What are the beliefs that you deem as essential when it comes to
teaching reading? Do any of these beliefs match the foundations of
Daily 5? What support do you need to implement the foundations into
your classroom? Please post your responses below.
In my previous post, I addressed the first part of this question, “What are the beliefs that you deem as essential when it comes to teaching reading?” Therefore, I will be starting with the second question, “Do any of these beliefs match the foundations of Daily 5?” My short answer is, yes, as a matter of fact, all of them do. The Daily Five lists trust, choice, community, sense of urgency, stamina and stay out of the way as the fundamental principles of a reading classroom. Below, I have relisted my non-negotiables. Beside each one, I have added the Daily 5 principles that match. •I believe students not only need, but deserve, a calm, quiet environment to concentrate and learn. (trust, community, stamina) •I believe students need to learn how to work independently to become better problem solvers. (trust, community, stamina) •Small group instruction happens every single day. (trust, community, stamina, sense of urgency) •I am off limits during conferencing or reading group time unless there is blood, fire, vomit or aliens. (trust, community, stamina) •My time with each student is valuable and each child deserves my undivided attention. (trust, community) •I believe all students deserve to be engaged in meaningful literacy activities that will help them become better readers, writers and thinkers. (trust, choice, community, sense of urgency, stamina, stay out of the way) •Read, read, read (trust, choice, community, sense of urgency, stamina, stay out of the way)
Admittedly, stamina was something I expected, but probably did not do the best job of allowing my students to build. It was not until I taught four year olds, that I realized the importance of this principle. Coming from an intermediate classroom, I entered the primary world expecting way too much. I left my preschool classroom the first few weeks of school feeling defeated, wondering why I couldn’t keep control and what I was doing wrong. Duhhh! They were four! Sitting on the carpet and listening to me for more than five minutes was impossible for them developmentally, working in one station for any length of time was torture for some. It was about mid-October when I finally realized the mistake I had made. I had not gradually increased the expectation nor had I set a reasonable expectation for students of this age. Looking back, this was not just a problem in my four year old class, but it was also an issue for my fourth grade students. It just so happens, ten year olds can “pretend” much better than a four year old and they have more control over their actions. Well, most of the time. Had I known then what I learned with those precious four year old darlings, my fourth grade literacy block could have been more productive. In response to the last question, “What support do you need to implement the foundations into your classroom?” My short answer is teamwork. I have been blessed in many ways throughout my career as an educator, but my biggest blessing has been my colleagues. Finding support amongst my peers has always been my avenue. I will be the first to admit, I have never had an original idea in my life. It has been through collaboration that my best ideas take shape and I have been able to overcome difficult classroom obstacles. At Klondike, we are not only blessed to work with fabulous teachers, but we have an instructional coach. (wink, wink) She is here to support you in any way she can.
In my previous post, I addressed the first part of this question, “What are the beliefs that you deem as essential when it comes to teaching reading?” Therefore, I will be starting with the second question, “Do any of these beliefs match the foundations of Daily 5?” My short answer is, yes, as a matter of fact, all of them do.
ReplyDeleteThe Daily Five lists trust, choice, community, sense of urgency, stamina and stay out of the way as the fundamental principles of a reading classroom. Below, I have relisted my non-negotiables. Beside each one, I have added the Daily 5 principles that match.
•I believe students not only need, but deserve, a calm, quiet environment to concentrate and learn. (trust, community, stamina)
•I believe students need to learn how to work independently to become better problem solvers. (trust, community, stamina)
•Small group instruction happens every single day. (trust, community, stamina, sense of urgency)
•I am off limits during conferencing or reading group time unless there is blood, fire, vomit or aliens. (trust, community, stamina)
•My time with each student is valuable and each child deserves my undivided attention. (trust, community)
•I believe all students deserve to be engaged in meaningful literacy activities that will help them become better readers, writers and thinkers. (trust, choice, community, sense of urgency, stamina, stay out of the way)
•Read, read, read (trust, choice, community, sense of urgency, stamina, stay out of the way)
Admittedly, stamina was something I expected, but probably did not do the best job of allowing my students to build. It was not until I taught four year olds, that I realized the importance of this principle. Coming from an intermediate classroom, I entered the primary world expecting way too much. I left my preschool classroom the first few weeks of school feeling defeated, wondering why I couldn’t keep control and what I was doing wrong. Duhhh! They were four! Sitting on the carpet and listening to me for more than five minutes was impossible for them developmentally, working in one station for any length of time was torture for some. It was about mid-October when I finally realized the mistake I had made. I had not gradually increased the expectation nor had I set a reasonable expectation for students of this age.
Looking back, this was not just a problem in my four year old class, but it was also an issue for my fourth grade students. It just so happens, ten year olds can “pretend” much better than a four year old and they have more control over their actions. Well, most of the time. Had I known then what I learned with those precious four year old darlings, my fourth grade literacy block could have been more productive.
In response to the last question, “What support do you need to implement the foundations into your classroom?” My short answer is teamwork. I have been blessed in many ways throughout my career as an educator, but my biggest blessing has been my colleagues. Finding support amongst my peers has always been my avenue. I will be the first to admit, I have never had an original idea in my life. It has been through collaboration that my best ideas take shape and I have been able to overcome difficult classroom obstacles.
At Klondike, we are not only blessed to work with fabulous teachers, but we have an instructional coach. (wink, wink) She is here to support you in any way she can.