One of the most common questions I receive from readers is: What does my day look like? What does a reading class look like?. Today I am thrilled to share what my day-to-day life looks like, the resources I use, and how I make it all fit! Be warned – this is information OVERLOAD!
Our Daily Schedule
How often do we have morning duty?
Normally, we have morning duty every 6 weeks or so. When we do not have morning duty, we are expected to be at school by 7:40. If I don’t have morning duty, I am always in my room by 7:30 and start pulling reading groups or re-teach groups from the gym {our kids wait in the gym as they arrive}. This is totally by choice knowing that there is never enough time during the school day to re-teach or intervene.
Are my classes ability grouped?
Ish. My first reading class of the day is my lowest group. At the beginning of the year, every single student was below grade level. Right now, about 1/3 of my kids are below grade level. This is the class I co-teach with an amazing Special Education teacher. God bless her. She is a rock star. ROCK.STAR. Without my co-teacher, I would hide in the corner and cry. No joke.
My other two reading classes aren’t intentionally ability-grouped, but generally the second class is on-grade level, and my third class is above-grade level.
In the fall, my writing class was just my homeroom (no ability grouping)…but with two months until state testing, we have started grouping the kids. Actually, Tuesday is our first day with the new system and I am n.e.r.v.o.u.s! I have a group of 29 “apprentice” writers and we are going to hit the ground running. Watch out 5th graders! If you think reading is like running
a race, put on your best running shoes…writing will be a 100 m dash!
a race, put on your best running shoes…writing will be a 100 m dash!
What do you mean On-Demand Writing?
Great question! In Kentucky, 5th grade students take an On Demand test at the end of the year. This test consists of 2 writing prompts. The first prompt is a 30 minute stand-alone prompt that can be a narrative, an argumentative essay, or an inform/explain piece. The second prompt is a 90 minute passage-based prompt. In this prompt, students are given 2 reading passages on similar subjects and they must respond in a 5-paragraph essay with a thesis statement and supporting details.
In our writing block, we only teach “real-world” or On Demand writing. Students normally spend at least 20 minutes of our writing block actually writing On Demand. Students rarely edit/revise their writing but do spend a fair amount of
time {10 minutes a class} conferring with their classmates about their writing. Many days we introduce a prompt, SPAM
the prompt, and write the introduction to the piece. Some days we only SPAM and then, write the thesis. Sometimes we SPAM and only complete the 4-square outline. Regardless, students are doing on-the-spot writing each and every day.
You can click here to learn more about how we SPAM or analyze our prompts.
time {10 minutes a class} conferring with their classmates about their writing. Many days we introduce a prompt, SPAM
the prompt, and write the introduction to the piece. Some days we only SPAM and then, write the thesis. Sometimes we SPAM and only complete the 4-square outline. Regardless, students are doing on-the-spot writing each and every day.
You can click here to learn more about how we SPAM or analyze our prompts.
Do we use curriculum?
Nope – outside of the ‘formula’ that the district has for our classes {see below}, we do not use curriculum. For vocabulary, I use a mix of my vocabulary wall set and Flocabulary. For my core reading instruction, I use our district’s curriculum maps and common assessments to guide my instruction. I love using Read Works and Story Works for grade-level appropriate articles to use in class.
From inferring, main idea, to root words, these kids are my concrete learners, so I make most of these resources
myself. Using Common Core language, I make my own exit slips for each day’s lesson. What does this all mean? I have a TON of freedom in my own classroom as long as my students are showing growth. It also means life is expensive and it is time consuming. Thank goodness for amazing friends who share their awesome ideas online!
myself. Using Common Core language, I make my own exit slips for each day’s lesson. What does this all mean? I have a TON of freedom in my own classroom as long as my students are showing growth. It also means life is expensive and it is time consuming. Thank goodness for amazing friends who share their awesome ideas online!
What does an average reading class look like?
What are flashbacks?
In our district, flashbacks are 3-5 multiple choice questions that open all of our classes. They are very intentional Common Core spiral reviews of skills. Flashbacks are not intended to review materials being taught right now or even content taught a week ago. Rather, we flashback to topics already assessed. Since I am 1:1 iPad classroom, we use the free Socrative app to take our flashbacks {and it’s AMAZING!}. I’ll explain more, but definitely in another post!
What’s a Kagan Structure?
Kagan is all about cooperative learning – not group work – with frequent modeling, celebrations, community building, and brain breaks…sounds fun, right? Kagan structures hold every student accountable and eliminate ‘hogs’ and ‘logs’ in the learning process. Every person in our district is Kagan trained and it has TOTALLY revamped my idea of my classroom. Hands down, it is the best training I’ve received. I have shared more about Kagan here!
How do you run your literacy centers?
I must be honest. As a first-year teacher, it took me until November to fit in literacy centers. Now that I have
hit my teaching groove, they work wonderfully and next year, I’ll start them in week 2. I have explained how it all
works in this post and talk about our January centers here. Every day, students go to 1 literacy center and I change-out centers every two weeks. During our literacy center time, I pull groups for guided reading and target intervention.
hit my teaching groove, they work wonderfully and next year, I’ll start them in week 2. I have explained how it all
works in this post and talk about our January centers here. Every day, students go to 1 literacy center and I change-out centers every two weeks. During our literacy center time, I pull groups for guided reading and target intervention.
Wow, wow, wow – friends! I have just thrown a TON of information at you. I really love hearing about how different schools
run their classrooms, and its fun to share what’s happening in my corner of Kentucky. So, what questions do you have? What things would you like to see in other blog posts? Please, let me know!
run their classrooms, and its fun to share what’s happening in my corner of Kentucky. So, what questions do you have? What things would you like to see in other blog posts? Please, let me know!
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