This week in Kindergarten, I started the “Daily 5.” I first heard about it this summer through Amazon as a recommended book selection. Thanks to pintrest I heard more about it and even found other blogs and teachers that were doing it with great success in the classroom.
For the past three weeks, center time went into a challenging area. While guided reading groups are functioning flawlessly, the actual centers have had moments of disaster. I could tell that some were ready to move on to more challenging things while it was clear others needed to be weaned off “teacher welfare” to be successful in first grade. After reading through the actual book by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, I figured I would go ahead and try to start implementing the five methods and see what would happen.
The first step is the “Read to Self” time. Our school has a WONDERFUL book room and I went there to check out 6 readers per child. We are currently collecting shoe boxes to house the books in, but I temporarily gave them a plastic quart sized baggie to hold the books. The levels are from A-I, which target all the levels in my classroom. They were so excited to have a bag of “real” books that were housed in their cubby.
Monday: Today we created our Read to Self anchor chart and discussed how to pick a “just right” book. We read Goldilocks and the Three Bears a few weeks ago, so I built the lesson off of how Goldilocks was on a search for things that were just right. I was going to use the shoe example that was provided in the book, but instead two of my girls had on black boots. They were exactly the same style but very different sizes. I had them trade shoes to show the class that even though it may look the same, the shoes only work if they are just right for you. The class loved the example and was thrilled when I told them that they could now go get their book bags and find a just right book to read to themselves. We only read for 3 minutes.
Tuesday: Today we made our I Pick anchor chart and went through the letters: I choose, Purpose, Interest, Comprehend, and Know. I brought a book that I am reading from home to show them how we can pick out a book that is appropriate for them and for me. Quite a few of them loved the example. They were impressed that I read books. J The vocabulary was new to most of them, but by Friday, they could tell me the word and then with some prompting tell me the definition.
Wednesday: Today were up to five minutes of Read to Self time. Before we broke off for our time, we went through the three ways to read a book. They are struggling to remember that they can read the book only through the pictures. For many, they still equate reading with only being able to read words. I demonstrated the three ways using Ten Apples on Top by Dr. Seuss.
Thursday: Today was our best day of Read to Self time. They read quietly for 7 minutes!! When the timer went off, I heard many groans that time was up. After we did our time, we met back on the rug and I had each one tell me one thing that they read today.
Friday: Today is the Friday before Spring Break, so Read to Self time was a tad more wiggy! J I did see several wanting to try to read with their friends, so I know that they are ready for the next step, Reading with a Partner!
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