I have done reading workshop for ten years in my 6th grade reading classes. I love it! I took the basal we had been using for 8 years, and isolated the skills that they focused on. Then I matched it to the eligible content put out by our state (PA). Then I prioritized the skills and came up with one per week for 36 or so weeks. I found stories, articles, plays, etc. for each skill. I use an 8 day rotation, day 1 we read a story together and talk about the skill I am focusing on, and do some comprehension activities. Day 2 We practice the skill, maybe a worksheet, group activity, whatever is appropriate. Day 3,4,5,6,7 they rotate in centers.(My centers are 1)SSR, 2)vocab. Development, 3)journals 4)computer work (I use FactMonster from Education World) 5) Test prep (released items from the state that they work as a group on) and 6)Groupies- these kids sit with me in a small group-they don't know they are homogeneously grouped- and we review the skill, I check the books they are reading and mark the page, we just talk books at whatever level they are on. Day 7 we do a comprehension quiz, on sixth grade level (I love the quizzes in Scholastic Storyworks-almost all nonfiction, and then on Day 8 we do Book Talks where they get up in front of the class and talk about their books. Each sixth grader must read one book/month on-reading level or higher, keep a bookmark that I have designed to record pages daily, and do a book completion sheet. We use Cottonwood Press Abravocabra-a fantastic vocab book, and do two words/day, a test after every ten. I am sold on the idea of reading workshop. It's hard to set up, but it's well worth it. I will never go back to a basal. The last 6 weeks of school we'll do literature circles, which I always enjoy. If you need any help, please feel free to contact me--try it!! Barb, Titusville PA
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