Guided Reading Tips for Struggling Readers

Hey Friends!!

I am linking up with my sweet friend Jen from The Teacher's Cauldron!!!

Jen talks a lot about the tools she uses during guided reading. Since all of my experience is in Title One schools and working with struggling readers, I wanted to share a few tips!!

Student Grouping

Each and EVERY Child learns differently. So we have to teach each child the way they learn. The best  way I have found to do this is ability grouping. Our students are grouped by instructional reading levels. We have five groups and follow a Daily 5 routine. We are very fortunate to have two teachers and one aide in our room during this time. I know this is not the case for most of you! This is my first time EVER having this much support! Here is our schedule:

The Gen. Ed teacher does the guided reading program. She individually picks each book for each group each week. We do not follow a basal program. Each book is picked by level and skills that we are teaching. We use informal running records to discover each students instructional reading level. Then, we plan out our before, during and after reading plans and questions. 

The SPED Teacher (Me) does a hands on and engaging activity practicing the skill that we are working on each week. This is working out SO Well. We are able to supplement each other so well.  

We have carefully prepared our students and taught them our routine. We practiced each station each and every day. For our Work Work, our students use their "Word Study" words. We use a specifically  designed plan for word study, it's district wide. It is similar to some spelling routines. Basically, we have choice board set up in the classroom. This choice board contains nine different choices the students can use to work with their words. We use choices like rainbow writing, create a comic strip, 

Use Hands on Manipulatives to Teach Reading

Students need to be engaged in the reading process. Make it fun for them! Add scrabble tiles to your work work center! Let them "build" their words! Add sight words to your board games and on Fridays (Or any day in my classroom) let them play them! My students love playing sight word Jenga! Learning and having fun at the SAME Time! That is a WIN! That should be your goal! Teach with CENTERS, let students have a choice about what to do. Students can then take charge of their learning!! 

The picture above shows our students working with digraphs.

Here's another look at our word work  centers! 

I use both theme and skill based centers in my classroom. These two pictures show centers that are themed based with skills embedded. 

Discover Their Interests!

Most students do not want to read about the price of tea in China..I know I do not! Reluctant readers will do so much better with topics that interest them! Use Reading A-Z to find books that are topics that your students will like.

I have found that struggling readers often enjoy reading nonfiction books and mystery books. The "

I Survived Collector's Toolbox (I Survived). 

This series has been a huge hit for my son! He is certainly a  reluctant reader but this series has changed the way he looks at reading! He's interested in it so he looks forward to reading them!

Use your scholastic book points to find topics for  your hard to reach boys! 

Topics, Series and Titles for Boys:

Lego Ninjago

Lego Chima

Star Wars

Super Heros

Airplanes 

Trucks and Cars

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Magic Tree House
Sharks
Who Was/Were

Topics, Series and Titles for Girls:

Fancy Nancy

Babysitters Club

Amelia Bedelia 

Judy Blume

Junie B. Jones
Ivy and Bean
Mallory on the Move
Lemonade War
Because of Winn Dixie

Go Back To the Basics & Differentiate your Instruction

Sometimes you just need to go back to the basics. Discover where your students are, and go back to the skill that will help them the most. Even if that means you are a 4th grade teacher, with a student on a 1st grade reading level!  Typically, we instruct our students one their highest instructional reading level. However, if you have a student who is really struggling, do not be afraid to drop their level down. This will help the student develop more confidence in their ability! If a student has confidence issues, be sure to build them up using positive reinforcement ANY chance you get!!!
If all else fails, begin to implement an intervention program

Professional Development Resources

Some of my favorite resources for guided reading are listed below. Just click on the pictures to check them out! You will not be disappointed! 

Till Next Time :)

Guided Reading Tips for Struggling Readers

Hey Friends!!

I am linking up with my sweet friend Jen from The Teacher's Cauldron!!!

Jen talks a lot about the tools she uses during guided reading. Since all of my experience is in Title One schools and working with struggling readers, I wanted to share a few tips!!

First Tip:

Student Grouping

Each and EVERY Child learns differently. So we have to teach each child the way they learn. The best  way I have found to do this is ability grouping. Our students are grouped by reading levels. We have five groups and follow a Daily 5 routine. We are very fortunate to have two teachers and one aide in our room during this time. I know this is not the case for most of you! This is my first time EVER having this much support! Here is our schedule:

The Gen. Ed teacher does the guided reading program. She individually picks each book for each group each week. We do not follow a basal program. Each book is picked by level and skills that we are teaching. Then, we plan out our before, during and after reading plans and questions. 

