I have been thinking a lot about how I will organize my (90 min.) literacy block next year and I would love your feedback and ideas. As I mentioned in another post my grade level will be switching students for Language Arts (based on DRA scores) so that reading groups can be more homogeneous in ability level. With only 90 minutes to teach reading, writing, and transition not only between stations but between classes, I want to make sure that I am maximizing on the time I have.
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:
- Edit/Proof Writing
- Model Lesson
- Remediate/Extend Lesson
- Create Shared Writings
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!
