It is SO hard for my body to readjust after a break. My little ones just finished their first five days back and it was hard on them too! My little learners are not yet fully independent as some groups I have had in the past, but there are successes here and there that give me hope for the last half of the year!
Four years ago this summer, I was moved by my then principal from kindergarten to first grade. I had spent my four years teaching doing literacy tubs while I worked with small groups. I never really loved it though for so many reasons, a few of which include standing at the copy machine is my least favorite thing and I did not feel as though I was doing enough to differentiate for learners. With the knowledge that I was going to first, I needed something to help me transition to a different playing field. There are some varying degrees of learners in Kindergarten but the gaps only continue to get larger. I found the Daily 5 and read it that summer and decided it was going to help me figure out my brand new world of teaching first grade. I have used components of it since.
One thing I learned really quickly that first year in first was that I was going to have to make it mine and do what was best for the kids in my classroom. Therefore, it has looked different every year! The first year in first, I had children who could pick where they went and work independently for 30 minutes! The next year, I had a group that while they could pick their choice by the end of the year, I still had to encourage the variety in the 5 choices and I had to provide more structure within the choices. Last year in Kindergarten, by the end of the year, I had a class that could work for 25 minutes and do a second choice for another 25 minutes. 25 minutes might not seem like a big deal except for the fact that we began at the 2 minute mark like the book suggests. This year, on a good day we can work for 15 minutes, however, given a second choice they can do about 10-12 minutes. As I finish my mid year reading assessments, I am pondering my small group instruction. I am amazed at their growth because as a class, we have a hard time staying focused and engaged in our work.
My writing center is the home of materials that I use for word work and writing. I love not having to devote shelf space to tubs!
The one thing I love about Daily 5 is the framework it has provided in allowing me to let go of having literacy tubs (and standing at the copier)! There are weeks, we there is absolutely no prep! It simply depends on what goals I want children to accomplish when they go to one of the five choices. All my children have book boxes with readable materials so at read to self their book box is required. The past couple of weeks, they have been using a fluency phone to listen as they read. I also have sight word sticks that they used and loved. Read to someone still involves me pairing them up but they use their book boxes and take turns reading to each other. Listening just includes listening to a book on tape and then responding to it with a listening center response sheet. Currently, they are drawing a licture of their favorite part of the book and writing about it as well as deciding if they liked it or not. Writing and word work are choices where I provide more structure. I want what they are working on to serve a purpose for their learning. Word work is a choice that includes sight word actives or opportunities to practice skills we are having trouble with. This past week, I had a letter fluency graph with a die. I have also included our word of the week books for our sight words, letter or word sorts, or literacy games. Writing has included Handwriting Without Tears practice. This class has continued to need opportunities to practice letter formation. Writing has also included working on a journal piece, sticker stories, sight word sentences and I Spy books. I am excited about our growth but know we have a long ways to go!
The Cafe Book is a book by the authors of the Daily 5 that provides resources for small group instruction. I have a wall near my guided reading table that is devoted to "menu" choices for my readers. I feel like I am way behind but I am being true to my class and their needs so the menu has not officially been introduced.
In the upcoming week, I am going to introduce it by revisiting a book we read in the Fall when we started Daily 5 and a new book.
I read this book when I did the shoes lesson from Daily 5 that talks about choosing just right books.
I found this book a year ago and it was the perfect way for kindergarteners to understand the menu and the use if strategies when they get stuck.
Since it was our first full week back, I used the Pete the Cat books to reinforce the basic components of Daily 5 such as the three ways to read a book. I choose these books because my class was very familiar with them, loved them, and could feel successful in harder concepts of retelling a story without my help. We had a great week and feel as though Pete was the perfect fit for revisiting Daily 5 expectations and engaging my learners. We also used Pete to introduce subtraction in math!
Other things that are currently going on in Room 29...
Dramatic play is a doughnut shop! Is anyone suddenly craving a doughnut?
We celebrated the new year with part hats, a cone, and ring pops! We rang in the new year!
We are tracking the growth of two different Amaryllis plants. We have a graph to track the growth of each weekly. It can be a 12 week process so it's a great way to encourage patience. My class loves having two because it is obvious to see the changes each week.
Do you use the Daily 5? What are some strategies or tips you can share from your reading block?
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