Reading Workshop--Managing the reading
classroom
One format that teachers utilize to teach reading is called Reading Workshop
or Reader’s Workshop. Often a 60-minute block is set aside (although
this can be adapted to be shorter or longer) and broken into the following
time slots:
15-20 minutes: Whole-class mini-lesson
30-40 minutes: Small-group and individual work Any combination of the following:
-
Independent reading
-
Paired reading
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Conferring with students
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Guided reading lessons
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Literature response
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Book club
-
Literacy Centers
-
Seatwork
5-10 minutes: Group
share
Questions to think about:
-
What are the advantages to using
this format? The disadvantages?
-
If you are using a basal, could
this format be modified to meet your needs or could the basal lessons
and activities fit into this format?
-
What element(s) would you be
willing to try right away? How could you work that into your daily schedule?
-
Could you try this format for
a genre or theme study? What might that look like?
Books to help you learn even more about reading workshop:
Fountas, I.C., & Pinnell, G.S. (2001). Guiding readers and writers grades 3-6: Teaching comprehension, genre, and content literacy. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Hansen, J. (2001). When writers read (2nd ed.). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Hindley, J. (1996). In the company of children. Portland, ME: Stenhouse.
Miller, D. (2002). Reading with meaning: Teaching comprehension in the primary grades. Portland, ME: Stenhouse.
Serafini, F. (2001). The reading workshop: Creating space for readers. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Taberski, S. (2000). On solid ground: Strategies for teaching reading K-3. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Key Words: management, reading, mini-lessons,
independent work
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