The Daily Cafe is designed for teachers and literacy coaches using The Daily 5 and The Literacy Cafe Assessment System. It is loaded with professional video and downloads, all created for teachers like you!
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Video

Videos will be added periodically to the site featuring The Daily 5, CAFE , Classroom Design and the implementation for all grade levels. All videos are in Flash format, optimized for viewing on computers with high-speed internet access. If you are having trouble viewing a video, you can download a free Flash player for your computer here:

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[Many videos featured on this site are available for purchase as part of our DVD Workshop Kits, designed for use in professional development settings with full-color viewing guides. For more information, click here.]

Another Method to Facilitate Choosing a Partner - Part II (VIDEO)
We explicitly teach how to choose a partner so students can quickly form partnerships in reading, writing, math, science, recess, etc. We usually rely on the "raise your hand" method as explained in . . .
Daily 5™ - Adding Choice and Checking In (ARTICLE and VIDEO)
After Read to Self and Work on Writing have both been launched, we often feel a bit like we are standing on top of a mountain, admiring a view of great beauty. Students are actually reading and writin . . .
Design - Add Just the Right Seating for a Long and Narrow Classroom (VIDEO)
This long narrow classroom limited the seating options, but two narrow tables, anchored by a small cupboard at each end, helped provide the variety the teacher was looking for. script type="te . . .
Daily 5 - Using the 5 Senses to Define behaviors (Video)
Sometimes students begin the year with a sense of urgency and motivation to build stamina, only to let it wain as the year progresses and nears it's end. It was precisely this that moved Rachel Andre . . .
Design - Bookshelf using Encyclopedias (VIDEO)
here is a sacredness to books that prohibits us from ever throwing them away. But what do we do with texts that are so out of date that they've lost their value as anything but dust collectors and paper weights? Jenny, a teacher at Gail's school, asked her grandfather to turn some prehistoric encyclopedias into a unique bookshelf. We were so excited by this idea that we just had to share it with you! Maybe you can convince the handyman (or woman) in your life to make one for you! . . .
Math - Using the Board to Differentiate (Video)
In this video, Joan describes a simple management strategy for guiding student choices in order to meet their diverse individual needs. It's easy, inexpensive and really works. script typ . . .
Daily 5 - Pick a Partner Debrief (VIDEO)
In this video, Natalie and Joan converse about how things are going with the Read to Someone portion of the Daily Five. Natalie shares what is going well, as well as the things that need some fine tu . . .
Daily 5 - Picking a Partner- Whole Group Lesson (VIDEO)
Choosing a partner is a very sophisticated strategy. We used to just say, "Pick a Partner and get to work." Moments later we'd be wondering why they were not being successful. Arguments had ensued, . . .
Panning Across a Class Doing Daily 5 (Video)
Want to see the I chart in live 3-D 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 wr . . .
Math - Video
Plus or Minus is a great game for students who have beginning number sense and are developing addition and subtraction skills. It's also a great way to use checker or chess boards that no longer have . . .
Math - Nine Holes, Strategy Game (VIDEO)
Nine Holes (also known as Tapatan) is a strategy game, similar to Tic Tac Toe. The object is to get three markers in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Each player has three play . . .
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 . . .
CAFE - Using Three Strategies at One Time (VIDEO)
In this video Janet models 3 strategies in combination. Author's purpose and Text Features help deepen comprehension, and paying close attention to pictures helps expand vocabulary. The story she has . . .
Parent Pipeline ~ Voracious Reading
By: Allison Behne Have you ever read a book that you just couldn't put down? Maybe you have an author that you enjoy more than others. How many of you have a series that you eagerly anticipate t . . .
CAFE - Improving Pace and Fluency (Video)
In this video, Kelly reviews Chloe's reading goal of fluency and the strategy Back Up and Reread. Watch what happens to Chloe's pace when Kelly asks her to go back and reread to make the reading sm . . .
CAFE - Nudging a Students to Articulate Strengths and Goals
In this video Gail and Cindy are meeting with Bobby, a third grader whom Cindy has worked with for a year and a half (Cindy looped up to third grade with her students). Bobby identifies comprehension . . .
Video - Christie and Connor
In this video Christie confers with Connor, one of the 4th grade boys in her class. He begins by summarizing the chapter he just read in Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen. Christie asks questions to clarify some . . .
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, . . .
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 . . .
Pam and Artur
A high level of accountability is one of the perks of one on one conferring. In this video, Pam Pogson sets clear expectations and ensures that Artur knows exactly what he'll be accountable for and w . . .
