reading groups

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Home : 2002 : August : 13

reading groups
By Connie

I teach first grade so...I use a 90 minute block for reading/LA. I only do groups Tues-Thursday. I have three reading groups. I have the reading group with me. The rest are doing seatwork and when they are done they
go to a center. You could also have it with one group at the reading group, one doing seat work and the others at centers. Then switch every 25 min or so. It works out well but honestly the last half hour they get tired of being quiet for so long. But they really love centers and I find they are better behaved the rest of the day when they are in centers. Centers fill the need to socialize

constructively. I used to have parent volunteers come in to help with the kids at this time. Now I have an aide and occasional parents that help.

The wildest groups need to be able to get up and move. I only start centers when I have the routines in place around the third week of school. Then I introduce the centers by taking the reading groups around and model each one for them. By the third time around they seem to know what to do because they've overheard me telling the others. I am very firm about behavior. If they are carring on then they are expelled from centers for a week. Someone alwayst tests this out and sure enough they are banned from centers. I have no trouble after that one time.
Also we have snack and recess after this time period so then I can check up on work that was supposed to be accomplished and they can stay in from recess if it is not finished.