Disclaimer... and credit where credit is due!

This blog is simply my thoughts, ideas, and suggestions related to the Daily Five and Cafe. I give full credit to the creators of both Daily 5 and Cafe, Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, also known as The Sisters. I have attended their workshops, read their books, and subscribe to their website. Everything else, I've interpreted on my own! :)

Friday, January 20, 2012

A Glimpse into our Individual Book Tubs...

Friday is our official "shopping" day! For the past two weeks, we have started our shopping time by counting up how many books we have in our book tubs. Then we count how many of those books we actually read this week. That number is the starting point for deciding how many books to choose. This is starting to sink in as they are becoming more and more responsible with their choices. And it turns out that each book tub is as unique as each individual reader.



This little friend has discovered Magic Tree House books. He has decided, like many of us that he would like to read more books in the series! After I took this picture, he did put back 3 of these titles when he realized he probably couldn't read them all in one week!



This book tub belongs to my little friend who loves princess books so much that she even wears princess underwear (as she told us last week!) She has decided that she is going to try some new kinds of books this week. She went with a variety of fiction books including picture books and chapter books.




This little reader is a HUGE fan of animals and nonfiction books. As much as I try to encourage her to step to the side and try something new, she just really wants to learn about animals! We have grand conversations about saving the world, one animal at a time. How can I deny her that?! She is passionate and driven to learn about animals, so why not give her the tools to help her to just that?






This lttle friend isn't quite sure what she would like to read! She is really interested in "boy stuff" as she tells me, but she noticed one of her friends with a Judy Moody book in her book tub. I think that might have inspired her to try that one and the Lucy book.



One thing I am really proud of as I look at these pictures is the variety of books in my students' book tubs! This is yet another example of how different we all are as readers. I love that their book tubs are filled with picture books, chapter books, fiction books, nonfiction, poetry, and now, even magazines! I truly believe this is helping my children to build their reading lives and increase their knowledge/skill base, too. Not only are they choosing books "at their level", but they are becoming more independent as they choose books from around the room and learn to justify why that is a good choice for them.



How are your students doing with their book choices? Are they growing and expanding their reading lives?

12 comments:

  1. My kids shop for books once a week. I have a few kids that read the same book for weeks. So I finally had to 'make' them get something else. They were not really reading :(
    My kids are writing and thinking about reading a lot!

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  2. I enjoy this part of the year with my second graders because it is so much fun to watch them develop their own reading personality! I am planning on a blog post myself - a sort of snap shot of what they are reading right now. Each year is different. And I love when they talk to each other about they are reading and then they shop for the same book the next week. I have many girls that are in love with the Rainbow Fairy books and a handful that are gobbling up Magic Tree House books. @DebraRosenquist

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  3. We did our first shopping for books last week. I started Daily Five and Read to Self after winter break. I have been AMAZED by what my firsties are able to do! We read for 12 minutes today. I still have to pinch myself that they are ALL reading, and not talking, playing, etc.

    I noticed that several of my kiddos chose all non-fiction, which I thought was pretty neat. I have several books about the Titanic that one little guy chose, and he has LOVED reading the pictures.

    Thanks for sharing about Daily Five in your classroom. It is really helpful for me as a newbie!
    -Megan

    First Grade Magic

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  4. Thanks for sharing this. I just started individual book boxes this year and I love how it's going so far. I love getting ideas from others on how they use them. I teach first grade too and I'm your newest follower!


    Randi @ Teach It With Class
    My TPT Store
    My Facebook Page

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  5. I need to let my firsties shop more often than once a week, especially those lower readers. Their books aren't as meaty and they finish them quickly and aren't interested in rereading them over and over.
    BTW, I'm following you on Twitter but I'm such a newbie, I have no idea what I'm doing :-)

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  6. This is my school's second year of Daily 5. After having done it for a full year last year my students were ready to jump back in. I often plant books into their book boxes sometimes also that I know they will like but also know they would never choose it on their own. They think that it is special because I went to the library and picked it out just for them. I try to change things up as much as I can so they don't settle into a series or genre for too long and burn out.

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  7. Hi Laura,
    What a wonderful blog...I really enjoy it! I found you on twitter via the #d5chat. I was wondering if I could send you a PM somehow (either through facebook, twitter, or email?) My twitter handle is @courtneym_woods.

    Thanks for the inspiration,

    Courtney

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  8. Hi, Laura~
    This blog is fantastic! Having returned to teaching this year after taking 7 years off to raise my kids, I am excited to learn about the Daily 5. I just read the book over Christmas Break and have been launching the program since the first week of January. Your pics, ideas and thoughts will help me gain more knowledge about the program. I am using book bags due to lack of resources. I like the bin idea. I like the idea having Friday as the book shopping day. It's so neat to see the different interests in each bin. I love the princess underwear comment, lol! Happy teaching!
    Diane

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  9. Hi there Laura,
    I just found you and am loving your blog. I also teach first -- you should come visit me sometime. I'm your newest follower.
    Vicky
    Traditions Laughter and Happily Ever After

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  10. What a great idea! And it's great that you're allowing your students to show their individuality. Thanks for sharing :)

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  11. I follow your blog!
    Looks like lots of good stuff.

    Miss S
    jaanashingledecker24@gmail.com
    Just Teaching...Kindergarten

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  12. Hi,
    I just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the Top 10 Blog Award. Stop by my blog to check it out. www.frugalteacher.com
    Louise

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