Implementing Small Group Instruction Tucker 3 rd Grade Team Lindsay Hall, Kim Hudson, Pam Keith, Kim Smith, and Sheila Sharpless

Practical Points Meeting with reading groups is possible You can manage the other kids while meeting with groups Your kids will get the reading instruction needed Your class will be on task, learning while you are meeting with groups There is a way to keep up with their progress You can teach your kids to have their own literacy group

Areas we will cover: Sample schedule How do my whole group lessons mix in with my small group instruction, and then with a student- led literacy circle? What are other kids doing while I am meeting with a group? What am I doing with reading groups? How do I keep up with all their progress? Questions and Answers

How does this all fit together? Whole Group Small Group Student-led Literacy circles

Planning Small Groups Assess students (DRA, STAR, observations). Meet as a grade with Special Ed co-teacher. Form groups by moving kids around based on levels. During the literacy block, there are usually 3-4 kids from each classroom that move around to another 3 rd grade classroom. Select literature for groups based on their reading level.

Book Room

Sample Schedule for Literacy

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday Independent Reading and AR Test Reading ResponseRead with a Buddy Listening Center Summary Independent Reading and AR Test Reading Response Read with a Buddy Listening Center SummaryIndependent Reading and AR Test Reading Response Read with a Buddy Listening CenterSummaryIndependen t Reading and AR Test Reading Response Time Frame: Literacy Center Weekly Schedule

What are other kids doing?

Independent Reading Accelerated Reading Test

Student-led literacy group Student generated Assignments

Listening Center Reading with a buddy

Summary Writing Easily Accessible

Reading Response Journals

What do I do with the groups?

It is important to meet with each group

Checking Fluency and Comprehension by using sticky notes with text coding bookmark

Text Coding Bookmark

Using Resources

Assessment Notebook

Helpful Resources

Questions and Answers

What other strategies can I use in my literature circles? Readers’ Theater: promotes fluency and meaningful reading Think Aloud (by the teacher) Mental Imagery/ Visualization: the teacher models, then guides independently Say it like the character: students read passages the way they think a character might actually speak to convey meaning Read to Discover: teacher gives prompt for kids to look for while reading, “Find the part you liked best”, or “Find where the character discovered he was in trouble” etc. Revised Radio Reading: kids perform preselected portions of their text that they have had the opportunity to rehearse; kids discuss passage that was read Choral Reading: great option to help with ELL’s, to hear fluency Read Around: students read their favorite sentences and/paragraphs to others.