If you have a look on my blog, there are a couple of different posts about using Task Mats in your classroom. I started using them last term, after attending a Twilight course.
I've found that the Task Mats allow my reading groups to be more independent as they work through their book and the different tasks. They also allow me to assign a larger variety of tasks for each book, so the children are able to practise/review past reading comprehension strategies, even when we are focusing on developing our ability to use a different strategy.
And - very importantly! - they solve the problem of keeping reading groups busy, which gives me more time, either to work with a specific group OR to move around the room to support individuals.
In our school, we have a variety of reading books, including Big Cats (Collins), Julia Donaldson's Song Birds and Oxford Reading Tree. At the book band levels I'm using this year, I prefer the Big Cats books. I also like the Song Birds books, but we only have them up to Orange Band level, so I don't have many task mats for them. Additionally, I tend to find that the Song Bird books are significantly easier than the Big Cat books at the same level, so it can be tricky to dip in and out of the different book types. All of that to say - most of the Task Mats I have done are based on Big Cats books. Below, you'll find links to the Orange band books I've done task mats for.
When I'm using the Task Mats, I link the tasks to animal-themed reading comprehension strategies from a Teachable Teacher (if you are interested, you can find them here). However, in these files I've taken out the animal icon, and left the files as Powerpoints (rather than turning them into PDFs). That way, you can either use them as they are, or alter them to create your own tasks for your students. Even if you only use these mats as a template, they give you a bit of a head start that will hopefully save you some time. You are welcome, of course, to use the task mats 'as is' as well.
I've found that the Task Mats allow my reading groups to be more independent as they work through their book and the different tasks. They also allow me to assign a larger variety of tasks for each book, so the children are able to practise/review past reading comprehension strategies, even when we are focusing on developing our ability to use a different strategy.
And - very importantly! - they solve the problem of keeping reading groups busy, which gives me more time, either to work with a specific group OR to move around the room to support individuals.
In our school, we have a variety of reading books, including Big Cats (Collins), Julia Donaldson's Song Birds and Oxford Reading Tree. At the book band levels I'm using this year, I prefer the Big Cats books. I also like the Song Birds books, but we only have them up to Orange Band level, so I don't have many task mats for them. Additionally, I tend to find that the Song Bird books are significantly easier than the Big Cat books at the same level, so it can be tricky to dip in and out of the different book types. All of that to say - most of the Task Mats I have done are based on Big Cats books. Below, you'll find links to the Orange band books I've done task mats for.
When I'm using the Task Mats, I link the tasks to animal-themed reading comprehension strategies from a Teachable Teacher (if you are interested, you can find them here). However, in these files I've taken out the animal icon, and left the files as Powerpoints (rather than turning them into PDFs). That way, you can either use them as they are, or alter them to create your own tasks for your students. Even if you only use these mats as a template, they give you a bit of a head start that will hopefully save you some time. You are welcome, of course, to use the task mats 'as is' as well.
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The orange reading band is the first level I use Task Mats with. I do have groups working at other levels, though (Turquoise through White currently). As I have time, I'll try to post Task Mats for other levels as well. Again, most of the Mats I have are for books from the Big Cats series.
If you find any typos or mistakes in any of the mats, I'd appreciate it very much if you could let me know, so I can edit them. Please do proof read before you print out and use any mats as they are. I have used all of these in my own class, and have proof-read them myself, but I'm only human and sometimes I miss things!
If you find any typos or mistakes in any of the mats, I'd appreciate it very much if you could let me know, so I can edit them. Please do proof read before you print out and use any mats as they are. I have used all of these in my own class, and have proof-read them myself, but I'm only human and sometimes I miss things!
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