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Here you will find a description of every article, video, audio, and resource guide posted at The Daily Cafe™.

CAFE™ - Whole Class Instruction - Then and Now (ARTICLE)
When we were younger teachers, our whole-class instruction was driven by a basal reader and the lessons included in the program. They were l---o---n---g lessons where we imparted a lot of information . . . More...

Parent Letter Introducing Daily 5™ (DOWNLOAD)
Ready to dive into Daily 5? Worried that the parents of your students will question why your environment and structure is so different from when they went to school? Here is a sample letter introducing The Daily 5 that you can easily revise to help explain why. . . . More...

Utilizing Another Adult in the Classroom (ARTICLE)
An extra adult in your room during literacy can be the best of things (when they independently work with the right students on the right things) or it can be the worst (when you aren't sure of their s . . . More...

CAFE Meets Common Core - Third Grade (DOWNLOAD)
Here is the CAFE menu aligned with the Common Core Standards for Grade 3. You will notice the menu has not changed, but instead each strategy has the number for the Common Core Standard it meets. No . . . More...

FAQ - Would you please post a picture of where you display all of your I-Charts for the Daily Five?
Posting the Daily 5 I-charts has been an important reminder for our students of the behaviors we, as a class, commit to during our literacy block. When we brainstorm these behaviors and write them in . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline (DOWNLOAD)
This parent resource will help our Spanish speaking families who want to support their child as they learn to read voraciously to enhance their fluency. . . . More...

Book Look - Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox by Susan Blackaby
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Tip of the Week, February 3, 2012
After predicting six more weeks of winter, this little groundhog will have to outsmart a hungry fox if he wants to see the arrival of Spring. . . . More...

Moving from Guided Reading to Strategy Groups
If you are desiring to make the move from Guided Reading to Strategy Groups, we encourage you to give yourself grace and time to become proficient. . . . More...

Lit Lesson - Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move
Allison Behne shares a lesson using a classic favorite by Judith Viorst. . . . More...

FAQ - How do you support partners when they only use the strategy of sound it out?
Children who only rely on Sound It Out as an accuracy strategy don't grow as fast as children who have a bevy of strategies to rely on. Joan offers an idea for this potential problem. . . . More...

Twitter Tidbit - The Nerdy Book Club
Laura Komos is a fellow book lover. This week she tells us how she connects with other book lovers via Twitter and invites us to join the Nerdy Book Club! . . . More...

CAFE Meets Common Core - Second Grade (DOWNLOAD)
Here is the CAFE menu aligned with the Common Core Standards for Grade 2. You will notice the menu has not changed, but instead each strategy has the number for the Common Core Standard it meets. No . . . More...

Book Look - Please Louise by Frieda Wishinsky
Anyone who has desired a little space from a pesky little brother or sister will be able to relate to Please Louise by Frieda Wishinsky. Teachers, if you are looking for a book to help teach your Read to Someone partnerships about having a bubble of space around them, there is a part in this story that exemplifies it perfectly. . . . More...

Tip of the Week - January 27, 2012
Layer Upon Layer by Trish Prentice Café strategies…I love them! They are essential tools used to develop competent, independent readers. In my classroom, the Café board is the focal point of our meeting place. We use it everyday! . . . More...

Writing Conference - To the Point (VIDEO)
Danielle makes conferring look easy in this video! . . . More...

Design - Involve Your Students in the Classroom Set Up (ARTICLE)
When children are consulted and their thoughts and opinions are valued, they take more ownership in the upkeep of the classroom. Our 6th grade teacher, Camille, is constantly asking her students what is working about their classroom and what they think should be changed to make it more inviting, more usable, more comfortable and more conducive to learning. . . . More...

FAQ - If you teach a strategy to one student or to a small group and not the whole class, do you still post the strategy on the CAFE menu?
The strategies we post on the CAFE menu in our classroom are the strategies we teach to the whole class. These strategies become part of our learning community. We all have common background knowle . . . More...

