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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: I sent you an email asking you how to start using Daily 5 in my classroom. How come you didn't respond? I need help!

A: We receive hundreds of emails each week from teachers, and we read every single one of them. We have learned so much from our correspondence with colleagues. But at the same time, we are still in schools, and our first obligation is to our students. We cannot respond to every email because of the sheer volume of mail we receive (though we sure wish we could)! Our frustration with being unable to keep up with the email load is one of the reasons we developed the Daily CAFÉ -- we believe the most efficient way to address the amazing range of questions and needs we've been sent is through video demonstrations, tutorials, and print features. The website is how we provide practical, ongoing support to teachers who are trying out Daily 5 and CAFÉ Assessment in their classrooms and asking for our help.

We would love to be your private coach, taking you step by step through the process of using the Daily 5 and CAFÉ Assessment in your classroom. We just can't do it through a one-on-one email correspondence -- there aren't enough hours in the day to correspond regularly with the thousands of members at the site. If the answer to your question is available on our site, we will depend upon you finding it here or in our Sisters on the spot video section. We promise to keep refining the organization of the site to help you find whatever you are looking for easily whenever you visit here. In addition, if you are just getting started, we have created the "Quick Start Guides" to give more detailed, systematic support. You can access those guides at this link: Quick Start Guides

FAQ - Why isn't there a desk for each of your students?
FAQ - Why isn't there a desk for each of your students? . . .
FAQ - How can I adapt I-PICK for older students?
This is a great question, and our friend Lynn . . .
FAQ - Have you got any ideas to keep our vocabulary learning alive?
How about a Blog... Julie Dunning di . . .
FAQ - I am an Intermediate teacher. Do you do two or three rounds of the Daily 5 in your intermediate classes?
The Daily 5 book alludes to the idea of 5 rounds, . . .
FAQ - When setting up and working with Daily 5 and/or CAFE what are the greatest challenges?
Our friend Sharon recently asked this question whe . . .
FAQ - What materials might you use in Word Work that incorporate cursive writing?
We follow a few guidelines when planning our word . . .
FAQ - Can Parents do Daily 5 at home?
If only Trevor' parents would help him practice th . . .
FAQ - Any new ideas for helping partners decide who reads first?
Some students need one "who starts" strategy and t . . .
FAQ - What suggestions do you have for utilizing 2 adults in our inclusion classroom?
An extra adult in your room during literacy can be . . .
2010 WORKSHOPS WITH THE 2 SISTERS
Here are the dates and locations . . .
FAQ - I started the year gung-ho on CAFE but I am still struggling with strategy groups. HELP!
Whenever we begin something new, we must remember . . .
We Want Your Input!
We are working on a new book about how to launch a . . .
FAQ - Could you make it easier to find things on your site?
We have been listening and have worked hard to cre . . .
FAQ - I can narrow down goals for students but I am a little worried about choosing a strategy. Any suggestions?
We easily identified the goal of comprehension, ac . . .
FAQ - Goals for Our Highest Readers
Q: What do you do with advanced readers who . . .
FAQ - Do kids have to practice the focus lesson right away?
Q: If you give a reading mini-lesson and the chil . . .
FAQ - I teach 2nd grade, although some students summarized what their partner read, many did more of a retelling. Is that ok?
A:It is very common for students of all age . . .
FAQ - How else might students declare their goals?
This fabulous variation on declaring individual go . . .
FAQ - Where do students keep their word collectors?
A Word Collector is a sheet of paper separated int . . .
FAQ The main story selections from our mandated basal are too long to fit into a 10 minute Focus Lesson, should I break them up and spread them through the three focus lessons in one day?
It's easy for a text we've selected, whether basal . . .
FAQ - Do you do a separate Writing Workshop?
A: It really depends upon the age of stude . . .
FAQ - When do I start assessing my students?
For many of us, a new school year is just beginnin . . .
FAQ - Do you have a Spanish version of your Emergent CAFE Menu?(DOWNLOAD)
We are grateful to Carrie Sorensen for translating . . .
FAQ - What do you do with conferring sheets when they are filled?
Conferring forms hold such valuable information, b . . .
FAQ - Are you ever at a loss for a reading goal?
Our biggest challenge after helping students ident . . .
FAQ - I understand why the focus lessons are short, but how do you keep them short?
It can be difficult for those of us with lots of w . . .
FAQ - Is there a Daily 5 or CAFE online discussion group for teachers?
When we were writing The CAFE Book, our editor Bre . . .
FAQ - How did you make the bulletin board size word collector and how is it used?
Many of our lessons for teaching vocabulary are an . . .
FAQ - I'm so excited for the start of the year with a conferring notebook. I'm just worried about following through all year long. Do you have any tips to help me stick with it?
This question reminds us a bit of losing weight -- . . .
FAQ- Do you have a creative idea for making a pensieve cover?
Summer is a great time of year to shop for the per . . .
FAQ - I am looking for alternative seating in my classroom and my school will not allow couches or cozy chairs
Q: I am looking for alternative seating in . . .
