Daily 5: Our Language Arts Framework
The Daily Five is a way of structuring the reading block so every student is independently engaged in meaningful literacy tasks. Students receive explicit whole group instruction and then are given practice time to read and write independently while I meet with individual students or small groups in order to meet their specific literacy needs. Each day students will have the opportunity to participate in the following 5 activities:
One thing you’ll notice that may be a change for you is a direct decrease in the number of worksheets your child brings home. While worksheets keep students busy, they don’t really result in the high level of learning I want for your child. Your child will be taught to select “Good Fit Books” or books they can read, understand and are interested in, which they will read during Daily 5. They will be spending most of their time actually reading, which research supports as the number one way to improve reading. I anticipate the motivation and enjoyment of reading will skyrocket when this gift of choosing their own books is accompanied by extended practice and specific reading instruction for each individual child. My hope is that children will develop a love of reading as they spend time reading books that they choose.
Please think of our classroom as you visit garage sales or clean your own child’s bookcase. It is my goal to make our classroom library as appealing as your favorite bookstore for browsing.
- Read to Self
- Work on Writing
- Read to Someone
- Listen to Reading
- Word Work
One thing you’ll notice that may be a change for you is a direct decrease in the number of worksheets your child brings home. While worksheets keep students busy, they don’t really result in the high level of learning I want for your child. Your child will be taught to select “Good Fit Books” or books they can read, understand and are interested in, which they will read during Daily 5. They will be spending most of their time actually reading, which research supports as the number one way to improve reading. I anticipate the motivation and enjoyment of reading will skyrocket when this gift of choosing their own books is accompanied by extended practice and specific reading instruction for each individual child. My hope is that children will develop a love of reading as they spend time reading books that they choose.
Please think of our classroom as you visit garage sales or clean your own child’s bookcase. It is my goal to make our classroom library as appealing as your favorite bookstore for browsing.