I am reading both books right now (I am also reading Debbie Diller). The whole "program" sounds very exciting but I have some reservations. I have a very small room and limited resources. I don't know how each child could have his or her own book box because I definitely have storage issues. Also, the students really wouldn't have anywhere other than a desk to read at. I also do not have many (really only one or two) books on tape or CD. I was going to record some but my tape player does not have a microphone jack! And I guess my biggest concern is that my school is totally and completely focused on the state test results. Although the Daily 5 and CAFE sound great they are not "test prep" in the sense that my admin likes us to do. I am so tired of hearing and talking about the state test...I just want my students to develop a love of learning! So I guess the point of this post is can Daily 5 be used in a situation like mine?
Absolutely. I have catered it to meet my needs. Here are a few tips that may help you. -Use ziploc bags as "book boxes." -Use the computer for "listen to reading" (there are a bunch of great sites that will read to kids) -Ask parents to record themselves reading books to build your listening library. -public libraries have lots of audio books available. -Can you switch to tables?
I have a super small room, but the kids are small too, so they can fit almost anywhere. They love sitting in corners, on floors, or pretty much anywhere that's not in their seat. In my opinion, reading, and anything literacy focused, is one of the most important things they can be doing, especially in those lower elementary grades. Are your kids already testing in 2nd grade??? In addition, if you include books that go along with what they are learning, this will only increase their knowledge and fluency all at the same time. You will be amazed by how much good all this reading does for them. There's so much accidental learning that happens in the meantime, too. Really, who can argue against all that time spent reading??? They become very independent, and love their reading time. I even hear some kids go, "Oh man" when I have to stop them from their reading time.
You can definitely implement in a small room. Students can keep books in their desks or on pouches on their chairs. You can also keep a CAFE board individually with the students in binders if you have limited wall space. If admin is really focused on test prep, you could always spend some time working on test prep and some time working on the daily 5 (it doesn't have to be all you do in reading).
If you have a document camera or projector, you can use that too! Sometimes I make a mini bulletin board on a piece of construction paper or in a word document and put it up on the screen just during the time that we need it.
Yes, Daily 5 CAFE can be done in your room. Can some read/work in the hall? Listening to reading time can be a read aloud by you or a parent. CD's at a public library. Listening to reading on the computer. I saw book bags hung on the wall. Good luck and keep your questions coming...
A group of us bloggers are actually doing a book study for using both these books in the upper grades. Message me and I'll be happy to send you the info. I'd post it here but I know they frown upon us posting blogs. But it should be a great book study with a lot of feedback from many other teachers!
Our public library has these great little audio book players that the students can plug their headphones directly into--no worry about CD players, etc. Also, you can get a headphone jack splitter relatively inexpensively (about $15) so more than one student can share each one.
I have used my "listening center" for the kiddos to listen to reading, but have limited it to books that I have 4-5 copies of, so the kids can read (or pretend to) along. Should I limit it to those, or can they listen to something that they can't track? I had a "reading specialist" tell me they had to read with their eyes at the same time. Opinions?
I think that you want students to be able to follow along. However, two students could share the same book.
