7 Reasons Why Elementary Teachers Should Use the Daily 5
Transform your literacy block using the Daily 5
The secret for running a successful literacy block is simple- use the daily five! Today we are exploring why you should use the Daily 5 in your classroom and the benefits this teaching strategy can bring!
As an elementary teacher, I’m always looking for ways to be a better teacher and eliminate stress that goes into preparing my lessons. I’m headed into my 9th year as a teacher and I’m switching from first grade to fifth grade. I wrote a whole blog post on my big switch so go back and read that one if you’re switching grades too!
Even though I’m making such a big grade level switch, I fully intend to use the Daily 5 to teach reading groups and Math Daily 3 to teach math. If you’re not familiar with the Daily 5 or love it just like I do, then keep on reading teacher friend, because I’m going to break down 7 reasons why elementary teachers should use the Daily 5.
If you teach reading using centers or stations, then stick with me because I’ll explain how you can get more done if you use the Daily 5. The ultimate goal for me during literacy time is to get to all my reading groups.
Using the Daily 5 creates true independence for your students
Using the Daily 5 creates true independence for your students
If you’re unfamiliar with the Daily 5, I highly recommend starting with the book. No matter how many times I’ve taught the process, I always pull the book out each August and go through it again as I’m setting up my classroom reading routine and preparing for reading groups. Kindergarten and first grade students can do this effortlessly, believe me, I've done it. I’ve taught in a title building and non-title building and Daily 5 makes teaching reading groups so much easier. It allows my students to be truly independent and autonomously work while I’m teaching guided reading.
Practicing building stamina allows your students to feel confident completing individual tasks
Practicing building stamina allows your students to feel confident completing individual tasks
At the beginning of the year when you start Daily 5, you’ll want to use a Stamina Building Chart. (You can start Daily 5 at any time of year though!) You’ll start with Read to Self and I recommend printing this on a poster maker if you can at your school. Kindergartners can absolutely build reading stamina because reading doesn’ always have to mean reading words. Emergent readers can read the pictures, read the words and retell the story. Teaching our early readers how to hold a book and having a book in their hands for 15 minutes is KEY to getting to all of your reading groups. You’ll talk a lot about building stamina when you’re introducing the Daily 5.
You don’t have to switch out stations constantly which is easier on you as the teacher
You don’t have to switch out stations constantly which is easier on you as the teacher
There’s a unique way I’ve changed the Daily 5 and instead of having the kids come back to the carpet every time they switch stations, I project their choices on the Smart Board and they know to switch when they hear the timer. This has transformed literacy time for myself and my students. Yes, it takes some training in the beginning but what doesn’t? You can check out the Daily 5 Choice Activities Board for Excel or Google here. With that being said, you don’t have to switch out stations constantly to keep your students engaged. I’ve found that by using traditional stations, kids talk a lot more than they do when they’re independently working during Daily 5. Yes, we want kids talking and engaging, but there’s a time and a place. It’s impossible to get to your reading groups if kids are goofing off and being silly, especially our primary grade students who are learning to be at school and are coming from all different types of home lives.
Daily 5 allows you to teach reading groups uninterrupted
Daily 5 allows you to teach reading groups uninterrupted
Teaching reading groups uninterrupted is one of the best benefits of using the Daily 5. Depending on your class size, you can potentially get to all of your reading groups every day. Do you need to? Not necessarily, but it’s great for our readers who need a daily lesson and even higher level readers to have that small group instruction time with the teacher. One of the perks of using this method is having the capacity to meet with all your reading groups if that’s how you as the teacher want to do it!
Daily routines will create consistency for your students they can depend upon
Daily routines will create consistency for your students they can depend upon
As teachers, we know that our students come to school expecting consistency. The most well behaved classrooms have amazing classroom management. Part of having unbeatable classroom management is creating a consistent learning environment for your students they can count on. My last school was a Title One school, and they craved consistency because of how unpredictable their lives at home were. All kids I’ve worked with thrive on consistency no matter what they’re home lives are like. Keeping clear and consistent routines with your students during literacy time is going to be the best way for you to implement effective small group reading instruction. This is especially helpful if you’re gone for the day and have a substitute teacher. It’s easy for someone to jump right into a routine that the kids are the experts on. Going over the expectations daily has been a game changer for my students. You can grab the exact chart I use here!
Your principal will be impressed by how well your literacy block runs
Your principal will be impressed by how well your literacy block runs
I remember my first observation ever was during reading time. I got really high marks because my students were doing Daily 5. I was teaching a guided reading group while my other students were independently working. The principal even went around to different kids and asked them what they were doing and why. Of course your reason for adopting the Daily 5 method isn’t to impress your administrator. It’s just an added benefit to you as a teacher getting evaluated!
Daily 5 makes it easier for you to be gone and a sub to teach reading groups
Daily 5 makes it easier for you to be gone and a sub to teach reading groups
As I briefly mentioned before, one of the perks of using a system like the Daily 5 is when you’re gone, your classroom will run like a smooth sailing ship. I’ve had numerous subs remark that reading was their favorite time of the day to sub in my classroom and they were shocked how well my kids knew what to do. As an elementary teacher, it's really hard for us to be gone from school. We have to make plans that walk a sub through every part of the day.
Let me know in the comments below: are you going to use the Daily 5? If you don't use Daily 5, tell me what you do instead and why you like it!
The first 10 steps to transform your literacy block