Working out the Kinks-Guided Reading

Each year I spend countless hours trying to figure out the best way to organize my guided reading and each year I tweak a thing or two.  Over the summer I purchased a new easel for my back table because the one I had was way too big. 

I have also tweaked and changed my lessons plans numerous times. My first one was too vague and I didn't feel that it had enough. The second one had too much on it that I felt that I never used. My third template I have been using for a couple of months now and I really like. Because of our schedule this year I don't always get to all of my groups each day so I don't always use each block on my template but they are there if I need them. You can get a blank template here. 

I have also spent some time thinking about how to organize all of my guided reading materials.  I use Reading A to Z for most of my student books, so I don't have to worry about storing books through out the year. I can just access the site print the books I want and make them. Once made I store them in plastic drawers next to my guided reading table.  Each group has their own drawer. Inside the drawer is also each students dictation/writing notebook.

Now on to all of my games/activities. I have found that the best way for me to organize my materials is to use a binder with sheet protectors for the semi flat activities and a hanging file box for those activities that are bigger.

I also have a second set of pull draws to keep all my small manipulative that I use. ie. slinky, cars, etc.