1. Simplify Your Reading Block
Krista Geffre

2. Agenda Outline of my literacy block Independent Work (Daily 5)
Instruction & Café Menu
Small Group Reading Instruction
Assessment/Individual Conferences
Read Aloud and CCSS

3. Disclaimer
I use many ideas from “The Sisters” who created the Daily 5 and Café Menu. The Daily 5: Fostering Literacy Independence in The Elementary Grades & The Café Book: Engaging all Students In Daily Literacy Assessment & Instruction By Gail Boushey & Joan Moser “The Sisters”

4. How I have Simplified My Reading Block
Independent work is meaningful and student led
Independent work does not require daily planning
No stacks of papers to grade
Lessons are focused and short
1 lesson for multiple book groups

5. My literacy Block Mini-lesson # 1
Independent Work / Meet with book Groups or individuals
Mini-lesson # 2 / Refocus
End reading block with review and/or sharing
Read aloud with a CCSS focus*
*this is outside of my “literacy block” time this year

6. Mini Lesson
Keep it short – 10 minutes
Café menu Put your objective or CCSS on the wall for reference

7. Posting Objectives

8. CAFÉ Menu
Comprehension
Accuracy
Fluency
Expand Vocabulary

10. Café menu Objectives are printed or written on cards
Put them on the wall as they are taught
Students refer to them throughout the year

11. Strategies and Standards are posted as they are taught
Keep the café menu and strategies you haven’t used yet on the inside of a cabinet door

12. Independent work simplified - Daily 5
Read to Self
Read to Someone
Work on Writing – During writing time

13. Keys to success
Give students choice
Explicitly teach how to do it
Teach students how to pick books
Build Stamina
Hold students accountable
Reteach if needed

14. Read to SELF I-Chart

15. Read to Someone

16. Helping a partner

17. Where to sit
Students enjoy choosing their own spots around the room to sit

18. What they read
Students choose their own books
Teach them how to decide if a book is a good fit for them

19. Practice, practice, practice! In the beginning just practice
Build stamina
Practice, practice, practice!
In the beginning just practice
Make sure they can be completely independent before you pull reading groups

20. Daily 5 and Café Resources
Many free resources and more if you join
Café menu copies
How to launch the daily 5

21. Status of the class Hold students accountable
They choose read to self or read to someone
They choose their strategy focus
Quick check-in

22. Vary groupings throughout the year
Small Group Reading
Any text
Vary groupings throughout the year

23. Book Groups - Simplified
Plan one lesson for all groups
Vary level of the text

24. Model of strategy and fluency Students read and mark their books
Small Group Outline
Mini-lesson
Model of strategy and fluency
Students read and mark their books
Share thoughts and read aloud

25. Video – Mini Lesson Example
CCSS
Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions)
Objective / Learning Target
I can use specific details from the text to describe characters, settings, or events.
I can locate sections of a text where characters, settings, or events are described.
RL.4.3

26. Video summary Use post-its to mark thoughts and ideas
Grades for group participation

27. Group Participation Grading
Discussion
Share ideas
Comment / Ask Questions of other students
Demonstrate their thinking and understanding of the concept and story

28. Interruptions
Don’t start small group work until students are really ready for independent work
Teach students when it is okay to interrupt – sick or injured
Paper hand – emergencies only

29. Individual Reading Conferences
Visit with individual students and track their progress.
Keep general notes in a binder or spreadsheet

30. Outline for individual conferences
“What are your working on today?”
Have them read to you
Choose something to focus on and teach
Have them repeat their focus/goal to you

31. Read Aloud Use CCSS to determine your focus
I use cards from the café menu to help focus my instruction and also remind students what we are working on.

32. Questions / Contact me
Krista Geffre