Starting our Managed Independent Learning Time

This past week, we introduced Managed Independent Learning to our students.  This is a part of the day when students will work independently and in small groups while I work with individuals or small groups on Guided Reading and Writing activities.  As you might imagine, it takes a while for this Managed Independent Learning time to work, so we start it out very slow.  We are building stamina…stamina is being able to do something for a log time.  Each day, the students spent about 12 minutes working on one specific activity.  Each day we switched the activity.  Next week we will add time on to each new activity and eventually, we will build up enough stamina to do this for 30 - 40 minutes.  This week's activities included Play-Doh and letter mats, building letters with pattern blocks, building names with magnetic letters and using white boards.  Enjoy some photos of our Managed Independent Learning time this week!