Take One: Early in the year, when my students were first choosing their centers, I was having them put their two choice cards next to their name in a pocket chart. (We are fitting in two rounds on a regular day, and sometimes get in a third.) I soon came to realize that there were a handful of students who were not getting to one part over the course of the week, or visiting the same activity over and over. Scrap that system.
TakeTwo : Next, I tried continuing to give them choice, but I tracked them on a paper in my CAFE binder. That became far too time-consuming and annoying. Scrap that one, too!
Take Three: My third attempt was to take away the daily choice (which I hated, because choice really is powerful), create a regular schedule, and rotate groups of students. It worked for a while, but this made it difficult to have flexibility in my groups. Guess that one is out...
So... you know what they say... Fourth time is the charm?! I was inspired by a Blurt Chart I made for a group of fifth graders a couple of years ago to come up with this:
It consists of little Daily 5 tags printed onto heavy paper, laminated, and attached to small self-adhesive Velcro circles.
Student names will be written in the blank spaces next to each group. As the week progresses, each time the students choose a Daily 5 activity, they will remove the corresponding symbol from the chart next to their name.
When they've visited all five activities they'll start placing the tags back on to indicate their choice. I think it is going to work beautifully and I can't wait to use it!
Take a look at more great Daily 5 resources and ideas on this Pinterest board:
I love this idea - I hope it works out for you : )
ReplyDeleteOk. I'm going to give daily five a whirl next school year. My misconception has been all five activities every day. That's an incorrect assumption isn't it? I love this idea and am on my way to your Facebook page
ReplyDeleteHi Tobi! I usually reply by e-mail, but I think this is a great question that others might like to see the answer to as well...
DeleteI think in a perfect situation students would get to all 5 every day. That's certainly not the reality in any classroom I've seen firsthand. I'm thrilled if I get three in during one day. Definitely get the book (you can find links right there in my post) and give it a read. I chewed through it in one day. It makes such sense for many aspects of your day, not just literacy. When you've got your head around The Daily 5 (which is the structure), check out CAFE (which is the content). It has changed how I teach reading and it is my favorite part of this duo. I see such progress in my students. I've done a lot of playing around with this part of the day as well, and am really happy with where we're at. You can read more about it at this post
I hope my trial and error this year makes implementing a little easier for others! Thanks for stopping by!
Erin
Your chart looks great! I hope it works out for you!
ReplyDeleteErin
Short and Sassy Teacher
I live this idea. Are you willing to share your file foe the small pictures? Did you use a bristol board for the poster? I really enjoy the simple idea.
ReplyDeleteIt is already shared, Madame Perruzza! Click on any of the images to download! Yes, I used one sheet of bristol board for the poster.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
~Erin
Hi Erin,
ReplyDeleteI came across your website in a Google search. I'm looking to start Daily 5 in my 3rd grade classroom next year. I love your picture icons! By any chance, do you have an editable version of them? Feel free to email me at Kristi320@comcast.net
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Kristi
Where do they put the tags when they are removed?
ReplyDeleteThanks! Loree
Hi Loree,
DeleteSorry for the delay responding! I was away on Spring Break. :) I have velcroed a small plastic pen tray from the dollar store directly to the bottom of the cart where I have the poster hanging. They just drop the pieces into it when they remove them, and when it is time to refill their spot they dig out one of each.
Hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by!
Erin
I love this idea! I'm looking for a way to incorporate choice into daily 5 as well. When you have the students put the pictures into the pen tray, are they all in 1 tray, or do you have the students sort them into separate trays?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Ann-Marie
Hi Ann-Marie!
DeleteThanks for stopping by! I just put all the pictures into one tray. When they empty their choices, and they all do this at different times, they just dig through until they find one of each to replace on the board.
Enjoy!
Erin