CAFE Meets Common Core - First Grade (ARTICLE and DOWNLOAD)
In this article Allison Behne explains how CAFE and Common Core Standards align and includes the first download of this alignment. . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline - Skip the word and then come back DOWNLOAD)
This parent resource will help our Spanish speaking families who want to support their child as they learn to the Accuracy strategy of skip the word and then come back. . . . More...

Book Look - Wiener Wolf by Jeff Crosby
When a wiener dog leaves his cushy life behind to experience the thrill of the wild, he discovers freedom isn't all it's cracked up to be. . . . More...

Tip of the Week - January 20, 2012
Know the rules, follow some, smile, and be effective. . . . More...

Parent Connection - Something to Ponder
Are you looking for an article to add to your parent newsletter? How about: Something to Ponder Children who have been read to for 30 minutes a day from birth through age five receive . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline (DOWNLOAD)
This parent resource will help our Spanish speaking families who want to support their child as they learn to chunk letters and sounds together. . . . More...

Tip of the Week January 13, 2012
Better Than Me by Kristin Ackerman I live close to the beach and typically run alone early in the morning. However, on Saturdays most runners drive to the beach road to do their long runs. . . . More...

Choosing a Partner for Partner Reading - (VIDEO)
Regular playing cards come in handy when matching partners for Read to Someone. It's a quick and impartial way to get readers together. . . . More...

Twitter Tidbits - Chats
Lara Komos briefs us about the power of Twitter Chats. . . . More...

Book Look: Sofa Boy and The Question by Scott Langteau
We have wonderful news! We've decided to make the Book Looks available to all subscribers, not just members! This week's book look highlights an author we've just become acquainted with, Scott Langteau. . . . More...

FAQ - I like how helpful my students are, but sometimes I wish they'd give each other a little more time when they are reading together, instead of just blurting the correct word! Ideas?
If your students are a little too helpful, blurting correct words out instead of letting their partner figure it out, then we have a great strategy for you to teach. . . . More...

Tip of the Week - January 6, 2012
Potential by Lori Sabo I recently attended a conference for musicians. Before you are inclined to be impressed, let me add that I don't actually play an instrument. . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline (DOWNLOAD)
This parent resource will help our Spanish speaking families who want to support their child as they learn to flip the sound when reading words. . . . More...

CAFE™ - Curricular Coherence, Working Together with Interventions (DOWNLOAD)
We don't always see the growth we'd like in our most at risk students. How can we design really intentional and effective interventions for these students so they can grow and achieve academically? . . . More...

Recording Assessment Data (DOWNLOAD)
Three or four times a year, we monitor progress in order to celebrate growth and adjust instruction. This form makes it easy to keep track of. . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline (DOWNLOAD)
This parent resource will help our Spanish speaking families who want to support their child as they learn to blend sounds, stretch and reread words. . . . More...

FAQ: Have you ever considered adding a place for member discussion on your website?
We have met so many teachers like you in our work around the country though, that we feel it's time to honor your need for collegial conversations. We are launching our Discussion Board for members this week. You can find the link to it on the left hand column under the orange Resources section. Once you log in and click on the link it will take you to our Discussion Board where you can do everything from Post New Messages, Search for discussions by topic and more! . . . More...

Tip of the Week December 16, 2011
To listen to or download the reading of this and past weeks of the Tip, go the The Daily CAFE Podcast Page. |image . . . More...

Modeling Retelling a Story (VIDEO)
Proficient readers are able to recount to themselves, or someone else, a story's sequence through retelling. Gail demonstrates her thinking all the way through 'The Zoo' by Suzy Lee . She predicts, c . . . More...

Book Look - How Murray Saved Christmas by Mike Reiss, illustrated by David Catrow
I have read this to hundreds of K through 6th graders. Older children enjoy it most because they often get the connections that make the parody so hilarious, and they especially enjoy the end, when Murray decides to give gifts to kids who are on the naughty list. . . . More...

FAQ - Can a child's name be under two different goals?
When determining goals for our students we think to ourselves, "What are they good at, and what could we teach and reinforce in the next 3 weeks that will help move this child forward in their reading?' . . . More...

