I Want YOU to Choose Reader's Workshop

 

Research has shown that reader's workshop is more effective than basal reading programs. Students who are taught through reader's workshop are more engaged in their work, more motivated to read, and more successful in reading in general than those learning through the basal reading program. So make the change!

Growing up, I went to a Catholic school where reading was taught through the basal reading program. The whole class read the same books, completed the same worksheets, and took the same tests. I don't recall ever being able to pick a book I wanted to read. Because of this, I dreaded reading; it was always my least favorite subject in school. I don't want my future students to feel the same way about reading as I did. Therefore, as an aspiring teacher, I will implement reader's workshop into my classroom, so I can create students who become avid readers.

In my literacy class, I learned that there are five key components to effective reader's workshop: mini-lesson, independent reading time, conferencing, journaling, and share time. I would follow this five step plan in my instruction. I would present a mini-lesson to the class every Monday, but this would vary based on how fast the students learn a given strategy. The strategy I introduce in the mini-lesson will be what the students focus on for the week(s) when they're reading. Independent reading time will occur every day. For students to become good readers, they need to read often and at their particular skill level. Children will be able to read a book of their choice at their reading level. Conferencing will occur once a week for each student. While the students are reading, I will go up to one and listen to what he or she is reading or ask him or her questions pertaining to the topic of the mini-lesson, or about something he or she has been struggling with. Journaling will happen every day directly after independent reading time. Some days, I will give the students a topic to write about, and on other days, the students will be able to choose what they want to write about. At the end of each school day, I will make sure to read what each child has written in his or her journal, and provide feedback. Lastly, share time will also occur every day. After journaling, I will bring my whole class together as a group, and ask three or four students to talk about what they're currently reading. I see this whole process taking about 2 hours each school day.

The mini-lesson plays a huge role in reader's workshop; the way the teacher models a new strategy is how the students are going to perform. Each new strategy a teacher introduces is useful in helping students become better readers. In a mini-lesson, the teacher needs to explicitly define the new strategy he or she want his or her students to learn. After doing this, the teacher should read a story aloud to the whole class, acting as a model. This book should be below the children's grade level, so that the children are able to understand the lesson they're learning. Once the teacher shows the students how to perform the new strategy, the students need to take a stab at it. This can be done while reading aloud. For example, at the beginning of the book, the teacher would be engaging in the new strategy alone. By the middle and end of the book, the students can begin making predictions, constructing theories, etc. (engaging in the strategy they're learning). Finally, the teacher will send his or her students to their desks for independent reading time, reminding them that they should be focusing on practicing the strategy they just learned in the mini-lesson. An example of how to effectively teach a mini-lesson can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJjGKJawG8U.

As a first-year education student, my ideas about reader's workshop and the role of the mini-lesson are still developing. However, through what I have already learned, I firmly believe that, if possible, reader's workshop should be implemented into every elementary school classroom. While the teacher will sacrifice much time to create it, the effects it will have on students will be greater. What's better than seeing your students succeed, and knowing that they succeeded because of you? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Choose reader's workshop. You won't regret it.