I am just going to start by saying… more like shouting: I LOVE DAILY FIVE!

I would absolutely recommend it to any and ALL educators!

I read the second version of this book, specific to elementary grades, and it was such a fantastic read, I couldn’t put the book down! Since then, I have lent the book out to numerous colleagues who are also adapting the Daily 5 principles into their classrooms too! Thanks Gail Boushey & Joan Moser… YOU ROCK!

This program is incredible and the way it engages children and provides them with hands-on and fun ways to learn how to read and write is INCREDIBLE!!

In my Kindergarten class, I started out introducing the children to Read to Self first. We explained what reading to self should look like, what the children should be doing and how they can maintain and lengthen their stamina to read for longer periods of time. The first question most of my kids said to me was: “we can’t read though”! NO PROBLEM! I explained to the children the three ways to read a book:

• Read the Words (if this is an option at the given time)
• Read the Pictures (make up a story from the images in the book)
• Retell the Story (from memory of reading it before)

The children were on board with this and got started right away with choosing a quite spot where they could work on these skills. In my classroom I allow children to sit in any spot that they find comfortable: on the floor, in their chairs, under the tables, in a bucket, with pillows, whatever is comfy and cozy to them, because who doesn’t like to be snuggled up and comfy to read a good book!?

In this video a child is displaying how they are reading the pictures to create meaning of the story. I love how enthusiastic he is!

The next part I introduced was Read to Someone. The children understand how to read EEKK – elbow to elbow, knee to knee with their partner and they continue to focus on building that stamina for reading with a peer. The children also work on taking turns with reading pages of the book, as well as choosing only one or two books at a time.

In this video these children are working together at Read to Someone, taking turns reading the pictures for meaning.

The next introduction was Listen to Reading. At this station, children can choose a device that allows them to listen to someone reading to them. Children can work at iPads, LeapFrog Tag readers, books on CD and lap tops to do so.

The most recent introduction was Word Work. These stations are fun literacy games and activities that teach children anything from sight words to upper and lower case letter formation. Children also start blending letter sounds together to form words. Word Work can also be completed with iPad games and activities, as well as more hands-on manipulatives as seen in the pictures below.

The last component to Daily 5 that I will introduce is Work on Writing. This station will allow children to work on writing skills, allowing them to build confidence with this task. Children can complete free writing, where they let their imaginations take them on writing journeys, or they can use picture prompts, story cubes or Animated Literacy excerpts to help get them started. I am also excited to have the children incorporate ChatterPix Kids into their work which will help  with bringing their pictures and writing to life. An example, shown below, is our writing activity for our thankful Thanksgiving turkeys. Children were able to create a piece of art and add their writing to it. They can then read their writing with ChatterPix, bringing it to life! The kids absolutely LOVE it!

Children are also always excited to share their learning with family via their Seesaw Digital Journals!

I love Daily 5 because the children love it so much! They work on independence, doing things on their own, and social skills when partnered with peers. They get to learn through literacy play involving whole body learning, helping to ensure concepts stick, allowing them to master and apply these skills further and in deeper ways!

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below, otherwise visit me on Twitter @ClimbandGrow!

~Miss Kim