I am going to start using SuperSpeed 1000 with my kids and I have a couple of questions. Lets say you have your kids do timed readings with a partner 3 or 4 times. When you go back to do it again the next time, say in a day or two, where do you have them start out? Do they keep the same partner? What do you do if they choose a partner and one of them is a lot further along than the other? I would love to hear what other teacher do!

Thanks
KP

I have 22 kids so I made 11 SuperSpeed folders. I choose the pairs according to their ability. I put low readers with medium readers. (I tried high with low but there seems to be too much of a difference between them.) The pairs use the same folder. When they finish reading, they lightly mark their spot with a pencil and their initials by it. That way they know where they left off. When they play again, they start at thei first word of the level where they marked. Then they can just erase that mark and make a new one each time.

KP, in my opinion it's not so much who the students are paired with but more the repetition of the words that matter most. With that said, pairing excelled readers with average readers and average readers with below average readers will assist students when it comes to "helpsies." Avoid pairing abover level students with below level students simply for the frustration factor. I would suggest making a list of your students from above level to below level. Divide the list in half and begin pairing as stated above. Remember...beating their personal best and repetition of the words is what matters most. Enjoy watching your students become more fluent readers and consequently...improved comprehension of what they read!

KP: Below is all great strategies for how to pair up partners. As far as partners are concerned--you should keep the same partners together when possible (there will be days when students are absent). The made up words (splootz!) are how the students move up in the levels. Each made up word equals a 5 word start. For example, if the students pass one made up word--the next time they do SuperSpeed, they get to start 5 words in. If they pass two of the made up words, they start 10 words in, etc. Does that make sense? I am used to showing the page while I explain Hope that helps!