Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Daily 5: Slow and Steady Wins the Race + Freebie!

Okay I'll admit it...I've been chomping at the bit to really get Daily 5 going in my class. I've tried to be patient as my little readers build their reading stamina (or make their reading muscles stronger as we say in my class!). We're finally to the point that we've dropped my second read-to-self practice session as we are now reading 15-20 minutes per session (Yippee!) and have replaced the second session with literacy workstations. Hooray! Not a full Daily 5 model yet- that will take a few more weeks but we're getting a little closer every week! So right now I'm at the point where I'm slowly introducing word work and other daily five options. Right now my schedule looks like this:
  • Reading Mini-Lesson + Read-to-Self (20-25 minutes)
  • Phonics Lesson  (10 minutes)
  • Literacy Work Stations- Students work at one of 5 stations (20 minutes)
  • Writing Mini-Lesson + Work on Writing (30 minutes)
A few points...I don't do this whole block all together. We do the first three and then break for snack and recess. My little ones are still at the point where they declare they are starving around 8:00. So trying to get anything out of them without a snack break is near impossible. I'm hoping to slowly push our snack time to 10:30 (we eat at 1:00- crazy, right?!) so we can fit in a whole literacy block. I'm brainstorming on how to break into smaller writing groups so we can give more attention these first few weeks when little writers need so much one-on-one help. I'll let you know what I come up with! Oh well- back to the point- word work options.

During the literacy work stations period we've been doing computers (gotta love STARFALL!),  independent word work (practicing the stations we've already introduced in a teacher group), introducing two word work options with one of my assistants, writing with my other assistant, and introducing a reading option with me. So far we've learned done geo-board letters, Popsicle letters (we made our names),  letter beads (we strung the whole alphabet on pipe cleaners!), pattern block letters,  matchbox cars on letter highways, and letter sorts. I've been working on introducing our pocket chart center this week.
Word Work: Sorting letters on alphabet mat and using pattern blocks to make letters (check out the alphabet materials on makinglearningfun.com) !

Writing: Last week we worked on writing our names. This week we've been practicing counting words in sentences and drawing "magic lines" ( a la' Kidwriting!). We use whiteboards to make it more fun!

Making our names with Popsicle sticks!


Stringing alphabet beads in ABC order on pipe cleaners. The alphabet strip is actually from the bordette section at schoolbox. It came with like 20 in a pack for $3.99. They make great alphabet references for word work and writing stations!
A couple years ago I bought a bunch of Sterlite five-drawer units. I'll admit that these drawers have sat labelless for the past three years. This summer I finally got around to making labels for my word work options. If you've made it through my jabbering above, I wanted to offer a freebie. These are the labels I made for my drawers. Just click on the pictures to download them in google docs (For some reason google docs won't let me upload it as a word file. If you have trouble with these- just leave your email in a comment, and I'll send them to you in word format!).


Sometimes people ask me for advice on how to run Daily 5 in kindergarten. My biggest advice? Adopt the tortoise philosophy: "Slow and steady wins the race." Take time to enjoy the beginning steps of reading and writing in your little ones. Come November you'll look around and you'll be amazed at what your little ones can do.

So that's what Daily 5 looks like right now in my classroom. How's it going in yours?  What are some of your kids favorite word work centers?

Happy Reading!
Jessie

20 comments:

  1. I enjoyed this post and would love the labels. Thanks I am starting D5 for the first time, plus a new reading series. Whew! Wish me luck.

    Elissa familyaga@hotmail.com

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  2. Love this! I saw those race car letters& now can't remember where....can you help me remember where to get them so I can print them off? thanks so much

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  3. @Beadboard- the race car letters are from makinglearningfun.com. The kids love them!

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  4. Thank you for reminding me..."slow and steady wins the race"! I feel so over-welmed. I have to remember they haven't even been in Kindergarten a month!

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  5. I love your blog! If you could send me the labels in word- that would be great. cheroc@sbcglobal.net

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  6. I am responsible for training teachers to use daily 5 in the classroom. The K teachers think I am keeping them out. I am glad I found your blog and your encouragement! Slow and steady does win the race. I loved your word work ideas, could you send that to me in an email. I teach first and this is just up my alley! :)
    jessica_carter@scps.k12.fl.us

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  7. Hi! I would love this in word! Can you please send it to me at iversonkj@gmail.com?

    Thanks so much!

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  8. Hi

    I was able to get the second set but not the first set. Thanks for offering to email them. I really appreciate it. My email address is postagedue1@gmail.com

    debbie

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  9. Hi, I just came upon your site through a pinterest find. I would like these labels, but they would not load in Google docs. My email is lgnmill@comcast.net.
    Thanks!
    I just found a discarded piece of furniture in our school that has 25 drawers. The ideas you have will be great to fill those drawers!

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  10. I love this! Could I get the labels in a worddoc they won't seem to load in googledocs. Thanks! kitcatcoleman@gmail.com

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  11. I would love to use your lables. Thank you for sharing.

    Renee-


    stewartr@greenvilleisd.com

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  12. Please send your Word Work labels and Book Bin labels in MS Word to minh-trangdo@msn.com. Thanks

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  13. Hi!

    I can load these labels but before I do, what size labels did you buy to print these out? Please let me know via email at vrreid@fcps.edu
    Thanks!

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  14. I would love them in word. Thanks so much.
    yvonneeyrg@gmail.com

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  15. I would love these labels! Can you please email them to me to kinderla04@yahoo.com
    Thanks for sharing!

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  16. MelissaAugust 17, 2014 at 12:43 AM
    I would love love love these labels. Can you please send me them at glittergirl260@aol.com
    Thanks. Melissa

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  17. Love these! angela.corum@stokes.k12.nc.us

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  18. These are great! Can you send them to my email? mlpeterson8@gmail.com

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  19. I love this can you please send...I am slowly going to add daily five and what a great resource...thanks beth
    bethieb3@yahoo

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