Grouping Chart-a-mazing management idea!

It's back to work tomorrow after a busy 6 days off. I'm sure you can all guess what type of classroom I'll return to. Probably messy and a little unorganized, possibly some daring firsties who have had a taste of freedom and don't want to give it up. Either way I'm excited to get back.

No big lesson to share tonight...I have totally been off my game lately. I think life is a tad bit overwhelming and I'm not exactly living up to its standard. I promise (you & myself) I'll get back on track and start sharing my fun (I hope) lessons.

For tonight, I thought I would share something that I use on top of my reading center groups. For reading centers, I have my kiddos inter-grouped according to their ability. During centers I pull my reading groups so I try to put one student from each leveled group in their reading center groups. This month our reading center group names are Valentines, Cupids, Dentists, & Presidents. For most everything else I use my grouping chart.

I made this chart at the beginning of the school year. I made the "graph" and then had it laminated so that I could use it year after year. I list my students in alphabetical order (w/ dry erase marker). Then I go down the list using A. B. C.; 1. 2. 3. 4.; & shapes. I don't have any rhyme or reason for which student gets put into which group. (Ok, that's not entirely true. For the shape groups I try to make sure that the groups are different from the letter and number groups.)

Throughout the day I will just call out "number groups" or "shape groups" and my firsties know who they will be working with! It's a great management tool! And it was quick and simple, my 2 favorite things!

P.S. The reader's chair worm that is clipped to the chart is moved down the list of kiddos each day to go along with our reading calendar. Each day a different student reads a book of their choice to the class and I record how they did in their RAP (Reading Any Place/Reading As Partners) folders.

I'm Done, what should I do now?

How many times a day do you hear that? For me, it's like background music. I created a "I'm Done What Now?" packet.

I find fun papers to put in there. I change it out every two months. I took an empty paper box and decorated it to hold the packets. Whenever one of my students finishes their work. they are free to pick an activity from the What Now? poster.

Most of them will choose to do 2 pages in their finished work packet. For the months of January & February, I put in snowman math sheets, Valentine's ABC order sheets, comprehension practice, a few fun coloring pages, a snow day writing prompt and Valentine's Day prompt. My kids have really enjoyed having this as independent work. They know that I won't grade anything from their booklet so they have fun with some of the activities. 

Does anybody have any other good ideas for keeping those quick workers thoughtfully occupied? I'd love to hear them!