Looking Back Before Looking Ahead

Schools all over the country are preparing to break for summer. Teachers are inputting final marks on report cards. It seems, for us anyway, that reflection walks hand in hand with these end of year rituals.

Since we like to record our thinking, we both keep a reflection journal. We have found that a few minutes of reflecting on the past year can help us look forward to a new one with clearer purpose and planning.

Our reflection journals contain a section for each block of our school day: Daily5/Café, Writer's Workshop, Math and Content (Social Studies, Science, Art, etc.) Reflections within these sections answer three questions:

1) What went so well this year that it is worth continuing next year?

2) What went pretty well, but could use a bit of refining to make it even better?

3) What didn't provide enough instructional 'bang for our buck' or help our students reach standard and should thereby be eliminated from our program?

Do you tend to be reflective? If so, we'd love to know what you're thinking. In fact, we'll be posting a survey next week that will be a venue for sharing your thoughts. Here are some guiding questions to get you started:

What are some Daily 5 and CAFE things you'll change as you plan for next year?

What are some Daily 5/CAFE things that worked so well, you'll keep them just as they are?

See you next week!

FAQ

Q: What other activities and materials are available during Daily 5?

A: This question was asked of us this week while in our Daily Five Kindergarten Workshop in San Antonio, Texas. School Supply Catalogs and Teacher Supply Stores can be a vast temptation ground for purchasing new and improved supplies, materials, or the latest and greatest manipulatives. However, we alleviate some of the temptation by zeroing in on what we really want our students to be doing during the literacy block; reading and writing...

http://www.thedailycafe.com/public/973.cfm

Summer Reading Loss (Website)

Donalyn Miller is a 6th grade language arts teacher in Texas. Her passion for books is contagious not only among her students, but her colleagues, Twitter followers, and blog readers as well. As her school year draws to a close, Donalyn and her students set summer reading goals to prevent the dreaded summer decrease in skills.

http://www.thedailycafe.com/public/972.cfm

My Favorites Files

As the site has grown to over 900 print and video features, keeping track of favorite or most-used materials has become an issue for many members. "My Favorites Files" is a widget designed by our software engineers. This tool allows each member to save articles to read later, write notes on features, or create individual files of materials around topics and themes of your choice. We've designed the widget so that it takes less than a minute to learn how to use. The brief tutorial on "My Favorite Files" is available at this link:

http://www.thedailycafe.com/members/488.cfm

Registration Information for 2010 Summer and Fall Workshops

BIf your summer plans are already set, consider scheduling a working retreat and join us in the fall. How does Arizona, Maine, or Florida, sound? We thought so! Check out the beautiful places.

http://www.thedailycafe.com/public/754.cfm

New This Week For Members

Interested in becoming a member of The Daily Cafe?

Click here for more information.

Parent Pipeline - (Download)

By: Allison Behne

Can you remember the last lesson you taught where your students were all eagerly raising their hands, excited to participate? As a teacher, it is always a good feeling to know your students are in tune with the lesson rather than thinking about what they had for supper last night. Many times their attentiveness is due to the fact that they have made a connection with what you are teaching and have a story to tell of their own. It is important that we give children a chance to share these connections and to realize these connections help to build comprehension. It is also important that we help parents understand when a child stops reading to make a connection, they are using an important comprehension strategy and not falling off task. After introducing this strategy to your students, send home the Pipeline to provide guidance to families when reading at home.

http://www.thedailycafe.com/members/970.cfm

Make a Picture or Mental Image - Mouse Mess (Lesson and Book)

Trish Prentice writes, "I would like to be this mouse! Make a mess in the kitchen and leave it for someone else to clean. Everyone can identify with a dirty kitchen, even children. That makes this book a perfect candidate for a mind movie. Here's how..."

http://www.thedailycafe.com/members/919.cfm

Math - Number Games, a Math Daily 5 Choice (Video)

Joan explains the power of applying math skills through the use of games and introduces Number Games as one of the Daily 5 Math options.

http://www.thedailycafe.com/members/977.cfm

Design - Reorganizing Teacher Supplies in the Whole Group Meeting Area-Part 2 (Video)

In this second video of a two part series, we continue to rethink, reorganize and redistribute supplies in Christine's whole group meeting area. Sometimes even subtle changes can have a big impact on making management of materials efficient and effective.

http://www.TheDailyCafe.com/members/968.cfm

CAFE - Setting a Goal with Connor a Sixth Grader (Video)

Though this conference takes place in September, it isn't too different from a goal setting conference that would take place anytime throughout the year. After stating that he is able to read quickly, Conner, a sixth grader, defers to Pam to determine his strengths as a reader.

http://www.TheDailyCafe.com/members/966.cfm

Video Updates

With the addition of our new video players with higher resolution and full-screen options, we are reposting many videos in this new format. As we make these improvements, we'll announce them in the newsletter. Here is an updated video you may want to revisit. Pam Pogson confers with Artur, a sixth grader in her class, holding him accountable for reading.

http://www.TheDailyCafe.com/members/965.cfm

Until Next Week!