I thought this might be informative for parents who want to know more about the Reader's Workshop.

WHAT does an effective Readers Workshop look like?

This is an instructional time that is critical for each student’s success in reading. In using the reader’s workshop approach, each child reads on their level and learns how to choose their own “just right” books to read during their independent reading time. In the past, the basal (published reading book for the grade level) was used during this time. Although having a book for each child seems like a positive, the basal reader doesn't meet the needs of all students. A third of the class can already read the stories in the basal with ease, a third of the class will struggle with those stories, even after direct instruction, so only a third of the class will have their needs met using the basal. Students in the Readers Workshop choose books that are on their independent level to practice independently and practice books with their teacher (in a small group) that are on their instructional level.

Small group instruction is based on each student’s needs and based on observations of their reading behaviors.

The first grade began learning about Partner Reading during Reader's Workshop. Children are partnered with another child and read leveled books together. We practiced how to position our chairs when the partners are reading two of the same book and what it looks like when the partners are sharing one book. Establishing routines of this nature are essential to the success of Reader's Workshop as it allows smooth transitions from the mini-lesson to independent reading activity. Here are our first graders participating in Partner Reading.