Day 10: Ticket to Read

After the meeting Monday night, I figured that I really needed to get my kids started on Ticket to Read. The ones that came to the meeting were really wanting to get started. I printed off their user names and passwords and am in the process of taping them into their Readwell binder.

Day 6: Still Helping the Kids and Myself Get Organized

The last thing that I did yesterday was to put each group's box of binders in a separate place. I first had them all on the trapezoid table. Then I decided that it was a bad idea for them all to go to the same spot at the same time so I separated them. I wanted them all to have their binders at approximately the same time when we begin small group instruction. The Toad group comes to me straight from the carpet so I put their box of binders underneath the radio that I use for whole group. They finish up their rotations in workstations so it works for them to return them there as well. The Terrier group begins their rotations in workstations so I left theirs on the trapezoid table. The finish up with independent work at the blue table which is right beside the trapezoid table making it easy for them to return their binders. The group crayon container as well as the "carousel" that holds the pencils, glue sticks, and scissors also go on the trapezoid table so they can easily return them as well. I put the binders for the Turtle group on the desk by the dry erase board right in front of the small group area. While the Toads are getting their binders, the Turtles can go get theirs and go to the independent area before the Toads get to the small group area. They end up with me, which makes it easy to leave their binders right there.

I also put the bumpy and smooth blending cards in page protectors inside a binder. I am going to leave it with the materials for small group. If for any reason they have to wait on me, they can use those cards to practice with each other. Theoretically, they should be easier to keep up with inside the binder and not as easy to drop and scatter.

Day 5: Helping the Kids Get Organized

We are slowly getting into the swing of things with Read Well. I seem to do better to start things and then decide how I want to organize them as I go along. Today I took this picture of my classroom after the kids had gone to encore. I put it up on the Promethean board and discussed the things that were out of place and the things that they could see that looked good. I feigned complete upset at seeing the glue stick without a top.

The binder that you can see is also a work in progress. Each group got to choose their name today. They could choose from a group of T animals that I had picked out. I got one set of binders done.

Day 2: Readwell organization

In December, we started a whirlwind trip into Readwell. During the break, I reconfigured my room so I would have a different small group area. I also worked on my whole group area. That is what I want to share today that I organized. I wanted to have all of my whole group materials within arm's reach so I turned one of my boxes around. I had been storing puzzles in it for my puzzle center.(Here it is in the puzzle center without the puzzles.)

Then I moved all the box of trade books from Readwell into it. I had some more room and wanted to put other things in there. I realized that the Capri Sun box that I had saved was the perfect size to store the pocket chart cards. I cut it apart and covered it with contact paper. I have the cards in the front and my cds in the back. I had just enough room to fit the lap books inside it. Since I moved the "house" bookcase out, I now have all of my Readwell materials right at my fingertips.
I think it is going to work out really well. Plus, I love making functional things from something I would just throw away.