Anyone do "The Daily Five?"

adellesmama · #1 07-25-2007, 01:06 PM

Hi everybody!

I am a first-year teacher and was wondering if anyone uses The Daily Five literacy/writing program in their classroom...and if so, does it work well for you, do you like it better than what you did before, do the kids enjoy it? etc. etc.

I just started reading the book and I'm trying to decide if I should attempt to implement it in my room.

teachingmomof4 · #2 07-25-2007, 03:25 PM

I finished the book this summer and am really excited to implement it in my room. I went to a workshop of "the sisters" a few years ago and really enjoyed it. They are really knowledgeable. However, I didn't really try it back then; I just don't know if I felt comfortable enough to try something that big. However, I plan on doing it this year. If you do it as they say, I can't see how it could go wrong. Lost of modeling and practice. Kids need that.

knittingbec · #3 07-26-2007, 05:14 PM

I'm using the Daily 5 this year! I attended a study group/trial implementation last year and loved it! I'm excited to use it this year.
My students seemed to enjoy it, and I loved not having to plan out a bunch of centers.
Some teachers that were in the study group are waiting until October to start, but several others (including me!) are starting in the first week of school.

mrs100 · #4 07-31-2007, 12:53 PM

I started using the Daily 5 last year and I love, love, love it! I followed the book pretty closely, and did everything about the same way they said to, and the kids loved it. They loved being able to choose their activities, having their own bin, and working independently. I'm absolutely using it again. It's catching on rather quickly at my school, and even the Kindergarten teachers are using it!

teachingmomof4 · #5 07-31-2007, 01:10 PM

Awesome!! I am excited to use it too. I went to the workshop but never really did anything with it. I'm also the type of person who likes to start things at the beginning of the year with my kiddos. I don't like to add things mid-stream.

mrs100 · #6 07-31-2007, 01:37 PM

I started it in about November, but it still worked out great. The book gives such clear ideas and directions for implementing it and explaining it to the kids. It give day by day directions. It also is such a relief not to have to plan centers! It doesn't require any daily prep work, and it gives me a good 45 minute block to do my guided reading.

teachingmomof4 · #7 07-31-2007, 01:57 PM

That's why I like it too, mrs100. No planning of centers even though the ones I used just took about 10 minutes to put together. I am excited to try the Daily 5. I read the book this summer and tabbed all the areas I need to revisit before school starts.

knittingbec · #8 07-31-2007, 06:24 PM

mrs100 and others... what does your Daily 5 "block" look like on your schedule (timing, etc.)? Do you have a chunk of time or is the time broken up? How many independent work times do your students have each day (all 5? just 4?)
I have mine all planned out, but of course I'm starting to second-guess myself... that's what I get for starting my planning too early!

teachingmomof4 · #9 07-31-2007, 07:29 PM

Because of time, a few teachers that were in the workshop with me a few years ago implemented only 3. They called it the Daily 3.(pretty inovative, huh?) Anyway, I think they did 1. read to self 2. read to someone 3. writing We also did word work during the day but all at the same time. So...I guess they really did 4 things everyday; just not in exactly the same way the book recommends. I suppose it depends on your schedule and how much time you have during the day as to what will work best in your own classroom.

mrs100 · #10 08-01-2007, 08:55 AM

I always start out with the Daily 1: just read to self. Then you add one more once your class is ready. My block last year was from 1:10-2:00. Here's how it looked:
1:10-1:25 1st block. Students picked their first activity. I started guided reading at about 1:15.
1:25-1:40 2nd block. I ring the chimes while in guided reading (this took some getting used to. I had to watch the clock while in guided reading. My GR group stayed put, while the other students changed activities on their own.)
1:40-1:55 3rd block. By now, I'm in my 2nd guided reading group. Again, I rang the chimes while in the middle of guided reading, but the kids never noticed. The rest of the class switched while we continued reading together.
1:55 I ring the chimes for the last time and ask them to put away their Daily 5 bins and tools.
One thing I must say is that this is such a CALM and quiet hour! Even when they are switching, I set the expectation right away that it must be done without any talking or noise so that they don't disturb my guided reading group. I got up to the Daily 4 last year because my class just couldn't do the Read to Someone. They were too silly. So they chose what to do on each day. I just loved hearing the 'Aw, man!"'s when they would have to stop reading a book when the chimes rang. They loved it!