2 Types of Readers

When I reflect on my years as a classroom teacher, I think about my students as individual learners. I spent a lot of time reflecting about teaching and learning this summer. It became clear to me that 2 types of readers have passed through my life.

The 2 types include those who get lost in books and those who read until the timer goes off.  In fact, the two different types of readers are represented in my own house as well.

My daughter read over 100 books in 6th grade last year.  Big books.  She has her nose in a book while she walks around the house.  I frequently find her reading under the covers with a flashlight long after her bedtime.  She has stacks and stacks of books waiting to be read in her room and frequently runs out of things to read.

My 9 year old son is a good reader, but he reads approximately 25 - 30 pages a day with a timer in his hand. When the timer goes off, he happily drops the book.  He won't pick up another book until I remind him about what research says about summer lag the next day.

This summer, I'm collaborating with some of our 5th and 6th grade teachers and our Instructional Support Team to re-read The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.  I have read this book six times and each time it leaves me reflecting on different ways to reach our young readers.

The first step for me (although I'll admit that it is painful) is accepting the fact that not all readers are born with a natural love for books.  The second step as a teacher (and a mom) is to let what we know about the reader and the books they choose "whisper" (as Donalyn Miller says) to us so we can support them as readers.  The third step is to never give up hope.

I'm hopeful that my son will soon fall in love with a series or genre so much so that he no longer feels the need to read for only 20 or 30 minutes. Until then, I'll keep modeling a love for reading.  I'll keep exposing him to different authors, genres and series.  Most importantly, I'll let the choices he makes whisper to me so I can support him even if it is for only 25 - 30 pages a day (for now).

Daily 5 Book Study Chapter 2

This chapter outlines that foundations of the Daily 5. Since I love lists, here is a list of the important foundational highlights.
 1. trust
2. choice
3. community
4. sense of urgency
5. stamina
6. stay out of the way

 I first tried the Daily 5 (straight up) a few years ago. I'm not sure why, but I felt a lot of pressure to make it work like the Sisters are able to magically make it work. Then I decided...yoohoo...hello Kimberly...what do the very best teachers you know do? Oh yeah, they take the best parts of things and make make them work in a way that fits each specific group of students. Now, I am happy to report that I still use the Daily Five (but I've Kimberlyized it to fit my students each year). I do love the Daily Five and recommend it to others whenever I'm asked for recommendations. At the same time, I think it is important to give yourself permission to be the expert on what works for your students in your own classroom.  

Trust
Hmmmm...not a strength of mine. I feel like I make a huge effort each year to encourage the children to trust me as their teacher. I really want my students to feel like they can take risks, make predictions, guess, try new things and explore. According to the sisters, "trusting children is the underpinning of what makes the Daily Five work". Let me just say...oy vey. Can I disagree with the sisters? Yes, I can. I disagree. There, I said it. I do believe that with enough time spent to put the Daily Five into motion, MOST children are able to work independently. Saying that I completely trust all of my students to work independently would not be honest. I'll talk more about that during Chapter 7 (which I'm hosting).  

Choice
Another confession...I do not let my students choose the order in which they'll participate in Daily 5 type activities. That is what the sisters recommend. I actually have 8 rotations each week, which we call Literacy Centers (5 of those are Daily 5 and then I have 3 other rotations each week). I introduce the Daily 5 components to literacy center time first. I do build choices into each center the students visit. For example, the students might listen to one story at Listening to Reading (but they may choose which way to respond to the story). 

Community
  I think building a sense of community among students in the classroom is extremely important. The sisters say they spend at least 20 days building community. I often feel pressured by the weight of the curriculum and do less community building than I should. I do a lot, but I'd like to do more. I made this planning sheet to help me keep track and stay organized in terms of community building next year.

 

  Several of the community building activities I do are in my Activity Pack for Back to School.

 

I will also be doing a linky party in July about books that teachers use to build community in their classrooms. Start thinking about your favorite community building books now, so you can link up in July or just stop back to visit to check out the list.  

Sense of Urgency
I love that developing a sense of urgency is such a big part of the Daily Five. Kids feel empowered when they know why they are doing something. As a result, they are more motivated learners.  

Stamina
My heart felt happy this year when my son, who is in Kindergarten, announced that his class was building stamina during read to self! I seriously had tears in my eyes at the dinner table. My husband gave me the "now what are you crying about look". My little guy is doing the Daily Five! I already loved his teacher (my daughter had her a couple years ago) and now I love her even more!

