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DAILY 5 BOOK STUDY – CHAPTER ONE

June 22, 2012 by teacherideafactory

I am joining the fantastic Cheryl, Anna, Lindsey, and Lory to discuss the Daily 5. My book finally arrived in the mail yesterday, so I am a little late in chiming in on this.  However, I quickly plowed through the first two chapters despite having to give some attention to the hubs when he got home from work last night. 

   
       

I felt like I was in college all over again. The little red pen was broken out of the top desk drawer and I was circling key words, underlining moving sentences, and jottin’ notes all over the margins.  I must say that I am way hooked on a lot of the things the sisters are saying, but my controlling side most likely will not allow me to swallow the whole program.  Just being honest.  However, I do see great value in many of the elements that have been outlined thus far.  

What routines do I have in my current classroom?
I admit that I do indeed fall into the reading center “box,” but I did notice that some of my stations incorporate the Daily 5 elements.  However, they are definitely teacher-directed not student-led.  My kids are grouped into four homogeneous groups and they rotate through the following stations – computers (Lexia), teacher (phonics readers, spelling, and Orton-Gillingham), independent (skills review game or word work) and folders (independent worksheets or writing).  I have been pretty happy with this thus far and with each passing year, I have found that I have eased up in the “busy work” department.  I put a lot of thought into the items that my kiddos do.  My thought is . . . I have to grade the darn thing so why in the world would I give them something that wastes their time and MINE?  Also, many of my centers are “learning disguised as play.”  I know I’ve said this before, but it’s just how I roll.  If I can make a couple of routine tasks novel or fun for a kiddo, I have done my job for the day.

I know I’ve shown this picture WAY back when, but just in case you missed it . . .
this is my kind of a reading center!
Post short u words around your room.
Give each kiddo in your center a clipboard, a game sheet, and a pair of glasses ๐Ÿ™‚
It’s a glorified word work sort at it’s best!
CLICK HERE to get your hands on this template.

What routines do I want to have in my upcoming classroom?
My mind started racing when I read the part about training them slowly and building stamina.  I work at a top-performing school and the push from admin has been to go . . . go . . . GO . . . as soon as you get ’em in the door.  Over the past six years, I have slowed down a bit more (I just might be getting wiser in my old age . . . hahaha), but I am really hoping to spend ample time this year reviewing procedures.  I feel I do a good job in the “building stamina” department (and I earn their trust right off the bat . . . this is the KEY to EVERYTHING).  However, I fall in that middle category of, “I’ve reviewed how to do this twice, now do it.”  This portion of the Daily 5 was a real eye-opener for me.  I know it sounds silly, but my guard come down a bit and I felt like I was “given permission” to take my time. Did anyone else feel this way?

I also want to build more choice into my reading centers.  However, my style does not fit the model of all kid choice and long rotation, meet, long rotation, meet . . . !  I just don’t think this way.  However, I don’t believe this set-up is the only way to “skin this D5 cat.”  Still mulling this one over.  

Finally, I really want to work “read to someone” into the mix next year.  I remember being so nervous about reading in front of others as a kid.  My name would get called and I’d just about pee my pants in horror.  It doesn’t have to be this way . . . and I think reading to someone on a daily basis will ease those “public reading” fears that may arise in students. MMMMMmmmm . . . now, just how to fit it in.  

What do I have to change to get there?
It’s simple to pinpoint.  I am the thing that needs to change to get little old Room 13 ready to take on these elements of the Daily 5.  The keys for me are going to be: 

  1. Allowing myself to slow up a bit in the teaching procedures department
  2. Pre-planning during the summer
  3. Shaking things up by “thinking out of the box” 
  4. Letting go of those control reins just a bit ๐Ÿ™‚

I know what I’ve just spewed is just an “What About Bob Baby Step” in the overall Daily 5 movement, but I am excited to try this.  Thanks so much for taking the time to read my rambles this evening.  Think about linking up if you haven’t already!  I would love to hear your comments on this :).  And, if you aren’t into joining officially, comments work just as well in the discussion process!

