Small reading groups...boring

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Upper Elementary Teachers Chatboard

Small reading groups...boring

by Tayy

Jan 24, 2009

Hi all,

I teach reading and have to do many small reading groups a day. I am bored to death with small reading groups. Its the same of thing every week: Pull a group, build background knowledge for the story( my kids usually have none so I do all the talking), picture walk, vocabulary development,etc. I then give students a purpose for reading and have students either read chunks on their own or read aloud chunks. We discuss different points and I ask questions based on whatever the focus skill is. Some days I just tell them read on their own at their seats and I give them an assignment because I don't want to do through the boring small group. What do you all do in your groups each day?

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3rd Grade Teacher On 1/24/09, Tayy wrote: > Hi all, > > I teach reading and have to do many small reading groups a > day. I am bored to death with small reading groups. Its the > same of thing every week: Pull a group, build background > knowledge for the story( my kids usually have none so I do > all the talking), picture walk, vocabulary devel...See MoreOn 1/24/09, Tayy wrote: > Hi all, > > I teach reading and have to do many small reading groups a > day. I am bored to death with small reading groups. Its the > same of thing every week: Pull a group, build background > knowledge for the story( my kids usually have none so I do > all the talking), picture walk, vocabulary development,etc. > I then give students a purpose for reading and have students > either read chunks on their own or read aloud chunks. We > discuss different points and I ask questions based on > whatever the focus skill is. Some days I just tell them read > on their own at their seats and I give them an assignment > because I don't want to do through the boring small group. > What do you all do in your groups each day?

That would get boring!! I have 4 small groups and I vary the activities weekly because I get bored, too (and I just have my small group). Anyway, I level their work so it's different and I'm not doing the same thing over and over and over (lower group gets easier work, higher group gets harder work).

I use graphic organizers a lot and have them focus on one skill...fact/opinion, main idea/detail, etc. Then they have a specific graphic organizer for that skill. Sometimes I'll have them make something to show they understand what they've read. For example, I'll read a selection and ask them the author's purpose; entertain, persuade, or inform. They write it down in one of 3 columns. One time we read a story and made a main idea/supporting detail kite. Or we'll read something and change a fact to an opinion. Sometimes we'll read a passage about tornados and one about icebergs and compare/contrast them. I also let them read/listen to short mystery stories and have them use the clues to help them decide whodunnit (they love these). To save time, my kids also have a bookmark that they use to write down unfamiliar words they see in the book. Then they look it up later and if they still have questions, ask me. I have found that most of the time they select different words.

One thing I do whole group (but could be modified for small group) is toss a beach ball with questions - who are the main characters, what's a problem/solution, main idea/details, etc.

Good luck and I hope these ideas help spice up your reading.

Jan 26, 2009

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