The SPED Teacher (Me) does a hands on and engaging activity practicing the skill that we are working on each week. This is working out SO Well. We are able to supplement each other so well. She 

We have carefully prepared our students and taught them our routine. We practiced each station each and every day. For our Work Work, our students use their "Word Study" words. We use a specifically  designed plan for word study, it's district wide. It is similar to some spelling routines. Basically, we have choice board set up in the classroom. This choice board contains nine different choices the students can use to work with their words. 

Use Hands on Manipulative's to Teach Reading

Students need to be engaged in the reading process. Make it fun for them! Add scrabble tiles to your work work center! Let them "build" their words! Add sight words to your board games and on Fridays (Or any day in my classroom) let them play them! My students love playing sight word Jenga! Learning and having fun at the SAME Time! That is a WIN! That should be your goal! Teach with CENTERS, let students have a choice about what to do. Students can then take charge of their learning!! 

The picture above shows our students working with digraphs.

Here's another look at our word work  centers! 

I use both theme and skill based centers in my classroom. These two pictures show centers that are themed based with skills embedded. 

Discover Their Interests!

Most students do not want to read about the price of tea in China..I know I do not! Reluctant readers will do so much better with topics that interest them! Use Reading A-Z to find books that are topics that your students will like.

I have found that struggling readers often enjoy reading nonfiction books and mystery books. The "

I Survived Collector's Toolbox (I Survived). 

This series has been a huge hit for my son! He is certainly a  reluctant reader but this series has changed the way he looks at reading! He's interested in it so he looks forward to reading them!

Use your scholastic book points to find topics for  your hard to reach boys! 

Topics, Series and Titles for Boys:

Lego Ninjago

Lego Chima

Star Wars

Super Heros

Airplanes 

Trucks and Cars

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Magic Tree House
Sharks

Topics, Series and Titles for Girls:

Fancy Nancy

Babysitters Club

Amelia Bedelia 

Judy Blume

Junie B. Jones
Ivy and Bean
Mallory on the Move
Lemonade War
Because of Winn Dixie

Go Back To the Basics & Differentiate your Instruction

Sometimes you just need to go back to the basics. Discover where your students are, and go back to the skill that will help them the most. Even if that means you are a 4th grade teacher, with a student on a 1st grade reading level!  Typically, we instruct our students one their highest instructional reading level. However, if you have a student who is really struggling, do not be afraid to drop their level down. This will help the student develop more confidence in their ability! If a student has confidence issues, be sure to build them up using positive reinforcement ANY chance you get!!!
If all else fails, begin to implement an intervention program

Till Next Time :)

A little hard work never hurt anyone...

Hey friends :) 

I'm not going to lie, teaching with centers is absolutely HARD Work.. I know so many teachers that do not do it because of how hard it is. It's a lot of time printing, laminating and cutting. It's an investment, an investment that will pay off year after year.I still love people's reaction the moment they realize that typically everything in a classroom is almost 75% paid for BY THE TEACHER! They think all of this stuff just appears and is paid for by schools...not likely.  I understand that teachers earn a small amount of money in comparison to the cost of teaching, and the amount of hours we work. I get it..but teaching is a CALLING. I know that God put me here on this earth for three things: To be a  MOTHER, A WIFE and A T EACHER. That's my calling, those three things. I know so many of you feel the same way. And I know it's frustrating to spend our "own" money on our classrooms and feel as if we have no support from admin..I get it. But I also know what it's like to go without a teaching position (due to our family moving states). This is an emptiness like no other. I promise you. Even with ALL of the aggravation, hard work, and money spent, I wouldn't trade it a single day, to have my own classroom. Again, this is why  I'm here, this is my calling. That's it. Bottom Line. Seriously, so many times I get asked "Why don't you just go work at a bank"..I always reply "Everyone who works a bank can READ"... The crazy thing is this has been on my heart all week....this little message. Then, today at church, we had a speak from Big Oak Ranch..oh my word..if you have a second take a look at this video..it will remind you why we are doing what we are..and God Bless the Croyle family :) John Croyle talks a lot about how we were all put here on this earth for something...what is God using you for? Take a look at this little Video Clip

okay.. back to literacy centers ;) I'm a little scatterbrained tonight :) 

Build yourself a "center library"..and just think of how many students will benefit from it! Hands on instruction is the way to go these days...students NEED an approach to their education that fits in with things they do on a daily basis...children aren't going home and playing with sticks anymore people...they are playing with iPhones, tablets, e-readers, video games..etc...... So why not use fun, colorful and engaging literacy (& math) centers? Paper and pencil has it's place in the classroom, and ALWAYS will, but adding some variety to your instruction will pay off! I promise!  Someone asked me the other day "Why do you use all of these materials"..and my answer is ALWAYS this "My kiddos love coming to school because of the fun and engaging activities we do".  So yeah, it might require a little work on your end..but as my daddy always told me 

"A little hard work never killed nobody.." 