Connecting the Work in a Small Group and One on One (VIDEO)
We just love watching Beth work! If you watch this conference, you'll see why. . . . More...

Math Group Brainstorms Working Behaviors (VIDEO)
These sixth grade students are meeting in small groups to discuss behaviors and expectations for themselves and each other when working with math. We listen in to a group of five students, Alex, Laur . . . More...

Book Look - I Must Have Bobo by Eileen Rosenthal
Earl is a rascal of a cat, who continuously steals Bobo, a boy's beloved stuffed monkey. It is nothing short of delightful. . . . More...

Tip of the Week - December 2, 2011
Listen to this Tip: . . . More...

Fluency, It is More Than Just Speed (VIDEO)
Regardless of the grade we teach, we always have students who need to work on fluency. This lesson is simple and effective whether done whole group, small group, or during a one on one conference. . . . More...

Barometer Child - Seating for One (PHOTOS)
Creative confined spaces may help to improve stamina. . . . More...

Sisters on the Spot: Increasing Accountability with a Diverse Group of Students (VIDEO)
Gail and Joan offer tips to help raise the accountability for students who are new to our classes, or perhaps even new to our country. . . . More...

Adjusting Reading Rate: Small Group Work (VIDEO)
In this video, Christie emphasizes the importance of adjusting reading rate to her fourth graders. . . . More...

Design - A Table Everyone Wants to Work At . . . The Coffee Table (PHOTOS)
These design photos show students working productively at low tables that provide another kind of seating choice. . . . More...

Daily 5™ - Regarding Parent Volunteers (ARTICLE)
We've gathered ideas and links to help make the most of volunteers who want to support you both in and out of the classroom. . . . More...

CAFE - Word Families: A Clever Way to Learn (PHOTO)
SMARTboards can be an engaging and interactive tool for learning. Identifying word family words is just one of the ways Daniel Woods uses this technology in his room. . . . More...

Math Conferring Form to Add to the Pensieve (DOWNLOAD)
When we started having math conferences, we discovered we needed a form for the pensive. Here's one that matches our reading and writing conferring forms. . . . More...

The Current Structure of Math Daily 5 (DOWNLOAD)
The structure of Math Daily 5 is very similar to Daily 5 of reading, the differences being found in the components, which are math oriented. This week, we're sharing our newest thinking as well as where we were a year ago. You'll see that we are refining as we go. . . . More...

Initial Conference Lays the Ground Work for Further Conversations (VIDEO)
Here is an example of a beginning of the year conference that is brief, yet reveals a lot of great information about what this student can already do. . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline - Recognize Literary Elements
This parent resource will help our Spanish speaking families who want to support their child as they learn to recognize literary elements. . . . More...

A Small Group Tackles Text Features While Using Different Magazines (VIDEO)
Heather introduces text features to this small group of students. They browse different magazines as they find and define the usage of Titles and headings in this first of a two part series. . . . More...

Goal Setting with Older, Advanced Readers (VIDEO)
In this video, Gail confers with Landon, a 6th grade student who is an advanced reader. The point of this conference is to help Landon set his first goals of the school year and begin using his own Reading Conferring Sheet. . . . More...

CAFE - A Portable CAFE Board (PHOTO)
Short on wall space? This portable CAFE board might be the perfect solution. . . . More...

Math Foundation Lessons Chart (DOWNLOAD)
This Foundation Lessons document is helpful to have when we are launching Math Daily 5. It helps us plan by reminding us what needs to be the current focus for our launching lessons, and what we can layer on to prepare for future success. . . . More...

Tip of the Week - October 21, 2011
Math Daily 5 What took so long and what is it? A better question might be "What took so long and what is it now?" Let's start by answering the first part. Many years ago it began . . . More...

Tools = Manipulatives = Tools
Manipulatives are one of the best tools to ensure that students develop a deep understanding of math concepts. What are they? Here are some you might like to start collecting for your mathematicians. . . . More...

