The Daily Five by Boushey, Gail Published by Stenhouse Publishers 1st (first) edition (2006) Paperback Paperback

This book helps get your literacy program revamped in your class. It has children reading silently, reading aloud, working on writing, listening to books on tape and practicing word strategies. It has students working independently to allow time for the teacher to do guided reading, one-on-one conferencing for writing or reading, working with small groups on reading strategies, etc. If you're interested in the Daily 5, do not start it without the book. The reason it works is because of the way it eases students into the routine. I started it midyear, and my students LOVE it! The best part is, I love it as well AND it doesn't require me to spend all weekend coming up with new ideas for centers. I would also recommend getting their "CAFE" book which will help you track assessment in the Daily 5. It is incredibly simple to follow (I'm a first year teacher), but the change in student learning and productivity is very quick and obvious.You will need access to many books for kids on a variety of levels, so get your librarian on board as well!I recently asked my students how they felt with the new daily 5 implementation. Many students had expressed frustration with our center activities, feeling like they were just stuff to keep them busy while I pulled back students for guided reading. I asked them how they felt now, an they told me that they really loved the Daily 5 because they got to pick the order in which they worked on literacy each day. They felt like they were getting better at reading because they were reading so much more than we ever have before. Love when kids notice a difference!The book is targeted for K-3, but the back tells you how to adapt it to 4-6 (or higher if you want!). It cuts out word work and listening to reading for those students because the focus moves to comprehension for upper grades as most have mastered accuracy and fluency.It's sent from Amazon, so the condition is perfect and it came in a week. I recommend the book to every teacher I know!

I can't recommend this book enough! This book is extremely practical, yet also theoretically sound. Having just come out of a teaching program, I didn't know how to set up my reading block and teach my little second graders how to engage in independent reading activities. This book provides a great sequence of well-scaffolded lessons (very well explained) that will help any elementary school teacher set up an independent reading time to allow him or her to engage in small-group instruction (guided reading, anyone?).The independent activities that students choose from are: read to self, read to someone, listen to reading, word work, and work on writing. All activities are highly engaging and able to be differentiated based on student reading level (choosing good-fit books at their levels) and need. I taught my students all of the above, except I replaced word work with Raz Kids. One of my colleagues also added another station, which is so easy to do once you've set up the expectations laid out in this book.It is basic enough for kinders to understand, yet engaging enough for 5th graders to enjoy.

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.)

This is a professional development book that was recommended to me by one of my graduate professors. There were many aspects of this book that would be very beneficial to elementary teachers, especially at the primary level. The main goal of the book is to foster literacy independence in the elementary grades. It is another way to look at the "centers" problem of kids being off task and not engaged in meaningful literacy practice. This resource is great at assisting teachers how to set up "the daily 5" and maintain its effectiveness during the course of the year. The book focuses on five tasks: Read to Yourself, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Listen to Reading, and Spelling/Word Work. The students work on building stamina within each of these areas so they become independent and learn to practice these tasks effectively. While the students are engaged in "the daily 5" the teacher has adequate time to meet with students in small groups and individually.This book would be very effective at the primary level and there are many aspects of the book I would tweak and incorporate into intermediate classrooms to assist student literacy independence and stamina. If you are a primary teacher who is struggling with little Jimmy walking around bothering other kids during guided reading time, then you need this book.