Monthly Focus: Small Group Instruction

This year I’ve decided to pick a few topics to blog about on a monthly basis. I hope to post ideas and insights and show you how it works in my classroom. My first focus topic is small group instruction. This month I’m sharing one of the things I’ve used for the past couple of years in my word work small groups.
I mentioned before that I normally have four types of small groups: 1. Word Work 2.Comprehension  3. Guided Reading/Reading Strategy  4. Fluency. I pull students according to the types of observations I make during my one on one conference time with them or when I take a running record and see the types of errors they are making as they read. Looking closely at errors allows me to determine which strategies I need to help them develop during small group or individual conference time.

Today I’m sharing what I use in my word work groups. I have tons of Roll and Read games that I’ve made over the years and my students love to use these during Reading Workshop.
I decided to make them small so I could get two on a page. I always have a set of them at my small group table to use as a warm up game while I’m getting materials ready, or if I’m walking around the room helping to get my stragglers where they are supposed to be. We all have those right??
Sometimes I might color code them I try to make each board unique in terms of the words.
The student uses a foam die (so quiet..love those things!) and they roll and read the corresponding word that matches what they rolled. It’s a great review and sometimes I give them the attached tally sheet so they can make a tally for each one they rolled. You can laminate them or not. Sometimes I’ll send them home so students can play with a family member. It’s great extra practice.
Here is my short vowel edition.
I’ve spruced them up for you. Click on the picture below to help yourself to a copy. I’d love to hear from you…I’ve even taken the spam filter off…so it’s easy peasy!! I keep getting spam about Viagra…is that the new trending topic for spammers???
I hope you can use these in your classroom.