How I Run Small Reading Groups in First Grade // Our first grade literacy block!

Wondering how I run small groups in my classroom during our literacy block?! In this video, I walk you through exactly how I run the small groups and what types of activities my other students are doing so they are independent!
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[@robynmax8719]

So organized. What a teacher 😉😀👍

[@artsaves]

All of your activities are full of engagement. I wish our curriculum did that and we had more flexibility. Very informative thanks!

[@ashlyramey1510]

So calm, organized and just hitting ALL the literacy things! I've taught Kinder for the last 8 years and was "blessed" with a K/1 Combo class this year! This video was very helpful. It stresses me out that I can't meet with all of my students daily but it seems to be the norm these days. thank you for all the helpful info!

[@faithspecialjoy]

Is there any package that includes all of what you teach? I am a new teacher and I feel like a kid in the candy store. you have great ideas. I was looking at your first grande morning work. What is the $2:00 for? Very organized.

[@shannansaunders4049]

I just found out I’m going to be a 1st grade teacher for my 1st year! Your videos are just what I need!!💗

[@melaniefudge6204]

You are such an inspiration to me Susan!

[@amyyokley2784]

Thank you for such a great explanation of your small groups!

[@carencasriel4490]

Thank you for sharing the magic of your teaching :)

[@elsagarza2493]

I’m trying not to be jealous over here with her 17 students! 😂 Love your vids and all your tips!

[@camillehackshaw]

Love your approach to reading Thanks for sharing

[@lorikline2125]

Thanks, very good ideas!

[@meredithmoran2917]

I can’t wait for your videos to come out on Sunday - they motivate me for the week to come! ❤ I love your schedule. Did you make it? I couldn’t find it on your TPT page. I would love to use it in my first grade classroom! Would you mind sharing?

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Hi Meredith! Unfortunately I made those on a whim in Canva over the summer and I didn't save them!! I plan to remake them and offer them as soon as we get an extended school break!

[@nycolefleming100]

You are awesome!! Thank you for sharing. I learn so much from your videos!

[@KA-hc3kv]

You are phenomenal at everything you do for your students and classroom management! Would you ever consider sharing your lesson plan templates-like how you account for/track all that you’re doing with small groups as well as overall lesson plan template. Thank you so much!

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Hi! I can certainly share something like that!

[@angieperez3268]

Susan, I always look forward to your videos. I have been a big fan of yours for years! Do you sell the slides you display in your videos? You do a fantastic job in everything you do!

[@KA-hc3kv]

Susan, where can I find your schedule and calendar cards? I love the way you simply switch out each morning. Thank you!

[@sharonchalmers4642]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your expertise! Do you have your schedule cards in your shop? I love how you switch them out and use the magnet to show the day in progression!

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Hi Sharon! Unfortunately, I made those on a whim over the summer in canva and never saved them - I plan to remake them soon though and offer them to you all!

[@carolmcelwee6882]

Hi Susan, always excited to view your videos. Looking forward to your video about math. I too use Math in Focus and find it a bit overwhelming for the students. Thank you for sharing in your last video your conference details. I have conferences next week. Happy Early Thanksgiving 🎉🦃

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Happy Early Thanksgiving! Yes - I find Math in Focus to be VERY wordy and difficult to get to the point of what you're teaching - I am still working through it this year!!

[@karendinatale3175]

Can I see what you use for your retelling sheet please! Thank you for this video!!!

[@emilymora2859]

I would love to learn about your writing block!

[@deideosby7349]

I love the structure of your routine. You are so organized. Do the materials you use come with a certain program or literacy resource? I love the schedule set up on the board, also. Is it a program or something you created? I struggle with small group organization, and I am so glad I stumbled upon your video, it has given me so many helpful ideas. Thank you.

[@NahlaAl-Moazan]

Could you please share the materials you use to make these words with magnets ( dates, days of the week, numbers) ?

[@kristyguest8443]

Do you have a link to that blank planning sheet for each book? That would be so helpful!

[@lisaburke8479]

Love the organization! It seems like your school system values $$$ for specific reading bins!

