not an expert

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2007 : June : 26

not an expert
By Karyn3rd

Hi Mel,

I am not an expert but I felt really good about the way Reader's Workshop went last year in my third grade classroom. I spent the first three weeks really working with the children about what Reader's Workshop
looks like, sounds like, and feels like. If you have access to the book Guiding Readers and Writers I would pick that up. This is a HUGE book. The first year I bought it I focused on reading the section entitled "The First 20 Days". This really helped me get the children to understand exactly what they will do during the Reading Block and specifically during Guided Reading. I schedule

a 40 minute Guided Reading block each day. I have typically had four groups and meet with two groups each day. While I am workign with Guided Reading groups the other children are practicing independent reading.

Students are given about 15 minutes to "shop" for books in our classroom library on Monday. They are encouraged to choose between 5-8 books. Sometimes I will find an article or two that I think the children will enjoy and make copies for them to keep in their book bags along with their independent reading books. They will keep these books all week. Each day during Guided Reading that week students know to get their book bags that hold their Independent Reading books, their reading notebook, find a quiet place and get to reading. This is one of the only times during the day that students may not get up, may not go to the restroom, may not get a drink, nada. they are solely focused on reading, reading, and more reading.

Hope that helps.

Karyn

View the original thread this idea was posted on

^BACK

Visit our ProTeacher Community

not an expertBy Karyn3rd

not an expert
By Karyn3rd