Greetings, bloglings!
It's Friday and I've got some FREEBIES for you!
First thing's first: I am in love with The Daily 5, and I don't care who knows it. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Daily 5 is a program for structuring literacy blocks so that every day students are engaged in:
1) Reading to Self
2) Reading to Someone (Buddy Reading)
3) Work on Writing
4) Listening to Reading
5) Word Work
Daily 5 Labels
This allows the teacher to conference with individual students and implement small group instruction. In my opinion, Gail Boushey and Joan Mosher are, in a word, brilliant, and they have transformed my Montessori classroom for the best. Using this structure of literacy (and math!) instruction has infused my classroom's work cycles with balance, variety, and student stamina and accountability. Above all, it has blended seamlessly with the Montessori philosophy: Because of The Daily 5, my students are equipped with the support and tools necessary to work independently while making meaningful work choices and exploring their individual interests. I am able to implement individual and small group instruction while resting assured that my other students are engaged and learning even though, at the moment, I am not by their side. I truly cannot imagine following a different format, especially in a multi-grade classroom with so many different abilities.
1) Reading to Self
2) Reading to Someone (Buddy Reading)
3) Work on Writing
4) Listening to Reading
5) Word Work
This allows the teacher to conference with individual students and implement small group instruction. In my opinion, Gail Boushey and Joan Mosher are, in a word, brilliant, and they have transformed my Montessori classroom for the best. Using this structure of literacy (and math!) instruction has infused my classroom's work cycles with balance, variety, and student stamina and accountability. Above all, it has blended seamlessly with the Montessori philosophy: Because of The Daily 5, my students are equipped with the support and tools necessary to work independently while making meaningful work choices and exploring their individual interests. I am able to implement individual and small group instruction while resting assured that my other students are engaged and learning even though, at the moment, I am not by their side. I truly cannot imagine following a different format, especially in a multi-grade classroom with so many different abilities.
Blending the Daily 5 and CAFE strategies with Montessori and Common Core did involve a fairly steep learning curve, and I created several resources that have helped tremendously with my time management and organization. For example, in my classroom, Grammar has taken the place of "Listen to Reading." My students have the opportunity to listen to reading during Buddy Reading, Read Aloud, and as a choice at our computer listening center when the rest of their work plan is completed. Grammar is strongly emphasized in the Montessori curriculum, so students use shelf work in this area during our Daily 5 cycle separately from their weekly spelling/word work.
And now for the freebies! Drum roll, please...
Freebie #1:
I mapped out a daily launch of all components of the Daily 5 with CAFE strategies. I've uploaded my plans to my TPT store, and you can find them at the link below. This is what has worked for my classroom. It is slightly abridged from the "official" plan, but it has been a great pace for my second and third graders.
I found that when I launched everything too slowly, I started to lose the students who were familiar with the routines from the previous year. The beauty of having returning third graders each year is that they know the classroom expectations and can function as role models for their younger classmates. Do what works for you and your students!
My 14-Day Guide to Launching the Daily 5 with CAFE
At the following link, you can find the Work Plan that my students use during math and literacy blocks. At the first through third grade level, Work Plans are used in Montessori classrooms to guide students in independently managing their assignments, but they would be valuable tools for any classroom that implements the Daily 5. The Work Plan functions as individual checklists for students, helps students make choices, and increases students' level of personal accountability during periods of independent work. The resources at the following link include Work Plans for both ELA and the Math Daily 3 (Math By Myself, Math Writing, & Math with a Partner), as well as word work materials!
Click Here for my Daily 5 Resources
...and here are 3 more freebies for you!
I created posters to align with the Daily 5 plan for establishing rules and expectations for each component. These expectations are reinforced daily at the beginning of the year, and on an as needed basis afterward to ensure that each child knows exactly how to execute every routine successfully.
Students learn how to select books that are a "good fit" for them. This eliminates the need for segregating books by level, and allows students to access a wider variety of texts for independent reading.
Students learn how to be a "Reading Coach" and help each other during shared reading experiences. This has been so helpful during our guided reading/book club lessons. Students are no longer offering corrections and are instead allowing their peers the time or help they need.
How to be a Reading Coach Poster
Teach your students the EEKK poem and they will always remember Buddy Reading expectations! I had a student who actually taught this poem to her siblings for when they read together at home :) Be still my heart!
Buddy Reading Poem Poster
And now for the freebies! Drum roll, please...
Freebie #1:
I mapped out a daily launch of all components of the Daily 5 with CAFE strategies. I've uploaded my plans to my TPT store, and you can find them at the link below. This is what has worked for my classroom. It is slightly abridged from the "official" plan, but it has been a great pace for my second and third graders.
I found that when I launched everything too slowly, I started to lose the students who were familiar with the routines from the previous year. The beauty of having returning third graders each year is that they know the classroom expectations and can function as role models for their younger classmates. Do what works for you and your students!
My 14-Day Guide to Launching the Daily 5 with CAFE
At the following link, you can find the Work Plan that my students use during math and literacy blocks. At the first through third grade level, Work Plans are used in Montessori classrooms to guide students in independently managing their assignments, but they would be valuable tools for any classroom that implements the Daily 5. The Work Plan functions as individual checklists for students, helps students make choices, and increases students' level of personal accountability during periods of independent work. The resources at the following link include Work Plans for both ELA and the Math Daily 3 (Math By Myself, Math Writing, & Math with a Partner), as well as word work materials!
...and here are 3 more freebies for you!
I created posters to align with the Daily 5 plan for establishing rules and expectations for each component. These expectations are reinforced daily at the beginning of the year, and on an as needed basis afterward to ensure that each child knows exactly how to execute every routine successfully.
Students learn how to select books that are a "good fit" for them. This eliminates the need for segregating books by level, and allows students to access a wider variety of texts for independent reading.
Students learn how to be a "Reading Coach" and help each other during shared reading experiences. This has been so helpful during our guided reading/book club lessons. Students are no longer offering corrections and are instead allowing their peers the time or help they need.
Teach your students the EEKK poem and they will always remember Buddy Reading expectations! I had a student who actually taught this poem to her siblings for when they read together at home :) Be still my heart!
Another tool that I cannot recommend enough is CCPensieve. This is a paid subscription, but I find it to be highly beneficial for record keeping and small group management. As a Montessori teacher, observing students, documenting progress, and following the child is paramount. This can be overwhelming with over 25 students in a class, but there are tools out there to make it manageable, and this is one of them!
Do you use the Daily 5 in your classroom?
Happy weekend!
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