Overview of Reading Workshop for Parents Fall 2015

What is Reading Workshop? A teaching method with the goal of explicitly teaching strategies to skillfully comprehend text Emphasis is on the skills & strategies you need as a reader – not the content of the book Students read authentic texts that focus on strengths and needs of individual students as readers Emphasizes the importance of student engagement and interactions between readers and text

Readers Workshop Approach Instruction: Traditional Approach Readers Workshop Approach Instruction: Whole class reads same text Limited or no independent reading time in class Teacher only instructs to whole class Lack of student participation Teacher sets the pace for reading Whole class, small group, partner and independent reading of text Explicit modeling and thinking aloud in whole group, small group and 1:1 conferences All students participate, high engagement & choice Students read at their own pace Application: Students read the SAME text over a set period of time Students answer questions at end of the book/complete worksheets Students not aware of the reading process- what good readers do Students read DIFFERENT books by interest/level Students apply and demonstrate skills & strategies in their own book Teacher models process of what good readers do Instruction emphasizes reading strategies& standards Assessment: At end of reading, written or multiple choice questions, essay or short answer Running records, conferring, rubrics, notebooks, comprehensions questions, literary essays, discussion

Why? Research shows that reading for pleasure drastically declines at the end of elementary school, this has negative effect on school performance 21st Century demands and CT Core Standards require students to read complex texts with independence and critical thinking skills Choice plays an important role in student motivation and engagement in learning Teaching the reader not the book allows for differentiation and re-teaching or stretching readers to make individual growth

How Can you Help? Support at home reading! Same book as school with evidence of their thinking. Understand that levels matter- JUST RIGHT! Interest, motivation, comprehension and progress Talk with your child about what they are reading Ask questions