FAQ - I have many parents and support staff coming in and out of my room to help. How can I make their time with students successful and not disturb the cadence and the flow of the learning that is already happening?
I have many parents and support staff coming in an . . .
FAQ - My Room is so small what can I do?
Q: My Room is so small what can I do? . . .
FAQ - My Room is so small what can I do?
My Room is so small what can I do? We have call . . .
FAQ - I will have a special education co-teacher in the fall. How would you advise going about sharing the load in the Daily 5 and truly co-teaching, while enabling her to also meet the needs of her students?
Q I will have a special education co-teac . . .
FAQ - What Kind of Materials should I be gathering for Daily 5 Work on Writing? (article)
Q What Kind of Materials should I be gathe . . .
FAQ - Why can students say the strategies but we still don't see them using them?
When students check in with their Daily 5 choice w . . .
FAQ - I recently read both the Daily 5 and The Cafe Book. In the Daily 5 students seemed to have time to work independently in 5 areas and in The Cafe Book they seemed to only get 3 rounds? What am I missing?
First of all, thank you to Joan in Wichita Kansas . . .
FAQ - I am looking for seating options for my active kids and those with sensory motor needs. Any ideas?
Thanks to Brenda Bokenyi of Portland, Oregon who w . . .
FAQ- I'm reading the CAFE book and loving it. Is there any leveled guided reading going on? Or is guided reading solely in the form of strategy groups? Do you do any book clubs with the kids?
Our CAFE Book articulates how we develop strategy . . .
FAQ - How do you introduce a new book to students who are in a group that has different reading levels?
Years ago, before we began working with flexible s . . .
FAQ - If you want to confer with a student but they are listening to reading, reading with someone or doing word work, do you interrupt their activity to meet with them?
Most of time, no, we don't interrupt students while they are engaged in listen to reading, reading to someone or doing word work. Here is what we do. . . .
FAQ- How often do you meet with groups of students?
Though it may sound a bit trite, the answer i . . .
FAQ - How do I hold students accountable to practice the mini-lesson content, or do the structure and choice afforded by the Daily Five negate this immediate practice expectation?
Q How do I hold students accountable to practice the mini-lesson content, or do the structure and choice afforded by the Daily Five negate this immediate practice expectation? . . .
FAQ - Since we are doing Daily 5, when do I have my 5th graders practice answering questions similar to the questions they will see on our state test?
Sometimes the pressure produced by high stakes sta . . .
Q: My kids are very independent and have lots of stamina the first two rounds of Daily 5, but then they seem to fall apart. What should I do?
A: Our initial vision, as we began to de . . .
FAQ - I'm frustrated with the Listen to Reading tapes and CDs in my classroom. Do you have any suggestions?
We had the joy of meeting Kari Butcher, Cami Ashle . . .
FAQ - Why would I teach my students Three Ways to Read a Book when so many of them are reading chapter books?
Most of us have a wide spectrum of readers in our . . .
FAQ - Data Cards (Video and Download)
We designed "Data Cards" as a visual tool for grad . . .
FAQ - We have a district mandated reading program. How do I provide time for students to practice their guided reading book?
If you work with students in groups based on le . . .
Q: I have a big class this year! How can I manage one-on-one assessments for all my students?
A: We understand and hear this concern eve . . .
FAQ - Do you have a form to collect the reading data scores?
We are often asked how we keep track of student pr . . .
FAQ-Where do students store their books?
Book boxes, plastic bags, tubs, desks, we've tried . . .
FAQ-How do you help students remember conferring appointments?
The goal of all our conferences is to support stud . . .
FAQ-Could I start Daily 5 Mid-Year?
Aren't you excited when you hear a great idea that . . .
FAQ - Are your CAFE strategies preprinted for us to post?
A: While pre-made materials may be convenie . . .
FAQ-When and how do students change books? (DOWNLOAD)
Given what the research and leaders in our field a . . .
Daily 5- Regarding Parent Volunteers
A few things come to mind when we think of parent . . .
Q- What if my students have already had experience with the Daily 5? Won't they be bored?
A Colleagues are frequently concerned abou . . .
Q - Daily 5 is up and going and I just got a new student. What do I do?
A We always celebrate the arrival of a new . . .
Q: I am wondering which assessments you use in your classrooms? Our district is thinking about switching from the DRA to the DRA2. Do you use the DRA2?
A: We use the original DRA (Developmental . . .
Q: I am getting ready for parent conferences. Can you tell me how to use the Café Menu in the conference?
A: Whether doing Student Led conferences . . .
Q: How does my room arrangement affect The Daily 5?
A: Our current room arrangement includes areas su . . .
Q: Could I see a sample of your schedule?
A: We know that every classroom, school, . . .
Q: Where can I find materials I see on your DVDs or in your book?
Q: Where can I find the chimes I see you using . . .
FAQ: I have a question about procedures during the stamina building training period of the Daily 5.
Question from CT I just finished reading . . .
CAFE - Literacy Cafe Menu (PHOTO)
Thousands of you have asked to see a photo of The . . .
FAQ - Can you tell me where you get the cute calendars you use in your Pensieve?
A: The calendar in our Pensieve, or conferring notebook, is a vital part of making and keeping appointments with individual students as well as small groups. We rely on it heavily and have found that we love to use it when it is attractive! . . .
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