Reading Workshop
At Heritage, we use Reading Workshop as an extended time for us to read, think, and talk about our books on a daily basis. Reading Workshop allows reading to be differentiated and personalized to meet the needs of each student. Students also are able to have a lot of independent reading time during Reading Workshop which helps them to foster their love of reading.
Reading Workshop Format
Reading Workshop is made up of several different elements.
- Focused mini-lesson: in this mini-lesson (about 10 minutes) the teacher focuses on one specific reading skill or strategy that students should be working on. The teacher uses anchor charts and modeling of the skill to help students better understand the skill.
- Independent Reading Time: Students have about 20-30 minutes of independent reading time in which they are actively reading, thinking, and writing.
- Teacher Conferring with individuals or small groups: During independent reading time, the teacher is conferring with individual students on their reading goals, or working in a small guided reading group with a group of students who are all working towards the same goal.
- Students thinking about reading: Student are often instructed to complete a small assignment in their reader's notebooks during independent reading time to show they are working towards the skill. Students also are sharing their ideas orally with peers and the teacher.
- Group Share Time: At the end of reading workshop, the class comes together and students can share ways that they were able to master the skill taught in the mini-lesson that day. Peer conferences are also a way for students to share their reading goals.