What might a Reading Workshop look like

What might a Reading Workshop look like?

My Reading Workshop consists of a 5-15 minute mini lesson on a particular strategy, followed by independent reading time. Students read books of their choice or write a book letter to me explaining their thoughts about the text they are currently reading. Each day I met with a few students to have individual reading conference. I might them quietly read a part of their book to me or we talk about a strategy we were working on for the week. I record notes. During this time, I will also meet with one or two reading groups to work on more specific reading skills or strategies needed in small groups. At the end of the reading block, students regroup and selected students can share a portion of their book, ask questions, share their thinking, or recommend a book to the rest of the class to read.

In the intermediate grades, reading becomes more individualized. I do grade the book letters that students turn in each week. Every student is responsible for a book letter each week. Students have an assigned day of the week to turn in book letters. No matter what, ALL students are to have turned in one letter by Friday.

What does Writing Workshop look like?

Kids learn to write by writing, so the bulk of a writing workshop consists of...writing! A writing workshop is a block of time set aside in the school day to focus exclusively on the writing process. Writing workshops take various forms, but the basic components are the same. In most cases, a writing workshop consists of teaching a particular skill or concept, a much larger block of time devoted to writing and conferring, and an activity that allows students to share their writing with the group.

Although the writing workshop won't look exactly the same in every classroom, many elements are common. The simplest structure for a writing workshop starts with a mini lesson and a much larger block for writing and conferring.

A "typical" writing workshop might look like this:

Teacher conducts mini lesson on a specific skill or concept (5-10 minutes)
Students write while teacher confers with individual students (45-60 minutes) or teaches a specific skill to a small group.
Selected students share completed pieces or works-in-progress with whole group (10-15 minutes)
Students complete final edits and publish their works when they are finished.

What About Spelling and Word Study?

We will have 10 spelling words per week. I teach a spelling pattern or word family on Mondays, the students and I generate a master list of words. Students then return to their seats, select 6 words from the master list and 4 more from a high frequency word list. These 10 words are your child's spelling list for the week. I check the list then your child copies the list into his or her planner. There will be 2 spelling assignments each week. These assignments are due back on Fridays with the tests.

Throughout the week we will also capitalization, punctuation, parts of speech, and vocabulary.

HOME