• What does the Reader’s Workshop Look Like?

     

    1.  Mini Lesson

    Each Reading Workshop session will begin with a mini lesson that lasts approximately 10 minutes. Each mini lesson will focus on a reading strategy. There may be times where a strategy will be studied over the course of several days, in which case the mini lessons that week will be related to that strategy. I LOVE the CAFE book and use this time to teach Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expanding Vocabulary within the mini lesson. 

     

    2.  Independent Reading Time with Instruction

    Children are engaged in private reading time.   Students that are NOT reading with me may choose to:  read by themselves, read with a partner, listen to reading, finish word work and/or finish writing work.  I spend SEVERAL weeks getting the procedures for all of this down.  Once the students understand the importance of reading the entire time (to become better readers) and the urgency for getting on task (to become better readers), this time works very smoothly.   

    During this time the teacher is doing the following:

    JReading conferences – I listen to students read from any one of their books.  I may choose to do a running record, or just document our conference together.  I always look for strengths and offer a compliment of something great I’ve noticed, and then provide instruction that can help them become a better reader.

    JGuided Reading Group – During this time, each child will be given texts to read that are at their instructional reading level.  **See below for more info on Guided Reading. 

    JStrategy Groups – these groups can be composed of children at a variety of reading levels, but who are all needing extra instruction on a given strategy/skill.

     

    3.  Sharing Time

    During this time the class might:

    JMeet as a whole group to refer back to the mini lesson and think further

    JMeet together to think about and respond to questions such as:

              JWhat did you learn about reading today?

              JWhat did you learn about yourself as a reader?

     

    Why Is Reading Workshop SO Great?

    JReaders have time to read just-right books independently every day

    JReaders select their own appropriate books

    JReaders take care of books

    JReaders respect each other’s reading time and reading lives

    JReaders have daily opportunities to talk about their books in genuine ways

    JReaders don’t just read the words but also understand the story

    JReader’s work in the independent reading workshop is replicable outside of the classroom

     

    How Will Things Look Different at Home?

    The books that your child brings home may be those at their independent/just right reading level. Or they may be books that were used in a guided reading/strategy group that are at their instructional reading level. As always, listen to your child read their book(s), be sure to ask them lots of questions, if you notice sticky notes, highlighting tape, etc. in their book(s) ask them why it’s there. 
     

    What is Guided Reading:

    Guided Reading is a small-group, instructional process that bridges the gap between shared reading with the whole class and independent reading.  To do this, guided reading uses leveled books with increasing stages of difficulty.  Once you are familiar with each child you may choose to group them by instructional reading level or strategy/skills focus. 

    During the Guided Reading Time

    • Groups are dynamic, flexible, and change on a regular basis.
    • Stories are chosen at appropriate level for each group; there is no prescribed sequence.
    • Introductions focus on meaning with some attention to new and interesting vocabulary.
    • Skills practice is embedded in shared reading.
    • Focus is on the student, not the lesson.
    • Teacher and students actively interact with text.
    • Questions develop higher order thinking skills and strategic reading.
    • Teacher and students interact with text to construct meaning.
    • Students read entire text silently or with a partner.
    • Focus is on understanding meaning.
    • Students respond to story through personal and authentic activities.
    • Students read independently and confidently.
    • Assessment is ongoing and embedded in instruction.