Thursday, September 13, 2012

Daily 5 update and questions

This is week  4 of school. It's the first week in about 3 weeks that I've been at school everyday. My life has been way too crazy lately on top of short weeks. We have had testing this week and last week that have disrupted our flow, but we've been working on daily 5 since day 1. I have my same kids from last year and they did really well with read to self. So building up our stamina wasn't too bad at all. We've built up to 20 minutes and I think sometimes we probably go a little longer if I'm reading with a child. But I just haven't gotten my rhythm yet. I'm trying to meet with my students and read with them. I need to be starting on some groups but I can't seem to get it all together. I think I'm not using my time wisely enough yet. I'm not sure what I need to do to get myself organized better. I'm having a couple of issues that I was hoping someone out there in the bloggy world would have some wisdom about.
The first is that my students don't pick out books that are on their level. We've talked about good fit books. We review the concepts before choosing our books. But I can't monitor each of them as they pick books. I redirect them to books that they need to be choosing. I have an issue with making kids read certain books. I want them to choose books they are interested in and want to read as well as books that are on their level. Anyone else having this problem?
We've been practicing read to someone for about a week now. It is not going as well as I would like. I'm having a hard time matching my students up. I don't really want them to pick their own partner because I have some pretty big discrepancies in abilities in the class. I have been encouraging the I read, you read method of read to someone. I was hoping that would help my students that aren't great readers yet be a little more confident if they were listening to someone read first. But then that means pairing up readers who aren't on the same level. Do you pair your students up? Do you do it where they are on the same level or where one is obviously a better reader? Then I have 2 students that won't do what they are suppose to do at all. They won't read with anyone. They just sit there or they argue with their partner. Right now I'm not letting them practice read to someone. They have to just read to self. Anyone else have problems like that?
I think we'll get there. It is just taking more time than I would like. I need some patience. Next week will be good because there won't be any interruptions. No testing and a five day week! Maybe we'll finally get some things done.
I would love to hear how daily 5 is going in your room. Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know.

2 comments:

  1. I do not love Read to Someone. So I try not to make it something my kiddos love to do either:-) I let them choose to read with whomever they want, but they have to read our basal readers that go with the reading program. We also have health, math, and social studies books. With all the short stories, articles, etc something in there will interest them. Overall, it seems to work well. We have two different basal readers one for units 1-3 and one for 4-6. I don't teach using the reading curriculum, so they have complete freedom over what they read from within the books. (And then some kids just do not have the privilege of read to someone...and hopefully can earn it later.)

    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

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  2. We are at 3:58 on read to self building stamina!!! WHOA! I love daily 5...
    I'm your newest follower! I'd love for you to hop on over to my blog when you can! :)

    Elizabeth
    Mrs. Hodge and Her Kindergarten Kids


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