Daily 5

Daily 5 is simply...

Work on Words

Read to Self

Read to Someone

Listen to Reading

Work on Writing

I'll explain more about the key areas in the blog post but first I want to explain about the process that got me interested in and using the Daily 5 model in my class.  I've found over many years that I've not been entirely happy with my Reading programme and the things that were happening as part of it.  I've had some definite successes throughout the years but nothing that has sit in that 'good place' alongside my philosophy for what I want.  This year I felt really unhappy with the written content of my "Reading" programme and that this was becoming the main way they would respond to books.  I can't think of the last time I sat down and wrote a bunch of information or answered questions after I read a book. But I CAN think of many times where I will talk about the book - retell it, share events, get excited and talk about all the aspects of the book with other people.  I was seeing students who were not that keen on reading as it meant written tasks afterwards.  I don't ever want to discourage a student from the joys of reading just because of the written tasks.  So along came several days, hours and minutes rigorously searching the internet and talking to people via twitter about what they were doing and why?  Some great conversations and I thank all those that answered questions and sent through examples of Reading setups and planning!

Daily 5 kept coming through on several searches and when it was combined with the idea of the CAFE model, this is when I saw that it was something that would fit in with my classroom and the kids I had in front of me this year.  So I spent many more hours searching through a range of websites and blog posts before I jumped onto Book Depository and ordered the books; 

The Daily Five and The CAFE Book.

The books are fantastic, practical and easy to read.  They explain where/how the programme was developed from, how to implement it and also how flexible and adaptable it can be.  This is one of the main things I love about the programme - it's structured but flexible in allowing you to change and alter what you want. There are people who are using the programme across the world from NE classes through to Year 7/8 - for more information check out the weekly Daily 5 chat (#d5chat on twitter).

So, onto the basics.  Daily 5 is an independent management system where the students take part in 5 daily activities.  In our class we do 3 of the activities a day - this is based on the time that we have.  The 3 activities are based around spelling, reading, listening to reading and writing.  Students have anchor charts that help to remind them what they are expected to be doing during each activity.  This is created with the kids and is what I come back to when the kids are off task.

The students come in at the start of the day and set about self selecting the tasks that they want to complete.  They each have 3 names in 3 different colours (1 colour for each rotation).  There are 3 rotations and they must select a different task for each one.  There is a number next to each activity which lets them know how many students can be on that activity in each rotation.

At the end of the session the kids complete a checklist that helps them keep track of what they have completed for the day/week and what they need to do.  It helps me identify those kids that will avoid certain activities and give them ideas/feedback and to spend some time with them to help them get under way!

A quick overview of each activity:

Read to Self

This is about independent reading.  

Finding a quiet space to read to themselves aloud or in their head.  

Read to Someone

This is about reading in a pair or three. 

Finding a quiet space to read to their group and talk about their book.

Listen to Reading

This is about listening to good models of reading.

Most students do this on their iPods or the laptops.  My aim was to have the students recording stories for each other, but unfortunately we haven't gotten there yet.  It's on my list for next year for sure!

Work on Writing

Developing a love of writing - comics, newspapers, poems and more.  All the free writing that the students don't get to do in the dedicated writing sessions during the week.  This is about writing for enjoyment and fun - self selected topics and styles.

Work on Words

Spelling or Grammar. This is about teaching spelling rules and grammar.  We have worked on spelling sounds through to words like homophones/homonyms.  I select these based on needs in the classroom and set up weekly/fortnightly word lists from there.

So, this is the basic information behind Daily 5.  There are an amazing amount of websites, links and places you can go to for more in-depth information.  This is really a quick overview and I would recommend getting your hands on the books to read if you are keen on looking at implementing Daily 5 in your classroom.  Some of my favourite sites are:

The 2 Sisters

Mrs Maiolo

Delightful Daily5

Open the door to B4

Integrating Technology In The Primary Classroom

Next post will focus on what I am doing while the kids are working on the Daily 5 tasks 

- the CAFE model!