March 29, 2011

Organization Week Day 2: Literacy (aka Daily 3 Bootcamp)

Yesterday's organization linky party from Mrs. Patton's Patch was on literacy centers.
As yesterday was a crazy day (make that Crazy with a capital C!) as Mondays tend to be, I'm a day late.  :)  Actually, I'm a day late and a little off topic, since I don't use literacy centers in my classroom.  Centers just DON'T work for me and my kiddos.  I use the Daily 3, an adapted version of the Daily 5.  My Daily 3 are Read to Self, Work on Writing, and Word Work.  Since I am required to use a basal reading series (McGraw Hill Treasures), my Daily 3 is pretty different than the Daily 5 model presented in the Sisters' book, but the essence is still there! :)

After Shared Reading, we usually get to two Daily 3 rotations a day (3 if we're really flying!!).  During these rotations, I am always meeting with guided reading groups.  Because I teach the "big kiddos," I ask them to plan out their weeks on Monday morning.  I give each kid a literacy packet (don't cringe when I say packet, it's not busy work, I promise!!) that has their graphic organizer, vocabulary words, and comprehension questions for our weekly shared and guided reading.  On the front cover is a blank schedule that says when they will meet with me.  The kids then fill in which Daily 3 choice they plan to do when they are not meeting with me:

I also keep a visual schedule of who I'm meeting with when on the board:
(BTW, the kids choose their own group names, in case you were wondering how I came up with some of these gems!)

Now, for the Daily 3 choices.  Here are our anchor charts:
We made these as a class the first weeks of school when we were modeling, practicing, and implementing each of the Daily 3.  Now, I refer back to them when we need a little bit of re-teaching, which is fairly often. :)

Read to Self: The essence of the Daily 3 and literacy instruction. :)  For Read to Self, the kids read.  Plain and simple.  They bring their book box to a quiet spot in the room (I have pillows, bean bags, etc.) and read.

Work on Writing: For WoW (as the kiddos like to call it), most often the kids choose a piece from their Writing Workshop notebook/folder to work on.  Some will draft, some will revise/edit, others will grab construction paper or a laptop and publish.  It's very unstructured and I don't monitor it carefully, but it WORKS because I have a successful Writing Workshop foundation in the classroom.  Last year, it was like pulling teeth to get the kids to write during Daily 3.  This year, because we have spent so much time developing Writing Workshop, the kids not only know what it looks like to sit down and write, but they have pieces in progress at all times.  We store writing folders and notebooks in bins (by team) on top of our computer cart:
I am currently using notebooks and 4-pocket folders, but am considering switching to looseleaf binders next year...thoughts from anyone who does Writing Workshop?

Word Work: Okay, I JUST revamped my Word Work program TODAY.  (While I know most primary teachers use WW to focus on spelling, I focus on vocabulary during this time.  Spelling is important, but I think a rich vocabulary needs more of a focus in intermediate grades.)  Up until now, I was using vocabulary sentences for my main Word Work activity, plus some fun extras once those were finished.  You guys, it was awful.  It was like pulling teeth to get them done every week, plus I HATED grading them!  I had an epiphany in the past few weeks: my WW was tanking because I had failed to include the most crucial element of Daily 5--CHOICE!!!  So, my fabulous Lit Specialist and I brainstormed some new vocabulary activities.  Now, every week the kids will have to choose one activity from the Word Work board:
All of the handouts and instructions, as well as lists of our vocabulary words, are stored in the hanging files below:

Most of the new activities are things like graphic organizers that ask for parts of speech, sentence, picture, etc.  I also have options for writing a story using vocabulary words, illustrating the words with a sentence, sorting the words into categories, etc.  I'm hoping that these work better because of the choice factor.  I'll let you know how they go in the next few weeks!


Last but not least, here's how I display our vocab words.  We don't have a word wall, but I hang the 8 vocab words from Treasures in the blue pocket chart.  The red pocket chart has 6 social studies words + 2 "real world" words (based on current events).

 So, that's how we stay organized for literacy and run Daily 3 in my room!  Phew!

39 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you posted this. I have wanted to try Daily 5/Daily [insert number!] for a couple of years but never found a real way to incorporate it with our "reading series".

    Next year, we're getting Reading Street so I'm sure since it's the first year of it, I'll follow it as closely as possible and then change it up as I see fit.