Math Video - Math Tools
In this video Joan explains the final category of the Math Daily 5 board...Math Tools. . . .
Daily 5™ - Joan and Maxwell writing conference underline (VIDEO)
Joan checks in with Maxwell to see how well he is doing at his goals of writing more and underlining words he isn't sure about. As he reads his story, Joan leads him to discover what is missing, rath . . .
CAFE - Accuracy - Chunking (VIDEO)
Do you have a favorite way to teach a strategy? This is one tried and true favorite Kelly relies on when teaching children that many words have little words or chunks in them. This fast paced l . . .
Math - Introducing Math Tools (Video)
Have you ever introduced a math game, only to be discouraged when students engage in imaginative play or build towers with the manipulatives instead of practice the skill by playing the game? As with . . .
Bookroom Tours Part 3 (Video)
In this third video of a three-part series, we take you into a bookroom from an intermediate school to look at a way of organizing books by author or title instead of levels. script type="text/jav . . .
Bookroom Tours Part 2
In this second of a three-part series, we take you into a primary bookroom to look at different possibilities for organizing, storing, and checking out book collections. This video has our new full s . . .
Bookroom Tours Part 1
This is the first in a three-part series on bookrooms. The video will take you into a primary bookroom to look at different possibilities for organizing, storing, and checking out book collections. . . .
CAFE - Read Aloud: Focus on Retelling
This retell lesson was the first instructional focus of the day in Courtney Tomfohr's classroom. This video excerpt comes directly from our new video, One Morning, produced by Choice Literacy. The vi . . .
Sisters on the Spot - Parent Involvement (Video)
How do you involve your parents in their child's learning? Do you support parents with training? These two questions were posed by Sandy, a primary teacher from Connecticut. You may be surprise . . .
CAFE - Adding Labels in Kindergarten(VIDEO)
Danielle French's kindergarten students have been focusing on writing their names and using lots of colors in their stories. She's noticed that a couple of students are using labels already and think . . .
Sisters on the Spot - How can principals support their teachers as they implement CAFE and Daily 5? (VIDEO)
If you are looking for the link from our Tip of the Week on November 13th to the Question "I can narrow down goals for students but I am a little worried about choosing a strategy. Any suggestions?", . . .
CAFE™ - Author's Purpose (VIDEO)
One of the most challenging and rewarding parts of being a teacher is not just imparting knowledge, but creating thinkers. That's why we so appreciate being in a classroom where teachers like Carrie . . .
CAFE - Accuracy - Back Up and Re-Read (VIDEO)
Back up and Reread is a tremendous strategy to facilitate comprehension when meaning has broken down. The trick is to monitor one's own understanding in order to stop in a timely manner, then go back . . .
CAFE™ - Dual Purpose Small Group Lesson (VIDEO)
We want even our most emergent readers to understand that reading is about making meaning. So this lesson has a dual purpose of blending sounds together and listening for when a word makes sense. It . . .
Daily 5 - Listen and Talk Part Two (VIDEO)
In this second of a two part series, Gail moves from teaching the strategy of "Listen and Talk" to having the students use the strategy. The purpose of "Listen and Talk" is for all students to be . . .
CAFE - Word Families: A Clever Way to Learn
Daniel Woods, engaged his kindergarten students in this simple word family activity, bringing it to life on his smart board. Here is what he did: Cloned the word family "ack". Using his blend car . . .
Design - Computer Station Organization
Setting up the computer area in a classroom takes a bit of forethought. Anne is fortunate enough to have 5 computers for student use. She made a computer station that is in a high traffic area, but s . . .
Daily 5™ - Word Work - Introducing Materials and Words to Practice(VIDEO)
In this lesson, Joan and Carrie introduce the students to two different aspects of word work: which words to practice and what materials they can use. Chart paper makes this information easily retri . . .
CAFE™ - Fluency - Back Up and Reread (VIDEO)
In this video, Kelly reviews Chloe's reading goal of fluency and the strategy back up and reread. Watch what happens to Chloe's pace when Kelly asks her to go back and reread to make the readi . . .
Design - Organizing the Classroom Library (VIDEO)
What is the state of your classroom library? Are you ready to take a look? Not just a peek, but an honest, heart to heart of the library look? Are your students able to find good fit . . .
CAFE™ - Comprehension - Inferring with a Small Group (VIDEO)
Whenever we read to children, we treat the opportunity as if time with a book is a great gift. The pleasure we derive from books begins to trickle out and infect even the most reluctant readers. Thi . . .
