The Daily Five

...or as it is becoming known in my class, The Daily Three. How did I not do this sooner? This is revolutionizing my teaching and it's only been nine days!

So far we have been working at Read to Self only and our stamina has been built up to 10 minutes. We seem to have hit a small plateau, which is fine, but I am hoping that over the next few weeks we can build up more and more. We have also started Writer's Workshop in our class and have been adding ideas to our Writer's Notebook so that once we get to the point of been able to add Work on Writing to our Daily Three schedule we have ideas to write about a writing routines to draw from. The last part we will add in Word Work a few weeks down the road.

I have also introduced my students to the genre requirement that came about from my reading of The Book Whisperer this summer (see the sidebar for more posts on this great book!) and NOT ONE STUDENT complained about the idea of reading 40 books from a variety of genres. I think this is going to be a great year with my class! We have discussed the characteristics of Poetry, Realistic Fiction, Fantasy and Science Fiction and I really feel that just through our discussions of different genres I am already much closer with my students and know them better as individuals.

Last week I handed out my student's Literacy Journals. These are the notebooks they will use to write about their reading in, to demonstrate their knowledge of the reading strategies we will be covering in class. I have yet to decide how often I will have the students write in these journals and how often I will assessing them, instead choosing to let my class dictate my program. I do want to share our next Literacy Journal activity with you, however....

Through our mini-lessons before Read to Self my class and I have talked about choosing books and using the I PICK strategy outlined in The Daily Five. I have created these bookmarks/question sheets in order to assess my students' understanding of this strategy. I plan to have each student glue one of the strips into their Literacy Journals and answer each of their questions about the book they are currently reading. You could also laminate these and give them to the students to use as bookmarks so they have a constant reference of the strategy as well. Once I have collected their work I will be sure to post some examples so everyone can see how I used this in my class.

If you download these bookmarks/question sheets for use in your room please comment below with how you plan to use them so we can continue to pay the ideas forward!!

Reader's Notebook Cover

I think that the best I learned from The Book Whisperer this summer was the importance of celebrating reading and the readers in your class. I am in love with The Daily Five and my class has already built their stamina up to 10 minutes during Read to Self. I introduced the 40 book genre requirement today as part of my "voracious" reading mini lesson and not one single student said anything about 40 books being a lot to read!! NOT. ONE. In fact they looked like everything I was saying made sense and why wouldn't I expect them to read 40 books? A. Maze. Ing.

The next activity we are going to do is create a title page for our Reader's Notebooks. I have created this template for the students. I am going to have them write all the kinds of readers they are...for example:

I am a reader! I am a chapter book reader. I am a mystery reader. I am a blog reader. I am a Harry Potter reader. I am a magazine reader. I am a reader!!

Then they will fill in the box above their writing with some drawings of all the types of reader that they are, or it could be a collage, or any other kind of art they want! The basic idea is to create a cover page that celebrates each student as a reader! I am excited to get to Friday when I plan to do this activity and see all the ideas they come up with.

The Book Whisperer Genre Tally

I have redone my genre tally sheet...again! I think this is the last time, especially since school starts on Tuesday. I realized as I went through my classroom library that I actually only had one book I could classify as science fiction and I didn't want to have an entire science fiction requirement when I couldn't really offer those books to my students. I am hoping to start building on my science fiction collection and hopefully have more to offer my students in the future. If you would like to take a look at my new genre tally sheet head on over here. 

The next step is decide when to introduce the genre requirement. I am going to concentrate on getting Read to Self (from The Daily 5) underway during the first week of school and then if all is going well I will start to add in a little about the genres as mini-lessons each day. I am also hoping to sprinkle in some the CAFE stuff as well. My student teacher sure is going to get an education is starting a new program based on professional reading as I attempt to implement my reading from all three resources this summer!!

For all you who joined in for the Book Whisperer read along this summer I am curious about how toy plan to introduce and integrate the genre requirement into your literacy program. Sooner? Later? Still undecided? Please share your thoughts!!

Survey! Freebie!! One Last Linky Party!!!

I have been waiting to post this until I heard back from Donalyn with the answers to our second Q&A but she seems to be travelling and away from a good internet source so I decided to post this now rather than keep everyone waiting!!


So in an effort to keep on learning and do better next time I have created a short survey about The Book Whisperer Read Along. I would love if you participated at all- hosted a chapter/whisper, joined the linky parties, or just read along with us- could head over and complete the 5 questions! Just think of it as an End of the Year Evaluation....just like Donalyn recommends!!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Now, as a thank you for completing the survey here is a freebie for you. This is the Genre Tally Sheet and Definition Sheet I plan to use in my classroom this year. It has the adaptations I have made to the choices in genres so it may not fit exactly with what you want to use but it may help you make some decisions for your own room.


