What's In Readers Workshop?

What You See In Readers Workshop:

Read-Aloud:

The teacher will read aloud from picture books, chapter books, poems, articles, and a variety of assorted text. In Read-Alouds, a teacher is able to model strategies, introduce vocabulary, build  background knowledge and promote discussions about books on such topics as story elements, themes, language, student thinking and main ideas. Students have a chance to respond to the text through conversations and in their writing.

Word Study:

Grammar, spelling, phonics, word sorts, vocabulary (varies by grade level and reading level). 

Different types of Reading:

Students may hear text through Read Alouds, Interactive Read Alouds, and/or listening to a CD/tape/computer website or program. Students may read text through Shared Reading (with the class, the teacher or with a partner). Individually, students read on their own.

Classroom Library:

Every classroom has a diverse library where students can select books for their Independent Reading. Classroom libraries feature an assortment of genres, series, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

The Typical Readers Workshop Lesson
(usually done on a daily basis).

Focus Lesson:

The teacher models/demonstrates to the class a strategy or procedure that readers use.
Guided Practice - Students try out the strategy/procedure with teacher support.

Independent Reading:

Students are given time to read self-selected books and practice the strategy(ies) they have learned. It is also the section of the lesson where a teacher will schedule a guided reading/ small group or confer one-on-one with students. Students may be writing in their reading response journals. Book clubs and literature circles also occur during Independent Reading.

Group Share:

At the end of Independent Reading, the class comes back  together. It is an opportunity for the students to model their learning. Several students share what they did during Independent Reading. In sharing, students may: show how they practiced a strategy; talk about their thinking; and discuss their noticings and observations.