Don't try to implement these ideas on your own! Go buy the book! And be sure to check out the official site of "the sisters!"

In their book, The Daily 5, the sisters give the following research based reason for "Read to Someone":

Partner reading allows for more time to practice strategies, helping to work on fluency, check for understanding, hear your own voice and time to share in this learning community.

Here's how we do "Read to Someone" in our classroom:

Choice #1: 100 Book Challenge

I will allow my students to log an additional "step" when reading with a partner. Students will take turns choosing books and reading pages.

To start with, each student will have a decoding strategy bookmark to help their partner when they get stuck.

Eventually, we will learn to use these spinners from Kagan to ask each other comprehension questions while reading:

Choice #2: Special Partner Reading Books

I have purchased some books specifically designed for partner reading from Amazon.com.

I also found some similar texts in 6 packs on Really Good Stuff. They are listed under Reader's Theater and are called "Poems for Two or More Voices." They are color coded just like the books above. They have sample pages online if anybody wants to take a look.

A big THANK YOU to Ms. Winston for the generous donation of these partner reading books from Lakeshore Learning to my classroom:

Choice #3: Poetry Folders

Each of my students will have a poetry folder. The folders contain poems from these two books:

Students can read these poems with their partner for "Read to Someone." This is actually how I first introduce Read to Someone, since these poems are easy to read and great for taking turns reading.

I also purchased these poetry reproducible books from Amazon.com - I copied these poems on cardstock and laminated them for the kids to use. Alternatively, I could add them to their poetry folders:

Choice #4: Reading A to Z Books:

I have printed two copies of each Reading A to Z book at various levels (also their sight word books) and arranged them by level. Partners can select a basket at a level that is good for both partners and take turns reading the same book together.

Other ideas on my Wish List:

Story element cubes for comprehension practice with partners:

Praise cubes for encouraging good partnerships:

Website visitors can help our classroom by purchasing items from my Amazon Wishlist or making a PayPal donation - all donations and ad revenue received on this site are spent on classroom books and other materials.

Parents - you can also help our classroom by purchasing books for your child from Scholastic book orders. Many books are $2 or less! Every order placed earns bonus points which I use to purchase books and other classroom materials. Every monthly order totaling $20 or more earns us a coupon for $10 in free books for our classroom. If you order online, I get an additional free book pick, which I will use to select a book for your child!

Click the link below to place an order! Username and password are both "maiolo." FGCU students, feel free to order as well! This is a very inexpensive way to get books for your future classroom!

THANKS! Questions? Comments? Feel free to email me.