Like most teacher stories, it all starts with school supplies. This time, it’s three reams of Astrobrights colored cardstock – green, yellow, and blue.
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!
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A Classroom Full of Smiles says
October 20, 2014 at 12:21 amRight now for centers, I have colored folders. But you have opened my eyes to so much more!
Jessica says
October 20, 2014 at 1:31 amLove 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
Molly Maloy says
October 20, 2014 at 6:39 pmLove this!!! The color-coordination is amazing! You always have such great ideas!
Kathie @Tried and True Teaching Tools says
October 24, 2014 at 4:51 amWow; what a simple idea, yet brilliant!! Thanks for sharing & showing!
Jennifer @ Simply Kinder says
June 20, 2015 at 7:12 pmThank so much for linking up to the Ultimate List of Kindergarten Summer Reads! Love color coding!!
Jennifer with Simply Kinder
Roxy says
June 30, 2015 at 2:10 pmDo you sell your word cards?
kathyc says
July 22, 2015 at 4:57 pmhttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Sorts-12-Differentiated-Sorts-1801605
Kate says
July 22, 2015 at 9:47 pmHi 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!
Mrs. Hebert says
July 26, 2015 at 11:27 pmAre 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?
Kate says
July 26, 2015 at 11:41 pmHi 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). 🙂
Miranda Jackson says
October 8, 2015 at 5:40 pmThanks for this break down! I was just about to ask!
Emily Claunch says
June 29, 2016 at 4:20 pmHow 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!