How many of you have already gone back to school? One question I'm often asked at the beginning of the school year is, "When do you start guided reading?!", so I thought we'd chat about how all that gets started in my classroom today :) The beginning of the year is important not only for establishing rules and routines, but also for assessing our students. We need to know where are babies are so we can determine how and what we need to teach. We're all given grade level objectives and standards to teach, but our kids also need differentiated instruction to meet their individual needs. Where does this fit in?! Most of my … [Read more...] about Launching Guided Reading Small Groups & Independent Centers
small group
Phonics Friday – Small Group Phonics Activities
These last few weeks have been 50 shades of cray. I'm not sure if I told y'all, but we got a roommate :) She's actually a friend of my niece's and she was starting her first semester of student teaching here in town. She had never been to Texas before and was a little wary of living so far from home (Indiana), so she was going to be staying with us until December. Remember how hard it was to student teach all day & not get paid?? And then rush home, get changed, and wait tables until midnight?? And then wake up at 5:30 the next day and do it all again? Or was that just me?!?! We were excited … [Read more...] about Phonics Friday – Small Group Phonics Activities
Launching Small Groups & Learning Centers (Literacy)
How many of you have already gone back to school? One question I'm often asked at the beginning of the school year is, "When do you start guided reading?!", so I thought we'd chat about how all that gets started in my classroom today :) The beginning of the year is important not only for establishing rules and routines, but also for assessing our students. We need to know where are babies are so we can determine how and what we need to teach. We're all given grade level objectives and standards to teach, but our kids also need differentiated instruction to meet their individual needs. Where does this … [Read more...] about Launching Small Groups & Learning Centers (Literacy)
Small Group Alphabet Instruction (AKA – The Longest Post EVER)
Yesterday I posted all about how I introduce the alphabet in my classroom. I told y'all a little bit about what I do during small group and showed y'all a little sample of what that small group instruction entails.... Now let's go ahead and dive a little deeper. Before I get started, let's quickly talk about some invaluable resources I've used in my classroom to help teach and reinforce letter recognition and letter to sound linking. These are materials I use during small group, tutoring, and I keep these out in literacy tubs as well. This isn't everything I use...it doesn't even really touch the surface...but … [Read more...] about Small Group Alphabet Instruction (AKA – The Longest Post EVER)
Ready, Aim, FIRE!
I don't know if I told y'all this already, but we're currently visiting family in Indiana. It's shaping up to be quite the whirlwind trip. We always drive. Every year. And I love it. I do. I LOVE road trips. SO much to see! And y'all...'Merica is beautiful. Anyway, our road trip driving up lasts 2 days. It's a total of 18-19 hours for us to get here and we have to break it up into two days because, well, that's just a long time to be in the car...especially for my VERY busy little boys. We'll be here for a few more days before heading to Michigan. While we're here in Indiana, … [Read more...] about Ready, Aim, FIRE!
