The first session of reading workshop in first grade was rich with students listening intently as Ann read Monty's Magnificent Mane by Gemma O' Neill. Students spent time sharing ideas with a partner and with the small group and establishing the routines of reading workshop. This initial reading project uses the picture book format to emphasize the structures of a book that help the reader comprehend, make predictions based on the text and illustrations and to respond to the book using specific elements from the story. The picture books selected are rich in vocabulary. In this book, students brainstormed words that were synonyms for "magnificent" and discusses the fine shades of meaning in the word "flattery" and how the lion in the story thought at first that it was more important to be magnificent and be constantly given compliments than to be a good friend. Students were given the opportunity to stop and talk as the story unfolded and share their ideas with a partner.
After listening to the story, students shared the page from the book they liked the best with a partner. After the initial lesson students sat in small table groups with a teacher and practiced the reading strategies in this smaller setting- reading picture books and sharing a favorite part they marked with a sticky with another student from their table group.
