Updated Check-in for The Daily Five

Since all K-5 teachers will begin "Read to Self" this week, I wanted to let you know about "The Sisters" updated check-in procedures.  In the past students have placed their thumbs in either the up or sideways position in front of their hearts to let the teacher know how they thought they did after completing of the components of "The Daily Five."

The Sisters have now implemented a 1-4 point check-in system they learned in Carlene Bickford's classroom in Waterville, Maine.  According to the revised version of "The Daily Five," the standard is as follows:

"1.  Below Standard
 2.  Approaching Standard
 3.  Meeting Standard
 4.  Exceeding Standard."

Students need to be trained to understand what is meant by each number as they are taught to reflect on their behaviors during the various parts of "The Daily Five."  Students are directed to put their hand in front of their heart with the appropriate number of fingers up as they consider how they did during a particular session.  The teacher poses a question about each expectation (example:  "How did you do with Stay in One Spot?") and the students put up the number of fingers that correspond with their success with that particular area.  Each expectation is treated in the same manner with the students taking time to reflect upon their progress and then put the correct number of fingers in front of their hearts.

The last step is what I consider to be a great improvement over the last system.  After they have scored themselves in all the questions the teacher has asked them to reflect, students think about a goal for the next round with someone who is sitting near them.  Sometimes "the students will share in the whole group, write their goals in a journal, or simply make an internal goal."  A goal might simply be saying that they will get started right away or read the whole time.  I hope you will like the new system as much as I do.  I think this procedure will really make students more accountable for the time they are spending reading, writing, or working on their words.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

As I continue to read the revised version of the book, I will share with you some of the ideas that "The Sisters" have changed.  I hope all of you will consider following my blog.  I will try to have something each week that will be helpful to you in your classrooms.  Have a great first-day!!

Shared Reading During the First Week of School

Shared Reading is a great strategy to use in PreK-2 classrooms during the first week of school.  It gives you a chance to share great books with your students and build a sense of community for your classroom.  Call the students to the carpet and choose a book you know the students will enjoy.  The teacher begins by reading from a big book, a story on the Smartboard, or sentence strips in a pocket chart.  As teachers read, they track the print with a pencil or a pointer.  This gives students an opportunity to follow the left-to-right-progression of words on the page.  Teachers can stop in strategic places and ask students to turn to their neighbor and tell them what they think will happen next.  When the story is finished, the teacher can question to see if students have understood the story.  Students can also pair up to retell the story to each other.

Follow-up activities can include rereading the story through Echo Reading, Choral Reading, or Fill in the Word.  Echo Reading begins with the teacher reading a word or a sentence and students echoing what the teacher has said as she points to the word.  During Choral Reading students read along with the teacher as she points to the word.  The teacher choose strategic words to leave out during Fill in the Word Reading.  This is a great strategy to use when teaching the concept of rhyming.

Some of my personal favorites for the first week of school include:  Clifford's First Day of School by Eric Bridwell; Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin; The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss; How I Spent my Summer Vacation by Mark Teague and Chrysanthemum by Keven Henkes.  Whether you read any of my favorites or have your own favorite book for the first day of school, Shared Reading is a great way to begin your new school year!  Happy Reading!!!