Stay Out of the Way
This part is easy for me when things are going well and hard for me when things are not going well. When I host chapter 7, I will share how I change things up when things are not going so well. It is a technique that allows me to still stay "out of the way", but helps keep the kids on track.

I'm linking this post to Nicole's post from Teaching With Style.  She is hosting this chapter of our Book Study.  I can't wait to read all of the other posts about Chapter 2!  Next week, please visit Mrs. Freshwater's Class and Thinking Out Loud for Chapter 3!

That's all folks...this girl is headin' out to get some exercise.

Daily 5 Book Study Chapter 1

 

Let's get this party book study started!

The Daily 5:  Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser (the sisters) is really one of my favorite teaching books.  For a few years, I worked as the Literacy Intervention Specialist in my building.  That was before I begged (and I do mean begged) my way back into my favorite position (1st grade).  When I worked as the Literacy Intervention Specialist and whenever I mentor new teachers, I am frequently asked about my favorite teaching books for teaching reading.  When I give out the list of 7 or 8 books, this one is up there at the top.  You can tell by looking at the condition of my copy, with my post-it notes dangling from the edges, how much I love it.  Why does my copy have a spiral binding?  All of my favorite books do...and you can read about that here.

 

 Mel from Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations is hosting chapter 1 of our book study for first grade teachers.  Nicole from Teaching With Style is also hosting Chapter 1. I'm linking this post to their collections of chapter 1 posts.  Please head on over to visit.  I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Before I share my thoughts...here is the 30 second explanation I give to teachers who are brand new to Daily 5 and The CAFE and don't know a lot about either yet.  

These are just my words...

"The Daily 5 is what your students can do independently, while you meet with your reading groups.  The CAFE is a systematic approach to teaching reading strategies, doing assessment and conferencing with students."

Chapter 1 Thoughts

I've had the opportunity to attend two different presentations by "The Sisters" in the past couple years.  The first time, I was just gettin' started and not sure if the whole thing was for me.  By the second time, I was in the trouble shooting stage (which is when I celebrate all the things that are working and Kimberlyize the rest to make it work for my students).

 In the first chapter (figure 1-1) the authors talk about "How We Have Evolved".  For the most part, I like their ideas (except for where to keep the stapler). Quite honestly, I hate it when kids break my stapler.

My favorite thing about the Daily 5 is that it encourages student responsibility.  With more students in our classrooms, students with more complicated needs and less support at home (in most cases) it is important for students to learn responsibility in a way that empowers them to be good citizens within our classroom community.  Each time I read this book, I am impressed by the fact that "the sisters" spend "at least 20 days building community".  Wow!  I need to do a better job with that in my classroom.  More than ever, I think kids need to be taught how to take care of materials, to show respect for each other and to work hard.  The routines for starting up the Daily 5 help to introduce those skills and give kids an opportunity to practice them in the classroom each day.

The "sisters" based the Daily 5 on the research of some of my favorite researchers/authors.  One of those researchers that I have a huge amount of respect for is Richard Allington.  Allington is famous for encouraging teachers to give students more time to practice.  Sometimes we talk to much (for me that is a major understatement) as teachers.  Teaching kids the routines/habits to practice reading/writing/listening independently is one of the best parts of the Daily 5...which gives students more time to practice and me more time to work with small groups. 

All throughout the book study, I will be offering freebies as I link up with the other bloggers who are hosting chapters.  I'm hosting Chapter 7 here on my blog, so I hope you'll stop by for lots of freebies that week too.

Now, head over to visit Mel at Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations.   She is hosting the link up for Chapter 1 for first grade teachers.  Then stop by to see Nicole from Teaching With Style.  Nicole is hosting the chapter 1 link up for 2nd and 3rd grade teachers.

Off to walk to the library with my own kids.  Hooray for summer!

It's almost time... Mel from Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations is hosting a Daily 5 Book Study this summer! A few bloggers you might know are hosting different chapters each week for the next two months.

 Click on the image above to visit Mel's post on TBA about the Daily 5 Book Study. You can download the pages Mel made for note taking and a special bookmark (made by Nicole from Teaching With Style) to keep track of who is hosting each chapter. Hope you'll join us!