Wow! After teaching guided reading groups for many years, I am excited to say I have been learning a new way to structure independent centers! It's called "The Daily Five." Not only am I more excited as a teacher, but my students are becoming more independent and are reading, reading, reading. Imagine a first grade student asking, "Mrs. Smith, is it okay if I read to self for a little longer?" That is something I am beginning to hear on a daily basis. I love this!
In the past, I would spend a lot of time structuring my independent centers. I had to plan each center, and make a rotating schedule so the groups could visit each one. Now... I have five independent centers that remain the same. They are:
1. Read to self
2. Read to someone
3. Listen to a story
4. Work with words
5. Writing
There is no more rotating schedule that I have to set up. The students can choose which center they want to visit. After independent centers are taught, modeled and practiced, students know what the expectations are. They work independently because they know that the teacher also has a job... to work with other students.
The independent groups are now more heteogeneous. Before, they were always with the same group of children. Now I see more friendships evolving as students plan their activities. I hear them say, "If I do word work now, do you want to read with me later?"
I am definitely not an expert in this. But I have to say that I really like what I'm seeing and want to learn more. The books (Daily Five and The Cafe Book) are very user friendly and the website http://www.the2sisters.com/ has great information.