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  2. Ahhhh I hope someday I can be as organized! This is actually a good time for these posts - my district is totally revamping our literacy curriculum/focus/materials for next year and I am on the committee to help decide what we're doing! They are thinking very seriously about Treasures and I would LOVE to hear your (and anyone else who uses it!) Thoughts about it! I would also love to hear how you use the series in your daily 5 schedule. Any thoughts or opinions you can share would be great!!!

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  3. Thanks for joining! I also do Daily 5, but probably should call it Daily 3 because we only get through that many stations with Writing Workshop being separate.

    Colleen Patton
    Mrs. Patton’s Patch

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  4. You are so inspiring! I'm longing to teach at an elementary school (currently at a middle school) and I can't wait to utilize some of your ideas!

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  5. I would love you forever if you didn't mind sharing the packet format you use. It has my mind thinking about how I might finally be able to use Daily 5 (3, 4, WHATEVER! lol) next year.

    sunnie1978 [at] gmail [dot] com

    Thanks!

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  6. Awesome post! I'm off to make some of this work for my first grade class. I also use Daily 5 and Treasures. Hopefully you are already a part of it but if not please join our DailyCAFE yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Daily_Five/

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  7. I love how you combine Daily 5 (3) with your reading series. One of the nice things about the program is that it can be adapted to your situation.

    Sacha
    http://luria-learning.blogspot.com/

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  8. Love your site! Any chance I could get a copy of your word work activity sheets?

    mbisbiglia@yahoo.com

    Thank you!

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  9. I also love your site. Not many blogs for 5th grade teachers!! I would love a copy of your word work activities sheets.

    Thanks,
    karen
    karen.king@hazelpark.k12.mi.us

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  10. LOVE your ideas for Word Work! I need the more challenging activities for my 4th graders as well! Would you mind sending me a copy of your work work activities? dana.weimann@Yahoo.com

    THANK YOU! = )

    Dana

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  11. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! Can't wait to implement something along these lines in my class!! Could I possibly have a copy of activities?? Thanks!!!

    elima005@gmail.com

    -Elise

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  12. This is amazing and is what I have been trying to implement in my classroom! Thank you so much for sharing. Is there anyway you could share the packet you use each week and the vocab sheets. Thanks!

    Amy

    Amoore@y115.org

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  13. Wondering ...
    How do you make sure that you don't end up with a TON of kids in one center rotation? Say 10 kids sign up for word work. Is that okay or do you have a method of setting a limit?

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  14. Wonderful ideas. I would really appreciate a copy of your word work activities. Thanks:) taratheteach@hotmail.com

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  15. Hi! Love your blog! I teach 4th and I am wanting to implement something similar next year. Can you email me descriptions or activities you used in word work? Thank you! Kayla
    Kaylagrant9@gmail.com

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  16. I would also love a copy of the packet you use too if at all possible :)
    Kaylagrant9@gmail.com

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  17. I love your idea!!! I will be teaching 5th grade next year and my school uses treasures also! Is there anyway you can share your word work activities and schedule sheets?
    Also do you have any ideas for a dual language class? Kbernal@galenaparkisd.com

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  18. I love this idea! I am a 5th grade teacher and we just started the Journey's reading series.I have just taken a class on the Daily 5 but am interested in making it the Daily 3 for 5th grade!Is there any way you would be willing to share copies of the packet and the activities you use.

    Thanks again!
    jbittner722@hotmail.com

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  19. I was so excited to read your blog. I have been wanting to do daily 5 but teaching 5 th grade I wasn't sure how to incorporate it all and our basal treasures. Do you have any suggestions after this last year?

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  20. I love this post! This will be my first year implementing the Daily 3 and you have the same three choices I will be using. I like how you have the students create their own schedule and write down where they will be going during each round when they are not with you. Is there any way you could send me the complete literacy packet? bnr0254@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

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  21. This is awesome! My fourth grade friend and I just went to a workshop this summer for Daily 5 and are very excited about incorporating this in our classrooms. I agree about the spelling. I think at 5th grade the vocab. work is more important. Could you send me your literacy packet as well? I have downloaded many things but I believe yours will be the most helpful. Thanks so much!!
    ghite@queenofpeace.cc

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  22. I love your ideas!! We are implementing Daily 5 (or3) this year. Would you mind sharing your literacy packet? My email is blackstacy@hotmail.com. I really like your vocabulary choice ideas! I plan on definitely using that idea too! Thanks for sharing!!!!!

