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Monday, October 24

Trying out Reading Tubs

Although I have supported Daily Five for the past couple of years, there has always been something(s) about it I didn't like.  I've changed it so many times that it hardly even resembles Daily Five anymore.  Last week, the girls on my team got the wild idea to try Reading Tubs instead of Daily Five.  I was so interested and excited that I stayed late on Friday afternoon trying to get it all set up for this week.  Here's a first peek at Reading Tubs...

Reading Tubs are structured just like Math Tubs.  The children are grouped into four groups (for now by reading ability, but they could definitely be mixed ability).  I decided to label my reading tubs A, B, C, and D so I don't confuse the kids.  Each child will go to one reading tub a day, for four days.  Three of the tubs have a Word Work activity.  The fourth tub with be computer (Starfall, BookFlix, Storyline Online, or Tumble Books). 

After students are finished with their tub, they will have a second choice available.  The four choices are a reading game, listening to books on the iPod, read to someone, and computer (Tub D will stay at the computer the whole time- no second choice). 


Here's my Reading Tubs chart

Here's my Math Tub chart
 Here are the materials for reading and math:



PROS:
- shorter time spent- I plan to give the kids 35 minutes to work on Reading Tubs, instead of the 45-50 minutes we are currently spending with Word Work/Listening choices of Daily Five.

- less transition- Transitions are a struggle for my class this year.  Instead of the whole class moving at once to a new choice, each child will move when he/she finishes the work.

- fewer materials needed- Currently I need at least 5 sets of a Word Work activity, and even with that my children have to work with a partner.  When one group doesn't finish Word Work on time it messes up the next group of children who should be using those materials.  With Reading Tubs, I can create 4 sets and all children can work alone and not have to worry about someone else needing their materials.

CONS:
- less time for listening choices- With this system the children will only go to a listening choice if they are finished with their Word Work.  Hopefully this will be motivation for them to finish early, but if not they will miss about 10 minutes of listening time.


I had parent/teacher conferences all day today, so I haven't actually tried out Reading Tubs yet.  I can't wait to get started with them tomorrow.  I'll let you know how they go.

8 comments:

Holly said...

I'll be really interested in how you feel about your new system. I'm actually trying Daily 5 for the first time this year. Honestly, it feels like I'm throwing myself back 5 or so years and doing literacy centers with a new name...like you, I don't like the rotation of it as those who don't finish word work in time tend to throw things off. Still working it all out - so I'm super curious about how this goes for you. Will look for future updates! :)

Holly :)

http://crisscrossapplesauceinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/

Cecelia said...

I think you may have been spending to much time on Daily 5. I have been using that model for 4 1/2 years and it has a ton of benefits. I teach a mini lesson and kids spend 15-20 min. at their choice. Then another minilesson, 2nd choice, 3rd lesson last choice.
The great thing about Daily 5 is it allows for CHOICE which centers lacks. Also kids get to work with each other with some choices which is important with learning. Reconsider trying it again-it really is at kids ZPD and they make tons of growth!
Cecelia

Mrs. W said...

I kind of like this idea. It has been hard for me to get anything done that remotely resembles the D5 this year because of my schedule. I have about an hour for reading groups. I only have time to do 2 rotations in that time before we start writers workshop. The kids don't finish their word work, and they don't do work on writing. I think I might try your idea!!!!

Dee said...

This is interesting. I'll be curious to find out how it all goes.
Dee
First Impressions

Miller's Flip Flops said...

I have tried both ways. Right now, I am about to pull my hair out!!! Example: I have 7 groups in Phonics based on their needs from the December Lexia CRT results. My computer center drives the rotation because it is a timed 15-minute program. I am not able to get to all my groups, and the kids don't really know where they go until I tell them, with the exception of computers because I have made index cards with the kid's names on them for each computer. When one student finishes their session, they give the card to the next person on their index card and they go to that computer and do their computer session. For years, I have rotated my kids by day, instead of by 15 minutes. I am thinking seriously about changing to this method again, similar to yours. Pros: the students have more time on task on the activities they are working on. Cons: Students on computers get tired of being on the computer the full 45 minutes. (I am thinking of changing this up a bit, so they won't be on the computer the whole time.)I have these center rotations for Math Works, Phonics, and Language. I am a very organized person so I make it work, but I sure would like to make it easier on my students and on myself. Preparation has been very time consuming. I rarely even leave school every day until 7:00pm. Needless to say, other than the custodians, I am the last car in the parking lot. Something has to change. Thoughts?

Lauren Morse said...

Miller's Flip Flops,
The tubs don't take me too much time to plan. Well, a little bit this year because I'm in the process of creating tub activities that I like, but next year ought to be a lot easier (hum... I think I say that every year!). I do have one group that goes to the computer for the whole time everyday (which is 40 minutes or so). They first have a listening sheet to respond to, before they can just play reading games. We have a school subscription to BookFlix-- which I love. Tumble Books and StoryLine Online are also great free resources.

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