Well sadness abounds in my house since Christmas is over and the excitement has worn off. My one saving grace: GEARING UP for the return to school on Monday! I have been racking my brain to try to figure out a system to help me with reading groups and general center organization. My school requires that just about everything goes back into cabinets at the end of the week so my system has to be streamlined. Last year I used a Carson Dellosa 12 pocket chart and this worked great with 9 students because I used the nine lowest pockets, one for each child and then used the top three for assessment sheets, homework sheets, pens and rewards. All was perfect until I ended up with a class of 14 this year.
DILEMA! There are only 12 pockets and 14 kiddos! 2 could share, maybe, but I think I will try something different. I have connected 2 file pocket charts together which gives me 24 pockets. So that handles the daily books. Now what to do with the others while I am working in small reading groups of three to four students each.
SOLUTION! Centers, quite, very quiet centers. I have purchased 2 towers with ten drawers ($34.99 at Michaels this week) One tower I will use for learning games, the other tower I will fill with quiet toys. Each tower will be labeled 1-10 and color coded. The students will find their name on the chart and check out a drawer. I will also have a worksheet/assessment center and a Computer center. Now since we only have one computer and 3-4 students I will use learning games on several leapsters I have collected over the years. I figure the students will rotate every 15 minutes with a movement transition for all. (jumping jacks, run in place etc.)
I am planning on the entire reading group process taking 1 hour with 4-5 minutes of movement transitions. We shall see, I know tweaking will be necessary and I will be sure to update you as surprises arise. I am also thinking of a similar system for my math as well,I will let you know how it works out.
Till next time, Happy New Year!
Christine
p.s. planning a TPT giveaway in January, be sure to join my site for a chance to win a full unit!
DILEMA! There are only 12 pockets and 14 kiddos! 2 could share, maybe, but I think I will try something different. I have connected 2 file pocket charts together which gives me 24 pockets. So that handles the daily books. Now what to do with the others while I am working in small reading groups of three to four students each.
SOLUTION! Centers, quite, very quiet centers. I have purchased 2 towers with ten drawers ($34.99 at Michaels this week) One tower I will use for learning games, the other tower I will fill with quiet toys. Each tower will be labeled 1-10 and color coded. The students will find their name on the chart and check out a drawer. I will also have a worksheet/assessment center and a Computer center. Now since we only have one computer and 3-4 students I will use learning games on several leapsters I have collected over the years. I figure the students will rotate every 15 minutes with a movement transition for all. (jumping jacks, run in place etc.)
I am planning on the entire reading group process taking 1 hour with 4-5 minutes of movement transitions. We shall see, I know tweaking will be necessary and I will be sure to update you as surprises arise. I am also thinking of a similar system for my math as well,I will let you know how it works out.
Till next time, Happy New Year!
Christine
p.s. planning a TPT giveaway in January, be sure to join my site for a chance to win a full unit!
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Comments and Ideas are always welcome, I am always looking for new units to create for TpT!