CAFE menu and standards

I've finally begun adding my strategy cards to my CAFE board. Yee-haw!  I teach in a very standards driven school so adding the standards to my CAFE board was a no-brainer...why didn't I think of it the first time through? Live and learn! So I'm sharing my copy of my CAFE headings from my board.  The format gets messed up every time I load it up as a document to scribd or google docs, so I'm loading 2 files which are pdfs. 1 is the GPS 3rd grade version, one is a plain jane version with only the CAFE letters and titles, no standards. I will be sharing pictures this week of my classroom, now that we are finishing up our first 6 weeks and things are they way they are going to stay...I think. ;)

Student Checklists

I wanted to give my independent 3rd graders a way of holding themselves accountable during every segment of our D5 time since most of their work time I am coaching or conferring and not pacing around the room looking for kids to redirect. They have done a fabulous job at this for the most part, so this checklist is just to help them keep that focus going.

I am sharing it as a document, not as a pdf, so that it can be changed. My plan right now is to give every student 5, and 5 plastic sleeves to put them in and use expo markers to mark their sheets. I may use this temporarily, or I may change our goals, just depending on their needs as time goes by. I want every segment of their D5 time to be intentional, purposeful, on target and full of diligent work...and they do too! It's so satisfying to watch them at work!

More Daily 5 :)

 My students are loving the choice that comes with using the Daily 5 framework, and I am loving how I'm not lecturing constantly, or grading worksheets all night. I love that they are doing real work, real reading, and I'm coaching them as they need it, on the specific skills they need. I just love our D5 time...even with our scripted program being included! It's truly a framework that you can adjust to fit your mandates, and your teaching style.

I have these on my board and the students refer to them throughout our D5 time. My copy has our Georgia Performance Standard that relates to each time. I am including a freebie link to both sets, the 3rd grade GPS, and the posters with no standards. Please let me know if you use them. :)

This version has the 3rd grade GPS

No standard on this copy

Main Idea D5 style!

One thing I'm enjoying about using the Daily 5 framework is how everything can be connected. We have been talking about Main Idea, and I wanted to see if the concept was understood, outside of the typical worksheet. I wanted to see it in action! I chose the book for "Listen to Reading" so I would know the story, I gave choices for the Buddy Read book, and they attached their writing sample so I could check for accuracy. The only thing I couldn't check for sure was the "Read to Self" book, and most of the books they are reading I am familiar with anyway! Here is the PDF.

My results...they totally get main idea. :)  They still need help on deciding what the "good" details are though, which details truly support the main idea, and which are just interesting details that make the story more memorable. So glad to have a direction to focus on, and not just spin my wheels. :)

Let me know how you teach "supporting details"...I'm open to suggestions!

SRA and D5

Anyone out there have a scripted SRA program that is mandatory, and you are trying to use the Daily 5? If so, I would like to collaborate, pick your brain, and share ideas!

I PICK Rap

I found a great rap by a 2nd grade class on You Tube. You know you are a teacher nerd when you end up You Tubing teaching strategies....

"I PICK"

 I've read and re-read The Daily Five and I'm ready to "read to learn" and not just "learn to read". My favorite graphics site Lettering Delights is having a great sale, tons of packages for only 50 cents. I spent just a few dollars and am squealing in delight over the cuteness. So, of course I had to make something, and of course, I want to share.

 This "I Pick" poster is just one way to help children pick out books that are appropriate for them. Click here to download the Word version. 

Edited to Add: Appears the Word version is wonky for some people, so I also have a PDF. Hope that helps! 

Daily 5 Posters

 I have been pinning and came across some Daily 5 posters that were TOO CUTE! I had the same graphics and reworked them to be multicultural. I'm going to attempt to do a version of Daily 5 this year so I'm preparing myself mentally, and my classroom physically!



I made 2 sets. One set has all 5 steps on 2 peices of paper. You can find it here.

The other set has a title page, and 1 step on each page. That's 6 pages total. You can find it here.
(If you read the comments you will see that link was broken, but it's fixed now...I think!)