~Lesley
[email protected]
I follow your blog and frequent your web page. I just began blogging myself!
I follow your blog and I have been visiting your web page forever now. I have always appreciated your ideas and expertise.
Nannette
Third Grade's a Charm
Hey Mandy! I follow your blog! I would love to try this out!
Amanda
Third Grade Meanderings
Mandy- I blogged about your giveaway here:
http://thirdgradeexperience.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway.html
I'm a new follower and would love to try these out with my 4th graders. I have struggling readers so these would be great to use with them to help them comprehend better:)
4th Grade Frolics
I follow your blog! I would love to have the chance to get your great resource! I would love to spice up my routines!
[email protected]
I'm a follower and would love to peek at your resource.
Denise
Yearn to Learn Blog
I'm a new follower. I would love to try these out.
Swimming into Second
I'm a new follower, but I've been following your website much longer! I'm actually using your retelling unit from the website this week with my 3rd graders, so I would LOVE to try out your Retelling Responses with them!
Hi Mandy! I am following you now because Amanda K. from 3rd Grade Meanderings blogged about your give away. I would love to have an opportunity to take a peek at your retelling response projects! I love testing out new materials and hope to give you good feedback if the opportunity arises. Best of luck to you this year. I hope that you keep on moving your kiddos to make those reading gains!
: ) Nicole Corbitt http://www.mrscorbitt.blogspot.com ([email protected])
I follow your blog and have stalked your webpage for years. I would love to try these out with my kids. Do they do these during read to self or work on writing?
Hi Eva! My students worked on these during read to self, but they could also do it during working on writing. It is not a response to lit because it is more of a retell though. It would be up to you! 🙂 Thanks for entering!
Hi Mandy,
I'm a new follower thanks to Amanda from 3rd Grade Meanderings. Love your ideas and would love to try out your Response packet. Have a great week!
Dianne
http://hopelesslydevotedtoteaching.blogspot.com/
Hi Mandy,
Just found your blog and have been addicted since. I appreciate all of your time, talent and effort that goes into this endeavor.
I would love to try these activities out and provide you with some feedback.
Thank you!
Krista Miller
I am a new follower and would love to try these out with my 2nd graders! This is my first year doing Daily 5 and so far I love it!!
Ali
alischepis(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Mandy!
I follow your blog and would love to try out your reading response projects. I teach 2nd grade and am trying out the Daily 5 for the first time this year. Your ideas sound great!!
Janet
[email protected]
Hello Mandy!
I am a new follower to your blog, but it sounds like I am in the same situation as you are in- I have a lot of help this year and am looking for ways to challenge my kiddos! I would love to try out your reading responses and give you some feedback.
Thanks for offering this!
I follow your blog 🙂 it comes up automatically on my google reader so I never miss a post!
-Haley
Hey Mandy, I follow your blog. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Mandy! I follow your blog, along with many others I see!! I stumbled across your website and have been so thankful for the ideas you have shared. I graduated from college last year and would have been lost without all of your ideas and expertise! I'm still finding out what works for my students and my teaching style, but you have been an AMAZING resource for this first (now second) year teacher. Thank you so much!!
Oops! Looks like I am a day late and a dollar short! I would LOVE to have these projects to use in my third grade classroom! I am a regular reader of your blog and love your tools and tips! You have made my first few months of teaching seem a little less stressful! I can't wait to hear how these test drivers do and will be anxiously awaiting being able to use these in my own classroom because I am sure they are fantastic! Thanks! Angie