[@sylviavalentin5018]

What do you do with all the papers? Do you send them home? Do you file them? How do you decide?

[@JillMRodriguez]

Great video. Thank you for taking the time to walk us through everything you do. Any tips for time management during small group time? I set a timer but always feet like I am rushing to fit everything in.

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

There is never enough time!! I will say my only tips are to always have something for students to do right when they get to the table - I have mine read their fluency folders independenly before I get back there. This way they're actually getting an additional 1-2 minutes of on-level practice before I even get there. Then, my only real tip is we keep a "perky pace" in reading groups. We are quick and I am very animated to promote engagement lol!! But even with all the best time-management, I still feel like there would never be enough time to fit in everything students need!!

[@Mplatz2023]

Thank you for walking us through this! I have a question. We are in a district that uses Fastbridge, plus additional district assessments that we must complete. These assessments take so much time to give(all 1-1) and the only time we have on a daily basis is during our small group time. This pushes back the start of small groups. We get one half-day sub to get a jump on them, but that doesn't get us very far. How does your school complete BOY, MOY, and EOY assessments so that you are not giving up your small group time to get them all completed? Looking for ideas to bring to my school and thought I'd see how you do them. Thanks again for a great video!

[@JillMRodriguez]

Same here in Georgia. Fastbridge takes a good chunk of time.

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Yes! Those assessments can take FOREVER. This year we tried something brand new and it worked out great. Essentially we completed all BOY assessments in one day (both math and literacy). It was a little wild, but in the end was the best thing ever as those assessments are all 1-on-1 as well. Our literacy and math coordinators along with our literacy and math interventionists formed 2 groups and tackled 2 classrooms per day. So on my day, there were about 4-5 teachers in the room and we had a chart we displayed to pull students 1-by-1 to complete each assessment. I assessed students as well. After each assessment, we would check students off to make sure we completed all assessments. As for management during that time (hello first graders in September!!!), we did a mix of paper/pencil/crayon activities and iPad activities. I created slides for the day where basically every 30-45 minutes students were given choices of what to do - for one 30-45 minute period of time students would complete a paper pencil activity (a solve and draw for example) and then the next 30-45 minute period of time students would complete some Seesaw activities and get to play on some educational apps. That way they wouldn't get too bored on one task. Of course it was a long day and we were all exhausted but it was SO nice to get it all done and then we held our first grade data day to make WIN groups and start reading groups so much earlier in the year.

[@Mplatz2023]

Amazing idea! I will add this to the list I'm sharing with my admin! The time sacrificed to complete these assessments is one of the reasons we are not seeing the growth we had hoped to see. I'm trying to convince our admin that their priority of it needing to be the teacher is not necessary. The data is what we need. Thank you for sharing!

[@rebekahduncan8403]

That's a great number, 17 students!

[@MelissaSharp-f8r]

As always -- amazing! I look forward to your Sunday videos each week. We also use Heggerty and Fundations. In a previous video where you shared their writing folders and paper inserts, you had a Fundations letter lined paper. Is that something Fundations created...is it in the Fun Hub or something you made? Also -- your "What's the Word" independent sheet, is that something from your literacy clubs or is it offered on your TPT page? Thank you again for sharing!

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Thank you!! The writing folder resources were something my colleague had made and shared with me (or she found it on the FunHub, I am not entirely sure!) The what's the word visual discrimination sheets are currently only in the SJT Literacy Club, but I can look at getting those up on TPT soon!

[@amyrouleau5916]

I would love to see your word visual discrimination sheets offered on tpt! @@SusanJonesTeaching

[@camelialugo8188]

Unfortunately, I am not so savvy with technology.Can you make a video on making the slides?

[@kristyguest8443]

This is amazing! Thank you for the effort you put into this! I was wondering if you happen to know how second grade might look different? I know at our school we live in our own little bubbles and it's hard to know what is going on in the other grades, but thought I would try asking. LOL!

