Reading Groups in Action!

This year I have been on a journey to implement differentiated reading groups as a part of my daily routine. If you missed my first post about the planning and setup process, you can read it HERE.

Now that I had all equipment and materials I needed, it was time to put my plan into action.

My district used iReady for Reading and Math benchmark testing. I used the results from the Reading assessment to profile my students and divide them into groups. I turned a pocket chart into my group assignment board. Each day I can easily swap the activity assignment (Teacher, Computers, Book Club, or Workbook. It is also easy to move students from one group to another if needed. This chart lets my students know what center they are going to each day.

I got storage bins to organize my independent work activities. Every Monday morning, I fill the bins with the assignment for the week. The students also use these bins to store their book club materials. As a result, I don't have to spend time each morning passing out papers.

My students love the reading group morning routine. I am impressed with the effort they put into their work during this time. I love the fact that I have the opportunity to work with each student in my class in a small group setting at least once a week. It helps me stay on top of their progress and gives me time to go deep into teaching about vocabulary, text structure, character analysis, or whatever it is that the particular group of students needs support in. 

Here I am working with one of my small groups. Today we are editing our Compare / Contrast Essays.

My technology groups is busy working on individualized reading lessons on iReady.

My students love meeting with their Book Club once a week.