Reading Rotations: Organizing it All

Now that you have the basic overview  (if you missed this post, I would highly recommend going back and reading it) of what is happening during Reading Rotations in my room, I thought I would show you what I have done to organize it all and get it going with my students.

I have 4 different groups in my room.  I named them....and you will be blown away by the creativity here....A, B, C, D.  I know.  I told you.  So creative.

My reading groups are homogenous.  I think that, for me, I am able to target the reading needs of my students better this way.  There are many times during the day that we use heterogeneous groupings in my room, but this just isn't one of them.  I know some of you prefer to mix your reading groups up, and that is fine.  Either way will work in these reading rotations.

Once my students were grouped, I gave each child a schedule for their own group.  The schedules look like this.

You will notice that there are three rotations.  At this point, you are probably having a slight tinge of anxiety over the fact that I have three rotations but four groups.  Let me explain.

In the first two rotations (Rotation 1 and Rotation 2....again....super creative here) I meet with TWO of the smaller groups.  So, say on Monday, I will meet with A and B during Rotation 1.  All 16 kids come to the rug at once.  I give my directed lesson to them.  Then, during Rotation 2, groups C and D meet with me.  They come to the rug and get THE SAME lesson as Rotation 1.

Why do I do it this way?  Because now, during Rotation 3, I am free to move around the classroom pulling small groups for remediation/enrichment, or doing one on one conferences with students about their reading.

I also find that if I do the whole group lesson with 16, instead of 32, I have more kids listening.  Since they are closer to me (on the rug) I can make sure I have their attention more effectively.  Doing the lesson twice also has the advantage of the kids hearing it two times.  While they aren't with me on the rug, they are doing work at their seat.....and you can bet they are hearing SOMETHING of what I am saying.  Also, having the groups and the timed rotations ensures that I don't talk too much.  I am limited on my time, so I focus what I say.

Now that the students know where they are going and when, the last thing I gave them to make sure they remain organized is this recording sheet.  On it, they mark what they did for the day, which book they read during Read to Self, if they completed a reading response card, what comprehension choice activity they did, what the reading response activity was, or if they met with my aide.  It is pretty open, but it allows the kids to record their activities.  I then put a score on it at the end of the week, and send it home for a grade, with any papers to go home attached.

Ok...so now you know the basics AND how to get it organized.  My next post will be about what the kids are doing in each station in much more detail than I gave in my first post.

You can get the rotation sheet here.

What questions do you have for me now about reading rotations?



26 comments

  1. Would you be willing to share your Reading Rotations sheet (with blanks for the rotations) and your Reading Rotation Recording Sheet? I would love to use this in my classroom as I have been thinking of structuring my class time the same way! mscoloradogal @ gmail . com

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  2. You really opened my eyes about what reading groups could look like in the classroom. I always felt like I needed to see 4 groups separately, but that doesn't leave any time for conferring one on one or targeted strategy groups. Your solution of meeting with two groups at once is very clever! I'll be trying it next week---and eagerly waiting for your next post!

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  3. I can't wait to read the next post. I'm teaching 5th grade for the first time and I'm struggling with small group reading time. I would love to see this as a TPT set!

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  4. I too am interested in an electronic copy of your reading rotations sheet. I just downloaded the rotation for Math Workshop and I plan to use it this upcoming week.

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  5. I would love an electric copy of the reading rotation sheet as well. I am teaching 4th grade for the first time and getting organized in every subject is a chore. Middle school is so different. shayasmith@risd41.org

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  6. This is my second year in fifth and both years I have struggled with groups. Are these forms available electronically anywhere? If not would you be willing to share? Rjsowder413@gmail.com

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  7. I also would love a copy of your Reading Rotation Sheets if you are willing to share. My email address is jgteach2reach@yahoo.com. I teach middle school, but I can adapt your sheets to meet my needs. Thank you. You rock!!

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  8. Hi I really love your blog and I was looking forward to your next post about what you do in detail at each rotation, but I can't seem to find it. Did you ever blog about it? Also is it possible for you to send me your forms? Or are they in TpT?

    Lauren Andersen Ltmanns@gmail.com

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  9. Your blog is JUST AWESOME!! This is my tenth year teaching, but first ever as a fifth grade teacher! I LOVE your reading rotation ideas and cannot wait to start after the Christmas break. Would you be willing to share your electronic copies of the reading rotation templates? I would be more than happy to purchase. My email is: abbyjane826@yahoo.com Look forward to hearing from you!

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  10. I am interested in your reading rotation sheet as well. Your blog is awesome and I get such great ideas from you. So nice of you to share. :) I'm more than happy to pay for the rotation sheet as well. Take care! lindyluya@verizon.net

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  11. I would love a copy of your rotation sheets as well. I like the idea of freeing myself up from one rotation. Mlmkj81@gmail.com

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  12. I'd also love an electronic copy of your resources! I found your website at the perfect time! Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas! jmorehead124@gmail.com

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  13. I would love a copy of your rotation sheet as well! Great idea! sandersrc3@gmail.com

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  14. I would love a copy of your reading rotation sheets as well. Thank you so much for some great ideas. cfoste@kyrene.org

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  15. I would love a copy of the rotation sheets as well. I would love to try this with my 6th graders.
    chasideepuckett@gmail.com

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  16. I would LOVE a copy of the rotation sheet as well please! nprimm@bsd124.org

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  17. I would love a copy of your rotation sheets please - I am moving to 5th grade from 2nd grade and this would be very helpful
    pameb22@yahoo.com

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  18. I would also love a copy of your reading rotation sheets please. Your blog is amazing. Thank you so much. My email is howard714@gmail.com.

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  19. I would love to have a copy of your reading rotations sheets. These are awesome! My email is celanetillery4@gmail.com. Thanks!

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  20. I would also love a copy of your rotation sheets. I'm excited to try this rotation this year!! My email is rayita001@yahoo.com Thanks in advance!!

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  21. I would LOVE a copy of your forms. This looks awesome and I'm excited to try it, being new to reading and to fifth grade!

    femo.walker@gmail.com

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  22. I would also love copies of the forms you use if you wouldn't mind sharing. Thank you so much for providing a logical solution to an incredibly difficult task.
    Jennifer.hummel@beaufort.k12.sc.us

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  23. I have been using an adapted version of your Math Rotations in my classroom, and I LOVE it. Would love an electronic copy of your schedule for the Reading Rotations, or even a TPT set would be awesome!

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  24. I would also like to use your reading rotation forms. Are they available on TpT? I will leave me email below just in case you are sharing it electronically. Thank you.
    lottalatte1@gmail.com

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  25. Stephanie, I am using your math rotation ideas, and they work great! I would be interested in purchasing the pdf file with the reading rotation forms. I tried to convert the math forms over to cut and paste with but everything is pretty jumbled. If you have the time and can send it to me, I would return adequate compensation. My email is lrahe_96@yahoo.com. Thank you for all your wonderful posts. As soon as I get my self a little more organized, I will start my blog and share too. Laura :)

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  26. GREAT reading rotation schedule. I especially like how you freed up the third rotation to provide one-on-one conferencing, remediation, or enrichment opportunities. I also like the idea of having the students fill out a recording sheet with a rubric attached. This will help to keep them focused on the task at each rotation. Great advice. Thanks for sharing!

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