This year, we are using Teacher's College - Reading Workshop to guide our reading instruction.  Students will have an opportunity to really grow their reading brains!  Each child will work on his/her individual reading level during our daily lessons and activities.  We will be working with different units which include: 


3P's Daily Reading Routine:

 

Mini-Lesson

When Reading begins each day, we gather on the carpet and begin with a mini-lesson.  During this time, a new "teaching point" or skill is introduced.  We use various anchor texts to help enhance our learning of the skill.  This skill is modeled and then students are given the opportunity to practice by "turning and talking" to their reading buddy.

Independent Reading

After the mini-lesson, students engage in independent reading of their just right books to master the skill that was just taught.  They practice the skill (or another skill that they are currently working on) by using their Reading Notebook.

While students are reading, I either conference with individual students or conduct a guided reading lesson with a small group.  During my conferences, I listen to students read, practice comprehension skills, and offer an additional "teaching point" for students to practice.  I use a checklist to track my conferences and drive further instruction.

Closing

Once our bell rings, students return to their seats and share their entries with each other.  Students use the closing to reflect on the day's "teaching point"/skill; they use a post-it note to answer the following question: "What have you learned about yourself as a reader today?"  Additionally, students write either "1," "2," or "3" on the bottom of the post-it note to let me know how comfortable they are with the new skill.