The CAFE Book: Engaging All Students in Daily Literacy Assessment and Instruction

Surely, if you are reading this review, you are probably a fan or a devotee of this book:  Daily Five, The , the book that provided a framework for literacy instruction that revolutionized classrooms across the country. After implementing "the Sisters" authentic literacy practices, teachers around the country asked, "What's next?" and the Sisters responded by writing "The Cafe Book". It's certainly a worthy partner of their first book.Washingtonians Gail Boushey and Joan Moser are veteran master teachers, reflective, and insightful in their approach to the craft of education. This book provides the classroom tested, works in progress reading teaching that is happening in their classroom. The CAFE approach allows children to select literacy goals based on their reading needs (comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and expanding vocabulary), gives a framework for conferring with students, and offers tons of classroom tested tips and hints to make your reading teaching more successful.The Sisters writing is very transparent, examples of actual "language" they use with the kids, and extremely user friendly. Unlike some other education books, which require hours of time, or a master's degree to understand, the Sisters make their books easily accessible, easily understandable, and easy to put into practice. Not only that, the lessons and ideas are mighty powerful indeed.Don't worry. If you haven't implemented the Daily 5 into your classroom, the Cafe book can easily meet your needs as it provides yet another framework that can be adapted in your classroom. However, I can see the power of implementing both ideas into the room for true impact. If you are a newbie, I can't highly recommend enough "Daily 5". As a mentor with first year teachers, I've seen the impact of the framework on their daily reading block, and it's been quite amazing.Not only is the book loaded with pictures, but it comes with a CD that is ready to be used, with copies of the forms they have in the book that can be printed out.The Sisters are truly on the path of authentic, real life teaching practices. If you are a first year or twentieth year teacher like myself, in kindergarten or in fifth grade, this book will be an irreplaceable feature, and one that's frequently borrowed by colleagues after you brag about its impact, for years to come.Yes, it's THAT good.

I am a Reading Specialist at a new school and I was looking for specific strategies to revamp the reading program. This book is exactly what I was looking for. Brain research reveals that the 4 elements of comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and expanded vocabulary (CAFE) are what is essential for a successful reading program. Not only does this book explain why these components are necessary, it gives instructional approaches for reading teachers to implement each component in the classroom. It also gives charts with strategies that must be taught to the students with explicit instruction as to how each strategy should be introduced and taught. I purchased the book to prepare for a workshop presentation and it proved extremely helpful for me in organizing and putting the power point slides together.If you are a teacher and have not purchased The Daily 5 (2nd Edition), please purchase it along with The CAFE Menu. Both books are written by the same ladies and I believe they should be read together. Strategies in both books can be implemented in reading lessons.LS

If you're familiar with the Daily 5 and you teach upper grades (3rd and up) GET THIS BOOK.I've been doing Daily 5 for almost 7 years now with 1st and 2nd graders. I got moved up to 5th grade this year and I knew I needed to change things up a bit to meet the rigor for these kids that take the state tests. I got this book and read it ALL in 1 night. It made so much sense how to incorporate this into my already planned Daily 5.You can do CAFE all on its own or WITH the Daily 5 stations, that's the genius of it. I don't have to stop my plans for D5 that I'd worked on for weeks. I can just add this in as my mini lesson and it'll fit perfectly with teaching reading strategies to my students. I've let my administrator borrow my copy of the book because she thinks this is something the whole campus needs.

Even came with original disk.

I purchased a set of books for use over the summer and as I dive into this one it is apparent by all the green highlighter someone else has already enjoyed it.The book itself has been enjoyable thus far.

I highly recommend this book to any teacher. I've been teaching 2nd grade for seven years and I still found lots of wonderful ideas to use immediately. My favorite thing about the book is the fact it starts from day one of school and walks you through the first six weeks giving you examples and lessons for each and every day. But even if you're like me and bought the book in the middle of the school year, no problem! I just started the program and everything went smoothly. Next year I plan on using the strategies and lessons from the beginning of the year.An added bonus is the CD that comes with the book. It has lessons, focus group charts, and much, much more! I can't recommend this enough!I also bought the book the "Daily Five" and must say it's very similiar to this one. I think it was written before the "Cafe Book" but it still has great information. These two books are now the foundation of my reading program.

Brilliant book on guided reading.

Great

Read in conjunction with the Daily 5 book to get the most out of this fabulous book. Full of great ideas to use during literacy lessons.

Fantastic ideas which make such sense. Would love to implement in my class.

I am a little disappointed to have bought this book because there is a new one coming up next week. If I had known that there was a better edition coming I would not have bought this one.