CAFE™ - Small Group Vocabulary using prior knowledge (VIDEO)
In this video clip, Gail introduces a small group of students to the strategy of using prior knowledge to figure out words they may already know, but haven't seen in print before. Tapping into our ba . . .
CAFE™ - Accuracy - Use Beginning Sounds and Ending Sounds (VIDEO)
"Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Txes M&A Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset c . . .
Design - Bookshelf Using Encyclopedias PART III OF IV (VIDEO)
There is a sacredness to books that prohibits us from ever throwing them away. But what do we do with texts that are so out of date that they've lost their value as anything but dust collectors and paper weights? Jenny, a new teacher at Gail's school, asked her grandfather to turn some prehistoric encyclopedias into a unique bookshelf. We were so excited by this idea that we just had to share it with you! Maybe you can . . .
CAFE™ - Debrief Small Group work with Long Vowels (VIDEO)
We meet with small groups for a variety of reasons. Natalie shares why this rather large "small group" has been meeting to go over long vowel sounds. She uses a word inventory spelling assessment to . . .
CAFE™ - Expand Vocabulary-Use a Dictionary (VIDEO)
In this video, Christie's whole-group focus lesson is on Vocabulary. After reviewing the strategies her fourth graders already know and use when they come to a word they don't know the meaning of (re . . .
CAFE™ - Phonetic Work with Many Modalities (VIDEO)
Joan meets with a small group of kindergarten students who are working on accuracy, specifically the letter/sound connection. Children love working with white boards and dry erase markers, and the bi . . .
Reviewing Daily 5™ when a New Student Arrives (VIDEO)
We were walking down the hall when Jenny, a fourth grade teacher, came bustling out of her room hunting for a student chair for the new student who'd be arriving in minutes. Getting a new student at . . .
CAFE™ - Writing Conference Increases Independence (VIDEO)
It is so rewarding when our students make progress toward learning targets and goals. Avery has worked hard to assess her own spelling as she writes and underlines words she is unsure about before co . . .
CAFE™ - Comprehension -Summarize Text (VIDEO)
Summarizing is an important comprehension strategy. Not only does it help us remember what we read, but it helps us communicate with others regarding our reading. The students in this fourth grade c . . .
CAFE™ - Spelling Patterns with a Small Group (VIDEO)
This small group was formed to continue their word work study of long vowels. They are focusing on words with the long e sound and organizing their found words into the various spelling patterns that . . .
Sharing at the End of Daily 5™ (VIDEO)
Sharing can be a powerful teaching time as well as a chance to celebrate growth. In this video, Joan has asked Janice and Brady to share because they both have something to offer that will benefit th . . .
CAFE™ - Comprehension - Retell The Story (VIDEO)
Proficient readers are able to tell 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, confirms . . .
CAFE - Conferring with Charisma on Good Fit Books (Video)
There is a delicate discussion we tiptoe around when conferring with a student who is reading a book that is too hard. Your mind races, thinking, "Do I say something? Do I let her just struggle and . . .
Design - 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? . . .

Daily 5™ - Work Time (Video)
Have you heard the low hum of a classroom full of students that are purposefully learning? When we enter a classroom that is engaged in meaningful work, and the hum of dialogue in private and respect . . .
Daily 5™ - Word Work Materials - Letter Boxes (VIDEO)
Alphabet letters come in a variety of materials and textures and children love to manipulate them as they learn their high frequency words. These craft boxes make the storage easy and management simp . . .
CAFE™ - Comprehension and Fluency - Back-Up and Reread (VIDEO)
In this video, Christie introduces one of her 4th grade students to the strategy of Back-up and Reread. This multi-purpose strategy supports accuracy, fluency and comprehension. Christie's student i . . .
Daily 5™ - Checking in After Each Round (VIDEO)
Goal setting with children? We have a hard enough time setting goals for ourselves! However, in Washington, having children set goals for their learning is part of our state standards. So we start . . .
CAFE™ - Comprehension - Teaching a Student to Ask Questions(VIDEO)
Thinking about the students in your class, have you encountered those who are able to decode beautifully but are so concerned about reading the words right and reading quickly that they neglect to sto . . .
Design - Creative Displays for Magazines and Books PART IV OF IV (VIDEO)
Here is a peek into another portion of Ron's room! He really believes in offering students a variety of reading materials, and always finds unique ways to store and present them in an inviting way. This is no exception. Watch the clip to see the ingenious way he's incorporated magazines into the classroom for his students reading pleasure. Included in the clip are some other creative book displays. Ron, you are amazing! . . .
