Daily 5 Bumps and Bruises

Hi Girlies,
I think I did something wrong - my post is gone from my own dashboard but I see it when I check from hubbies...  Anyhoo...sorry if this is a double post, but I can't even find it in my posts.  Strange!

I really like Daily 5...do you ever worry that you're becoming one of "those" teachers?  You know, the ones that are stuck in their ways and don't want to try new things?  I was doing Book Nooks/Literacy Centers and was really happy with them...after joining the blogging world, I was inspired...I've been inspired in SO many ways.

I'm a chef's surprise kinda girl..I like to take a little bit of this and a little bit of that....tweak it to make it mine and call her a day.  So, while I say I'm doing Daily 5...I am, sorta, kinda, pretty much...

So far we're up to 13 minutes during read-to-self...woot woot!  I added Book Nooks and I tell you, my pokers, touchers, talkers have magically stopped their prodding and nudging and are really reading those books.  Phew (we went from 10 minutes to 13 in one session)!

One of my tweaks is read-to-someone - I do this on Fridays, I like it there...it feels right.  I love walking around the room, venti nonfat chai in hand, and record all of the great things I see and hear on my clipboard. The kids can't wait for me  to "report out" my observations.  One of my most favorite days of the week. (Okay, truth be told, I'm afraid of the management piece if I put it in my Daily 5...that, and I can't walk around with my Starbucks...with my jeans...and my tennies, I'm only allowed that on Fridays!!!!)

Today, I introduced our writing notebook (you can download my cover if you want) and am so excited to do more than just Lucy each day.  I just know my kids are going to like writing lists, poems, short stories...tomorrow they will start writing in them.

I haven't introduced working with words - but plan on doing that next week....ahhhh, I'm overwhelmed thinking of how it will all fit together and WHEN!?!?

Here's my quandary - I'm feeling a little behind.  Am I?  Do you think I need to pick up the pace? My pace feels good and I'm really trying to make "start slow so you can move fast later" my mantra....but I'm easily swayed when I see reading groups in full tilt across the hall.

Where are my teacher-friends who started school after Labor Day?  Am I way behind you?

Thanks bunches!

Here's a copy of my cover....