The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades

This book had so much information about workshop AND classroom management. It was worth the price I paid and it would have been worth double the price. Excellent for anyone who teaches children whether you are new to teaching, have many years experience, do workshop in your classroom or not.

The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades is a hands-on, practical book that can be readily implemented in any classroom. It's an easy read with great ideas, and a step-by-step guide. Thank you to the Sisters!

My first year, I tried using centers. It required a lot of work and management from my perspective. Also, some of the kids would just get going on something and they'd have to stop. With the methods of The Daily Five, the kids had choice (five choices). They could really get into what they were doing, whether it was reading a book, writing a story or working on vocabulary. When I would announce the end of literacy, sometimes they would beg for just a few more minutes. Because of this format, distractions are minimal and I was able to really focus on my reading groups. Team work was abundant and the kids learned a lot. Even my principal remarked on it! (I worked with 3rd graders my first year and 1st graders my second year. Both classes were integrated ESL classes.) This takes the literacy block to a whole new level. (I should add that I did not follow the methods perfectly since it was my first year using it, but the results were still amazing.)

I heard so much about this book, so I decided to purchase it. What a great resource!! I have done many of the ideas in this book individually, but not together as an organizational piece. Great book! Great examples! Great Motivator!

I am a first grade teacher and wanted to improve my literacy program by getting away from using worksheets during centers. This book offers great practical ideas including lessons and charts to use for "reading to self", "reading to someone" and "listening to reading" which I will implement in my classroom. I currently have a fairly successful Writer's Workshop and do a lot of making words activities but the book offers ideas in these areas as well. So many books just deal with concepts of literacy but this one breaks the teaching procedures into easily followed steps that I am excited about trying out with my next group of students. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to create an authentic learning atmosphere in a classroom and get away from a "packaged" curriculum so every student can work at their reading/writing level independently.