CAFE™ - Reading Response Journal Debrief Part V of V (VIDEO)
Here is the final installment in this series on Reading Response Journals. Joan, Gail and Pam enjoy a reflective dialogue regarding the setting up of the journals with Pam's students. Watchin . . .
CAFE™ - Response Journal Scoring Part IV OF V (Video and Download)
This is the last "formal" lesson Pam teaches regarding expectations for the weekly reading response journal entries she requires. After this lesson, students will be expected to try their hands at re . . .
Sisters on the Spot - Difficult Schedule (VIDEO)
Corin, from Long Island, New York, is asking for a bit of advice on how to plan for and manage the schedule she has. Due to mandatory specials, her literacy block is shortened three days a week. Th . . .
CAFE™ - Reading Response Journals Part III of V (Video)
The third and final paragraph in this response journal reflects on the reading goal each student had for the week. In this video, Pam models the thinking that is involved with writing this paragraph . . .
CAFE™ - Reading Response Journals Part II of V (Video)
Reading Thinking In part two of this five part series, Pam introduces her fifth grade students to the content requirements for the Reading Response journals they will be expected to turn in once a . . .
CAFE™ - Reading Response Journal PART I OF V - (VIDEO and DOWNLOAD)
Gail's principal, Stan, frequently reminds his staff to think about the structure of the school day created for students by asking them to contemplate the following question…"Is the educational experi . . .
Daily 5™ - Touring a Word Wall (VIDEO)
You may not be able tell from video, but Joan's classroom is very small. It looks large on the videos, because she removed desks and tables to create a learning space that is conducive to all types o . . .
Daily 5™ - Book Selection (VIDEO)
A cornerstone to student reading engagement is the ability to "read" the books students have selected and we realized early on that students needed to be taught "3 Ways to Read a Book". In this video . . .
CAFE™ - Accuracy - Small Group Phonemic Awareness and Rhymes (VIDEO)
Phonemic awareness is critical for our beginning readers no matter what age they are. Joan uses several strategies in this small group lesson to help build this essential foundation for reading. The . . .
CAFE™ - Joan and Gail debrief a lesson using multiple strategies (VIDEO)
A good lesson often looks simple to the viewer, which is why it's fun to hear Gail and Joan debrief, reflecting on the detail and thought that went into this lesson on chunking and blending sounds tog . . .
Daily 5™ - Work on Writing - Word Choice (VIDEO)
This small group of writers is meeting with Gail and Natalie to discuss word choice. Gail uses 2 different pieces of writing to demonstrate the purpose of finding the right words: * to make the . . .
Daily 5™ - Book Boxes (VIDEO)
Book boxes, book tubs, book bins, book bags…whatever you call them, they can be a wonderful tool for helping kids manage the books they choose to read during the literacy block. As helpful as they ca . . .
Daily 5™ - Modeled Writing and Heart Words (VIDEO)
Years ago we bought a professional development book that was all about modeled writing. The book was good, but produced in us a great yearning to actually see it in action. What did it really look l . . .
CAFE™ - Fine Tuning a Conference-Inference (VIDEO)
One way to reflect on our practice and fine tune it is through the conversations with other teachers. In this video, Heather has Gail listen in and offer feedback on her one-on-one conference with Gra . . .
CAFE™ - Recording Goals in the Pensieve (VIDEO)
Are you wondering how we use the forms and what kind of notes we jot down in our Pensieve (assessment notebook)? In this video, Gail and Cindy take a few minutes to reflect on a conference Cindy just . . .
CAFE™ - Pam Reviews CAFE™ with her class whole group (VIDEO)
Pam is in the second year of a loop with these sixth grade students. The majority of them worked with The CAFE™ Menu last year, but there are a few new students who haven't been exposed to the s . . .
CAFE™ - Small Group - Check For Understanding (VIDEO)
Small-group instruction is a powerful way to take full advantage of our time in the classroom teaching children. When we first began our journey of teaching small groups, we put children together by . . .
Design - Whiteboards the multifunctional tool (VIDEO)
When students sit on the floor for a focus lesson, we want them to all to be engaged. Enter....the whiteboard. In this video Joan shows you the power of the whiteboard as a tool for reading, writing, math, or any subject students are learning. There are two different . . .
CAFE™ - Expand Vocabulary - Tune In to Interesting Words - Small Group (VIDEO)
One secret to expanding vocabulary is to tune in to interesting words. In this video, Joan and Carrie, a K-2 teacher, meet with a small group of students. Together they learn and practice the strate . . .
