This past semester, I taught 1 day a week in a 1st grade classroom. My mentor teacher introduced me to The Daily 5 and CAFE. I was hooked. These books are a teacher's dream! Gail Boushey and Joan Moser are veteran teachers who were frustrated with teaching to Basals and not seeing their students achieve what they felt they could by the end of the year. The Daily 5 gives students choices during their Language Arts Block and CAFE gives the students strategies to improve their reading! It is AMAZING to see implemented in a classroom. My 3rd grade classroom that I will be student teaching in this fall uses this curriculum. If you are a teacher, you MUST read these books! It makes providing differentiated instruction a breeze! And as an added bonus, The CAFE books provides a CD-ROM of PDF copies of forms "The Sisters" formated and implemented in their classroom.
I am currently reading, Teaching with Intention by Debbie Miller. My mentor teacher that I will be student teaching with told me about this book. In fact, the school will be doing a book study on it this October. Debbie Miller is an inspiration. What I love about this book is that she gives real life examples on arranging classrooms. What you need, what you do not need, what you cannot live without, and how to include your students on room arrangement. I have not finished the book yet, but I LOVE IT!!
Reading with Meaning is also written by Debbie Miller. I just earned $20 in gift cards at swagbucks.com (Did that catch your attention, check out my button on the blog to learn more!) and I am about to order this book.
I know these 4 books will be attached to me during student teaching and when I land a job. If you are a teacher and have a book that you cannot live without, let me know! I am looking into some books on Math strategies in the classroom.
Hope everyone is having a GREAT week so far!!
those books are PERFECT for a reading teacher!!!! i would also suggest comprehension toolkit....a life saver! i can't remember the author, but i think it's steph harvey.
ReplyDeletegood luck!!!
I've never seen these books but it sounds like they would be great for a classroom!
ReplyDeleteLOVE The Daily 5! I've hear a lot about CAFE too, but haven't yet read the book. Teaching is wonderful, isn't it? I just graduated in May with my Masters in Teaching, so I'm kind where you're at as well. Now looking for a job... eek! Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading more about your experiences with teaching... and of course, with being a military wife :)
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