Classroom Organization (or lack there of)! Tips for Response to Literature!

Today I am going to link up with a few friends about organization and reading! One I like more than the other and I bet when you finish reading this post, you'll be able to tell! 

 First off, it's Workshop Wednesday with the fabulous Jivey!

Today's topic is: "How do you have students respond to their reading?"

Our school has changed so much in the past few years. We used to be so strategic while answering open ended questions. We used to be hard core with answer frames using the gradual release formula, but now do not put as much as a focus on responses. Don't get me wrong, we still do the same work, we just do so much MORE now. We write, write, write, fiction and nonfiction, research, fill in charts, produce monthly book reports, create graphs, and take notes. I find the CCSS created a much more realistic and meaningful curriculum for all students. With this being said, at the beginning of the year we teach our 4th grade standards for responding to literature. The students are responsible for responding like a "4th grader' all the time. We've created helpful bookmarks that the students love and actually use. Actually, they are one of our best sellers in our TPT store.

We use response to literature questions in Guided Reading groups, intervention groups, small groups, and for the whole class. We keep our reading journals up to date and use a grading scale, on the answers, similar to how our state grades on the state tests (0, 1, & 2). Overall, it seems to work for us, but we are constantly changing and learning new ideas.

Now on to the next linky, I am linking up with Fun in Room 4B for their Optimum Organization linky.

First of all, I, Theresa, love an organized space as much as the next person, but my materials are organized in my OWN way. I grew up with my Grandmother always saying, "There's a place for everything and it something doesn't have a place, you don't need it." I live by that, but unfortunately, my husband hates to throw away ANYTHING. That's just another reason why I am BBF with, Robyn. She is the opposite, she is completely organized and pushes me to organize myself. haha So here's the fun part...the pictures. 

Okay, so this "Closet of DOOM" as I refer to it really needs some organization. I always offer to pay Robyn to organize for me...but she hasn't done it for me yet. Some friend, right!? Geeze! Believe it or not I can find anything I need in there! 

Here's some more of Robyn's room. We both made the Teacher Toolbox from Pinterest this year and love it. I need to update mine to match my pink and zebra print theme though. 

Just so you don't think I am a complete slob, here are some other parts of my classroom. Not so bad, right? 

  So, as you can see, I have a lot of work to do this summer. :) I will be stalking this organization linky for ideas to incorporate in my class!