Chapter+4

__ The Daily 5- Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades __ Gail Boushey and Joan Moser Stenhouse Publishers, Portland, Maine 2006

Chapter 4- Read to Self

Here is where the authors get into the specifics of how to implement the various components of The Daily Five.

Back when I was in the classroom the rage was daily independent reading time. There were a host of acronyms: BARF = Be A Reading Freak BEARS - Being Excited About Reading Stories BEAR--Be Enthusiastic About Reading FUR -- Free Uninterrupted Reading SQUIRT -- Sustained Quiet Uninterrupted Reading Time IRT -- Independent Reading Time DIRT -- Daily Independent Reading Time DIRT--Daily Individual Reading Time ERIC--Everybody Reads In Class FRED--Free Reading Every Day FROG--Frequently Reading Our Goal G.R.A.B. - Go Read a Book KBAR - Kick Back and Read NIB--Nose In Book OSCAR--Our School Cares About Reading OTTER--Our Time To Enjoy Reading PAR--Pause and Read QBT--Quiet Book Time RABBIT - Read a Book Because it's There! ROAR--Reach Out And Read SSR -- Sustained Silent Reading SQUIRT--Special Quiet Unique Independent Reading Time SQUIRT--Special Quiet Uninterrupted Individual (or Interesting) Reading Time SSR--Self Selected Reading SSR--Sustained Silent Reading STAR--Students, Teachers, All Read STAR--Sit Together And Read USSR--Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Reading VFR--Voluntary Free Reading WEIRD--We Enjoy Independent Reading Daily WEB---Wonderfully Entertaining Books USSR -- Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Reading except in kids' classes where it means, "yoU Sit Still & Read. ZYLAR--Zip Your Lips And Read

Sometimes there would be a set time each day where everyone in the building was to read- custodians, cooks, administrators, etc. Which, as far as modeling goes, was a good idea, but there was little sense of purpose or direction. What I like about the Read to Self component of The Daily Five is that there is a sense of intentionality to the Read to Self time. It's more than just spending a prescribed set of minutes reading.

The **"Three Ways to Read a Book"** on pages 47-49, were a foundational lesson of Read to Self. I see this as especially important for emergent readers who may not have a large text base for reading, but can still see themselves as readers by reading and talking about the pictures.

Reading the whole time is imperative to the success of this component. We have all had those students who, in an effort to avoid the task, consistently just "have to" get a drink, shapren a pencil or go to the restroom/nurse at some point during WEIRD time. (My preferred acronym from the list above.)

**Three Minute Practice Times**- pp. 52-55 For The Daily Five veterans- What has been your experience with the three-minute practice sessions and the repetition of them? How long does it take to build up to the 30-45 minutes of R2S?

A **Daily Five mantra**- model desired behaviors over and over and over and over (p. 57)

Page 58 outlines the first four days of R2S time. Thoughts?

My problem has always been student books storage for IDR/Read to Self time. I've tried cardboard magazine files (expensive and they don't stay in tact through first semester), plastic bags (inexpensive but had to replace often), and simply letting students keep them on/in their desks (which they always had to move out of the way and books were damaged due to being shoved into the back of desks). I like the idea of having several RTS (read to self) books in one place so students can carry them around the room (that way there is no excuse not to read the entire time or to ask to go to the library) but I am too cheap to purchase a class set of plastic magazine holders. One idea that I found online was purchasing (or begging for a donation) of the Home Depot aprons and tying them to the back of each chair. That way they could move their chair around the room and still have books readily available. You could even paint the word 'Book' over 'Home' and call it a 'Book Depot'! Any other methods of book storage ideas greatly appreciated!!

If the nail pouch storage is an avenue you would like to pursue, I will contact HD/Lowes and see if we can get donated or deeply discounted pouches. Let me know. David