Our centers are rolling along.  We’re pulling small groups for small group instruction and guided reading.   We’re in the groove of a great lesson on using picture clues to help us figure out a word and it happens:  Someone storms the guided reading area and informs us that “I touched a dog.”    And when I say stormed…I mean it…it’s like an Army battalion storming the enemy when they come busting up to the table!   Since this small group time is so valuable I wanted a way to let the students know that we we’re busy and could not be interrupted.  So, the stoplight was born.

Guided Reading Stoplight

Since we all know that our students are incredibly visual, I figured why not use a red light to let them know to STOP.  It makes complete sense.  They know red means stop.  The red light is a powerful visual that they can clearly see and they clearly know it means to stop and not interrupt our group time!

The Nick Jonas Poster