Thursday Focus (enjoy Friday off!)

To check in, or not to check in, that is the question

The Daily 5 framework includes gathering back with the class after each round to check-in with your students and then teach a mini-lesson before students choose their next round.  Why is that check-in time so important when it seems like it's taking away from their literacy time? (Especially, when you have so many students you want to meet with.)

I went back to the Daily 5 book to find out what the Sisters have to say on this topic...When you gather back together on the carpet with your class, it signals a shift in activity and thinking.  This shift gives them time for a change in their brain work along with much-needed movement of their bodies.  Students come to expect that in between each round of Daily 5, they will not only have some much needed body movement, but will also receive short bursts of valuable and focused instruction.  It is this consistent pattern that leads to the levley ebb and flow of teaching and practicing, teaching and practicing that exemplifies The Daily 5.  In addition, when you use this time to check-in with your students in between rounds, you are teaching them to be self-reflective and give them ownership of their learning.  As you ask students their focus for the next round, you are creating an immediate focus, or a sense of urgency.


If you're not sure where to start with checking in, here's a video clip from the sisters' site: http://thedailycafe.com/public/415.cfm 

At the end of this clip, Gail asks the students why it is important for them to think about their goal and strategy.  Their responses

--"So we memorize our goal and strategy to know what we’re doing.

--"So we know what to work on."

--"So we know what to improve on."

I have heard several teachers talk about how they have carried this practice over into other subjects as well, or even providing an end of the day reflection time on their overall learning for the day.  This could also be done in specials classes...asking students to reflect on their effort/learning and what they would like to work on next.

My reflection prompt for you: Are you having your students check in?  How is this going? As you are teaching your students to self-reflect, how are you seeing this impact their learning?