Guided Reading Area Take 2

I am slowly (ok, really slowly) making progress in my classroom!  I seem to tackle a little bit of each area, without fully "swallowing" one are and getting it done, completed, and ready to go!  Perhaps it is because I feel I have accomplished more if I work in more than just one area?  How do you get ready?  Piece by piece until that are is finished or a tad here and a tad there?

Shhh...I did go in to school on Saturday (please don't shake your head too much).  It was raining outside, so I figured my room could use some company.   My Guided Reading area was calling for help, so I did tend to it for about an hour.  I did label more of my book bins and baskets (pictures to come) and leveled more books.  I also got a good start on my Guided Reading folders and binder (data forms, logs, notes, etc....pictures to come).  Before it was time to call it a day, (the storm was brewing like a mean bowl of soup), I put up two pocket charts and organized my Sight Words.

The two pocket charts that I have in my Guided Reading area hold digraphs and beginning/ending consonant blends.  Before beginning with a Guided Reading group I will point to a card and I will have one or a pair of students say the sound and/or key word (a word that starts with that sound).  They can identify more than one; it just depends on the amount of time I have.  They also like speed drills, where they say the sound as fast as they can against another pair of students or me (they love beating me).  I also encourage them to read them as part of reading around the room or during DIRT time (Daily Independent Reading Time).  Many times, a student will ask another peer to read the cards with him/her (they quickly grab my pointer and dramatize playing the role of teacher/student).

I printed the Sight Words-Preprimer to 3rd Grade list on different colors.  I have read that reading black on white can be difficult for certain students.  (those who have Dyslexia and/or sensitivity issues).  I decided to  print them on bold colors.  It also adds a little spice to the typical way of reading the words-by column or list on each leveled black and white page.  My 2nd Graders do seem to like the color bonus!

Tomorrow, I plan to finish labeling my bins and totes and hopefully I will be able to share my completed Guided Reading area with you before I decide to drastically change something...ahhh the joys of preparing for another year!

SMILES,