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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Daily 5 Book Study, Chapter 3








Our Gathering Place



In my classroom, I have a huge area rug that my kids sit on 

when we have group time.  This year, I am going to get rid 

of the rug because it is old and more than a little dirty and 

use interlocking foam squares for the students to sit on.  I 

think this would give me the versitility and flexibility that I 

need to change up partners and groupings when I am in 

whole group.  I am a diehard fan of  using 'talk partners'.  

And of course, I eavesdrop on all of the conversations going 

on!!
Picking appropriate books

In my classroom, I taught my kids how to use the 5 fingure 

rule to pick out books.  Every Monday, my kids go 'book 

shopping' which means they take their gallon-sized plastic 

bag and go choose 3-4 books that they want to read for the 

week.  During their time reading, they are expected to read 

all of these books <unless they are able to read chapter 

books>.  It is funny how when you read a book a long time 

ago and pick it up again how, as a teacher, we begin doing 

things and using strategies that seem natural to use, when 

we more than likely got the idea from the book that we read.  

I think this happened to me, as The Sisters recommend 

students choosing books that have real meaning and a 

purpose for learning behind them.  Everytime my students 

come to conference with me about the books that they have 

read, the first question I aske them is  'Why did you choose 

these books?  What do you want to learn from them?".  It is 

a great conversation starter.
Rituals and Routines


As far as rituals and routines in my room,  my Monday 

morning book shopping is my most important.  If we are not 

able to go bookshopping that morning, the kids seem to 

loose their 'oomph' for the day and sometimes, even the 

week.   I have learned that I can use this as an extra reward, 

too, and I will declare a day a 'bonus bookshopping day' 

and let me students go choose one more book 'just for fun'.  

I get so excited to see what they choose.



Another routine that I have in my room is reading from the 

book baggy as soon as the kids come into the room and 

unpack.  At the beginning of the year, my admin insisted 

that we start writing right away and have the kids write in 

their journals while I was taking roll, lunch count, taking up 

money, etc.  I did not like this at all.  I felt like (and still do!) 

that a mini lesson is definitely needed before writing starts 

because it generates a purpose for writing (as in using an 

author's craft, a certain writing genre, or a certain 

comprehension skill that is being worked out).  So, mid-year 

we had a huge faculty meeting and this issue was brought 

up.  We were given the go ahead to start the day with 

reading.  I think I was one of the first teachers to switch 

back to this and I never looked back!  My day started so 

much more quieter, and the kids seemed to be more on 

target with their learning.

Anchor charts are also a big part of routine.  Easing into 

modeled and shared reading is so much easier once they 

are warmed up.  Creating an anchor chart helps students 

focus and practice new skills that they are introduced to.  

Without anchor charts it is 'out of sight, out of mind!'....I 

can't remember what we have done the previous day, so I 

can't expect them to remember it either!

In reading the book, I was again reminded about the 

correct/incorrect model.  Over the years I have forgotten 

how this can change the inner-workings of a classroom.  My 

plan is to do more of this!!!  All year I struggled with a 

couple of boys that didn't think that they were capable of 

doing this or doing that--I will admit that it was a struggle 

and there were days that I felt like I needed to sit on a 

couple to keep them engaged, but anyway, I wish I had 

remembered this strategy to get them engaged from the 

beginning.


I need to add this:  stamina, stamina, stamina.  This is a 

work in progress as far as routines and rituals go.  This will 

be my focus for this coming year!


And that, folks, is my summary of Chapter 3!  Don't forget to 

check out the links to hop across a few blogs.  Also, check 

with our 'Daily 5 Currators' Mel D at Seussastic Classroom 

Inspirations and Nicole at Teaching With Style to see what 

they have to say about Chapter 3.  Also remember that our 

Chapter 3 hostesses with the mostesses were Melissa and 


Out Loud.  I know that they have a lot of good information to 

share also!


Until Next Time!!





1 comment:

  1. Thanks for your great thoughts on the Daily 5! I feel your pain when it comes to slacking in routines and rituals. I slacked off two years ago and had a rough year. Last year I was all over routines and rituals and had a fabulous year!

    I'm your newest follower! I hope you'll check out my "manly" blog!

    Greg
    Www.kindergartensmorgasboard.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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