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

My mentor at this school is actually a second grade teacher and she runs things in a very similar way during the literacy block!! For WIN, most of the second grade teachers do a must do/may do system so it is more independent and free-flowing. They just put a slide up there with all the things students must complete and when they're done they have options they may do. This changes each day!

[@victoriabock8384]

Hi Susan, Do you sell your morning slides?

[@kimberlydickison8890]

You are amazing! So organized, fun and engaging!! I love your tpt store too! Do you sell your daily schedule cards on tpt? I have looked but haven't found them. Thank you !! You are so inspiring!

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Hi Kimberly! Unfortunately those were something I made on a whim over the summer in canva and didn't save!! I am so bummed because people ask for them all the time. When we have an official break over here in school, I plan to remake and offer them!

[@artivarma7241]

Any suggestions for FREE decodables for the higher students? Thank you.

[@alexandrahoworth6622]

Where are your digraph posters from? Thank you!

[@martafontanez9396]

Greetings, that's for all the information you share. I really enjoy your videos. My daughter is having difficulty decoding, phonemic awareness, etc. She speaks 2 languages. What you recommend me to do or practice with her?

[@bridgettquinlan3249]

Your use of time is amazing! Do you have Accelerated Reader at your school?

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Thank you! We do not, no!

[@AlmaMarines]

During reading centers, what do the kids do the following day if they finished responding to the text and the assignments on Seesaw?

[@trinalayte1738]

Do you do Reading centers and Literacy centers? I'm a little confused because both have meet the teacher time with small groups.

[@TiffanyQuinn-s9y]

You had mentioned the kids could go to Kings and Queens. What is this?

[@kelcness]

Thank you for sharing! I LOVE seeing a peek into your classroom. Do you have a dedicated writing block or are you able to use your comprehension activity to fulfill the writing standards?

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Yes! We have a 40 minute writing block in the afternoons where we hit all the writing standards!

[@RobinCandy]

Where did you get the sprinkles fabric on your bulletin board?

[@kimjohnson5995]

Do you have a resource for your collaborative math activities?

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Every week I pull from many different places depending on what we are learning! The ones in this video were pattern block shape fill ins from TPT, most other weeks I use print and play math games from my Print and Play pack because they have a clear "end" when someone wins!

[@welbornsh]

WOW 🤩 Are the other grade level teachers as involved as you?

[@gretchenkring3721]

Thanks for sharing

[@renatahamblet2840]

Thank you for sharing this!!!! I've been looking to restructure my literacy block and these ideas are so helpful! Quick question regarding WIN. You mentioned that those slides would stay the same all week and it's a 40 minute block. So do the students rotate through all four stations during that 40 minute block? So 10 minutes per station? Or are they doing one station per day? Just wanted to clarify :) Thank you!

[@FadiAndHadiVlogsLebanon]

I would love to know what decodable reading curriculum do you have that ahs ready made lesson steps with irregular heart words spelling skill?

[@FadiAndHadiVlogsLebanon]

I wonder when do you do Math? Is is daily or few times every week - I wish I can focus everyday on the different components of reading just like you ! WoW

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

We have math every day from 12:15-1:05!

[@janellewierbowski3863]

Hi Susan! Thank you so much for your explanation of your small group instruction. You really put a lot of time and effort into your teaching! Our district is looking for decodables that will align with the scope and sequence of UFLI but we’d like books. I’m wondering what is the series your school uses and if your school has released the lesson plans to other teachers?

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Ours align with Fundations of course since that is what we use! But we have decodable from FlyLeaf, WholePhonics, Phonics Books, and I have some from Half Pint Readers as well! The lesson plans were created by teachers in my district (paid stipend!) and I don't believe they have any plans of releasing them. Pretty amazing that we have them though!!

[@janellewierbowski3863]

@@SusanJonesTeachingOne more question, you also said you were trained in Hill for Literacy. Is that what you’re using during small group instruction. Are those the lesson plans you were showing in the video?

[@McDonaldJennifer]

@@janellewierbowski3863 My school is using UFLI as well and we are looking for decodables that align with it as well (or a core reading curriculum that would correspond with it). Please let me know what you find! Also, how do you feel the program is working for your students? Do you feel like Orton Gillingham training would be better??

