Reading Workshop in

Middle School

Presented by: Jennifer Mrozowsky2012

Our Current StruggleAccording to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, more than one-third of children in the United States lack fundamental reading skills. This rate is even higher for children living in poverty.

-National Assessment of Educational Progress, The Nation’s Report Card (National Center for Educational Statistics, Washington, DC)

Traditional Middle SchoolReading Frameworks

• 20-40 Minutes of Direct Instruction• 10-30 Minutes of Independent/Group Work

(Teacher Monitors)• Homework Assignment/Dismissal

• 10-15 Minutes of Explanation• 35-40 Minutes of Student Work Time

(Teacher Monitors)• Assignment/Dismissal

Middle SchoolReading Workshop Framework

• Mini-Lesson (10-15 minutes)

• Independent Reading (25-30 minutes) -Strategy Focus Groups

-Conferences

• Closing Meeting (5-10 minutes)

Benefits: A Middle School Perspective

Mini-Lesson

The portion of a class period when teachers model best practices for reading.

• Read Aloud- Model reading strategy or task• Think Aloud• Direct Instruction• Set Up Task for Independent Reading

Benefits: 1. Short2. Focused3. Easy to prepare

Independent Reading: A Student’ Role

Independent reading provides students with time to apply the strategies presented in the mini-lesson.

• Self-select texts at their reading level from classroom library

• Uses sticky notes/notebook to tag reflections while reading (worksheets can also be used if desired during this piece)

Benefits: 1. Very few worksheets to copy, find, create, or GRADE! 2. Students are more invested because they are reading a

“just right text” that they have chosen.3. Students are spending meaningful time reading.

Independent Reading:The Teacher’s Role

Independent reading time provides teachers with a portion of class to work with individual or small groups of students to further teach reading strategies.

• Strategy Focus Groups:-5 Students-Similar Needs-Same Text

• Conferences:-One Student-Individual Need-Choice Text

Benefits:1. Minimal out of class grading2. Individualized Instruction3. Time with students who need it most

Closing Meeting The closing meeting provides time for the class to

come back together and share their reflections/insights during independent reading.

-Student Facilitated: Partners-Teacher Facilitated: Whole Group

Benefits:1. Shows students that their thoughts are valued.2. Provides teachers with additional assessment and

teaching opportunities.3. Wraps up the lesson.

Now What?• Prepare Your Students

-Teach them what to do while you are working in conferences/strategy focus groups. Develop a classroom compact with consequences together. Monitor students and hold them accountable before starting groups. This could take 2-4 weeks.

• Organize -Strategy Focus Groups-Conferencing Schedule-Assessment System

• See a Reader’s Workshop in Action -Power/Warner

-Online-Jennie/Suzan

• Classroom Support-Jennie- 2nd/4th Hour-Suzan- 3rd/4th hour

Resources

• http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top_teaching/2009/11/readers-notebook

• http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/reading%20workshop.htm

• http://www.readersworkshop.org/

Q & AExit Slips

• Questions?

• Please fill out your exit slips and return them to me before you leave.