1. Newell Elementary School November 14, 2012
Reader’s Workshop
Newell Elementary School
November 14, 2012

2. Guiding Principles for Reader’s Workshop
Readers read independently everyday (SSR).
Readers select their own “just right” books (SSR).
Readers have the opportunity to talk about their books in authentic ways.
Teacher provides explicit mini-lessons on reading strategies.
Teacher confers with students individually and in small groups.
Howell

3. Howell

4. Workshop Structure Mini lesson (approx. 10-15 min.)
Independent reading time (SSR – time ranges depending on grade level & class stamina)
Share time (5 min.)
Dreyer

5. Mini Lesson Purpose is to model a reading strategy or skill
Clear objective
Concise and to the point (no more than minutes)
100% Teacher led
SHOW, don’t tell
Anchor charts
Dreyer

6. Mini Lesson Structure Connection to prior learning  Coherence
Teaching  Demonstrate/Model
Active Engagement  Guided Practice
Link to Work  Transfer
*Mention teaching point explicitly and repeatedly throughout mini-lesson
Dreyer

7. Video – Rick’s Reading Workshop
Dreyer

8. Independent Reading Time
Students
Teacher
Reading self-selected, “just-right” books
Employing reading strategies taught in mini-lessons
Conferring individually with students or in small groups
Meeting with guided reading groups
Circulating the room/monitoring students
Mid-workshop teaching point
Dreyer

9. How do students choose books for SSR?
Students are given the opportunity to “shop” for books on their independent level once a week
Students keep their books in a book baggie, box, or bin for the whole week
Can include post-it notes for
jotting thoughts, inferences,
connections to
mini-lesson, etc.
Dreyer

10. Reading A-Z
Reading A-Z is an excellent source for leveled readers and accompanying graphic organizers that support skills readers need to learn such as cause and effect and main idea and details.
Using these materials allows for a more focused, structured guided reading and the students enjoy writing and responding to the text.
They have many materials that support science/social studies integration
Goral

11. Example of Graphic Organizer
Predictions
Write at least 3
I think…
Questions
Write at least 4
I wonder…
Vocabulary
What words do you not know? Using context clues, what do you think they mean?
Story Elements (varies)
Characters, Setting (time and place), Problem, Solution
Could also be used as a summary square
Goral

12. Scaffolding Reading Comprehension
Before Reading
Teach the pronunciation of difficult to read words.
Teach the meaning of critical, unknown vocabulary words.
Teach or activate necessary background knowledge.
Preview the story or article.
During Reading
Utilize passage reading procedures that provide adequate reading practice.
Ask appropriate questions during passage reading.
Scaffold higher order questions by establishing a literal foundation.
Have students generate questions.
Teach strategies that can be applied to passage reading.
After Reading
Guide students in summarizing critical content using graphic organizers.
Engage students in a discussion of the passage.
Provide engaging vocabulary practice.
Have students answer written questions.
Have students write summaries of what they’ve read.
Goral

13. Conferring RESEARCH-DECIDE-TEACH COACHING CONFERENCE
Teachers chooses ONE specific skill that they know the student needs help with and focuses on that
COACHING CONFERENCE
Quick verbal or non-verbal prompts while student is reading to you
Teaching point at the end of conference based on what was observed
PROFICIENT PARTNER CONFERENCE
Teacher acts as a reading partner
Suited for higher readers that do not need much support
Howell

14. Possible “flow” of a conference
COMPLIMENT something you noticed the student doing
EXPLAIN a strategy to help that particular student
DEMONSTRATE the strategy
Give student a chance to PRACTICE the strategy
COMPLIMENT and RESTATE the teaching point
The heart of reader’s workshop is the conference/individualized teaching!
Howell

15. Share Time 5-10 minutes Whole group share Partner share
Small group share (reading
clubs)
Refer back to mini-lesson/teaching point
Howell

16. Questions?
Howell, Goral, Dreyer

17. Handouts
Howell, Goral, Dreyer

18. References
“Growing Readers” by Kathy Collins
Rick’s Reading Workshop