Daily 5 Book Study-Chapter 2

In Chapter 2, the Sisters include the following fundementals in the Foundations of the Daily Five:

*trusting students
*providing choice
*nurturing community
*creating  a sense of urgency
*building stamina
*staying out of the students' way once routines are established

The first 2 fundementals are where I get stuck!  I work on building community for the children to trust each other and to trust me, but if I am honest, I haven't trusted them!  If I did, then providing choices in their learning would come easier...

I have implemented the Daily 5 activities over the past 3 years during my reading block.  Let me CLARIFY that and say that I had my students ROTATE through read to self, work on writing, word work and listening/computer.  My students certainly had favorite centers and I know I need to add more variety to work on writing, but there was definately NO CHOICE.  That's what I am working on for this upcoming school year; TRUST and CHOICE! 

So, the Sisters say to start slow and build stamina.  It can be difficult with county pacing guides and curriculum to get through.  There's where that TRUST comes in again.  I need to trust that this works and is a powerful concept.  I need to give it the time to let it work.  I am planning on using Mel's stamina chart which you get pick up at Suesstastic Classroom Inspirations.

The questions I have floating around my head (yes, I am a little bit of a control freak organizer).  How do your centers run?  How long do the children have at each center?  If you pull them for a group during a particular center, are they given additional time to finish?  Do you pull groups, individuals or both? 

The most powerful thing I read in Chapter 2 is