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October 19, 2014

Differentiating Your Classroom with Color

Hi, friends! I’m stopping by to share how I’ve stepped up my differentiating-game this year. My new team is fabulous at finding just-right learning materials for our 1st grade friends, and we have found a just-right system to make sure these materials get in the right friends’ hands.  (To read a MUCH updated post with specific examples for reading and math differentiation, as well as, organization – click here or the picture below.)

Like most teacher stories, it all starts with school supplies. This time, it’s three reams of Astrobrights colored cardstock – green, yellow, and blue.

We flexibility group our friends into these 3 groups – green (below grade-level), yellow (on grade-level), and blue (above grade-level) for math and reading. To make it easy to remember think of a first grade outside picture (green = grass, yellow = sun, blue = sky). Our kids can move anytime they are ready, no big deal. Right now, I actually have 2 yellow groups and am slowly transitioning them into a blue group. I have a FABULOUS group of friends this year!

Our friends know what color they are in math and reading. During Daily 5 or centers, students grab the folder or word-ring that is just-right for them. In our Word Work center, our word rings hang on Command Hooks in an extra cubby. Students grab a word ring and an activity tub (Versatiles, Magnet Letters, Super Sentences, etc.). Students are able to work on the same activities, but with their just-right words.

In Math Stations, we use Sterlite Tubs to hold our materials. When students go to grab a math tub, it holds 3 folders – green, yellow, and blue. Students grab their just-right tub and get to work. If we were playing a game of Go Fish – the blue folder would have cards for Make 40 Go Fish. The Yellow Folder would have cards for Make 20 Go Fish, and the Green Folder would have cards for Make 10 Go Fish. Same game, just-right for all my friends.

In our listening center, the 3 colored folders fit on top of the shelf. Students can choose any book to listen to. Then, after carefully listening, they pull a recording log out of their folder. The papers in the green folder often include a word bank and space for drawing their ideas, the yellow folder includes more lines for writing, and the blue folder includes a recording sheet for a 2nd grade reading skill. (You can grab these differentiated listening to reading sheets here.)

Here is an example of folders for our Versatile Tubs in Word Work. Our skills for the week were Short E and Beginning Blends. The green folder is focusing on short e, the yellow folder us focusing on blends using picture clues, and the blue folder focuses on blends in the context of complete sentences.

It’s really that simple and effective. Students have access to the content and material that is just-right for them, and it requires little management. I am not planning 15 different reading/math tubs each week. Rather, I plan 3 Word Work activities and just change out the word rings each week. I plan 4 math tubs and just change-out the cards or numbers in the tub each week.

This is what is working for my friends. What works in your classroom? How do you manage differentiate with your friends? I’d love to hear about your system!

Join me for weekly classroom updates and free resources that are just-right for your guided math classroom!

Sweet! Thanks so much for joining me. Now check your email to confirm your address & snag your freebies. Happy Teaching! -Catherine

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Filed Under: 1st Grade, Daily Five, Differentiated Instruction, Guided Math, My Classroom Tagged With: 1st Grade

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. A Classroom Full of Smiles says

    October 20, 2014 at 12:21 am

    Right now for centers, I have colored folders. But you have opened my eyes to so much more!

    Reply
  2. Jessica says

    October 20, 2014 at 1:31 am

    Love the color coding! I've been trying to figure out how to differentiate my math stations consistently across the bins! This is a great idea! I'm going to have to give it a try, soon.

    What I Have Learned

    Reply
  3. Molly Maloy says

    October 20, 2014 at 6:39 pm

    Love this!!! The color-coordination is amazing! You always have such great ideas!

    Reply
  4. Kathie @Tried and True Teaching Tools says

    October 24, 2014 at 4:51 am

    Wow; what a simple idea, yet brilliant!! Thanks for sharing & showing!

    Reply
  5. Jennifer @ Simply Kinder says

    June 20, 2015 at 7:12 pm

    Thank so much for linking up to the Ultimate List of Kindergarten Summer Reads! Love color coding!!

    Jennifer with Simply Kinder

    Reply
  6. Roxy says

    June 30, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    Do you sell your word cards?

    Reply
    • kathyc says

      July 22, 2015 at 4:57 pm

      https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Sorts-12-Differentiated-Sorts-1801605

      Reply
    • Kate says

      July 22, 2015 at 9:47 pm

      Hi Roxy! I do sell my sound sort cards, but I don't sell the word rings. The words come from our District Reading Program (Reading Street), so they are copyrighted. I am so sorry; I wish a could!

      Reply
    • Mrs. Hebert says

      July 26, 2015 at 11:27 pm

      Are the words in your reading program differentiated? As in are there below level, on level, and above level words actually listed in your Reading Program (Reading Street)?! How often do you change them out? Every time the words change?

      Reply
    • Kate says

      July 26, 2015 at 11:41 pm

      Hi Mrs. Hebert! Reading Street doesn't actually have 3 levels of words but we do pull them from within the curriculum. The green words our our weekly must-know and sight words. The yellow words are the on-level spelling/phonics words, and the blue words are the 2nd grade enrichment words. We change out words weekly (although more difficult phonics patterns are two-week words). 🙂

      Reply
    • Miranda Jackson says

      October 8, 2015 at 5:40 pm

      Thanks for this break down! I was just about to ask!

      Reply
  7. Emily Claunch says

    June 29, 2016 at 4:20 pm

    How do your students remember what color they are? I fear that some of my students might forget what color they are, especially if they are moving up!

    Reply

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My name is Catherine Reed, and I am in my 8th year in elementary life, residing in small-town, Kentucky.  I student taught in 1st grade and never ...

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Sweet! Thanks so much for joining me. Now check your email to confirm your address & snag your freebies. Happy Teaching! -Catherine

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