Allison Behne
Issue #373
I vividly remember the first year I used the Daily 5 structure in my classroom. Before the start of the year, I reworked the design of the classroom, organized the library, and prepared book boxes. I subscribed to The Daily CAFE website, read The Daily 5 a second time, and felt confident that this structure was going to be a game changer.
As my students sat in the gathering area for the first time, I introduced our quiet signal and taught Three Ways to Read a Book with a brain break in between. After the launching lessons, and gradually building stamina, I recall how excited I was the first time I heard the quiet hum of reading and saw independent, engaged readers. I was so excited, I picked up the phone and called a colleague a few rooms down to tell her she had to come check it out. This structure was truly working!
I continued to follow the launch as it was explained in the book and on the website, and everything was great until we were three weeks into the school year and I realized I had not covered as much content as my colleagues. I was behind and we were only three weeks in! Tempted to doubt and second-guess the whole process, I went back to the text and the website, spoke with other teachers using Daily 5, and heard over and over, "If you invest in the process, you will get the desired outcome." I decided to trust the process, and now that I have seen it work, I am really glad I did.
The Daily 5 structure is designed so that students gradually build stamina as independent readers and writers, and it does take time . . . It should take time. It is the repetition of the stamina building that trains the muscle memory and develops the desired behaviors in students. Although we still cover content during stamina building, once the muscle memory is trained and students are independent readers and writers, we can turn the focus fully on content. When we do this, we not only catch up, but move forward faster.
Spending time on the process is an investment in the product. When we take the time needed to communicate expectations and practice behaviors, the payoff of independence, achievement, and engagement is unlimited.
News from The Daily CAFE
Questions Answered . . .
Do you have any grade-level-specific lessons? We have just begun to create these. Three are available now, and our goal is to make a set for every strategy on the CAFE Menu, so stay tuned. Grade-level-specific lessons are available for the following:
1 Abundant Easy Reading
2 Tune In to Interesting Words*
3 Use Prior Knowledge to Connect with Text*
Purposeful Practice . . .
Keeping Track of Young Students Early in the Year*
Ever worry about misplacing a child in the first days of school? This clever idea will help alleviate those fears.
Assessment Matters . . .
CAFE Brain Break and Assessment—An Engaging Way to Assess Student Strategy Knowledge*
This engaging activity is a favorite among students and helps teachers assess student knowledge of CAFE strategies.
Try Today . . .
High Accountability for Students Who Aren't Reading Enough*
This must-watch video models respectful and straightforward language to a student who is not following through with the expectation to read each day.
Focus on Health . . .
"The Blues" by Clair Moehrle
Teachers empower students to put their thoughts into words.
*Available to members
Professional Development Opportunities
2015 Live WorkshopsAt each location, we focus the first day on The Daily 5 and Math Daily 3. Day two is CAFE Intensive. Learn about all the new content by following any of these links.
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2015 Online SeminarsPrefer short bursts of information combined with independent learning? Each session offers separate seminars on Daily 5, CAFE, and Math Daily 3. October 4–October 31 Up & Running with the Daily 5
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Our new how-to video, shot in third-grade and fifth-grade classrooms, is available through subscription for online streaming or as a DVD at