My Journey Through the CAFE

I began to consider teaching the Daily 5/C.A.F.E. during the spring of 2011.  Jessie, an amazing first grade teacher and friend, who teaches with me at Washington School in Muscatine, Iowa had been studying The Sisters' (Gail Boushey & Jean Moser-who really are sisters) technique for the past year. I was looking for something innovative to try on my kindergarten students in the fall and together, along with an incredible group of 4 other teachers in our district, we began to meet for a study group as soon as the school year ended that summer.

It became very clear to me that the D5/C.A.F.E. is not meant for the faint of heart.  It is not something that should be entered into lightly.  I realized as I learned more about it, that you either did D5/C.A.F.E. or you "rested on your laurals."  I have always invited a challenge (as long as I could keep my creativity) so I began buying and reading The Sisters' books...

• The CAFE Book: Engaging all Students in Daily Literacy Assessment and Instruction http://www.amazon.com/CAFE-Book-Engaging-Assessment-Instruction/dp/1571107282, by Boushey &  Moser (5 stars on Amazon,by the way)
• The Daily Five (http://www.amazon.com/Daily-Five-Gail-Boushey/dp/1571104291/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b) by Boushey & Moser (another 5 stars)
• Literacy Work Stations: Making Centers Work  (http://www.amazon.com/Literacy-Work-Stations-Making-Centers/dp/1571103538/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c) by Debbie Diller (yet another 5 stars)

The other teachers were more experienced with D5/C.A.F.E. than I was, which was fortunate for me because they provided me with a plethora of resources to draw from as I began to set my classroom up in August.  I also became an avid Pinterest addict (seriously...I need a 12-Step program or something) and when the school bell rang on the first day...I was off.  The one difference between myself and the other teachers was I was the insane one who was attempting to implement this program in a highly-transient, high-poverty, dual-language kindergarten classroom (I speak English fluently and a few Spanish curse words). 

We managed somehow to convince our district to pay our registration to a C.A.F.E. workshop in Chicago during November.  This was perfect timing, because I had just completed our launch and had been trying to check off my mini-lessons from the Emergent C.A.F.E. menu.  I had a lot of questions by the time I finally met The Sisters (Ohhhh yes...I actually touched their arm!).  They are fabulous!  They answered everyone's questions during the breaks and during lunch and I left feeling renewed and knowledgeable.  I also learned that they had a new "Transition Menu" that I felt ready to tackle with my kiddos.

I also have Linda, a co-teacher and friend who pushes-in with me during the 45 minute Daily 5 block.  She teaches E.S.L. and she comes in super handy, especially when I need to speak to my English Language Learners, using appropriate communication.  She was not familiar with the D5/C.A.F.E. approach when the year started, so I have been teaching her as we go.  Now that I understand the basic framework, components, and techniques associated with D5/C.A.F.E., I have begun searching for a free mini-lesson Bible for teaching the strategies within the menus.  I have been able to get suggestions from my C.A.F.E. group and from The Sisters books.  I have also managed to use my creativity to design a few of my own lessons and I have found some ideas online, however, I haven't been able find a one-stop shop for teaching D5/C.A.F.E. mini-lessons in the kindergarten classroom...so I guess I am now taking on the task. 

It is now Thanksgiving night and I am extremely thankful for the support of my district and administration, Linda, the C.A.F.E. group, and especially The Sisters--Gail and Joan as I continue my journey through the C.A.F.E.  Welcome to my site.  I hope that as time goes by, I can help others along the road.