The Daily 5 literacy centers are built on strong literacy skills that meet the wide and varying needs of all students. As educators, we try to find effective literacy activities; the Daily 5 centers may be what you are looking for.
This program allows students to independently work on reading skills while the teacher maintains a small group or individual instruction. This framework was established by The Sisters: Gail Boushey and Joan Moser.
Their framework allows students to have five choices of activities to work independently toward their own literacy goals. Ready to take a look at what Daily 5 literacy centers are and the choices your students could have for reading?
What Is The Daily 5 Literacy Program?
Daily 5 is a student-centered instructional framework that establishes literacy best practices. It meets the needs of all students with varying literacy needs. This program promotes a love for reading while setting up individual goals for students to obtain. The framework is built on the following principles.
- Establishing Expectations & Guidelines for Students & Educators
This program sets routines and procedures for students and educators to follow. These routines are modeled and reinforced so students understand what is expected of them during their literacy time.
- Maintain a Literacy Block
The Daily 5 framework supports a structured block of time. Students are engaged in independent literacy activities while educators can work without interruption with small groups or individuals.
- Build & Sustain Literacy Stamina
Students need to have extended periods of time to become proficient readers and writers. This program allows educators to help students build their stamina in both these literacy areas.
- Independent Learning Practices
Daily 5 structure allows students to work independently toward reaching their literacy goals. Educators prepare students for the challenge of working independently to promote self-discipline.
Take a look and grab these independent charts to guide you with your student instruction!
The Daily 5 Literacy Centers
Students are offered five centers or choices in the Daily 5 framework. They work independently in each of the centers toward meeting their personal literacy goal. The five centers include the following:
- Read to Self
- Read to Someone
- Listen to Reading
- Word Work
- Work on Writing
1. Read to Self
Students use “good-fit” books during this center. They are seated alone and read independently. They are taught expectations, guidelines, and strategies so they can become independent readers. Learners are asked to do the following:
- Read 3 Ways: Read the pictures; read the word; retell the story
- Choose Good-Fit Books: Consider the purpose, interest, comprehension, and word knowledge
- Read the whole time
- Stay in one spot
- Read quietly
- Work on stamina
- Get started right away
2. Read to Someone
This center offers students the opportunity to read with a partner. It provides the reader time to develop their reading fluency and comprehension skills. Learners are asked to do the following:
- Be a good reading partner
- Sit EEKK (elbow to elbow, knee to knee)
- Use a soft voice
- Read the whole time
- Check for understanding (Restate what or who, retelling)
- Stay in one spot
- Get started right away
3. Listen to Reading
Listen to Reading can take many forms. It could be audiobooks from your classroom or school library or and online form of books. This center is especially beneficial to the struggling reader. It allows them to listen to books at their comprehension level while developing their reading level. Learners are asked to do the following:
- Get out materials
- Listen to the whole story
- May listen to another story if time
- Follow along with pictures and/or words
- Listen quietly/Get started quickly
- Put materials away neatly
4. Word Work
Word Work is a hands-on time to explore the spellings and/or meanings of words, thus the vocabulary of words. Depending on our learners’ developmental stages, they might use this time to focus on letters and their sounds, read and spell words, or work on word meanings. Learners are asked to do the following:
- Learn procedures for material use
- Everyone using materials helps put those materials away
- Materials go back in the original tub
- Return materials to the same spot
- Leave the materials neat
- Clean quietly
- Get started on you task quickly
5. Work on Writing
Students are allowed an extended period to practice and explore different writing topics. Student chose should remain the focus of this center. Learners are asked to do the following:
- Write the whole time
- Stay in one spot
- Work quietly
- Choice of what to write
- Get started quickly
- Underline words were not sure how to spell and move on
In summary, Daily 5 Centers will help students in their reading and writing by focusing on many literacy skills needed for them to succeed. It is important to establish expectations and guidelines for your students.
Promoting independent practice during a literacy block will build and sustain students’ literacy stamina. Your students will just love the Daily 5 Centers!
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Find some more reading activities and assessments in my store, The Teaching Scene by Maureen.
To read more topics check out my blog, “Seven Effective First Grade Assessment Tools”
