Within the 2nd chapter there is this fantastic table about the time 5th graders spend reading and how they percentile score on standardized testing. Friends, I know that we do not teach so students do well on standardized testing, but fostering a community of readers does foster successful test-takers. Over and over, research proves that the greater access to words students have the better they will perform.
When I taught 5th grade, I shared this chart with my 5th graders, and they were shocked! Even in 1st grade, I tell my kids all the time, “Words have power! The more time you spend reading, the more words you have access to, the larger your world becomes.” Now, I show parents this chart at Open House when I encourage them to build an at-home reading routine. I don’t think my pleas for “Please read at home” becomes ‘real’ until I show them this chart. The idea that reading 20 minutes a day alone gives students access to 1.8 million words and puts them in the 90th percentile of 5th grade students [one day] BLOWS THEM AWAY! Honestly, it does me too. Every time I look at this chart, I say to myself, “YOU MUST MAKE MORE TIME FOR DAILY READING IN CLASS!!!!”
I believe that time spent reading and writing together builds a community in which students are invested in one another. When friends sit down together working separately but knowing they can turn to a friends for help spelling a word or an idea for a transition word, there is safety. Students know they can trust one another and they know their ideas matter. When we sit and read as a class, we have a new common ground. Anytime we see a bird outside on the playground, we wonder if it is Mo Willems’ pigeon. After reading The Day the Crayons Quit, we giggle when we see a peach crayon being used. 😉 Time spent reading and writing, builds a community of learners.
Friends, I know this post has been scattered, but these are the foundations for the future chapters – trust, community, more time spent reading/writing, choice, accountability. So, what did you think about Chapter 2? How do these core beliefs match your writing/reading block? Does the trust and choice part get you (sometimes I am so guilt of that!)? I’ve love to hear your ideas!
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Your students are blessed by your teaching them to think, learn, and be held accountable. If there are more such teachers preparing our children for productive adult lives, there may yet be hope for the future. Thank you!
Your students are blessed by your teaching them to think, learn, and be held accountable. If there are more such teachers preparing our children for productive adult lives, there may yet be hope for the future. Thank you!
I would really love a copy of your Daily 5 plus/delta sheet. Is there anyway you could add it to your reflection sheets on TPT? I bought it hoping it would be in there and was bummed that it wasn't 🙁
Hi Kristen. Thanks for the note. Honestly, I didn't know anyone would want that particular page because it is so specific to how I run Daily 5. In the future, I would encourage you to ask (via email or TpT Q&A) for something to be added before leaving feedback. I am very intentional in tailoring resources to meet the needs of lots of different classrooms and am happy to honor requests! If you re-download the file, I have added the reflection sheet for you. 🙂
Catherine, I'm jumping into the study a little late. But thus far I am loving your added commentary! I was curious if you could share more about your recording sheet. Specifically does the sheet have a section for each day and you give one page a week, or do they get a portion of a sheet each day. Do you collect these or do the students store them somewhere. Also can you tell me about the Delta and why it represent what they will work on and how you introduce this to the kiddos? I'm looking forward to your reply! Thank you for creating such meaningful posts!