Remember going into a teacher store? Spending $29.99 on a "Literacy Center Book"...??? Getting it home, flipping through, and only being able to use one or two things from it? This is when I started creating my own materials..materials that MY students needed. Materials that were created with students first. So yeah, it's a lot of work...but the good news is, since the launch of TpT, you can now go and find centers already created for the exact skill that you need. Then, you have a digital copy FOREVER. So what if your computer crashes and you lose all of your files...guess what? TpT SAVES it ALL For you! What if students tear up your centers that you purchased with your (own) money?? Once again, just visit "My Purchases" and print the file that you need AGAIN. I am such a fan of TpT because of this, I can find exactly what I need and most of the time it is a huge hit with my classroom! 

Even once an item is purchased, I realize, it is  work for teachers...I get that...and I applaud you! For going above and beyond and making your students successful...isn't that the real reason we all sought out this path we call education? That might mean cutting things out while sitting in front of the tube with your spouse..or you could be like me and get your spouse to cut for you :) He's such a sport! Haha!

Okay..that's my rant and soapbox... 

I wanted to share with you my center calendar that I have used for the last few years in First Grade!! Now that I'm in 4th grade, I am developing a calendar to keep up with what products I use and when :) But here is what I have used for the last few years in First Grade :) 

For September through November, I relay heavily on these four packets:

Fall-Literacy-and-Math-Center-Mega-Packet21-Centers-

Fall-Sight-Word-Literacy-Centers

Fall-is-Here-Math-and-Literacy-Center-Packet

Autumn-Math-and-Literacy-Centers-

Here are a few FREE Centers that I like to use as well!! 

Fall-Fact-or-Opinion-Freebie

Fall-Word-Wall-Words

Fall-Writing-Prompt-Cards-Freebie-

Roll-Read-and-Color-Sight-Word-FREEBIE-

Till Next Time 

Fraction Fun & Printer tips

Here is a little bit of a "WORDLESS" Post on Fractions :)

The pictures show my Fraction-Work-Stations-Mini-Packet-!! I made this for my second and third grade teacher friends. My little guy will use them soon as well :) 

It's great because it has sorting activities, memory game and bingo boards!

The funny thing is, I thought when I came to 4th grade, that memory would be too easy for them...Guess what..I was WRONG! They still show some difficulty with the concept. And I love it because it shows they are actually thinking about if the cards are equal or not...and remembering the last card that was flipped over is a great critical thinking activity! So I am now making memory games for every skill possible because my kids need this level of critical thinking!!! They might get the hang of it, after I have printed alllllll of these centers ;) 

In this activity, the students have to match the fraction picture to the fraction word and numeral! This is a great way to incorporate a little reading into your math routine!!! Love, love, LOVE!! 

You can check it out right HERE!!!

Alrighty friends, my hubby wants to know why I'm at the computer instead of watching the A&M game!!! Better go :)

Our week in Reading!

This week we started out Author's Purpose unit. What a fun week we had!
We got to read a lot of really interesting stories and discuss their meanings. We also started our small group instruction routine! We are doing a daily five break down, but we have two teachers in the room. One is doing a guided reading program, the other is reinforcing the skill for the week with hands on activities!

We started the week with a simple foldable I created. 

Click HERE to get your FREEBIE

 After reading "The Story of Ruby Bridges", we discussed the purpose of the book. The kids really enjoyed this story! I love sneaking in little stories like that into my reading, teaching them not only the Author's Purpose, but history at the same time :) Two birds, one stone :)

Then, in our small groups we used several different resources: 

Whats-the-Doggies-Purpose-an-authors-purpose-activity-

Authors-Purpose-Task-Cards-24-Cards-Persuade-Inform-Entertain-195745

Authors-Purpose-Activity-Menu-437350

Authors-Purpose-Memory-Match-Up-

 Reading-Strategies-Poster-Set-Chalkboard-Edition

I made a new activity to go along with our lesson. It's a simple but effective memory game. Students have to read the passages and match it to the correct type of Author's Purpose. 

