1. Overview of Reading Workshop for Parents
Fall 2015

2. 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

3. 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

5. 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

6. 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