I have always preferred to do a combined reading/writing workshop, which I call "Independent Reading and Writing." During this time, there is a structured order of activity (i.e., sometimes I use a checklist that they keep in a folder with their work) and basically it goes something like this:
1. Read a book. 2. Tell another student about the book (plus, the other student asks three questions about the book). 3. Write about the book. This can be a synopsis, or I have "literature response cards" in a basket which have an assortment of writing ideas for responding to literature, including some that have drawing involved. 4. Share your writing with another student and revise as needed. 5. Make a reading activity choice (i.e., read the wall, read poems from the poetry basket, sort letter/picture cards, alphabetizing words, read words in the "nifty word basket" etc.) 6. Make a writing choice (write a letter, sticker story, stamp story, poem, whatever) 7. Read your writing to another student and revise as needed. 8. Sign up to meet with the teacher. While students are working, I do one or two guided reading groups and/or meet with students individually to go over their work. The reading activity choices and writing activity choices might be the same kinds of activities some use in centers, but I never had "centers" set up in my classroom. Instead, I had these activities on shelves in baskets. There was always a writing center, though, with lots of different writing instruments, a variety of paper, rubber stamps and stamp pads, a basket of assorted stickers, a few magazines, and a rotating set of laminated pictures, as well as some "story starter" cards. Renee On Oct 20, 2006, at 6:01 AM, GRISTINA, KRISTIN wrote: > Many teachers in my building have students participating in writing > experiences during this time, but it's not considered independent > reading time. Teachers are usually seeing guided reading groups during > this time. While students are in guided reading groups, the others are > doing story extension activities after a read aloud or a shared > reading. This can be compared to responding to literature in the upper > grades, it's just that the teacher has read the text to or with the > students before they write/respond to it in some way. Also, it's a > great time for students to be doing picture sorts, and search the room > activities for either beginning sounds, ending sounds or whatever they > are working on. > > I think that centers CAN be productive if they are based in good > literacy instruction and they are challenging enough for students at > all levels. The problem with centers is that in many classrooms, > centers unfortunately become coloring activities or non-reading > activities that students lose interest in rather quickly. The problem > is that the teachers in these rooms don't really understand the > purpose of literacy centers and how to create effective centers. > > Kristin > NJ > > > > _______________________________________________________________________ > ____________ > I am not in favor of centers for independent reading. They take time > away > from reading and are not often checked or monitored by the teacher. > They > become busy work. However, in first grade, particularly the beginning > of first > grade, the children often have difficulty sustaining independent > reading. > What are teachers doing using the workshop model for independent > reading in > first grade? > > Thank you, > Maxine > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/ > mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > Deep down we must have real affection for each other, a clear realization or recognition of our shared human status. At the same time, we must openly accept all ideologies and systems as a means of solving humanity's problems. One country, one nation, one ideology, one system is not sufficient. ~ The Dalai Lama _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