CAFE™ Introducing Small Groups to Guide Readers (VIDEO)
Whew! For many of us, the hustle of getting our fall assessments done is finished! But what's next when it comes to linking these assessments to our instruction plans? In this discussion with K-2 M . . .
Check-In Daily 5™ (VIDEO)
Calling all kindergarten teachers! -- if all of your Daily 5™ components are up and running, you might enjoy this video demonstrating how to help children learn check-in procedures. You wit . . .
CAFE™ - Check for Understanding - Partners Reading (VIDEO)
Check for Understanding is the workhorse of comprehension strategies. It is the one we consistently use, either consciously or unconsciously throughout our lives. It is so critical to comprehension . . .
CAFE™ - Debrief Check for Understanding and Coaching (VIDEO)
We often stop and reflect on our own learning after teaching a lesson. Joan and Natalie just revisited "Check for Understanding" during Read to Someone in Natalie's K-2 multiage classroom. Joan intro . . .
CAFE™ - Whole Group CAFE™ Lesson in the Fall (VIDEO)
What if your students have already worked with The Literacy CAFE™ Menu? Will it look different in the fall? This video features Pam and her students, early in the year. Pam looped with most o . . .
Daily 5™ - Independent Work with Kindergarten (VIDEO)
We once saw a sign on a classroom door which read, "Teaching kindergarten is like trying to organize earthworms." Those of you who teach classrooms full of nothing but ego-centric five year olds may . . .
Daily 5™ - Whole Class Independent Work (VIDEO)
What does a real live classroom really look like when all of the components of Daily 5™ are up and running? We get to peek into Carrie's K-2 classroom. Her students have been taught . . .
Daily 5™ - Caleb Shares His Writing (VIDEO)
Wrapping up a session of Daily 5™ with a purposeful and focused sharing time is a powerful way to review the strategies taught during the day and to review strategies previously covered. Sharin . . .
Daily 5™ - Tour Word Work Materials (VIDEO)
Many of the questions we receive about Word Work revolve around materials. Children begin to internalize spelling when they can manipulate letters, touching and moving them into correct order. Michae . . .
Daily 5™ - Launching Word Work - I Chart (VIDEO)
Word Work is one of the last Daily 5™ components to be launched. In this video, Joan and Carrie introduce Word Work and record behavior expectations on the "I" chart. You'll notice that famili . . .
Daily 5™ - An Organizational Tool (VIDEO and DOWNLOAD)
Natalie came from a school with a very structured reading program. She loves Daily 5™, but in her first year of using it, felt a need to come up with a structure for managing the morning so her . . .
Daily 5™ - What's In the Book Box? (VIDEO)
Are you wondering what goes into our student book boxes? Joan is going to let you take a peek and explains the purpose behind each student having a book box of their own. . . .
Daily 5™ - Read To Someone - Book Choice (VIDEO)
Have your students ever had difficulty deciding which book to read during Read to Someone? You have probably witnessed the same thing we have...each partner brings their chosen book and the pair wast . . .
Daily 5™ - Read to Someone - Picking A Partner (VIDEO)
Choosing a partner is a very sophisticated strategy. We used to just say, "Pick a Partner and get to work." Moments later we'd be wondering why they were not being successful. Arguments had ensued, . . .
Daily 5™ - Debrief Picking Partner (VIDEO)
In this video, Natalie and Joan converse about how things are going with the Read to Someone portion of the Daily 5™. Natalie shares what is going well, as well as the things that need some fin . . .
Daily 5™ - Book Boxes - Changing the Books (VIDEO)
Book boxes in a classroom are a wonderful tool used by teachers all over the world. In some classrooms they are magazine holders, in others, zip-lock bags. Whatever the material of the box, the all . . .
CAFE™ - Joan takes you on a tour of the Pensieve, or Conferring Notebook (VIDEO)
One thing our colleagues are most curious about is our conferring notebook, or as we have nicknamed it, our Pensieve. This tool holds all of our most important thoughts and notes as we work with our . . .
Daily 5™ - Troubleshooting (DOWNLOAD AND VIDEO)
The number one question teachers have when they start using the Daily 5™ is what to do about students who struggle with independent work. You know the students we're talking about - they don't . . .
CAFE™ - Check for Understanding - Whole Group Lesson (VIDEO)
The comprehension strategy 'Check for Understanding' is one of the first strategies we teach all of our students on the first days of school, along with "3 Ways to Read a Book" and "Good Fit Books" fo . . .
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