Teaching with Mel D

I’m obsessed with Daily 5! Check out my rotation chart & FREEBIES!

Well friends, it’s official I am obsessed with Daily Five! I read the book & stalked all your blogs & became….OBSESSED! I am loving it & so are my kiddos! It was very intimidated at first because I wasn’t sure how I was going to fit it into my schedule & then I found out we are required to do an uninterrupted 90 minute reading block which does not include RTI…ugh! Well, I’m making it work & LOVE IT! 

Here are a few shots of my kiddos in action! 

I know, I know…holy cuteness! Here we are building our stamina. I first explained stamina to them by comparing it to yoga & how you have to build your stamina to hold a position for a certain amount of time.

 Can you say “Namaste”…they can! We are practicing breathing techniques here. This has also helped with a few anxiety issues we were having adjusting to first grade. Their expressions kill me! 

This is our first try @ “Read to Self” after picking out our “Just Right” books for the week. Each child has their own book bin & they pick out AR books leveled 0.5-1.5. We started with 3 minutes & went in intervals of 3 minutes until we got to 20 minutes….yay for us! 

 Of course I set the “Stamina Timer” on the smartboard! 

 After we built up our stamina to 12 minutes I let them have “reading buddies”. 

 And then I introduced “Read to Someone”. Here are two girls demonstrating the correct way to sit “EEK” during “Read to Someone”. 

 Two of my boys during “Read to Someone”.

 Another perfect example of “Read to Someone”. Aren’t my little nuggets so adorable!?!
Okay..Okay I am out of order but I had to sneak this cuteness in…I love posting these pics to my classroom blog & whenever I need to be uplifted I just take a peek @ their expressions :o) 
Okay last one…them saying “Namaste”. 
Here is a sheet that I created for “Word Work”. Write it-Stamp it. I have 12 spaces available. You can use this for spelling words, rhyming words, or word wall/high frequency words. Grab it for FREE HERE! 
This is the sheet for write it-rainbow write it. Grab it HERE FREE!

Rainbow writing word work center in action! I just knew this would be a popular choice! Who doesn’t love markers, colored pencils & glittery crayons! 

Write it-build it! I don’t have a pic of this in action because no one has chose this yet BUT I know they will! Grab the sheet HERE FREE!  

Here are some of my girls in the “Work on Writing” center. I create a journal each month that they use. I got the really cute covers for each month from Mrs. Gonzalez’s class website. She has fabulous FREE resources that I use all the time!

I also give them various charts & writing prompt picture charts to help them as well. I am currently putting together a writing binder for each student & I plan to blog about that soon. 

 Writing upside down…IDC he’s still writing, right? 

AND NOW FOR THE MOST EXCITING PART & MY NEWEST CREATION THAT I AM OH SO PROUD OF…. 

 WAH-LAH! My fabulous Daily 5 choice board! This is the finished product. Keep reading to find out how I added & introduced each part of Daily 5. 

 The first part of Daily five that I introduced was “Read to Self”. This is the ONLY part of the sign I had displayed. As I introduced each part I added to it. I printed each part on cardstock & then glued it to..of course…scrapbook paper to make it look groovy! Then I laminated it & added rings each time I introduced the next part of Daily 5.This was the most ingenious thing I have done! I was very intimidated by the Daily 5 & how I would go about it. To make it easier on me & the kids I only gave them a choice as it was introduced & just added to it. They got used to the posters as I added them & it wasn’t a bit confusing for them to move their clips. 

This is what the chart looked like when I added “Read to Someone”. 

“Listen to Reading” is added. Pictures & freebie forms to come. 

 “Work on Writing” added. 