Go here to download my Genre Tally Chart and Genre Characteristics Worksheet. (I wanted to embed the document but I still can't seem to get it right...sad)




And now....time to celebrate!! 


Have you created something from your learning as we read through The Book Whisperer? Want to share? Excellent! Link up here.

A Big Thank You!!

We made it. We did it. We are on our way!

A huge thank you to everyone that participated in The Book Whisperer read along. I really appreciate all the help and support along the way. This was the first read along I have ever hosted and I think we all did a fabulous job. The best part has definitely been meeting so many passionate teachers and discovering their amazing blogs! A very big thank you goes out to all the TBA authors that hosted a chapter or whisper, that joined in on the discussions or just sent us their good wishes. I couldn't have done it without you guys......thanks.

Jennifer
Rowdy in First Grade
http://rowdyinfirstgrade.blogspot.com

Sydney
Lessons Learned
www.ohthelessonslearned.blogspot.com

Angelia
Extra Special Teaching
http://extraspecialteaching.blogspot.com

Deedee
Mrs. Wills Kindergarten
www.mrswillskindergarten.com

Shannon
6th Grade Scott Foresman Reading Street Resources
http://6thgradescottforesmanreadingstreetresources.wordpress.com/  

Brenda
Primary Inspired
www.primaryinspired.blogspot.com

Heidi
Swamp Frog First Graders
http://swampfrogfirstgraders.blogspot.com/

Robin (Miss W)
Miss W Teaches

Cindy- love2learn2day

Lynda
Curls and a Smile
http://curlsandasmile.blogspot.com

Mandy
A Special kind of Class
http://aspecialkindofclass.blogspot.com

Ashley
Teaching Happily Ever After
http://teachinghappilyeverafter.blogspot.com

Laral
Little Miss Kindergarten
http//littlemisskindergarten.blogspot.com

Rebecca
Mrs.  Rojas’ Teaching Resources
www.mrsrojasteaches.blogspot.com

Mary
My Teaching Spirit
http://www.myteachingspirit.blogspot.com/

Ashley
The Polka Dot Patch
www.thekinderpolkadotpatch.com

Janine
Faithful in First
www.faithfulinfirst.blogspot.com

Julie
Little Literacy Learners
http://littleliteracylearners.blogspot.com/

Kathy
First Grade a la Carte
www.firstgradealacarte.blogspot.com

Sydney
Lessons Learned
www.ohthelessonslearned.blogspot.com

Cheryl- Primary Graffiti

The Book Whisperer Read Along- Year End Evaluations and Chapter 7

I know, I know...I am super late posting my thoughts but it has taken me a few days to decompress and get back into the swing of things after 2 weeks at the cottage. Poor, poor me...too stressed after two weeks away! LOL, just kidding. I don't really have any real important reason for not posting other than laziness, tiredness and wanting to play with my baby.

I have however been browsing around the blogosphere and I see that many people are still joining in on this awesome read along and that my posts seem to have all worked properly..yeah!

First, my thoughts on year end evaluations- well, to be honest I haven't really ever used them since Teacher's College when I would use them at the end of my practicum but I can see the benefit they could provide in a classroom. I am a very reflective teacher, and person, by nature and so I am constantly thinking about how I can improve my program but it would be great to see things from a student's perspective as well. I think this will be a topic I revisit in June for sure.

And now...Chapter 7! I must admit I am a little sad that we have reached the end of The Book Whisperer. Reading this book, sharing my thoughts and reading through the thoughts of all of you has been a tremendous learning experience that I have really treasured this summer. I am also sad because the end of the read along means that we are that much closer to the end of the summer (much closer for some of you I know!), and the end of my maternity leave at home with my baby darling. I am choosing to return to work in September after only 8 months at home and my husband will be taking over for the last 4 months with the baby. I know returning to work in the right choice for me but as it gets closer I can't help but get a little misty every time I think about being away from my baby everyday. But really, this has nothing to do with Chapter 7....

 For me I think the best part of this chapter was the section titled What Are We Preparing Students For? It's really the most important question of all I think. This is the question that should guide all of our teaching, regardless of grade level, subject, etc. What do we want our students to be prepared to handle in the future?

I want my students to be able to make decisions, problem solve, understand the world around them, to interact with others in an intellectual way, to question the wrongs of the world, to find a way to make the world a better place, to give back, to right social injustices, to go to a book store or a library and be excited, to read the paper, or the internet, or books, or graphic novels, or whatever they want. I want them to be able to handle anything life throws at them, to be able to pursue their academic and occupational dreams. I want them to be able to voice their opinion on matters that are important to them and to the world. I want them to read.

