For Students Who Have Cracked the Reading Code
The Daily 5 and the CAFE System are classroom structures rooted in a guided reading framework. They are most effective for students in grades 2 and above who have already mastered foundational reading skills, including phonemic awareness, phonics, and basic decoding. In other words, these approaches are most effective once a child has successfully mastered the reading code.
For students who can accurately decode unfamiliar words, Daily 5 and CAFE provide meaningful opportunities to build reading stamina, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension through independent reading, partner reading, and small-group instruction.
These approaches are not recommended as primary reading instruction for beginning or struggling readers who have not yet mastered decoding. Those students benefit most from explicit, systematic phonics instruction and decodable texts before transitioning to leveled or guided reading frameworks.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Goal of the Daily 5?
- Daily 5 Goal Setting
- How Much Time Is Needed to Teach Daily 5?
- Communicating Reading Progress
- Knowing When Daily 5 Is Established
- Why Incorporate the Daily 5?
- How to Prepare for the Daily 5
- The Five Components of Daily 5
- The Reading CAFE Overview
What Is the Goal of the Daily 5?
The goal of the Daily 5 is to launch independent reading.
The Daily 5 allows students to engage in meaningful reading and writing while teachers meet with individuals or small groups. Students rotate through five literacy tasks:
- Read to Self
- Read to Someone
- Work on Writing
- Word Work
- Listen to Reading
Upper elementary and middle school classrooms often focus on fewer components, emphasizing reading and writing stamina. Children learn to read by reading—not through isolated worksheets.
Daily 5 Goal Setting
Read The Daily 5: Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. The focus is on student ownership of learning and behavior through shared goal setting.
Literacy coaches, reading specialists, and librarians can support book selection and instructional strategies.
How Much Time Is Needed to Teach Daily 5?
Daily 5 must be introduced slowly with explicit instruction. Each component should be taught over approximately five days, beginning with as little as three minutes of uninterrupted practice.
Full implementation typically takes about 25 days, allowing time to build stamina, define expectations, and assess individual needs.
How Do You Communicate Reading Progress?
Maintain a binder or digital record for each student that includes:
- Reading conference notes
- Running records
- Informal assessments
- Daily 5 rotation tracking
Teachers meet more frequently with struggling readers and use strategy-group charts to guide instruction.
When Is the Daily 5 Fully Established?
The Daily 5 is established when students function independently, articulate goals, and demonstrate appropriate behaviors across rotations. Teachers facilitate brief focus lessons between rotations.
Why Incorporate the Daily 5?
Rather than relying on worksheets, students spend time reading, writing, listening, and working with words connected to authentic texts. The Daily 5 supports differentiation and meaningful literacy engagement.
How to Prepare for the Daily 5
- A whole-group meeting area
- Small-group instruction space
- A well-stocked classroom library
- Individual book boxes
- Listening center
- Writing materials
- Anchor charts
The Five Components of Daily 5
Read to Self
- Read the entire time
- Stay in one spot
- Read quietly
- Build stamina
- Check for understanding
Read to Someone
- Sit EEKK (elbow, elbow, knee, knee)
- Read the whole time
- Check for understanding
Work on Writing
- Write the entire time
- Reread work
- Write quietly
Word Work
- Practice spelling and word patterns
- Use materials correctly
Listen to Reading
- Listen attentively
- Follow along
- Check for understanding
Reading CAFE Overview
The CAFE System (Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, Expand Vocabulary) is a structured framework for teaching reading strategies in small groups and individual conferences. It is designed to help teachers differentiate instruction based on student needs rather than reading levels alone.
An effective way to implement reading groups using this framework is outlined in The CAFE Book by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser (2009). This professional resource explains how to organize instruction around clear goals and targeted strategies.
CAFE Menus and Instructional Resources
CAFE menus organize teaching points under four main goals:
- Comprehension—understanding and constructing meaning
- Accuracy—decoding and word recognition
- Fluency—reading with expression, phrasing, and pace
- Expand Vocabulary—acquiring and using new words
Teachers can access grade-level CAFE menus aligned to the Common Core State Standards by becoming members of The Daily CAFE. These menus provide a progression of strategies appropriate for different stages of reading development.
For example:
- An accuracy strategy in grades K–1 may include pointing to each word while reading.
- A comprehension strategy may involve doing a picture walk before reading to preview meaning.
Free CAFE Strategy Cards
Free strategy cards that align with the CAFE framework are also available. One widely used option can be found by searching “Down Under Teacher Reading CAFE Strategy Cards.” These cards can be displayed as anchor charts and used consistently throughout the year.
Some versions include duplicate cards reflecting different dialects. Laminating the cards is recommended so they can be reused year after year.
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