What to Expect in Reader's Workshop

Reader's Workshop is a collaborative model for students to observe, participate, then practice independently. Most lessons will consist of a short teacher-led lesson, time to work together on the skill for the day, and then time for students to read independently to practice their skills. 

Our Reading Units consist of:

• Sharing Our Ideas

• Synthesizing Ideas Across Texts

• Thinking Deeply About Characters

• Understanding Perspectives (Nonfiction)

• Interpreting Themes

What to expect in Writer's Workshop

In Language Arts Class, I will be using a Writing Workshop model to teach writing skills, grammar and word study. Each day will begin with a mini-lesson or read aloud that will set the purpose for our goal or objective for Language Arts class for the day. Students will then have time to work independently on that skill while I conference with students both individually and in small groups.  Finally, we end class by coming back together as a whole class to sum up what was learned that day and revisit our daily objective. 

Along with studying word patterns and vocabulary terms, and learning the parts of speech, students will be doing a lot of writing in my classroom! Students will use the Writing Process to produce narratives, opinion pieces, informative/ explanatory texts, research projects and responses to various types of literature. Through brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing and publishing their written work, students will learn that writing a strong piece takes time and thoughtful effort.

Our Writing Units consist of:

• Launching / Realistic Fiction (Narrative)

• Wikis (Informational)

• Cross-Text Literary Essay (Opinion)

• Blogging about Our Beliefs (Informational/ Opinion Hybrid)

• One-Scene Plays (Narrative)

What to expect in Social Studies

In Social Studies, we will use Project Based Learning for students to develop a deeper understanding of American history. Students can expect to learn about a topic and continue to research on their own to build a project. This will happen both individually and as groups. We will incorporate resources from the Amistad Commission. The purpose of the Amistad Commission is to ensure "... that the Department of Education and public schools of New Jersey implement materials and texts which integrate the history and contributions of African-Americans and the descendants of the African Diaspora." 

Our Social Studies Units consist of:

• Geography and Colonial New Jersey

• New Jersey and the American Revolution

• National History Day

• America's Constitutional Government

• Forging a New Version of Freedom and Liberty