I will be back sooner rather than later, but most likely not until Sunday.  We are off to San Fran and Napa tomorrow for a little post-anniversary weekend getaway ๐Ÿ™‚    

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Daily 5, linky party

A BIG WATERMELON WELCOME – BACK TO SCHOOL PACK
ROAD TRIP + D5 TAKE 2

Comments

  1. Heather at Teach It Today! says

    June 22, 2012 at 4:02 am

    Hi Kelley! I am reading the book (and CAFE) this summer and am setting my room up for Daily 5. I would love to exchange notes with you as you begin to implement it in your room. I start school in July so I will be a few weeks ahead of you, but I can pass on my mistakes!

    Heather at TeachItToday

    • teacherideafactory says

      June 22, 2012 at 4:52 am

      This would be fantastic. Thanks so much for the offer Heather . . . I am taking you up on it ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Tammy says

    June 22, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    There are many ways to skin the D5 cat I believe, and I think the Sisters would recommend that teachers make it their own. That's what I've done. I only have time for an hour of Daily 5, so we don't separate, meet, and repeat. I do though LOVE the fact that Daily 5 has kids reading and writing instead of doing stuff about reading and writing.
    โ€ Tammy
    Forever in First

    • teacherideafactory says

      June 22, 2012 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks so much for your input Tammy . . . it's always great to hear from someone who has tried it. And, it's refreshing to hear that it is still working for you although you haven't followed the model to a tee. I will most likely be slingin' questions your way over the next few weeks. Thanks again ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Tammy says

    June 22, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    Hi Kelly,
    When you talked about letting your guard down and taking it slower, I felt the same way last year when I started the D5. Each of my teammates were not implementing this procedure and as the weeks progressed and they were up and running with their reading centers, I started to panic thinking that maybe I should be started already. BUT I read the chapter again in D5 and got reasurance that I was doing it correctly and it would pay off and IT DID!! I was so happy that I took the time at the beginning of the year. I LOVED my reading block and so did the students. They had a purpose behind what they were doing and they all felt successful.
    Another thing you talked about was the control factor. I too like to have control/structure in my classroom. When we discuss Chapter 2, I will be telling you my experience with that last year. It's not that I don't like my students having choice but it was not as structured for me. More to come on that. Thanks for sharing. I am excited to here more from you.

    • teacherideafactory says

      June 22, 2012 at 5:08 pm

      Yay . . . thanks for posting Tammy. I am really loving this! I cannot wait to hear more from you.

  4. Jennifer Tilton says

    June 22, 2012 at 5:08 pm

    I feel how you feel. I have to meet with small groups during center time and the expectation is no talking, so the Daily 5 would not work for me. But I do think the centers should involve more reading or skills that support reading.
    Jennifer
    kindertrips

  5. Erin Bradley says

    June 22, 2012 at 7:09 pm

    Thank you for visiting my blog today…your blog is so cute! I love it! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • teacherideafactory says

      June 24, 2012 at 11:50 pm

      Thanks oh-so much Erin. I heart your stuff so ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Tammy says

    June 22, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    Jennifer,
    You would be surprised how quite the D5 time is when the students are working. They are so engaged and even the Read to Someone students are reading in a voice that only those 2 students can hear. I get so much one on one and strategy groups done during this time.

  7. Deanna Klima says

    June 23, 2012 at 2:56 am

    Hey there Kelly,
    Let me start by saying I have not used Daily 5, but for some reason it is CALLING me! I know control can be hard to give up, but when we slow down and truly teach our kids what we expect from them, they can do it. There will always be one or two who choose not to do what we want, for those I say we choose for them until they show us they are trustworthy. I am excited to use it next year. I think it is exactly what I need.
    Deanna

    Think all nightโ€ฆ..Teach all day

  8. teacherideafactory says

    June 24, 2012 at 11:49 pm

    I have LOVED all of the chatter about this. Thank you so much for taking the time to post your thoughts!

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Thank you for taking the time to visit my home away from home. My Name is Kelley Dolling and I just finished up a decade teaching in the primary classroom...

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