Reader's Workshop ~ An Overview

When you think of the word "workshop", an image may come to mind of people working in a space surrounded by all the tools and resources they need to create, to grow, and to become stronger at something they are passionate about. This, in a sense, is what Reader's Workshop is as well.

The "big work" of reader's workshop is grounded in a few essential tenets based in research on what students need to create, to grow, and to become stronger readers every day.

So, what does the research say that all readers need?

1. Readers need an enormous amount of time every day for reading. Effective reading improvement is directly related to the amount of time a child spends reading. In other words, reading stamina is highly important. Effective reading improvement is also directly related to how much print a child "consumes" in a day. With this, reading volume is highly important as well.

2. Readers need to be reading books that allow them to do a high volume of successful reading. In other words, if a text is too difficult to decode or understand, a student will not be able to read enough each day to make effective growth as a reader. This is why we need your help ensuring your child is reading a lot of just-right books!

3. Readers need instruction in the strategies of effective readers. This is how we grow with anything! Our reading curriculum teaches grade-level appropriate reading skills and strategies situated within units of study that develop throughout the year.

4. Readers need opportunities to talk in response to their reading. In other words, talk to your kids about their books! Ask them about characters, about what surprised them, about what they are noticing and thinking. This discussion work stretches their reading "muscles" and helps them grow!