The Daily 5 Book Study Chapter 5 - My Notes

I am participating in the book study at  We Read, We Blog, We Teach.

Chapter 5 Read to Someone and Listen to Reading

According to the Sisters, and mountains of research, "reading with someone helps students read independently and grow as readers".

This is the part of Daily 5 that seemed to be the most difficult when I was a student teacher.  It seemed like the students who picked partner reading would often make this choice in order to goof off with a friend.

  I did find this post by Beth Newingham (one of my teaching idols) about Buddy Reading.  She suggests assigning partners and having them  read on their own, and then partner up to ask and answer each other thick questions.  I think this will help with accountability.

For time constraints, I am also hoping to implement buddy reading with a lower level class.  Since I am new to this school and district I haven't planned it yet, but I am friends with one of the first grade teachers, so I am hoping it will work for her as well.

I am planning on using this Read to Someone Coaching Sheet to help the students remember how to coach each other.

According to research, students benefit from listening to fluent readers, either in the form of teacher read alouds, volunteers, or books on tape, CD, or mp3 players. Despite the evidence, it seems that many teachers of older students (third and up) might forgo due to time constraints.

I myself have been tempted not to include this portion, but I realize how important it is especially for struggling readers who may not be able to access grade level texts.

I plan on having the students listen to chapters from the science and social studies text to help incorporate those subjects and to save time.

What are your plans for reading to someone and listening to reading?

Freebie Friday - Cat in the Hat Word Problems

The Cat in the Hat always has a few tricks up his sleeve and Friday the 13th seems like an appropriate time for tricks, or FREEBIES - even better!  I am linking up with TBA's Freebie Fridays and sharing this fun little Cat in the Hat word problems worksheet. 

Click here to download

 If you have any problems downloading it - send me an email and I will get you a copy :)

You will also want to checkout all the freebies on the linky - there are a ton of really good ones!

Classroom Energizers

I have been perusing The Responsive Classroom website, and have been watching their YouTube videos, and I must say that I am quite impressed with a lot of their ideas including their morning meeting and energizers.  I really liked the one in the video below.  It was really funny, because when I tried it out with my own son (soon to be a 5th grader) he knew it and said that he had done it in school last year.  Great minds think alike! LOL!

Hope you are equally inspired!  Are there any other classroom energizers you use when your students just need a moment to wake-up?

The Daily 5 Book Study - Chapter 4 - My Notes

I am participating in the book study at  We Read, We Blog, We Teach.

Chapter 4 Read to Self 

"Having children read to themselves is the first step in Daily Five and is the foundation for creating independent readers and writers" (pg. 46).

When I was in elementary school, I always felt like there was never enough time for me to do what I really wanted to do, which was of course read to my self.  That is one thing that I really love about the Daily 5 is the opportunity that the students have to read books of their own choice - how motivating!

Then this is where I really have questions - the Sisters advocate teaching three ways to read a book - is this necessary for older kids who are reading chapter books?  Any thoughts from teachers who have been there done that?

The Sisters advocate working with your students to develop an I-chart that tells them what they should be doing as readers during read to self.

After a few minutes of modeling, the students practice for 3 minutes, debrief, and try again.  Each day students work to increase their stamina.

Keep Track of Your Classroom Library

If you could hear me through the computer monitor, you might want to cover your ears because I am having a hard time containing myself after finding this amazing website that allows you to scan your entire classroom library into the system using your phone and an app (you can also key in the books if you like) and lets your students check them in and out.  No more wondering where missing books are.

1. You simply sign up for a FREE membership here at Classroom Organizer

2. You add your books and students to the program.

3. Your students log into this page, and check in and out books.

4. Besides being able to keep track of your books, you can also print out reports about what books are checked out, the levels your students are reading, and more!  It just gives you another way to keep track of their reading progress.

I entered my boys' names to test it out and it was amazing!

The Daily 5 Book Study - Chapter 3 - My Notes

I am participating in the book study at  We Read, We Blog, We Teach.

Chapter 3 What's the Difference?: Key Materials, Concepts, and Routines for Launching the Daily Five

This chapter is perfect right now because I am working on getting my routines and materials ready for the upcoming school year.  Elementary is going to require a lot more than 7th grade math did - and I am gearing up for it!

Establishing a Gathering Place
In this chapter, the Sisters describe the gathering place as "an open space large enough for the whole class to come together and sit on the floor" (p. 28).  


This was actually one of the things that I really missed from my student teaching days!  I loved the morning meetings we used to have, and I never could quite get that going in middle school because my room was so small and crammed with 37 students - there was no space!  With that in mind when I set up my classroom this year I know that I need:

• A large enough to accommodate us all.
• Be comfortable. 
• Have a place for creating anchor charts. I need to check out the school and see if I will have an easel of some sort, or if I need to buy one.                  

Ignore the dog fur :)

When I was student teaching, my lead teacher had a little stool that her father had made for her that she sat on.  It was the perfect height - just a bit above the students, but not really looking down on them.  I found this fabulous one at Wal-Mart of all places!  It even has a storage space inside of it.  I'm thinking of getting a few more for my students.

Good-Fit Books
We have all been there - watching a child struggle aimlessly in the library as the dreaded - "two minute warning" is called and they frantically grab at anything and often end up with a book that they either do not enjoy or that is just not the right fit.

In this chapter, the authors  introduce a model called I PICK.  Which stands for:

I choose a book
Purpose - Why do I want to read it?
Interest - Does it interest me?
Comprehend - Am I understanding what I am reading?
Know - I know most of the words

The Sisters use shoes as an analogy for picking a book that fits them - I am planning a Goldie Socks and the Three Libearians lesson that I think will fit well with this instead. The district I am moving to has been using The Daily 5 for several years now, and I think the students will all have heard this analogy already. I will post my lesson as I develop it if you would like to use it.

Setting Up Book Boxes
Now that the students have found good fit books, they need a place to store them.  I am still undecided about what to do for this.  When I was student teaching, each student had a drawer from one of those plastic sterilite drawers. 

They kept their books, notebooks, pencils, sticky notes, and anything else they might need inside and grabbed their box when it was time to go.

I haven't decided if I want to go with this route (which would probably take up little space) or the traditional magazine holders. 

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Anchor Charts
I love making anchor charts with students - they give them a great reminder of what they have already learned.  I have a small laser pointer (the cheap ones that they sell for under $3 at Wal-Mart near the register) that I use to point to a particular chart when I am working with a struggling student.  This reminds them to use these charts when they are stuck.

Short Intervals of Repeated Practice and Signals and Check-In
I believe that students need to practice, practice, practice!  The Sisters believe this as well and provide a ten step process for improving muscle memory. 

One thing that I would like to improve on this year is the check-in. I think it will hold the students more accountable for their independent work if they have to report back to the group how they spent their time, what they learned, what they struggled with, what strategies they used.

What has worked well for you?

Back To School iPad Giveaway from Teacher Created Resources

If you have been wanting an iPad as much as I have, you will want to enter this contest! Teacher Created Resources is giving away an iPad in honor of their newest app!  You can enter to win here.