The Launch of Reading Workshop

Reading workshop has launched in kindergarten through fourth grade. The focus during the first few weeks of school is to help students to choose books of interest and books that are just right for them to sink into, read, understand and enjoy. "Read books like they are gold," is a phrase that students are thinking about as they choose books to read.

In the beginning of each reading workshop session, students gather and experience a short lesson focusing on a reading strategy. They then listen to a picture book, chapter from a book, selection from a book, or an article and have the opportunity to practice the strategy presented, sharing their thinking with a partner throughout the read aloud. Strategies include acting out a scene from the book to better understand a character's reaction, showing through facial expressions the feelings of characters and making connections between one's life and the character's life.

Students then go off to engage in their own reading in order to apply the reading strategies and experience the joy of exploring, reading and being immersed in a book of choice. Students in second through fourth grade have started to use reading logs to track their reading and will be looking for patterns in their individual book selections. First grade students will begin to use reading logs soon. Writing about reading has already begun in every grade!