The year is in full swing and I have finished a round of testing. I used the DRA2 to determine my students reading levels, the ISIP to determine their reading strengths and weaknesses, and we have had our first math universal screener.
Using all this data I have my guided reading groups. I started them today. It is going to be quite a juggling act because of the range of reading levels. I was hoping to not have more than 3 or 4 reading groups, but it looks like I will have 6 again this year.
For those of you who don't use DRA, here are the levels.
On level for 2nd grade starts at 16 and ends at 28.
Here is the break down of my class:
Level 6: one student
Level 8: two students
Level 10: two students
Level 12: two students
Level 14: two students
Level 16: four students
Level 18: four students
Level 20: two students
Level 24: one student
Level 38: one student
Level 40: two students
So here is how I broke down the groups:
Group 1: Level 6 and Level 8
Group 2: Level 10
Group 3: Level 12 and Level 14
Group 4: Level 16
Group 5: Level 18, Level 20, Level 24
Group 6: Level 38 and Level 40
I think that I will be able to merge the groups more as the year progresses. I just want to be able to work with the emerging readers and be able to cater to their specific needs. I think this small grouping approach will help with that.
I will meet with Groups 1, 2, and 3 every day during the week. They need the most intensive instruction. Groups 4 and 5 will meet with me 3 days a week. Group 6 will meet with me 1 or 2 days a week. I am going to assign them a longer chapter book to read together.
In addition to guided reading groups, I will also have interventions for spelling, reading, and math.
Spelling:
I have nine students who are really struggling with spelling, so I have devised a plan that will be put into practice this week. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday they will arrive in the morning and go to the computer to practice with one of these two websites:
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they will practice the words with my top spellers. I have taken my top 5 spellers and assigned them one or two students to work with. They will practice on their white boards. I am hoping that the interaction with classmates will encourage them to learn the words.
Reading:
In addition to guided reading every day, I am going to be pulling small groups during PE three days a week. I am on a crusade to have all my students reading on grade level as soon as possible! Plus, my lowest readers can't finish our classwork on their own because they can't read the words. I need to fix that ASAP.
Monday: Level 6 and Level 8
Tuesday: Level 12 and Level 14
Wednesday: Level 10 with me and Levels 6 and 8 on the computer with our intervention program.
Math:
We are lucky to have a retired teacher who comes to the school and works with small groups once a week. I will be sending her 6 students. Plus, the small group time spent in class.
All of this is pretty overwhelming for me right now, but I know it is what I need to do. Let me know if you have any suggestions!