page contents

Reader's Workshop

 

We use the reader's workshop approach to teaching reading.  Reader's Workshop provides students with a supportive environment that involves them in authentic reading experiences that focus on the strengths and needs of each individual student.

Reader's Workshop helps kids develop strong reading skills through the use of a mini-lesson, shared reading, read aloud, conferencing, independent reading, paired reading, literature response, and Reader's Chair.

The basic philosophy behind the Reading Workshop is to allow students to spend an extended amount of time reading authentic texts that interest them on a daily basis and to provide opportunities to talk about literature. The ultimate goal of a Reading Workshop is always to develop life-long passionate readers.

 

 

Components of Reader's Workshop

 

 

Reader's Workshop is an extended block of time devoted to reading, discussing and writing about reading.  The workshop begins with a read aloud focused on a reading strategy and lasts approximately 20-25 minutes. It focuses on a skill, strategy, or behavior that will help students become strategic readers. The lessons are based on student need. During the lesson I model, read/think aloud using literature, use shared reading, or have students practice a particular skill or strategy. The mini lesson is followed by an extended period of work time in which children practice the strategy taught or work on an individualized learning target.  Work time can last 20-60 minutes.  After the work period children spread out for a 10 min. quick write in which they reflect on their work for the day and write about their thinking and learning.  This quick write if followed by a sharing circle.  Children gather in the group area to share their learning with others.

 
Choice is an integral part of reader's workshop. During independent work times children choose what books they want to read and how they will work towards their learning goal. They can choose to work alone, with a friend, or in a small group. Choice gives children ownership of their learning.

During independent reading work time, students apply what was focused on during the mini-lesson to their independent reading. Students read books on their independent reading level and apply skills or strategies to their reading.

During this time I observe and work with learners one-on-one or in small groups. Learners keep a reading workshop notebook and are responsible for recording what they work on each week. In addition, I often jot down notes in the journal to track student progress or to encourage learners to work on a specific strategy or skill.

Reader's Workshop ends with a time of reflection and sharing. Learners have the opportunity to share what they learned, what worked for them, struggles, exciting moments, and new discoveries.  This sharing allows children to learn from each other and to take responsibility for their own learning.

 

 

 

Reading Log

 

 

The students are asked to read on a nightly basis for a minimum of 20 minutes to help increase reading stamina, fluency, and overall comprehension.  The students are required to keep track of their reading in their weekly reading logs that will be given to them on Mondays and due on the following Monday.  

 

 

Post-it note responses.docx  

 

Metacognition thinking stems.docx