I'm not convinced that my hour-and-a-half language arts schedule, with gifted fifth graders, can accommodate the Daily Five. (How do you do Read to Someone with novels?) But I really loved the step-by-step setup lessons for each of the components, and the general emphasis on model, model, model and practice, practice, practice. I realize that many of my expectations in the past were vague, leading to off-task behavior. The plan for making positive behaviors the "default" is worth the time and money spent on this book alone. ( )

The authors put a lot of thought into their way of getting kids to be independent readers and writers. I don't do everything just the way they do, but this book is an excellent guide. ( )

This is a great book to develop a Literacy Block with purpose and meaning. Students become self reliant and able to move through centers for literacy with little hands on from the teacher. This frees time for reading and writing groups. It's imperative to take the time to plan and implement the proceedures for this to be successful. ( )