As I begin the year, I have been busy teaching procedures and systems so that I can maintain this balance. I notice that the heavy lifting on my part is definitely in the preparation. Knowing where each student is and how they best learn, helps guide me to facilitate their next steps. It's not simply correcting papers, but really analyzing students' understandings or misunderstandings to help guide their next steps. Once in the classroom, I notice the students have more choice, and they are doing the heavy lifting as their learning is differentiated to their interests, levels, and needs.
To facilitate a collaborative, flexible atmosphere, I have rearranged my classroom. Like many others, I got rid of my teacher desk and now have a table where I can confer and meet with small groups. I found some white board contact paper at Ross of all places, and placed it on 1/2 the table. My students love writing on my table! I've also set up two other small tables for small groups. I recycled old Ikea stools at these tables with some simple contact paper. They're easy to transport and stack easily so they don't take a lot of space.
In the class library, I've recycled an old ottoman which stores toss pillows and my students love our "rockin' reader" chairs. They are an old purchase from Target. Students take turns reading in these special areas during our independent reading time. They especially love their pvc telephones to hear themselves read. My library is not completely leveled. I have one section that is leveled by F&P. The rest is organized by genre. Students "shop" for books once a week, and I require them to include 2 "just right", 1 picture book (for times when there is only time for a quick read), 1 informational, and 2 free choice books. We use the IPICK method of (Does it INTEREST me? Is there a PURPOSE? Do I COMPREHEND this? Do I KNOW most of the words?) Students are given a bookmark to help them shop and pick their books that remind them of these guidelines.
Differentiated, individualized instruction only works when students learn to be independent. This comes when learning is meaningful so students are engaged and procedures have been taught so students are accountable. To help me facilitate this process, , I've developed bookmarks and Stop and Jot papers they use to expand on the notes they write on their post its while reading. I use these to supplement Lucy Caulkin's most recent 2015 Units of Study.
For more information on Common Core Anecdotal Notes, Reading Bookmarks, and Stop and Jot Papers, check out the links below. More on Balanced Mathematics to come.....for now, its time for some balance.