Daily 5

I believe it was last week that I shared with you my philosophy on the concept of the classroom skeletal and muscular systems. Then I began to share with you my plan for exercising my class or in other words, creating a system that would support my lessons plans and goals for my students.

I LOVE the idea of Daily 5 and I think it provides a framework I can work with but as with everything I will want to tweak it as there are some "must do/have" items on my list. 

The premise behind daily five is to start your language arts time with a mini-lesson of 5-15 minutes followed by one of 5 activities for the next 30 minutes. Repeat 4 more times.  This brings your total language arts time to 3 - 3.5 hours per day!

The components are:
1 - Read to Someone
2 - Listen to Reading
3 - Read to Self
4 - Work on Writing
5 - Word Work

Sooooooooooooo........ what do I want to change??

Read to Self - I would like this to be set up ala the Book Whisperer. This would be our daily bell work to start off our morning and get us ready for the day. Our goal would be to read 40 books per year.

Read to Someone - I love the idea in Book Whisperer of the small groups reading various level books on similar topics to add understanding to a discussion. I would like to do this for read to someone. Sure, I will have some free time to but I think this is a great combo of ideas.

Listen to Reading - After lunch, I like to read a chapter or two aloud to settle everyone in. This is our "listen to reading time." I may set up additional items as needed ala Daily 5.

Work on Writing - I think this is going to be more of a writer's workshop thing with a writing assignment due each week. Still thinking and researching...

Word Work - Will be centers for spelling and vocabulary development. Some of this will be remedial to assist students who are struggling. 

No matter how you decide to implement it, you will want to display it in your classroom.

If you have read the book you know that creating anchor charts for each area is a big part of the first few lessons and implementing it in the classroom. I  LOVE this bulletin board. Just imagine it on as seen on the first day of school... chart paper is ready for action!

Now I just need it to match my colors more! Hmmm... need a cute idea with black, red, and white....

In addition to the anchor charts -- you will need a few other posters, like these: 

Teaching your students how to pick good books for them. This is also essential to the Book Whisperer so these two items fit well together.

You will need to remind students how they are to sit together during partner reading. I love EEKK!

I used this with my ESS (SPED) students and they LOVED it! They felt like they could truly read for the first time ever. Afterwards, we went on a hunt around the school to find words. 

There was so much that these children passed by everyday and had no clue. They were so disconnected, it was so sad. I loved watching their faces light up as for the first time EVER they truly felt a part of the school community. 

I struggled to keep them from running in the halls to the next bulletin board or sign but couldn't help but smile. These kids read the pictures, hunted for words they knew,or even shared what they remembered from class when they helped create the display. They were excited! 

We came back to class and talked about all the things they could do now. All the things they missed out on. We talked about where words hide and the kids came back the next day with new knowledge. They read the labels on the condiments and cereal boxes. They found words on their clothes and in the shower. They were able to use clues to discover new words! Those words became new sight words and their fluency grew. 

All because of 3 ways to read a book. 

I just ordered the CAFE book and can't wait! I am sure with this new knowledge I will be tweaking some more. I am also planning on making my own signs and posters to match my room. Look for them in my store soon!