I am Linking up with other fabulous kindergarten teachers doing a book study on Daily 5 for Kindergarten! It is so stinking exciting knowing that we have our own study group! Since we are a breed of our own! Click on the picture to see what everyone else is doing.
I used Daily 5 two years ago and LOVED it! But it was difficult because I was trying to make it work for Kindergarten and didn't have but one other coworker to help try to figure out the kinks! Then I went on maternity leave and had left the room more center oriented for the interim and never got back into the habit of Daily 5. I suffered this year to do it, because my kids could not handle literacy stations. So I am very eager to implement it again this coming fall.
So hear are the questions from Chapter 1.
1. How do I teach new behaviors?
Model and practice, model and practice. But I find that when I think the students are getting it and I don't model as much, they retreat to previous behaviors.
2. How do I teach expectations?
At the beginning of school we go over classroom expectations, school expectations, everything over and over and over again.
3. How do I monitor student behavior? whole group? small groups? individual?
I use the clip chart behavior system so I can reward students being on task and clip down students not on task. I LOVE this system. Last year I was constantly all over the classroom trying to get my students working on what they should be and redirecting them to it. I wore myself out by the end of the year.
4. What do I do when a student is not exhibiting desired behavior?
Students who do not exhibit correct behavior clip down and then are asked why they chose what they did. I have students sit out during afternoon discovery centers.
5. Whose classroom is it?
I want it to be OUR classroom, but this is something I am still working on.
6. Locus of control?
I give my students more independence than the other teachers in my grade level, but I need to make them more independent at completing their work.
7. Where are supplies stored?
My supplies are stored in table cubbies that hold our everyday needs, and a shelf that holds the random stuff you might need.
Well there is my summary of Chapter 1. Now I need to go check out what everyone else thought of the introduction to Daily 5 for Kindergarten. Can't wait for next week.