[@mimi8466]

Thanks for sharing! How do you hold the students accountable when they are doing independent work? Some of mine will chat and not complete their paper/ipad assignments.

[@mimi8466]

Also, does that mean your two lower group students will only have 10-12 minutes to complete the respond to reading sheet and seesaw/RAZ? Whereas the rest of the class have doubled that time since you don’t pull them? Looking forward to your response. Thank you!

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

I allow students to quietly chat while they work as long as voice levels don't get too high and we aren't distracting others. I have also taught students to move to a quiet space around the room if they feel as though they aren't able to get their work done - many have learned when they need to do this, but they do a great job of doing their work. We also have "finish it up Friday" where students will need to complete all unfinished work and then they can do "fun" options so students have learned to get their work done during the week so they have time for fun at the end!

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Yes! My two lower groups have half the time to complete everything. The response and iPad activities only take about 10-15 minutes total and I don't mind if they don't complete everything as their time is better spent with me in the small group anyways. Some of those students are only gone for half of WIN block so they can finish during WIN as well. These students are not penalized on Fridays and made to complete everything though! I hope that makes sense! @@mimi8466

[@jessicamerritt4332]

What kinds of activities would you put in the middle option if you don’t have access to tech? I’ve got 4 iPads for 22 kids!

[@ايادمعتز-د6د]

Hello i need some reading activities and games for large group could you please help me

[@BeverlyReynolds-c7m]

Just curious- When I read with my grandchild (1st grader) I track with my finger for him to read. Is this a bad practice?

[@erinreaves7653]

Do you have designated ELD in your schedule for your English Language Learners?

[@allisonhepfer1136]

This is wonderful! Our district also uses Fundations and we are looking to create something similar to what you are using to align your small group instruction to the lessons from the units. Did your school district create the alignment doc or was that something that was purchased? Thank you!

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Our distrcit hired HILL for Literacy to partner with to ensure all teachers were SOR trained and to ensure our lessons (whole group and small group) were aligned with best SOR practices. This was before I was hired and I was trained through LETRS and IMSE OG so everything aligned!! But our district used the HILL for literacy small group reading template to create small group lessons that aligned with each decodable text. We also paid teachers on the literacy commitee to align the decodables with the lessons taught in Fundations and create an alignment map to make our lives so much easier. You can see more about the 10 step lessons in this video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4bSgoFtls10iqcsi=Ox91x0cQdpFxthJ6

[@allisonhepfer1136]

Thank you! @@SusanJonesTeaching

[@donnasobotka5082]

What reading program do you use?

[@lori7899]

This is fundations?

[@robynmax8719]

What is “win time”

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

WIN stands for What I Need and it is when all students in first grade get pulled for whatever services or extra support they may need. It's a great way to schedule things properly at a schoolwide level and then allows me to spend time with students who are in the classroom meeting them where they are at in literacy or math!

[@Nanci528]

Is the response to literature from the whole group read aloud you do?

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

Yes! Always!

[@Nanci528]

Ok thanks- that makes sense because then your first group that works at their seats know what to do . I wasn’t sure I caught that right!! I love your routine.

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

@@Nanci528 yes! That way the whole class is working on the same thing based off what we’ve read. And two groups come back to me, but if they’re confused or forget what to do when they go back to their seats they can look at the slides or ask a friend at their table!

[@indiankitchenrecipes2546]

Hi..u work is awesome 👍..plz provide ur content for free for the kids of developing countries...so that we as teacher could help our kids 😊

[@Sailormoonsuperfan94]

How does she only have 17 students???????? I have 25 first graders.

[@kimrussell6522]

We set at 30

[@SusanJonesTeaching]

It is one of the reasons I came to work in this district! I am very fortunate. I have had up to 26 first graders in my previous districts.

[@1Lunasol1]

Yep! I have 27 grade ones in a 2nd lamuguage program, French Immersion. It's crazy-town😢