I am excited to go back to work and put everything I have learned from this read along in place. I am excited to be part of a learning community again and most of all I am excited for the years to come when I can help daughter to become a reader.

The Book Whisperer Read Along- Chapter 7

The last chapter....sad? exhilarated? motivated? everything and more? Me too.

Share your thoughts with these wonderful hosting blogs for Chapter 7...

Kathy
First Grade a la Carte


Sydney
Lessons Learned


Cheryl

Primary Graffiti

Do you have a burning question for Donalyn Miller?

Hello all! Yes, I am still at the cottage but 2 days before I am scheduled to come home we discovered the internet..LOL. I am glad that we didn't know before though because there is something relaxing about being cut off and not feeling "pressured" to sign into anything.

I also wanted to let people know that I will be emailing your questions to Donalyn on Monday when I return home....so comment, comment, comment! Get those questions coming. Donalyn and I also think that maybe an email got lost along the way during our last Q&A so if your questions wasn't answered the first time we are going to try and post it this time around!

The Book Whisperer Read Along- Year End Evaluations

I love year end evaluations. I love to see what my kids write and say and think and how honest they are. Too funny! I am going to wait until my Chapter 7 post on July 30th (or so) to talk about my thoughts on this topic, but you can, should, MUST go and visit the hosting blogs for this whisper!!! 

Janine
Faithful in First

Julie
Little Literacy Learners

Check them out and give them some comment love.

The Book Whisperer Read Along- Chapter 6

I. have. learned. so. much. SO. MUCH.


Wow, Chapter 6...my brain is going to explode with the amazing turn out we have had for this read along and it just keeps coming. Hosting blogs for Chapter 6 are just as great as the rest...who knew there was so much greatness in the world, eh? 

Ashley
The Polka Dot Patch


Deedee
Mrs Wills Kindergarten

The Book Whisperer Question and Answer

Post your questions for Donalyn Miller, the author of The Book Whisperer, in the comment section below.


Come on now...don't be shy!!!

Chapter 6- Cutting the Teacher Strings

Just a reminder to everyone that I am away at the cottage (I know, such a hard life!) so I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything is going to work for this post!


Cutting the teacher strings...letting go... yikes! That's always the hardest part, eh?

I have always tried very hard to make sure that reading never felt like school work in my classroom. How can something so amazing be work? I do recognize though that for many students that's exactly what it is. I think we are very lucky here in Ontario because we do not have the scripted programs that are mandated. When you switch schools it is rare sometimes that the exact same resources are available. Teachers are very open to choosing what we teach and how we teach.

In my first year teaching I taught at a private school and taught Language Arts to Grade 5, 6, 7, and 8! I taught a full class novel study to every class. More than once. It's how I was taught so it's how I taught. It was awful! Since then the only whole class novel I have continued to teach in The Outsiders in Grade 7. I love it. They love it. It's the only one that seems to work...for me, anyway. After reading The Book Whisperer I can't imagine ever doing a whole class novel study again. What. A. Waste. Of. Time. More is better and I would rather my students have the chance to read as much as possible.

The best part of this chapter for me came on page 127:

- Teaching Readers, Not Books 

Doesn't that just say it all? Doesn't it.

I love that Miller approaches this chapter and illustrates a variety of different alternatives to the traditional approaches teachers have used to teach "books" but I think basically it all boils down to teaching "readers". I think that some of the traditional approaches can still work it just boils down to the students you are teaching in any given year. As a teacher we must know our students well enough to know what works and that means waiting. Waiting until we have gotten to know our students and their reading interests before we plan activities. Even though many of us teachers are planners and are organizers we can't plan it all in the summer. 

I must admit I love the idea of book commercials in the classroom but in this age of differentiated learning and teaching not all students will respond well to an oral assignment like this. I know that some students will respond better to the traditional book report and therefore should be given that opportunity as well. I do agree with Miller that traditional reading logs are a waste of time and paper. I can't even manage to keep one for myself so how could I expect my students to?

I think the main thing I am going to take away from this chapter is to be open to new ways of doing things and to look at everything from the point of view that my job is to teaching readers not books!

Discussion Questions:

1) Whole class novels? Past experience? Future attempts? Horror stories?

2) How do you plan to plan? Ahead of time, waiting...what will work best for your students?

3) Which of the alternatives that Miller presents appeals the most to you?

The Book Whisperer Read Along- Chapter 5

Walking the Walk.....hmmmm (On a personal note, I am off to my cottage for two glorious weeks of fun in the sun and family time so I hope all my posts come out alright!)

