Guided Reading Tools

Happy Friday!

I'm linking up with The Teachers Cauldron for her:


I talked about my traveling reading kit here, but since I'm no longer traveling, I have a different set of tools for 'home'!

First, the most important thing that I use and the kids use...

Post-Its!

We use all different sizes and colors. They help us find information, track out thinking, make notes, etc.

I use the cute, multicolored post-it cube to record my observations on this sheet:

which sits behind the lesson plan for the book:

in my Guided Reading Binder!

which you can read more about here and here.

We also have trackers for the friends that need it (so far, hardly any!)

As well as a whiteboard and Expo markers available for teaching!

This is actually where I store most of my Literacy things...ignore the mess on the bottom! :)

For comprehension and responses, I use Jen Runde's Comprehension Fans

and Joanne Miller's Reading Response Menus

They are too cute! I actually had the mini file folders (because they were cute!), but she includes a template for you to use!

I also use a variety of graphic organizers, some self-made, some free and purchased. It just depends on what we need and our focus!

(Jivey, Joanne, MissK, and Kelly ) all have wonderful ones that I've used and purchased.

Of course, the most important things to have is the books!

We are lucky enough to have a set that came with our reading series.

But I've also stashed away a few sets of chapter books as well! ;)

What things to you use for Guided Reading?

Thursday's Outfit

Sweaters: Maurices
Tank/Shoes: Target
Skirt: TJ Maxx







Today's Outfit

Sweater: NY & Co
Dress: JCP
Shoes: Payless

Have a wonderful weekend!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

A Peek At My Week

Happy Sunday!

This week we are finally going to start with our math pilot program, Go Math!, even though I still don't have students workbooks...

We are also finishing learning about our state symbols and moving onto government! The kids seems to really enjoy the foldable, so they'll have some time on Monday to color in the pictures they drew of the symbols :)

From this:

 To this!

We are also starting reading groups this week! We finally got all the kids into groups, and worked out a schedule.

All planned out and ready to go!

The kids will continue on their report writing during centers, which they started on Friday.

They'll also be comparing and contrasting poems, making connections and taking the Theme 1 test!

We also have a MAPS test on Friday...and we'll take the other two next week! (We take the Reading, Math and Language 3x a year).

What's your week look like?

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Five for Friday

Happy Friday!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!

1. I have most of my math materials!! (Finally!) But I still don't have ANY student workbooks...I can foresee some issues with this! :P

 Look! Manipulatives! Now, where can I store them...

2. We started our report writing today...most of them did a good job!

Something I whipped up (literally) in the 7 minutes before they came back from recess

3. We also learned about the Edit Cops and flexing our Revising Arms :)

4. I stopped by Target today (a dangerous place!) and picked up some fun colored binders for all the great stuff I've bought off TPT recently. (It's been stacked on my desk...I'll be happy to get them off!!)

 5. Outfits!

Thursday's Outfit

Shirt: Burlington Coat Factory

Shorts: LOFT Outlet
Shoes: Zappos







Today's Outfit

Dress: Target

Shoes: DSW


Have a happy weekend!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Workshop Wednesday: Writing

Happy Wednesday!

Time for another Workshop Wednesday with Jivey!!

For Writing, this year we moved to 8 pocket folders. So far, it's working out pretty well!


The first part of the folder, moves through the writing process. So as the kids work on their piece, they move it through the writing process-just like on the pencil!

The back half of the folder has a spot for quickwrites/freewrites, poetry, writing helpers (where they keep their heart maps, editing symbols, rubrics, etc.) and wonderful words.

When they finish a piece, they put it in their 'portfolio'- a folder labeled with their number.

The very first thing we do is our heart maps. I tell them to draw/write anything that's important to them-or something that reminds them of a good story! You can see a peek of a map above :)

We've been taking our writing step by step (I'm not assuming anything this year!).  We started writing about Me Bags (which I got here). They were able to use the organizers to write a fairly decent paragraph about their items!

Next, we've been working on a personal narrative story about their summer.

We started by creating bubble maps of what we did.

Then, I whipped up this quick organizer to continue to help with the prewrites.

For this, we talked about just writing a few words about what happened (no sentences!) and then write sensory words in the box about the event.

Those that finished are using their organizer to move on to their first drafts. I've been doing lots of modeling...the best way to show them how to do something!

Another cool thing is that this year, Fridays are going to exclusively devoted to writing (and more in depth reading some weeks)-no reading groups, kids shifting around, etc! So I'll be able to go a lot more in depth with the writing than I've had before.

Monday's Outfit:

Sweater: Old Navy

Pants: NY & Co
Shoes: Payless








Tuesday's Outfit:

Shirt: NY & Co

Tank: Target
Skirt: Target
Shoes: DSW








Today's Outfit:

Shirt: Maurices

Skirt: Target
Tank: Old Navy
Shoes: Amazon

Super sticky hot today...should have made a better outfit choice!


Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Monday Made It-On a Sunday!

Happy (Almost) Monday!

I've been a busy crafty girl this month!

First up, I have a clipboard bin. I got the bin at Christmas Tree Shops. Unfortunately, I don't have any fun automatic cutting machines, so I had to hand letter with a Sharpie Paint Pen. I printed out the label, taped it on and cut out with an Exacto knife. I think it turned out pretty well!

Then, I made my own assessment posters. (I also turned them into bookmarks to put on the kids' desks :)

I did add a 'title' slide-but I forgot to take a picture of that!

I made a check-off sheet for our literacy centers-so the kids can remember what they've done and what they need to accomplish!

I also finally finished my own lesson planner!

So far, it's working great! I was able to get it coil bound at Staples for $4 and I love it! (Clearly, I still have some planning to do...but I almost take it day by day so I can change things easily and move things without erasing (and you can't really plan for math when you don't have your piloting materials...) :)

I also made my cousin's fiancee a card for her bridal shower...and I love the way it turned out!

I've also done some more flowers on my blanket that you saw last time...

It's bigger than this now!

I'm about a quarter of the way done...only 12 more rows of flowers (I think-I'll have to see the length)!

Have a happy Monday!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

A Peek At My Week

This will be our full first week of school! (also, AHHHH! I've been so tired after these short weeks, I can't imagine how tired I will be...I see lots of naps in my future!)

I'm linking up with Jennifer's Peek At My Week Linky.

We'll be learning all about our state symbols this week! Last year, I had the kids make a 'mobile' but it took up SOOO much time! This year we'll be making a foldable of all the state symbols...and we have a lot!

They'll be able to write the symbol and draw a small picture of it...and it'll be right at their fingertips!

We are also doing our second week of Mentor Sentences! The first week well really well, and the sentences they came up when they 'imitated' were so cute!

This week is Saturdays and Teacakes, but I haven't been able to get a copy of the book :(...

BUT, I've found a video of Lester Laminack reading the book! (Thanks Scholastic!)

We've also had news that our math materials should be here sometime on Wednesday. Thank goodness! I'm running out of ways to stall without affecting  the 'true' nature of the pilot!

All of us are raring to go...out of the 3 programs we are piloting, only one has materials!(Lucky teachers!)

My kids will also be doing their literacy centers with task cards for the first time this week!

For them to check off what they've accomplished each day

I'll be available Monday and Tuesday to 'supervise', but on Wednesday we start reading groups!

We'll also be doing our first reader response in their notebooks. We've talked about what they need for a reader response, and practiced with picture books (like in this post), so we will see how they do!

I'm excited to set up their Reader's Notebooks...and glad I have some extra teaching time on Monday and Tuesday with no groups!

What's going on in your week?

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn