The Reading/Writing Workshop

The Reading/Writing Workshop Denise E. Reid ELE3280 Fall 2005 “…Helping students make sense o their world through reading, writing, and sound thinking.” Donald Graves

Whole Teaching • Using real materials and whole texts to teach skills. • Addressing real life situations/problems (world, local, student) • Providing choices & involving students in the decision making process. • Working independently and in groups. • Providing for student involvement. • Using authentic assessment.

Writing & Reading as Process

What will I write? What will it be like? How will it be shaped by my prior experiences as a writer? What will I read? What will it be like? How will it be shaped by my prior experiences as a reader? Writers and Readers REHEARSE, planning and predicting;

Where will these words I am writing take me? Where will these words I am reading take me? Writers and readers DRAFT, discovering meaning; What surprises, disappointments, problems, questions, and insights will I encounter along the way? Have students keep a reader’s notebook and a writer’s notebook to document this thinking.

Writers and readers REVISE,reseeing and reseeking meaning; • Is this what I expected, what I hoped for? • What do I think of the words on the page? • What new thoughts do I think because of the words on the page? • What makes sense? What needs to be changed so sense can be made? In the Middle: Writing Reading and Learning with Adolescents, by Nancy Atwell

Comprehensive Reading/Writing Program Framework for a Comprehensive Reading/Writing Program (Fountas & Pinnell)

Essential components of a Reading/Writing Workshop • Independent reading/writing • Mini-lessons • Conferencing • Sharing

Sustained independent writing. Brainstorm a list of topics. Reread current writing piece. Write on current piece. Revise writing piece. Use a strategy taught in class. Proofread piece of writing and edit. Look through drafts of old pieces of writing. Research a topic. Copy or type a final draft. Make illustration for a final draft. Read from self-selected book or teacher assigned book. Read Write in literature log or reflective journal. Read Read Look at class charts (Reading strategies) Read Read Read Fill out reading record. Independent Reading/Writing Time

What is Independent Reading? • Student chooses any book to read. • Teacher may guide selection. • Daily time to read 30 minutes or more. • Excellent classroom library essential. • Students read “just-right” books. • Teacher monitors comprehension. • Student keeps a reading record. • Teaching occurs during a conference. • Teacher and student set reading goals.

Reading Workshop Includes Partner Reading • The reader holds the book. • Sit close enough so both partners can see the words. • Take turns reading. • Go back and reread if you don’t understand. • Turn and talk. (Tell your partner what happened. Both partners should talk.) • Problem solve with your partner. • Enjoy Reading!!!

Minilessons According to Nancy Atwell a minilesson is • Is a forum for sharing the things that I know will help writers and readers grow. • Is a forum for students to share what they know. • Is the forum for bringing us together as a community. • An interactive time between teacher and students. • A time for explicit teaching. (Teach what they need to know and are ready to learn.)

Types of minilessons • Minilessons about procedures for writers/readers workshop. • Minilessons about literary craft. • Minilessons about “What Authors Do” • Minilessons about “What Readers Notice” • Minilessons about different genres. • Minilessons about conventions of writing. • Minilessons about reading strategies.

Where do you get ideas for minilessons? • Student work • Conferences with students • Teacher observations • Real authors • Curriculum and Standards

Conferences “If you can keep only one thing in mind, and I fail at this half the time, it is that we are teaching the writer and not the writing. If the piece of writing gets better, but the writer has learned nothing that will help him or her another day on another piece, then the conference was a waste of everyone’s time. It may have done more harm than good, for such conferences teach students to be dependent on us.” Lucy McCormick Calkins

A Framework for Informal Reading Conferences • Bring me a book that you can read pretty well. • Why did you choose this book? • What is the reading level of this book for you? • Tell me what this book is about so far. • Read this part of the book for me. • Tell me what you remember about what you just read. • Let’s discuss you strengths and what you need to work on. • How long do you think it will take you to complete this book.

Sample Reading Conference Form

Types of Writing Conferences • Whole-Class Shares (Formal conducted publicly) • Child reads writing piece aloud, twice. • Celebrate what the writer has done. (Give specific examples.) • Learn to listen to each other. (Teacher models the language of response.) • Brief (no more than 15 minutes) • Make one or two specific teaching points. • Models the importance of rereading.

Quickshares • “A quickshare is a miniconference that takes a minute or less and celebrates a memorable line, an engaging lead or paragraph, rereading before continuing to write, taking a risk, or attempting something new.” (Routman, p216) • Use when short of time, but still allowing you to celebrate progress and for explicit teaching.

Roving Conferences A very quick conference to chart progress of the class as a whole. -Note who needs help getting started. -Affirm students’ efforts. -Encourage students to continue writing, reread, check spelling, etc. -Teach on the spot. -Assess (Keep a record). -Offer specific guidance.

One-on-one Conferences A student is ready for a one-on-one conference when: • The writer has done everything he/she can do on his/her own. • Reread for clarity and organization as well as practiced reading it out loud for the conference. • Followed directions and completed requirements.

Types of Conferences-Content Starting with the whole “the content” sends the message that writing is about communicating. • Clarity and interest of topic for the reader. • Organization and structure. • Leads • Endings • Personal Style • Genre Sample Teacher Content Conference Form Sample Student Content Conference Form

Types of Conferences-Editing Beginning in second grade students can take more responsibility for their editing. • Capitalization • Spelling • Punctuation • Grammar • Word Choice • Legibility • Organization • Rereading • Presentation Second Grade Editing Checklist Fourth Grade Editing Checklist

Peer Conferencing Peer conferencing should only take place after a great deal of modeling and practice.

Developing Procedures & Routines • How to select a topic? • How to write so revising and editing will be easier? • What do I do with my writing? • What to do during reading/writing workshop? • What is a “just-right” book? How do I select a “just-right” book? • Keeping a “reader’s” notebook. • How to be sure you understand the author’s message? • Reading strategies to use. • How to use a “writer’s notebook”?

The Reading/Writing Workshop