I have made a conference form that is easier for me to schedule students and to keep on track when I do meet with the individual students. I also have made a writing menu that is similar to the reading menu. This is very basic and I hope to make it better during the summer. Every student has a writing and reading menu in my notebook. I highlight items that they have mastered on each menu. The student and I pick out 1-2 of the skills that are not highlighted to be their goals. Every student also has one reading conference and one writing conference every week. I let the student decide what day would work best and during what rotation to meet for each. I am going to keep this schedule every week. If I leave plans open ended, I tend to lack on scheduling and meeting students when needed. In order for this to work, I needed to be more structured. I can share any of the documents that I have made if you would like to see a copy.
Just out of curiousity, what does your daily schedule look like? I'm planning to do CAFE next year, but want to see what a schedule looks like.
I have a word document with just my daily 5 schedule that I can send to you if you want to see it. I haven't gone full force into CAFE yet because I need baby steps! Pretty much this is what my day looks like. It differs based on specials, but this is typically what it looks like. 9:00- 9:30 Students arrive, complete morning routines, some students eat breakfast and all complete morning meeting packet. 9:30- 9:40 We go over the morning meeting packet (math packet with calendar, daily number sentence etc. ) 9:40-10:00 1st rotation (I meet with either a skill or reading group 9:40- 9:50. Then an individual conference 9:50- 9:55 and another 9:55- 10:00) 10:00- 10:10 Mini- lesson (depends on the day what it is) 10:10- 10:30 second rotation (same schedule as the first rotation) 10:30-10:40 mini- lesson 10:40- 11:00 3rd rotation 11:00- 12:05 recess and lunch 12:05- 12:15 read aloud 12:15- 12:35 4th rotation 12:35- 12:45 mini- lesson 12:45- 1:05 5th rotation *On Fridays only- 1:05- 1:25 book share- the students share their favorite book of the week with buddies. They don't read the book but just share why it is their favorite. The buddy has to ask a question about it and then they switch roles. They go sit on the carpet when they finish with a buddy and then find a new buddy and go off to share it again with a new buddy. *Monday- Thursday 1:05- 1:25 spelling/ sight words 1:25- 1:30 day reflection. During the 1:05- 1:25 time period, I will hand out sticky notes to a few students. They have to write down a good reflection or things to work on reflection about the day. They then post it on signs under the correct heading. We review these and talk about the great things we did, or something that we can work on. 1:30- 1:45 recess 1:45- 2:00 whole group math instruction/review 2:00- 2:30 math small groups/ peer tutoring/ math choice 2:30- 2:40 snack/ quiet choice (journal, reading etc. at their desk) 2:50- 3:35 specials 3:40 go home We share teaching social studies and science responsibilities. On one- two days a week(depending on the special rotation that week), we teach science and social studies. I teach my class a 30 minute lesson. Then the next time it is the same schedule, I teach a different class the same lesson and my class goes to a different teacher to learn something. I end up teaching the same lesson 3 times. We then decide on a new topic and start it all over again. On another day I also have computer lab. During science/social studies and computer lab days I just complete 4 rotations instead of 5. It is very adaptable. Whew! I feel like I have typed a novel!
