Classroom management involves the organizational and decision-making skills teachers use to create a climate that encourages learning. Teachers exhibit strong management skills when they assess students learning and plan instruction based on their needs.
To facilitate a literate classroom with guided reading groups, the first challenge for teachers is organizing the classroom. Students must be able to work in a focused way in small clusters. A question teachers often ask is, "What do I do with the rest of the children while I'm teaching the small group lesson?"
While the teacher focuses on small guided reading groups, the other students are working in reading and writing centers. Create an environment that is clear and uncluttered, set up centers and consider
Management during guided reading is critical. The teacher must establish an organized, predictable environment and teach children to use it. The following steps are suggested as one method of creating a management plan that supports a balanced literacy program.
Organizing Centers
Looking at your class list, construct three or four work groups.
Grouping for Centers
Design an organizational chart that accounts for groups and activities. At first you may start with only two activities. Be sure to consider the following:
Implementing Centers
Implement your plan over a three-week period. During the first week, teach the routines. During the next two weeks, begin meeting with the guided reading groups.