Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Getting Started: Read to Self

I don't know about you, but my reading stations are this crazy mix of Daily 5 and Debbie Dillard. Both systems are good, so I've pillaged each one until I've made what works for me. The one thing that I've definitely included from Daily 5 is its focus on training students and building stamina. I never thought my kinders would be able to sit quietly and read for so long, but today we hit 15 minutes!
 

Not that everyday was a picnic. You can see that it took us a few days to get the hang of things. But now, we're reading like fish swim, like birds fly, and like Michelle Tanner eats ice cream!
 

One problem I've had in the past is that I didn't have a good system for giving my students books to read.
 
I just met these little guys.
 
What level are they on?
 
What are they interested in?
 
I DON'T KNOW!!!!!! 
 
Instead, of stressing, I raided our book room and made 5 sets of 5 different bags (each bag is labeled A-E). Throughout the week, I rotated which group had which bag. When we rotated through all the books, I replaced them with new ones from the book room. Easy peasy!
 
 
I hope beginning your stations is successful and smooth this year. Please post any tips you have to getting stations started!

2 comments:

  1. Wow! I'm so impressed that your kinders are reading for 15 minutes! Can you come teach K at my school, please???? I'll be your BFF! Oh wait, I already am. ;-)

    One of our K teachers has group book baskets, so that sounds very similar to what you're doing. Glad things are going so well!

    Don't Let the Teacher Stay Up Late

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  2. I like creative teachers and I'm sure they can do a lot for kids and their development. I think there is a need in new vision of teaching where teachers focus on how to help students take responsibility for their own learning. Most of students today seek for dissertation writing companies and don't try to consult college educators because they can't find common language or just don't like teacher.

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