I love that I can picture myself in the very same discussion Miller outlines at the beginning of Chapter 5 because I have been in it many times myself (including discussing some of the books she mentions)...how validating is that?

On page 107 Miller states, "[b]y allowing students to pass through our classrooms without learning to love reading, we are creating adults (who then become parents and teachers) who don't read much... they do not love to read and have few lifelong reading habits to model for children." Wow. This brings to mind the time I told my husband that I didn't care if he didn't read as long as he frequently held books in front of our children and modeled reading. It's just so important and I must admit that in the 6 months we have been parents he has read more books than he probably has in his whole life (nevermind that they are picture books).

I have no doubt that I am a fantastic example of an adult who loves reading for my students (I am not being egotistical...LOL). I always have a book on me, I am always talking about books, I read a lot of YA. I walk the walk.

Next year when I am asking my students to read 40 books and according to the genre requirement I think it would be only fitting if I did the same. I plan to have my own Reader's Notebook in my class and track my own reading. Walk the walk!

My one goal is to read more literature at the level of my Grade 4's. I was very good at this when I taught 7 and 8 but slipped a bit last year when I started teaching Grade 4. I am going to set aside a page (or many) in my Reader's Notebook for students to recommend books to me and do my best to get through as many as I can.

Discussion Ideas:
1) Do you walk the walk?
- If yes, how so and what can you do to improve?
- If no, what's your plan now?

The Book Whisperer Read Along- Chapter 5

More than halfway!!! I have learned so much from this book and from all the fabulous posts by the hosting TBA authors and everyone joining in for our read along.


Chapter 5 is being fantastically hosted by these blogs. Check. It. Out.

Rebecca
Mrs.  Rojas’ Teaching Resources

Mary
My Teaching Spirit

The Book Whisperer Read Along- Reader's Notebooks

I love reader's notebooks and have been doing them for quite a few years. I started them when I taught Grade 7 and 8 and I was amazed at how well I was able to get to know my students, both personally and as  readers. Last year when I loved from Grade 8 to Grade 4 (huge jump) I didn't use them because I wasn't too sure about what they would be capable of and I was only staying for 4 months due to my pregnancy.

But this year!!!! I am starting right away. The first day! Well, maybe not the first day. But soon.

When I have used Reader's Notebooks in the past I created a set of questions for each week that the students used to help create their letters and of course they were able to write about what they loved about the book, questions they had for me, etc. I usually started the year off with a length requirement but soon found that most students pushed themselves far past the requirements and some were practically writing novels themselves!! LOL

When I taught Grade 7 and 8 I also taught 2 classes on rotary which meant 50 Reader's Notebooks to read every week....whew. I assigned a few students to each day of the week to hand in their books so that I only had about 5 or so to read. This means that you are doing a little marking everyday but it sure beats hauling 50 notebooks home every Friday! In my school system we run on a Day 1-10 schedule which I think would really spread out my marking but it would also mean that I would go two weeks between seeing some student's Reader's Notebooks. I think now that I have only 1 class of Grade 4's, who will write less that 7's and 8's I might break my class in to three groups and assign them due dates of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. If I had a class of 25 or so that would be 8 Reader's Notebooks to read each night? I might think on this more....I am worried if I use the Day 1-10 schedule that students will forget to do their Reader's Notebook and it won't become as much of a habit as it would if it was every week. Perhaps I could break the class into 5 groups and assign them 2 days each cycle! So Group A would hand their Reader's Notebooks on Day 1 and Day 6!! Hmmm, I like that idea.

Sorry, for my rambling...something I tend to think "outloud" to find a good solution.

Discussion Ideas:
1) Have you used Reader's Notebooks in the past? If so what did you like about it?
2) If you have not used Reader's Notebooks how do you plan to incorporate them this year into your reading program?
3) How will you schedule the Reader's Notebook due dates in order to be able to effectively read and respond authentically to all your students?

The Book Whisperer Read Along- Reader's Notebooks

I predict that this one is going to be a BIG one...lot's of things to discuss here. Good thing we have some amazing hosting blogs for his topic. Head over to check out what they are saying about Reader's Notebooks.

Ashley
Teaching Happily Ever After


Laral
Little Miss Kindergarten

Reading Freedom- Chapter 4 of The Book Whisperer

Is anyone else's copy starting to look like a neon porcupine? Mine is covered with highlighter and post-it notes sticking out EVERYWHERE!!! I love it.

