I know I definitely want to use aspects from The Daily 5 and CAFE programs, but I know I won't be able to do them in their entirety or I wouldn't get to any curriculum. So, I plan on teaching my reading and writing curriculum in 15 minute mini-lessons everyday.
I am doing "The FACE of a Reader" instead of "The CAFE Menu"- I just switched the letters around because I think "FACE" is cuter. Anyway, instead of introducing a new FACE strategy everyday like suggested in the book, I will introduce one (mayyybbe two) strategies a week. I will introduce the new strategy whole group during Monday's reading mini-lesson. I will reinforce, remediate, and extend the strategy as needed throughout guided reading groups that week. I think that introducing a new strategy everyday might be too much for my kiddos with all of the other things they have to learn as well. Plus, spending a week on a strategy versus a day will ensure that they remember how to use the strategy and get practice using it.
Below is the schedule I will use (as of now).
Literacy Schedule
| Writing Mini-Lesson | 15 min. | Teacher: Teach Writing Curriculum |
| Guided Writing Group | 15 min. | Teacher: Pull a small group (different group every day of the week) to:
Students: Write-to-Self at seat |
| Reading Mini-Lesson | 15 min. | Teacher: Teach Reading Curriculum (Tue.-Fri.); Introduce Weekly FACE (CAFE) Strategy (Mon.) |
| Guided Reading Group | 15 min. | Teacher: Pull a guided reading group Students: Daily 5 rotation |
| Guided Reading Group | 15 min. | Teacher: Pull a guided reading group Students: Daily 5 rotation |
| FACE Conferences | 15 min. | Teacher: Pull a guided reading group and hold individual FACE (CAFE) student conferences. Other students in group read-to-self while waiting for conference. Students: Daily 5 rotation |
Since I am a new teacher I would love to hear any ideas you have about making this work. Thanks!