Our Reading Workshop is the time of our day when we work on our literacy skills in many different ways. We work as a whole group, in small groups, in partnerships, and individually. During our mini-lessons, we are learning strategies as a whole group that will help us to be better readers. Then during our Literacy Center time, we get the chance to use those strategies as we practice reading and writing individually or with a partner.
Parts of Reading:
Phonemic Awareness- hear and manipulate sounds of spoken words
Phonics- sounds-spelling relationship of written words
Fluency- read accurately, quickly and with expression
Vocabulary- words we recognize in writing and meaning
Comprehension- make meaning of what we read
Each one of these categories contains several different strategies that good readers use when they read. Reading is a process that is very complex, and to become better readers, we need to be taught these parts and given time to practice these parts. This year, you will truly see your child become a reader!
Phonemic Awareness- hear and manipulate sounds of spoken words
Phonics- sounds-spelling relationship of written words
Fluency- read accurately, quickly and with expression
Vocabulary- words we recognize in writing and meaning
Comprehension- make meaning of what we read
Each one of these categories contains several different strategies that good readers use when they read. Reading is a process that is very complex, and to become better readers, we need to be taught these parts and given time to practice these parts. This year, you will truly see your child become a reader!
HOW WE PRACTICE
Literacy Stations
Read to Self
We fill our book boxes with books that are "good fit" books for us, books from our guided reading groups, and familiar books that we can retell. We choose a spot where we can focus on our reading without being distracted. We read quietly the whole time in our spot.
Read to Someone
We choose a partner, and both of us get our books. We choose a spot where we can read without being distracted. We sit next to each other, and both of us have a job to do. One of us is reading a book, and the other one is checking for understanding as the first one reads. We read softly the whole time in our spot. We also can choose to read partner plays. Both partners have a part of a short story to read. We practice our play multiple times and once we have mastered our play we can perform our play during share out time at the end of reading workshop time.
Listen to Reading
Using headphones we listen to books that are recorded. We choose a spot where we can listen to the book without being distracted. We follow along in the book as the words are being read to us.
Word Work
We use white boards, magnetic letters, Wikki Stix, and various other materials to practice our words. We get our materials out quickly and choose a spot on the floor or at a table. We can practice our Words Their Way sort, Sight words and weekly phonics patterns. We work quietly the whole time in our spot.
Work on Writing
We use this time to write stories, reports, poems, cards, letters, lists, postcards, or notes. We learn to respond to our reading in writing. We choose a spot where we can write without being distracted. We get started quickly, write quietly the whole time, and stay in our spot.
Guided Reading
During Literacy Centers, some of the students are working in guided reading groups with me. During these groups, students are reading books that are on their instructional or needs-based level. We work on all five parts of reading. The groups may change from week to week, or even from day to day, depending upon what each child needs at that point in time. Sometimes groups are based on reading level. Sometimes groups are based on a particular skill.
Read Alouds, Shared Reading, and Chapter Books
Another critical time spent in developing your child's reading skills will be during the reading of read-aloud picture books and chapter books. Reading Aloud allows children exposure to richer and more complex language, more complex narrative forms and plot development as well as new areas of knowledge about their world.
We fill our book boxes with books that are "good fit" books for us, books from our guided reading groups, and familiar books that we can retell. We choose a spot where we can focus on our reading without being distracted. We read quietly the whole time in our spot.
Read to Someone
We choose a partner, and both of us get our books. We choose a spot where we can read without being distracted. We sit next to each other, and both of us have a job to do. One of us is reading a book, and the other one is checking for understanding as the first one reads. We read softly the whole time in our spot. We also can choose to read partner plays. Both partners have a part of a short story to read. We practice our play multiple times and once we have mastered our play we can perform our play during share out time at the end of reading workshop time.
Listen to Reading
Using headphones we listen to books that are recorded. We choose a spot where we can listen to the book without being distracted. We follow along in the book as the words are being read to us.
Word Work
We use white boards, magnetic letters, Wikki Stix, and various other materials to practice our words. We get our materials out quickly and choose a spot on the floor or at a table. We can practice our Words Their Way sort, Sight words and weekly phonics patterns. We work quietly the whole time in our spot.
Work on Writing
We use this time to write stories, reports, poems, cards, letters, lists, postcards, or notes. We learn to respond to our reading in writing. We choose a spot where we can write without being distracted. We get started quickly, write quietly the whole time, and stay in our spot.
Guided Reading
During Literacy Centers, some of the students are working in guided reading groups with me. During these groups, students are reading books that are on their instructional or needs-based level. We work on all five parts of reading. The groups may change from week to week, or even from day to day, depending upon what each child needs at that point in time. Sometimes groups are based on reading level. Sometimes groups are based on a particular skill.
Read Alouds, Shared Reading, and Chapter Books
Another critical time spent in developing your child's reading skills will be during the reading of read-aloud picture books and chapter books. Reading Aloud allows children exposure to richer and more complex language, more complex narrative forms and plot development as well as new areas of knowledge about their world.