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
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.