And finally “Word Work” the all time favorite is added! I add this one last because I knew it was going to be a favorite & I had to save the best for last! 
As some of you know, my husband & I have been struggling with infertility. Well, we have our appointment on Monday to sign our life away financially & hopefully we will be blessed with a baby after I go through IVF (invitro fertilization). Unfortunately, neither one of our insurances cover infertility so it’s all out of pocket & NOTHING gets done until they have the money up front. So please send baby dust our way on our journey to become parents. It has been a trying time after losing a baby & struggling with getting pregnant again. We are out of options & my clock is ticking…LOUDLY. With that being said, I will always have freebies like my behavior coupons a few weeks ago. But, I will have to put some items on TPT & TN to try & supplement my income. I hope you all understand & will still follow me. I fell in love with blogging late last year & just love sharing ideas with all of you! 
Check out my Daily Five Rotation Clip Chart at TPT OR TEACHER’S NOTEBOOK! Please follow me if you don’t already! 



Reader Interactions

Comments

    • I abosolutly love the stamina timer on the smart board. Was it something someone made or is it a hidden component I haven't discovered yet? I would love to use this idea with my class.
      Is is something you could share or tell us how to make.
      Thanks 😉
      Shana

    • If you go under the Smart-board software and in the search box type "timers" there are a couple to choose from, including this one. Just insert a text box over the timer and type whatever you want in it! 🙂

  2. I just wanted to wish you good luck! Also, your class is adorable. I'm not starting my D5 until I teach all the letters, I'm hoping it will go as well for my kinders!

  4. Love all your stuff mel! 🙂 u may have inspired me to set up a few more stations and teach just right books and eekk..I haven't done that yet..I will send boatloads of babydust your way..anyone who wants a baby should get one! I have lost a baby and had a mc and went thru iui (not quite ivf but in the ballpark) so if u want to email me ever..definitely feel free! Stinks that some insurances don't cover infertility…oh ya – did I mention I got twins out of my iui deal 🙂 hope the best for you!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. Thanks ladies! @Diane..twins…oh are you lucky! I will take one, two, three..any! I just want to be a mom :o( Unfortunately, my husband works out of Illinois & right before I was going to go on his insurance we got a letter stating they no longer cover infertility…total bummer! My insurance never has covered any infertility issues. We have already spent thousands for all kinds of tests so this is are only chance. IUI is not an option for us unfortunately. Thanks for the well wishes :o) I will keep you all updated. Mel

  6. I started daily five this year and absolutley love it. I haven't figured out a good way to do my daily five rotation chart, how do you do yours for the second and third rotation? When do you have them make thier choices?
    I wish you all the best of luck on your baby journey, I know how difficult it is for you.
    mrs.guntoriusclass.blogspot.com

  7. I'm starting Daily 5 this year too (I've always done "book nooks"). I'm curious how they make their choices and when…the whole management piece has me shaking in my shoes. I want it to be as seamless and NON time consuming as possible. Any tips?

    Also, I'm thinking of having everybody start with read to self at the same time (and I'll pull a guided reading group at this time) then after 15 minutes tell them to switch, and continue on throughout the five choices. I don't really know though. Ideas?

  11. Someone beat me to it, but I wanted to let you know that I gave you the Versatile Blogger Award! You are an amazing source of so many helpful ideas and tips! Thank you for all that you do! 🙂

    Dana
    3rd Grade Gridiron

  12. O…M…G! I can't believe all the messages. Thanks ladies! My poor dad is at Northwestern in chicago…he just had knee replacement surgery so I haven't had time to check my messages. I appreciate all the baby dust wishes!
    & soooo honored & excited about the Versatile Blogger Award! I am going to have to fit in a blog post tonight!
    Holly that is a great idea about starting all of them with read to self. I have some kids automatically choose that because of their love of reading but my strugglers want to play still…which they think they are playing during word work..lol. I have them move their clips after 20 minutes & we get through 4-5 rotations/day. They have a chart in their peace binders to check off their choices so they manage their choices themselves. So far, they haven't been trying to sneak w/out a rotation. I pretty much can tell who has been where in the room. I am working with children as they rotate through "Read to Self" & "Read to Someone". They are working great independently because I built up their stamina the correct way. This is my first year doing it so fingers crossed it will keep up the way it's been going. As far as time management I keep track with the stamina timer on my smartboard. I hit the chimes when it's time to clean up & pick their next rotation. Clear as mud? I hope I made a few things clearer. I will be posting more about Daily 5 soon. Thanks again!
    Mel D

  13. I wanted to let you know that I greatly admire your blog and I would like to give you the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you so much for sharing all of your ideas and inspiring me on a daily basis!

