Team Signs - Freebie!!

Whenever possible I always have my teams set up in groups of four. In an ideal classroom that's great, but as we all know that doesn't happen all the time. I never have a team of less than three or more than five. If I had the choice of having a team of three or five, I would say I like the team of three better. Why? Sometimes I feel like the fifth person gets left out. I like the team of three for a couple of reasons. One, I feel that buliding a relationship happens better in a smaller group. Also, I would rather have a team member doing double during a structure rather than having others sitting idle. Of course, when all is said and done, what works better for the students is what we all need to consider.

Here is a new set of signs that I created.  I hang these from the ceiling to identify team numbers.

You can download them HERE from my TpT store for FREE!!

Hot Tipz - Find the Fiction

My students have proved to me that Find the Fiction can be a hard concept to figure out. At times I have found myself trying to explain Find the Fiction, and then expecting my students to understand instantly. Students get confused with the terms, trying to relate them to fiction and nonfiction text. When this happens I redirect students to look for the “one” that doesn’t fit. So…..model, practice, model, practice. Practice may include a team, partner, or individual created Find the Fiction, but keep the content fun until they learn the structure.

Hot Tipz- Introducing New Structures

When introducing a new structure, I always like to introduce it with something fun. This takes less "work" for students so we can focus on the how-to-steps of the structure rather than the content. After awhile, even if students know the structure well, I like to throw in something fun for a change.

Also, I never introduce more than one structure at a time. Depending on how well my students do with the structure, determines when I teach a new structure. I have found, like teaching anything new, it varies between each group of students.

Hot Tipz-Changing Teams

I like to change teams once a quarter. I feel like giving them nine weeks together gives them plenty of time to get to know each other and get comfortable. At times, I feel that my team configurations are so well suited for the students that I hate to change them, but even though I would like to keep my class the same, changes are necessary and beneficial for them to build new relationships.

There have been instances that I have had problems with a seating arrangement that I had to change unexpectedly. Before I move my students I always take academics into consideration along with behavior and personality. By the first couple of weeks of school, I have a great feel for how my students are and how they will interact with each other.

During the rare instances that I have had to move a student due to incompatibility, I re-evaluate the entire seating situation and take into consideration the dynamics of the other students.

Also, every quarter I keep track of my seating charts so that my teams are never the same. I even try to make it so that no two students sit at the same team all year, even though sometimes that is not possible.

Hot Tipz- Team Numbers

Whenever possible I always have my teams set up in groups of four. In an ideal classroom that's great, teams of four, but as we all know that doesn't happen all the time. I never have a team of less than three or more than five. If I had the choice of having a team of three or five, I would say I like the team of three better. Why? Sometimes I feel like the fifth person gets left out. I like the team of three for a couple of reasons. One, I feel that buliding a relationship happens better in a smaller group. Also, I would rather have a team member doing double during a structure rather than having others sitting idle. Of course, when all is said and done, what works better for the students is what we all need to consider.