Guided Reading- Part 2... more info!

Happy Tuesday!

Thanks for the positive comments and questions on my guided reading post!

This post is designed to answer some questions and provide a bit more information.

So...

Samantha asked: If you are focusing on all these different skills in small groups, how do you handle whole group comprehension and phonics/word building lessons? What does that look like?

*In my whole group lessons, I try and do a mix of the skills for both grade levels for the week. Much of the time they correlate. Even when I taught just 2nd grade, I didn't do a ton with the phonics and word building because not every student needed it. I have always focused on that with just the students who need it. My first mini-lesson every day is a phonics lesson and it is typically whatever the 2nd grade spelling pattern is. I use "The Phonics Dance" for that. I don't use the Phonemic Awareness component in Treasures as I don't feel it is beefy enough. I have a REALLY great phonemic awareness book that we do every day during our "PM Meeting". For comprehension, I check out what the skills are for both grade levels and choose one to focus on. The skills in Treasures spiral and repeat, so they will all get covered throughout the year. Sometimes I don't use that component when it is something we don't need. Then I choose a skill we need more practice with or are ready to work on.

A few of you wondered about my below level group...

*My 2nd graders are on grade level. When I got the split class last year I was nervous about providing critical reading skills to 1st graders, since I had never taught 1st before and would be teaching 2 curriculums (curricula?!). So, the 1st graders I got last year all had their basic reading skills, so my 2nd graders this year are on grade level or really close to being there (3 are *almost* on level). And I do have one that will be pulled to work in a 1st grade group on Wednesdays for phonics. As for my new 1st graders, our K classes were really small last year, so I think that really helped the teachers to be able to give very intense instruction. The K teachers did a phenomenal job, as they always do!

So, here's my question for you... would anyone be interested in a detailed post with pics and the like for how my "mini-lessons" look over the course of a week for Daily Five? I'm happy to do it if ya'll would like to peek into my room during that time!