    Victoria
    wisewittyteacher.blogspot.com

  14. I am sending lots of baby dust your way! My friend recently did ivf and became pregnant with fraternal twins. She had the girls at 24 weeks 1 day and they are true miracle babies – thriving at 6 weeks old now! I just gave you the "I Heart Your Blog" award, come check it out!

    Jennifer @ Herding Kats In Kindergarten

  15. Good luck on your journey with IVF and hope you are blessed with a baby. We struggled with infertility for 7 years and did 8 rounds of IVF the last one with donor egg. Sadly nothing worked for us BUT 2 years ago we were blessed to adopt a baby boy at only 4 hours old. He is the light of our lives!

  16. Okay, this looks awesome. I am going to have investigate this further. Just read the comment above. We adopted too! She was also 4 hours old when we got her. That was 11 years ago!

  17. Okay, this looks awesome. I am going to have investigate this further. Just read the comment above. We adopted too! She was also 4 hours old when we got her. That was 11 years ago!

  19. Sweetie, you create amazing things. You do not need to apologize for charging for them! Ever! That is what a strong economy is built on. 🙂
    Best wishes on your baby journey. I am sending all the baby dust I can muster your way!

  20. Can I ask how many students you have in your classroom? I see so many blogs with under 20 kids in classrooms when our state has high class sizes with 25 plus in K-3 classrooms! Class size makes such a difference when trying to manage all of this.

  21. Just been introduced to The Daily Five and I love it. Your page has so many great ideas. I will definitely be dropping in weekly to see what I have missed! Thank you for having such an easy to read and use page.

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  23. I love the Daily 5 and if you haven't read the 2nd edition, it is worth buying, or borrowing, and reading again. I just finished the graduate class at Upper Iowa University that is endorsed by the Sisters. It was an awesome class to take and even though we are at the end of the school year, I have started implementing Café. We were already doing the Daily 5 and now there is a Math Daily 3! Love it, love it, love it! I also love your blog! You have so many great ideas and I can tell you love your kiddos. I started a blog after finishing my class and also after being inspired by all you wonderful teachers. It's just getting started, but I plan on blogging this summer about getting ready for the new school year and starting the Daily 5 and Café along with Math Daily 3 (or 4 :-), right when school begins. http://toadallylovin1st.blogspot.com/ I also look forward to more of your ideas!

  24. Dear Mel,

    I love your blog. I will keep you in my prayers with the fertility treatments. I too, walked this path. I did finally give birth to the most beautiful baby ever who is now 24 years old and a teacher also.

    I also love the Daily Five and so do my kids. I have taught Kindergarten for 19 years and I am moving to third grade next year. I plan on doing the Daily Five because it works and the kids love it.
    May God bless you with a beautiful child.

    Susan

  25. Love your ideas but I NEED HELP! I just cant seem to get this going smoothly. I am a bit OCD (aren't we all?) Do the kiddos choose their own station? Do they get to each one, each day? I have first grade inclusion so I know I will have a few issues but I do I let them choose peaceably? How many rotations do you do?

  26. I had a first grade inclusion class too! For Daily 5 I had the students complete one given assignment in each of the 5 areas of Daily 5. When the students were done, they'd put their assignment in their folder (each student had their own folder) and move to the next station. By Friday, each student had at least 5 pieces of work that I could take as a grade and/or send home. This also helped me keep track of what they were doing. When they were done with all 5 stations or if the student was an early finisher, I would have an independent assignment for the students to complete. Busy, busy, busy!

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