some ideas

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2002 : March : 2

some ideas
By Beth

I do guided reading in my second grade class. One thing I do is before we start centers I make sure that the students know EXCACTLY what is expected of them. We do the center together as practice, that way, they aren't asking
questions about what to do during my reading groups. Another idea is to pick out some of your more responsible students to be "Center Leaders" who are the students who know what to do and can explain it to others.
If your students are bothering you about trivial things "She took my pencil" etc. I would set the ground rules. I tell my students that unless they are bleeding or about

to throw up, I am not to be bothered for ANY reason. I don't want to hear that someone isn't sharing.

This does two things. It forces the children to handle their own problems and it allows you to pay attention to your group. You may want to allow for center problem solving after your guided reading time, so the students can brainstorm ways to solve problems they have during centers.

Make your center activities VERY easy and VERY fun. The more engaged they are the less trouble you'll have. I have really made guided reading work for me. It takes alot of management at first, but you can get it. I took alot of time at the beginning of the year doing centers without pulling reading groups, so that I could get my management system down. It is time well spent! Good luck! Any questions, just ask!