Daily 5 Book Study: Ch.3-4

Hello Friends!

I have devoured this Daily 5 book and I am so excited to share with you what I have taken from these two chapters. Let’s get started.

Step 1: Identify What is to be taught

Step 2: Set a Purpose and Create a Sense of Urgency

How can kids be independent if they don’t know why they are learning what the teacher provides? The book discusses that we must set a purpose for everything the children are doing, this creates a sense of urgency in which every moment counts and children must be held accountable.

Step 3: Record Desirable behaviors on an I-Chart

Step 4: Model Most Desirable Behaviors

Step 5: Model Least Desirable Behaviors, then Most Desirable Behaviors Again

The infamous I-Chart is mentioned and on it as a class we record the most desirable behaviors of the activity. The Sisters mention that to save time, it is beneficial to record the desirable behaviors on the I-chart in front of the class and briefly explain each one (instead of collectively brainstorming).

Step 6: Place Students Around the Room

Step 7: Practice & Build Stamina

Step 8: Stay out of the Way

The sisters refer to the old method as a little dance we as teachers do, we weave around the room distributing warm fuzzies to various students we see exhibiting positive behavior. By doing this, however, we teach our children to rely on reinforcements and extrinsic motivation to get them on task. When we stop this for small group, what will happen when we cannot weave the room offering praise?

Step 9: Use a Quiet Signal to Bring Students back to the Gathering Place

Step 10: Conduct a Group Check in

When students have put back their book boxes and have returned to the gathering place, as a class we refer back to the I-Chart and ask the student to reflect on their experience based on what was listed on the I-Cart. Was it successful or unsuccessful? A 1-4 Checklist is used to scale this:

1: Below Standard

2: Approaching Standard

3: Meeting Standard

4: Exceeding Standard

Grab this poster to display in your classroom when you discuss this checklist {Here}

The book recommends chimes or a quiet signal as the method of ending a round of Daily 5.

I love when they write how we, “need to save our voices for instruction rather than managing transitions”. I typically use online timers for everything so my itty bitties have a visual cue:

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/classroom-timers/

However, I think it may be a bit distracting for the my readers during Daily 5, and the book says that you end a round during Daily 5 when stamina is broken….so forget I even mentioned the times 😉

Each child is to have their own book box filled with 8-10 good-fit books. I did not implement Daily5 last year, but I did have book boxes. I only had my students keep 3 in their box which I am now in shock that I only let them keep so few!

The sisters also wrote about keeping our classroom libraries current and relevant (which is very expensive I might add). I had a tub of The Babysitters Club book series in my library which went untouched this past year…but I can’t seem to part. Hank the Cowdog…those books never saw the light of day either.

They stress that we need to weed out outdated, badly worn, poorly written, and commercial books. Does this mean I have to give away my Sweet Valley book series also? **sigh**

Gathering Place and Focus Lessons:

The book talks about having a place where the whole class can meet and sit for whole-group lessons. I love my gathering place! It is smack dab in the middle of my classroom library. If you look to the left you can see my easel and where I sit during the lessons.

Here are some other ways my kids enjoy reading:

I have an Ocean theme classroom. There are beach towels that partners can share when they are partner reading to each other, So this isn’t EACTLY EEK, but hey…pretty close! 😉

I also have a few beach loungers that the kids enjoy. Snagged them from Target when they went on sale!

Be sure to read the other amazing bloggers discussing Daily 5 {Here}

Thanks for stopping by!

Written by

Amber Calderon

Amber is veteran teacher that built a successful TPT business before being recruited to lead social media and content marketing strategy for two Ed-Tech brands. She loves using her unique knowledge of the teacher marketing space to help teachers grow and scale their business with the right digital marketing strategies.

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4 Comment

Reply
Jennifer White
June 15, 2014 at 12:17 pm

Love your library!
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies

Reply
Amber Calderon
June 16, 2014 at 4:48 pm

Hey Jennifer!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I am actually moving to a bigger district and surprisingly I don't think my classroom library will get to be this big next year! Super sad about it but I am going to try to make it work! 😉

Amber

Reply
Stacey
June 16, 2014 at 1:47 pm

Love your poster, library, and the lounge chairs!! I saw some cool chairs at Target the other day. I see a shopping trip in my future!
Stacey
Teaching Ever After

Reply
Amber Calderon
June 16, 2014 at 4:50 pm

Thank you SO MUCH! I love those chairs because I can fold them in half for easy storage! My kids just love them! I apologize in advance for your target receipt when the damage is done 😉

Amber