Giving the Brain a Break
Brain Breaks are important because we all learn better when the content is given often in smaller portions instead of enormous content in long stretches. . . . More...

Organizing Math Games
In order to assist with student independence and increase organization and efficiency during math time, Allison Behne has put together math binders for her students. Each game board students might use during the math block is included in one convenient binder. Brilliant! . . . More...

A Focus on Comfort
One of the best ways to help kids build stamina is to provide comfortable seating. We sure love these chairs in Beth's room! . . . More...

Ready Reference Guide - Accuracy: Abundant Reading
Abundant Easy Reading is a strategy we've recently added to the Cafe Menu. Here's the Ready Reference Guide. . . . More...

FAQ: Do you have any suggestions for students who are not developmentally ready to sit and read for more than a couple minutes and aren't the barometer children.
What do we do if the same kids are breaking stamina everyday....but the issue isn't really barometer....more like developmental readiness? . . . More...

Historical Overview of Instruction (DOWNLOAD)
This article gives you a glimpse into our professional journey and evolution as teachers. . . . More...

FAQ: Do you implement Daily 5 and Cafe at the same time?
Should you do Daily 5 first and then launch CAFE or can they be done at the same time? The answer really depends on your and your experience. . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline - Comprehension - Use Text Features (DOWNLOAD)
The Parent Pipeline for the Comprehension strategy Use Text Features is available in Spanish. . . . More...

Daily 5 Icons in Grayscale (DOWNLOAD)
These simple icons help support our English Language Learners and beginning readers. The gray scale version works nicely on our school printers so we use it more than the color version. . . . More...

Book Look - Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics by John A. Van de Walle and Lou Ann H. Lovin
If you are looking for a resource to help supplement your math curriculum, we can't recommend this one highly enough. We also can't count how many times we've pulled it off the shelf to help us work with individuals or small groups struggling with a skill or who came to us with missing pieces in their conceptual understanding. . . . More...

FAQ - How do you determine what strategies should be put into place first? Is there an order of priority under each heading CAFE, that supports the reader in their journey?
We follow a simple rule of thumb when selecting strategies for students to begin with. If you look at the CAFE menu and wonder where to start, this simple rule may help you too. . . . More...

Reviewing Good Fit Books - A Lesson (DOWNLOAD)
Teaching children to choose their own Good Fit Books is one of the greatest skills we can impart, as well as vital for helping them become stronger readers. Reteaching, remodeling, having others model, and offering one-on-one or small group guided practice all year long is the scaffolding that will make this teaching stick. . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline - Infer and support with evidence (DOWNLOAD)
The Parent Pipeline for Infer and support with evidence in now available in Spanish. . . . More...

Charming Personalized Magnets for Graphs and More
These personalized magnets are fun and easy to make, and an essential part of our daily graph. . . . More...

Multiple Teaching Spots Extend Student Stamina (ARTICLE)
Our friend Tessa got hired the day before school started. The teacher who retired left everything in the room. Oh my....time for a serious classroom makeover! . . . More...

Week Two in Beth's Room: Cross Checking and Short Conferences
Beth is one of the kindest, most respectful teachers we have ever had the pleasure of working with. We think you'll agree that she is also one of the bravest since she let us video tape in her room during the second week of school. . . . More...

Book Look - The Boy Who Cried Fabulous by Leslea Newman
The Boy Who Cried Fabulous by Leslea Newman would be a great way to introduce the concept of retiring worn out words. . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline - Comprehension - Predict what will happen, use text to confirm (DOWNLOAD)
Now available in Spanish: Predict what will happen, using text to confirm. . . . More...

Tip of the Week - September 9, 2011
Leila, Ellie and Writing Notebooks by Kristin Ackerman A few Sundays ago I was getting my two year old ready for bed when we realized that her Ellie was missing. Ellie, is a little . . . More...

The Teacher Corner (Video)
We doubt that we have ever met a teacher who felt their classroom was too big! We all long for more space, but what if more space isn't an option? What if you have to make do with a small room? . . . More...

