Readers' Workshop

We have started some very exciting work this week! Each week students will use their reader's notebooks to keep a record of the important work and thinking they do during our workshop time. Students will keep their weekly reading log in their notebooks from this point on. (It will not be a separate sheet in their homework folders.) We will be writing read aloud notes, doing vocabulary study, and writing literature studies / analysis. At the end of each week students will use a rubric to evaluate the quality of their work. Mr. Merritt and I will also evaluate their work and then we will send it home for your review. Take a look at your child's notebook. It will come home each and every night in their reading Ziploc.

See below for the information the students have in their notebooks about this work:

Expectations for Reader’s Workshop

Study Habits:

• Make quiet transitions
• Plan ahead and get all needed materials. Get busy quickly.
• Work quietly. Choose a place to work away from distractions.
• Set reading goals.
• Sustain silent reading for at least 25 minutes.
• Stay caught up with weekly assignments.
• Do your best work; work that you are proud of!

Challenging Yourself as a Reader:

• Record the title and author of all books you read on the Reading List in your folder.
• Read a novel that is appropriate and challenging.
• Work to increase the time and number of pages you read.
• Notice new and interesting words as your read. Use the dictionary and other resources to learn more about words.
• Set goals for yourself as a reader (read more, read longer, read harder books, explore new genres, explore new authors, etc…)
• Think deeply about your reading. Go beyond plot, focus on the elements of literature, how the author uses them and how they affect you.
• Think about connections to your life, other books, and authors you have read. Think about questions, observations, and reflections.
• Be prepared to conference about your reading life with a teacher or friend.
  
  
  Setting Up Your Reader’s Notebook
  
  
  Every Monday, you should put the following in your notebook in order. Please use the front and back of each notebook page. Make sure you date all the work that goes in your notebook.
  
  
  1. Glue in your weekly reading log.
  2. Label one page: Read Aloud Notes..
  3. Label one page: Vocabulary Study
  4. Label one page: Literature Study
  5. Glue in your Weekly Reading Check Up.
  
  
  
  Read Aloud Notes
  
  
  Every day our class will be sharing a book, short story, or poem. Many weeks I will ask you a specific question to think about regarding our Read Aloud. Other weeks you may write any thoughts you have about our shared text.
  
  
  
  Vocabulary Study
  
  
  Each week, as you do your independent reading, you must find and record at least three new words you discovered while reading. You must also find the definitions of these words and use each word correctly in a sentence. (You may find the definition by using context clues and/or the dictionary.) This work should be recorded in your Reader’s Notebook. Skip a line between each word entry.
  
  
  Literature Study
  
  
  Each week as your read, you must show evidence of your thoughtful work in your Reader’s Notebook. This information will be recorded on our literature study pages. Please use the following suggestions to guide your literature study entries. You are always welcome to use and share other ideas for literature studies.
  
  
  1. Read the book
  
  
  2. As you read, use post-it notes to notice:
  • Confusing parts or places you have a question about
  • Important words or passages
  • A character or action you would like to discuss
  • Places where the author moved you, where you had strong feelings or emotions
  • A beautiful, lovely description of a character or place
  • A turning point in the story
  • “Pop - out” lines
  • Important details/ information about a character
  
  
  3. Use these sticky notes and any other things that stood out in your book as ideas for your literature studies.
  
  
  4. Let us know what is going on inside your head as you read. This is the place that you show off what a thoughtful, reflective reader you are.
  
  
  5. You must have at least three literature studies each week. Write as neatly as possible.