Readers Workshop: During readers workshop time, students have an uninterrupted block of time for reading. They have pre-selected books, both those that match their reading level and books that contain subject matter they are interested in learning such as animals, space, and non fiction, as well as series books such as Clifford and Froggy. Readers workshop begins with a mini lesson which includes a focus for their reading. I rotate among the students, talking and discussing their books and noting their application of the focus lesson concept.
Guided Reading: During guided reading, I work with a small group of students reading books that are on their instructional level. These are books that I use to help move them to the next level. During this time, I teach strategies that help them "decode" or read words. Some of these strategies include:
Some students may have already mastered most of the foundational skills listed above. If so, then during your child's guided reading time, we will focus on comparing texts and thinking deeply about characters, problems, and solutions. We will also focus on what we learn from reading non fiction, what questions do we generate when reading, and how thinking about our reading deepens our understanding of the text.
Writers Workshop: During writers workshop time, students have an opportunity to write using one of three types of writing: informational, opinion, or narrative. Each type of writing is introduced to the students through reading mentor texts. The students are then encouraged to create their own personal writing piece in a book format. At the completion of each unit, a celebration is held. This may take the form of sharing with our own class, sharing with another class, publishing using a word processing program, or creating a movie.
Guided Reading: During guided reading, I work with a small group of students reading books that are on their instructional level. These are books that I use to help move them to the next level. During this time, I teach strategies that help them "decode" or read words. Some of these strategies include:
- looking at the pictures
- finding chunks (at, on, in, ate, ight, etc.)
- looking for word endings (s, ed, ing)
- skipping the word, reading to the end of the sentence, then going back to reread the entire sentence
Some students may have already mastered most of the foundational skills listed above. If so, then during your child's guided reading time, we will focus on comparing texts and thinking deeply about characters, problems, and solutions. We will also focus on what we learn from reading non fiction, what questions do we generate when reading, and how thinking about our reading deepens our understanding of the text.
Writers Workshop: During writers workshop time, students have an opportunity to write using one of three types of writing: informational, opinion, or narrative. Each type of writing is introduced to the students through reading mentor texts. The students are then encouraged to create their own personal writing piece in a book format. At the completion of each unit, a celebration is held. This may take the form of sharing with our own class, sharing with another class, publishing using a word processing program, or creating a movie.
Sharon Meacham and the North Kansas City School District cannot control the content of non-district , linked websites. Parents should familiarize themselves with these resources and supervise their students whenever they are on the internet.