Yep.
I get by.
Somedays I get by with my wits and other days I get by with a little help from my friends.
I was straightening up when I was leaving school today (the baskets pictured below were not at a right angle and that bothers me like nobody’s business) and it hit me that I needed to tell you guys all about my baskets!
The baskets are from Really Good Stuff.
They match my decor which is why I bought them.
You could definitely use an alternative.
I also ordered these baskets because they are “oversized”.
So . . . what’s this all about, you ask? Or maybe you’re not asking. Either way, I’m telling.
I have two parent volunteers per day. Except for Mondays. I just decided Monday needed to be parent-free. For my own sanity. It’s good for everyone that way. No one is in danger of seeing me unorganized, disheveled, sleepy, or running around like I don’t know what I’m doing and wondering where I put this or that, or why can’t I find my rhyming cards in my amazing binder system that I had to spend fourteen million hours putting together this summer.
Like I said, no parent helpers on Mondays.
But, on the other days, I have two parents per day. They come in the mornings for an hour or so to work with students (one-on-one) who are struggling in reading. Our school actually has a whole program in place for this . . . if you happen to come visit during the 9:00 hour, you will see one to two parents sitting outside of each classroom reading with students.
It’s actually very cute and looks so . . . partnership-y and home/school connection-y. I just wish we had cute reading benches placed here and there and shade from big ole leafy trees . . . and maybe a dog or two running around . . .
Well, in the past, I would try to incorporate Accelerated Reader into this parent volunteer reading thing, only that was frustrating because some kids didn’t have their books and others weren’t really reading yet, and blah blah blah, it was a big fat failure.
So then I tried using guided reading books.
But then I confused myself because sometimes I would put books in the baskets that the kids had already read (like, A LOT), or maybe they hadn’t read it ever, or maybe it was too hard for them, or maybe it was too easy for them, or maybe I even forgot to switch out the books for three weeks in a row every now and again. It would happen.
IT HAPPENS.
IT DOES.
AND THEN . . .
Whilst shopping on TpT, I came across this amazing pack from Miss DeCarbo (who, by the way, is just the teeniest bit taller than me, but hardly at all so it’s like we’re the same height and I might even be taller than her if I would ever wear heels).
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Um, yes please.
It focuses on three sight words per day. Students find the sight words, read the sight words, practice reading the sight words with fluency, and draw a picture to ensure comprehension, as well.
And there are THREE packs. And it comes in a BUNDLE. So this can last FOR A GOOD LONG WHILE.
I printed out the pages, hole punched them, and put them into folders.
Four folders are in the blue basket and
four folders are in the green basket.
Each parent works with four students
for about 15 minutes each.
Sample
Recently, I got a new student who is struggling with letters and sounds. He was unable to read the sight words because he’s not there yet.
So then I found these ABC packs from the brilliant Miss Kindergarten (who, by the way, happens to be my friend in real life and I’m not bragging. I’m just telling the truth):
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Print, hole punch, folder. D – O – N – E!
Sample
Sample
Now . . . each student has a labeled folder. The parents know exactly what to do . . . and they review previous pages to ensure mastery. I have a whiteboard in the baskets, too, so they can do extra practice, as well, if there is time.
This new system has been working out perfectly.
I mean, it’s totally possible that my volunteers this year must think I’m a genius.
But I’m not.
I’m just getting by . . . with a little help from my friends.
๐
How is it that you come up with the idea I need right when I need it. Hmm…
Woohoo!! Love that I can "teach" with you ๐ muah!
I needed this! Thank you ๐
You are amazing!! Thanks for the love! So happy to have met you this summer. LOVE the folder idea!! Genius!! ๐ <3 Christina
LOVE!
Jennifer
You pretty much are a genius. AND I totally understand nobody coming in on Monday for sanity. TOTALLY get that. I love the folder idea! Perfect! Thank you for sharing. Genius. ๐
Have a great weekend!
Carolyn
Hi Kristen,
My daughter Gabrielle (who is a first grader and will turn 6 on November 26th) requested that we visit your blog. She wanted me to say, "I'm glad you believe in God." Have a great weekend!
Jan (and Gabrielle)
Laughter and Consistency
I LOVE Miss DeCarbo's Fluency packs and so do my students! I have the passages one too that I use with my kiddos that need a little more challenge at this time in the year. These are fabulous and I got my whole first grade team to purchase them also!! I believe they are a first grade MUST HAVE!!
You are amazing. Using the ideas…
I am hoping to use these passages in folders for parent helpers with my first graders also!! I am working on prepping it today. However I was wondering- did you put a whole bunch in each folder so that each week they just do the next one? Once they complete one do they take it home or keep it in there to read in the future? Any tips would be awesome ๐ Love your blog!!
Hi Kellie! I put a whole bunch in each folder and they do not take home the completed ones. The parent volunteer reviews previous ones with them to ensure mastery. At the end of the year, I send the whole folder home. ๐ I hope that helps!