Reviewing the CAFE Menu Strategies with the Whole Class (VIDEO)
These 6th graders are reviewing their knowledge of CAFE strategies by determining which CAFE heading each strategy card should be placed under. A great assessment for any time of year. . . . More...

What About Walk To Read?
What about Walk To Read? Do Daily 5 and CAFE fit with a program like that? We have strong opinions, but they are research based. . . . More...

Teaching Cross Checking Whole Class in Beth's Room (VIDEO)
Gail's focus lesson for this round of Daily 5 is Cross Checking, one of the first and most important accuracy strategies we can teach our students. . . . More...

Book Look - The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper
If you are working hard to create a classroom community that treats each other with kindness and respect, this might be a book worth sharing. The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper. . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline - Comprehension - Ask questions throughout the reading process
The Parent Pipeline for the Comprehension strategy Ask questions throughout the reading process is available in Spanish. . . . More...

FAQ: What should I be thinking about room design now that my students are here?
After the hours of getting our classrooms ready for children, it's easy to focus solely on them and their academic endeavors once school begins. The Sisters explain why it's important to step back and evaluate the efficiency of our classroom design during those first critical weeks of school. . . . More...

Cozy Reading Spaces (VIDEO)
Mr. Frank has created yet another delightful space for his students. He is truly amazing! . . . More...

Panning Across a Class Doing Daily 5 (VIDEO)
Want to see the I chart in action with intermediate students? It gives us goosebumps every time we are in a classroom where children are independent and completely immersed in reading and writing. . . . More...

FAQ: As I am starting my year with a new group of students, what are the most important things to remember when launching Daily 5?
Many of you have asked what are the most important things to keep in mind during the launch of Daily 5. Here are our thoughts. . . . More...

Launching Read to Self in Beth's Room (VIDEO)
One of the best forms of professional development is to watch our colleagues in action. We love being in Beth's room, because we always come away with new ideas. Now you can visit via video. . . . More...

Book Look - And Here's To You! by David Elliott
If you are looking for a book to celebrate the uniqueness of your students, And Here's To You by David Elliott might be just the one. Perfect for preschool through second grades. . . . More...

Spanish Parent Pipeline - Make a picture or mental image (DOWNLOAD)
The Parent Pipeline for Make a picture or mental image is now available in Espanol. . . . More...

Getting Each Student's Voice in the Discussion, Part 1 of 2 (VIDEO and DOWNLOAD)
Creating a safe and nurturing environment where everyone's voice is heard can be fostered a variety of ways. "Listen and Talk" is one of those. . . . More...

Still Cozy - No Couch (VIDEO)
There was a lot of grieving and even anger when our district banned the couches in our rooms. Leave it to the amazing Mr. Frank to not let regulations get in the way of what he knows to be best for his kids. He inspires us every day! . . . More...

Check In Clipboards That are Never Lost
The only thing we love more than a beautiful Pensieve is a beautiful clipboard for checking in with student choices. Trish Prentice has an idea to not only beautify our clipboards, but make them easy to find in our rooms. How does she know us so well? . . . More...

The CAFE Menu: Assessing Knowledge (VIDEO)
In this video, Janet and a group of third graders review what they know about the CAFE Menu, from the meaning of each goal, to the strategies and how the students use them. . . . More...

Why Two Different Word Walls?
Trish Prentice has designed two word walls in her room. One meets the needs of the students who like to look up, copy, and get back to work. The other meets the needs of those who need to have the word right in front of them. The latter provides a legal movement opportunity. We love how Trish honors various learning styles! . . . More...

Book Look - Move by Steve Jenkins
This weeks Book Look features Move! by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. It is a beautiful picture book with several possibilities for strategy instruction. . . . More...

Working With our Barometer Children to Stretch Their Stamina
Occupational therapists have suggested the use of a weighted vest or blanket to help some children focus. Lisa Joseph finds that a therapeutic neck wrap also works and saves money by making them herself! . . . More...

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