[Rt2learn]

This is my second attempt at this.

This is my first year teaching 6th graded reading. I feel like I'm drowning!

Our class periods are 45 minutes each day. I teach vocabulary. My students have access to a few novels. All of the students have a basal and workbook.

I would like to know what you class periods look like each day and for the week. If I were to walk into your classroom, what would I see you doing each period. What is your routine? Daily? Weekly?

How often do you give tests? What do you test them over?

Any help/direction would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

[Ms. Geo]

7th grade with 45 minute periods & 8 period days. My class starts with a 'bell ringer' to get the students on task, we have workbooks that go along with our textbook, some days we work together in the workbook; other days we read from the textbook; we work on maps; we work on writing - just completed a compare/contrast essay; somedays are spent working on vocabulary, going through a powerpoint, notetaking, student projects, current events. I try to make sure that my students read something each day. I attempt to test every couple of weeks and we test over the current content which varies depending on what we are covering.

My advice is to be very organized and keep the class moving through the class period. 45 minutes is very little time to cover everything, but you can break an assignment into a two day project if need be. Also, if you don't own a timer, buy one! I break the period into sections of time to keep the students moving through the lessons. Sometimes I race the students by doing the assignments with them, w/o the teacher book or answers. The boys love this! Hope this helps some.

[MiddlingAZ]

I teach Language Arts so we spend a lot of time on writing instruction, not just reading. But basically I have bell work and approximately two activities per period. Reading & a wide variety of ways of responding to literature or skills/strategy lessons are my two big categories. I frequently do a read-aloud for the last 5 minutes as everyone is packing up silently. I will focus on activities and hope someone else might post actual schedules.

I give some kind of assessment weekly, such as a vocab, strategy, and comprehension quiz. Examples of the strategy part might be how do you preview a story or expository text, using context clues, and so on.

It's a shame you have access to "only a few novels." What kind of situation are you in? You might try to build your classroom library as quickly as possible in whatever way you can.

You might try incorporating reading logs for responses to your basal selections in addition to the workbooks. I searched this board for 'reading workshop' ideas and here is a great thread which I bookmarked myself:
http://www.proteacher.net/discussion...ading+workshop

Try this post for after reading ideas:
http://www.proteacher.net/discussion...d.php?t=211410

More reading response ideas--some mention novels, but could also be for short stories in your basal
http://www.proteacher.net/discussion...d.php?t=208656

Vocabulary ideas:
http://www.proteacher.net/discussion...d.php?t=174011

This post is loaded with web sites and other resources:
http://www.proteacher.net/discussion...d.php?t=174155

Consider reading aloud to the students:
http://www.proteacher.net/discussion...d.php?t=174570
and
http://www.proteacher.net/discussion...d.php?t=167928

Quick intro to literature circles, where students meet in small groups to discuss novels, but could be adapted to your basal literature:
http://www.proteacher.net/discussion...d.php?t=165310

More response ideas:
http://www.proteacher.net/discussion...d.php?t=160791

These are just to get you started exploring PT. Use the Search this Board feature for this Board, 4-8 Board and also 6th grade. If your students are reading at lower levels, go to 5th, maybe 4th, too, because teachers who might have a 45 min reading period in a self-contained classroom would be a good resource. You might use the skill lessons in your basal for key words to search or general terms such as reading workshop or the ones mentioned above. There is a treasure trove within this site! Good luck!

[powellstarkey]

I too teach Language Arts/Reading combo. I am always looking to update or modify my instruction in the classroom. Thanks for taking the time to put these links to different instructional methods together in this post.

[Spedqn1]

is a remedial reading program. 6-7-8

1. I start each class with an opener. They vary based on the day of the week.

Monday- Daily Comprehension (from a workbook series) Students read a passage/article and answer questions on it. Then we read it together and go over it.

Tuesday- Word of the week (vocab)

Wednesday- Skill Practice (a short worksheet/lesson on the overhead)

Thursday- Journal entry

Friday- Free Read for 10 minutes

2.Then I read aloud to the class from a novel that we are reading and discuss (about 10-15 min)

3. Lesson or group work. Some weeks we do mostly whole class lessons, some weeks we do more "centers" type work.

I like this set up because we take 43 minutes and manage to split the class into 3 parts which makes the time fly by.

[Rt2learn]

Thanks for all of your responses. I know what I will be doing this weekend. This really helps in giving me some direction.
All of you are AWESOME!!!!