Primary Day School Reading Workshop

1. Primary Day SchoolReading Workshop A Day in the Life of Reading Workshop

2. Why a new reading program? • Reading is developmental • Children read at all different times according to all different schedules, the majority end up reading. • Wanted to implement a reading program that provided more differentiated learning vs. whole group lessons • Successfully piloted Reading Workshop in Kindergarten Spring 2013

3. Why Reading Workshop? • Research supported and recognized as containing all the essential elements of language arts instruction • It is a Balanced Literacy Program • Decoding Skills – Phonovisual • We are so lucky that we already have a phonics program in place. PDS is Phonovisual! • Snap (sight) Words • Writing • Independent reading • Read aloud • Practice and repetition • Word Study • Reading Comprehension

4. Benefits of Reading Workshop • Emphasis on all children viewing themselves as readers • More time reading builds better readers • “The more you read, the more you know, the more you know, the further you’ll go!” –Dr. Seuss • Individualized instruction through small groups and conferences • Allows for diverse learning styles and differentiation • Guided Reading and Strategy Groups • Reinforces Phonovisual instruction

5. Professional Development • Collaboration with an expert at St. Stephens and St. Agnes • On-site training for entire faculty • Attendance at The Reading and Writing Workshop Summer Institute at Columbia University Teachers College, New York City • On-going professional development • Developed monthly and daily Curriculum Plans (see handout) • All teachers have worked hard this summer to familiarize themselves with the program

6. Launching a Reading Workshop • Monthly curriculum and themes to expose children to a wide variety of genres and skills • Familiarize children with routines • Mini lesson • Independent reading • Working with a partner • Conferring with a teacher • Partner share with group regarding mini lesson • Book shopping and book sharing • Exposes children to excellent literature through mentor text

7. Launching a Reading Workshop (cont.) • Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System to determine independent reading level • Reading is more than decoding. It is a piece of the puzzle. We are looking at decoding, comprehension and fluency. • While some children are able to read everything by a certain age, it is the recommendation of Columbia Teachers College that children read material with subject matter that is appropriate for their age. • Just Right Books • Children read books that they choose at their independent reading level • 5 finger rule

8. The mini lesson

9. Reading Workshop Resources • Reading Room • Purchased over 1500 leveled books for teachers to use in classrooms • Extension activities to reinforce skills • Purchased additional books for classrooms • Leveled libraries in all K, 1, & 2 classrooms • Continued collaboration with other schools

10. Classroom Libraries

11. Support within the Reading Workshop • Collaboration among teachers, Sharon and Connie • Curriculum • Mini lessons • Strategies • Individual children • Connie and Sharon will work together with the teachers to support all the children in their Language Arts instruction. • The library critter system, already in place, correlates with the children’s independent reading levels. • We are available at any time to talk with you if you have questions. • We will be sharing periodic highlights and pictures of Reading Workshop in action!

12. Next Steps • Reading workshop fosters a lifelong love of reading and learning • Reading Workshop builds skills necessary to become an excellent reader including: • Increasing reading stamina • Active reading • Talking about books • Appreciation of both fiction and informational texts • Prepares our students for future school experiences and academic responsibilities • Builds upon itself from grade to grade • We are in good company. For example: Holton, Landon, Potomac School, and Maret