The Daily Five

This year, there are two new programs I have implemented that are running particularly well.  The first is the Behaviour Clip Chart (more about that another time) and the second is The Daily Five.  I'd like to share my thoughts about The Daily Five, in the hopes that I can encourage someone reading this to explore it a little further.

I remember hearing about The Daily Five and quickly dismissing it as just another way to run centres. Nobody at my school was using the approach, and I didn't give it another thought until mid summer. That's when I began to read great things about it on ProTeacher. It certainly helps that American teachers start their school year much earlier than we do here in Canada.  At first, I was skeptical due to the fact that I teach in a half-day program, where we have little (read: no) time for "fluff".  But, the teacher from my Pen Pal class was in a similar situation and had implemented the system the previous year.  She had nothing but good things to say about it!  

So, I did what any other crazy teacher does in the summer.  I ordered the book and read it from cover to cover...in one day.  Then, I read it again, taking notes this time.  I was hooked!  If you haven't read the book, don't just take my word on it, go out and get yourself a copy!

I followed the instructions pretty closely and it worked out just like the book said it would.  The kids are actively engaged in reading from beginning to end.  So far, we are only working with three of the choices: Read to Self, Read to Someone, and Listen to Reading, but I plan to introduce the remaining two choices, Work on Words and Work on Writing, this coming week.  I am absolutely amazed by the fact that the students sit and read the WHOLE time, without bothering one another.  It's like a teacher's dream come true.  While they are reading, I have time to work one-on-one or with a small group of students and I don't have to put any effort into managing the remaining students.  I LOVE The Daily Five!