About three years ago I decided that the majority of my reading marks should come from my student's independent reading. I mean, after all, it's books they want to read, like to read and hopefully, will read. I pretty much gave up all control of the type of books my student's read. They had complete freedom. Like Miller, I did have some genre requirements however I didn't really follow through with it too seriously or really check up on my students. That's going to change this year!

I start every year with quite a few lessons on how to choose books and I love that Miller talks about how she handles the situation when a student says that "books are boring" (page 73). I always make a point of talking with my students about abandoning books and my favourite saying is that "life is too short to read bad books". My students know that it is okay to give up on a book they hate. Would you sit through an entire movie you hated? Probably not. So why read a whole book you hate!?

I am excited to share the rights of a reader with my students (page 75) this year. Teaching Grade 4 (after 7 years of Grade 7 & 8) has been an eye opening experience. I think I will have a brainstorming session with my class to create our own list of the rights of a reader before I share this list with them. I would really like to see what their opinion is on the subject, and it would make a great lesson in Writer's Workshop too...the rights of a writer! Hmmmm...my brain is working away tonight!

When I reached page 76 I heaved a big sigh of relief...oh good, Miller is going to explain why she makes her reading requirement 40 books. I have to admit I totally agree with her when she says that if you have high expectations that your students will rise to meet them but I am a little nervous to set so high a requirement. What if no student reaches that goal? What if every parent complains? What is my administration thinks I am crazy? The idea of creating a genre tally helps ease my fears somewhat although I will be adapting Miller's. I can't imagine asking my Grade 4 students to read 5 poetry anthologies as there isn't much of requirement for poetry in the Ontario curriculum and I would rather guide students through poetry. I would also like to add adventure as a genre because I know so many boys love to read adventures. If I had to decided today what my genre requirement would look like I would go with this:

Poetry Anthologies: 2
Traditional Literature: 3
Realistic Fiction: 4
Historical Fiction: 2
Graphic Novel: 1
Fantasy: 3
Science Fiction: 3
Mystery: 3
Informational: 5
Biography, Authobiography, Memoir: 2
Adventure: 3
Chapter Book Choice: 9

I have also added graphic novels because they are becoming very popular and I think as teachers we need to change with the times, regardless of our own personal opinion of any genre (I hate graphic novels!! Mostly because they all confuse me. It's not a reading skill I have.)

I might change, I might not....What would your genre requirements look like? I love the genre requirement because the very first reading expectation in the Ontario curriculum  for every grade is "read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary, graphic, and informational texts, using a range of strategies to construct meaning". 


I am going to make it my goal this year to truly value the books my students are reading and to read as many of the books they recommend to me. I did this a lot when I taught Grade 7 and 8 because I really enjoy YA...however, the books Grade 4's often enjoy...well, they are a different story. But like Miller points out on page 84 "[b]y allowing and encouraging students to read what they want, I also endorse their culture and their interests". How true. I want to be able to discuss the books my students are reading and that can only happen authentically if I have also read the books.

My second goal for this year is get better at read alouds. I love doing them with picture books, but chapter books tend to get really dragged out. I want to really look at my schedule and see how I can find extra time for chapter book read alouds while still giving my students their independent reading time.

Starting in August (because we go back to school in September here in Ontario) I am going to create me genre lesson plans. I may start my buying this amazing looking package from Clutter Free Classroom.  Why reinvent the wheel right?

Lastly, (because whew...this is a looooong post) I want to talk more and Reader's Notebooks but I will save it for my next post when we talk about the Whisper: Reader's Notebooks. I'll just say this I have basically used the same method as Donalyn explains and I have never known more about my student's reading abilities and as people. I. Love. it.

The end! (Whew).

Discussion Questions:
1) How do you plan to give your students reading freedom?
2) What are your favourite reading lessons to start the school year with?
3) What would your genre requirement look like? Why would you pick these genres?
4) As we are half way through The Book Whisperer what goals have you made for your reading program for this coming school year?

The Book Whisperer Read Along- Chapter 4

The stupendous hosting blogs for this chapter are:

Lynda
Curls and a Smile


Mandy
A Special kind of Class

Give them a "looksie" and share a comment with your thoughts!

The Book Whisperer Special Event!!- Homeschooling

I am super excited to read all about The Book Whisperer from a homeschooling perspective. Cindy is hosting this great special event over at her blog love2learn2day.

If you are also a homeschool teacher and would like to link up for this special event just add your blog to the linky party below to share your ideas with other homeschool teachers.

Chapter 3 Hosting Blogs

These wonderful ladies are hosting Chapter 3 of The Book Whisperer Read Along over at their blogs. Pay them a visit and say hello for me!

Heidi
Swamp Frog First Graders


Robin (Miss W)
Miss W Teaches