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  23. Thank you for the great post. I have just finished reading Daily5 and CAFE and am so inspired. I like how you have modified it to suit older grades. I would also love a copy of your literacy packet and work work activities. Thank you. Patricia.baker@ucdsb.on.ca

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  24. Hi there- any way you can share your word work activities and weekly packet structure? I am a fifth grade teacher beginning Daily five, but more like daily 3 since we will only get to two or three rotations per day, this year. I am looking for all the help I can get. brandymichellemiller@gmail.com

    Thank you for posting!!!!

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  25. Great ideas! Are you sharing your word work activities? If yes, I'd love to see them. ljancsi@gwinn.k12.mi.us

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  26. I just revisited your site! You have some great ideas! Have you thought about sharing the packet you use for Word Work using vocabulary? It sounds like something worth sharing!

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  27. WOW! Our fifth grade team would love a copy of your Daily 5/4/3 program/activities or anything you would be willing to send!Thank you so much!
    nymagicgrl@aol.com

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  28. I am also interested in your working with words activities. If you put them on TPT I would buy them. If you're emailing them to people my email address is julier70@yahoo.com.

    Thanks for the great ideas!!

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  29. Where did you purchase the colored book "boxes/tubs"?

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  30. Hello! I'm so glad you shared your ideas! I just came across this blog post. I too call it Daily 3 because that's usually all we have time for. I am also required to teach using the basal. If you wouldn't mind sharing the packet you hand out on Mondays, I would really appreciate it! I used Daily 3 this past year for the 1st time. I LOVED it and so did the kids, but I know there are some kinks I need to work out. Also, how often do you meet with each of your guided reading groups? For instance, how many times per week do you meet with your higher group, grade level, etc. Thanks!!!
    sarahabwood@gmail.com

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  31. Hi!

    Love your blog! This coming year will be my fourth year teaching fifth grade....but I'm always trying to implement different ways of doing things! Could you send me that packet you hand out on Mondays? I would love to see it and get some ideas from you! mrsmichaud342@yahoo.com

    How long are your groups usually? We had a basal but we are not using the book anymore...I have leveled readers but I also want to do some novels during my reading groups. Do you have leveled readers with your basal series? I find them to be quite long and I'm trying to figure out how I want to use them (maybe read the beginning and have them finish it or vice versa). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

    Thank you!!

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  32. Hi!

    Love your blog! This coming year will be my fourth year teaching fifth grade....but I'm always trying to implement different ways of doing things! Could you send me that packet you hand out on Mondays? I would love to see it and get some ideas from you! mrsmichaud342@yahoo.com

    How long are your groups usually? We had a basal but we are not using the book anymore...I have leveled readers but I also want to do some novels during my reading groups. Do you have leveled readers with your basal series? I find them to be quite long and I'm trying to figure out how I want to use them (maybe read the beginning and have them finish it or vice versa). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

    Thank you!!

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  33. Hi!

    Love your blog! There aren't too many out there for fifth grade...I was thinking of starting one but I haven't made that leap yet! This will be my fourth year teaching fifth grade, but I'm always looking for different ways of doing things! In fact- your word work ideas are great too!!

    I was just wondering if you could send me that packet you hand out on Mondays? My email is mrsmichaud342@yahoo.com I would love to see it and get some ideas! I think that would help with my organization as well for the week.

    How long do you meet with your groups? We had a basal but we don't have to use the books anymore. We have leveled readers- do you have those? I find them to be quite long and I'm trying to figure out how I want to use them! I was thinking maybe starting it with them and having them finish it independently or vice versa. Any suggestions on this would would be greatly appreciated! I'm also thinking of doing novels with reading groups. Does anyone do that instead of leveled readers or basals? How is it working?

    Thank you!

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  34. Oh, if you are sharing your activities, I would love to see them! I am moving from 1st to 4th, and am struggling with Word Work ideas!

    lewright713@yahoo.com

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  35. i would love to see the word work sheets that you used. This is my 2nd year in 4th grade and I had a hard time getting reading groups in and i think that this may help a lot.

    thanks

    jmvantornhout14@gmail.com

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  36. Hi! Thanks for sharing. I would love to see and use the word work sheets you have. I am having a hard time finding effective word work ideas like what you have.

    latara.best@gmail.com

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  37. Hi Amy! How did your literacy specialist and you come up with these ideas? Are they from a book(s) or have you just acquired them over the years? Could I have a copy of your word work activities? Thank you!

    peachestwn@gmail.com

    Cristina

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  38. Thank you for posting this! I really want to implement the Daily 5 (daily 3) with my 5th graders this fall. I would love a copy of your word work sheets you use! Please reply to corri.deegan@gmail.com Thank you so much!

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