You can check that out HERE

Next week, we are diving into Main Idea. Here are a few resources I plan to use!

Reading-Strategies-Memory-Match-Up-

Main-Idea-Cards-48-Cards-for-Differentiated-Learning

Main-Idea-Posters-Set-3-

Whats-the-Main-Idea-

Our fourth grade students are LOVING these choice boards: 

Main-Idea-and-Supporting-Details-Menu-

Read Alouds For Main Idea:
Cowboy Camp
Sweet Tooth

The Great Kapok Tree
Miss Rumphius

First Week of School and Tips for Co Teaching

Well, y'all know I've been praying about a position to come a long! School started for us last Tuesday!!! Thursday before the long weekend, I received a call, they need a long term teacher ASAP. Not a permanent, full time position, but how could I say no?!?! It was a position, working with children and that's all I've been asking for!

So it's been zero to 180 since then! I'm co-teaching 4th grade inclusion! I LOVE IT! As a primary teacher, I was SO NERVOUS about this switch. I just didn't know how I would handle the "Big Kids"!!!  I have the best teaching partners and team!!! I work with two other teachers, so technically I have two classes I'm in.  We are doing SO Many different things! I love how the students are independent yet excite about learning. 

I wanted to share with you a few tips that we are trying this year for co-teaching!!!

STAY ORGANIZED

This week, I have had to create SO many forms for documentation! I have to be organized! Organization is one of the HARDEST parts of teaching, but with the right tools, it's so much easier. 

So what did I do? I made a binder and included all of the things I need on a daily basis. Teachers these days have to document SO MUCH, and this is hard to keep up with! So I made a Classroom Forms Binder! It makes things so much easier!! I've separated my lesson plans, class roles, important IEP Information and data collection. These are key elements to my day and I have to know exactly where they are!  This way if I need to jot something down real quick, I just go to my binder, not some random sticky note that I *will* lose! I used to be the WORST at that! 

You can check out this binder right HERE!!!

It's on sale until tomorrow! 

This goes great with my Slate-Gray-Chevron-and-Yellow-Classroom-Decor-Kit-

DIVIDE UP PLANNING RESPONSIBILITIES

With co-teaching, don't forget, there is *two* of you! If one person is doing all the work, then

it's really not "Co-Teaching". My co-workers and I are trying hard to divide up the tasks. They were not sure if they would get an extra teacher, so they were used to doing everything solo! So we are now trying to work together, I just want to help them and take a load off! It's so overwhelming sometimes. So I am focusing on hands on learning activities and data collection. Data is the drive behind our instruction and it's important to know where each student is at all times. How can we effectively teach them without knowing the areas they need the most help in? We have the subjects divided up for areas that they need hands on materials. I  created a form to help me keep my activities straight and understand when and how to use each activity. We are doing a introduction lesson of whole group, then small group activities the rest of the week.  

Equal Partners

Both of my co-teachers are great at this! They don't treat me as an "assistant". The treat me as a teacher. I think this is the number one reason why our system is working! From the very first day, they've allowed me to be an active member in this process we call "education". They haven't treated me as if I was just a "temporary teacher", even though, I sort of am! They ask my opinion, advice and we work TOGETHER. We teacher TOGETHER. We help each OTHER when they other one needs it. This is KEY to Co-Teaching! You have to be a TEAM, or the students will see it, I promise you!!!

On to our lessons for the week!!! 

Author's Purpose

This  week we are focusing on Author's Purpose and Fact and Opinion!! Here are a few things we are using this week:

Author's Purpose Reading Games

Whats-the-Doggies-Purpose-an-authors-purpose-activity-

 Reading-Strategies-Poster-Set-Chalkboard-Edition

http://www.fcrr.org/curriculum/pdf/g4-5/45cpartthree.pdf

Authors-Purpose-Task-Cards-24-Cards-Persuade-Inform-Entertain-195745

Authors-Purpose-Activity-Menu-437350

Fact and Opinion

Fact-or-Opinion-Reading-Center-Station-Activity-Game-FREE

Fact-and-Opinion-FREEBIE-226428

Three-Fact-and-Opinion-Games-with-Recording-Sheets

Visual Aides

I am using my chalkboard poster kit for visual aides this week!!

I'll let you know how all of these activities go, 

but that is a touch of the things we will be doing!!! So far, I'm loving 4th grade and I can't wait to share this adventure with you!!! Thanks for stopping by friends!