Workshop Wednesday: Reading Workshop

It’s Workshop Wednesday time! So many ideas on Wednesdays-I love it!

 

 

How do you get ready for Reader’s Workshop before school starts? As soon as I have my student data, I get my center groups formed. I have heterogeneous center groups making sure I consider the following:

Personality

Strengths

Weaknesses

Gender

Interests

Behaviors

Academic background

 

Notice I’ve made my center groups folder with Post-Its (my fave) so that my groups are flexible-all I have to do is move my post-its (once I get my student list/data there will be names on them). I have 5 center groups-blue, yellow, green, purple, and red. I like to start centers by the second week of school, so they get used to our routine as soon as possible.

Because my center groups are heterogeneous, it’s hard for me to memorize which student is in which group, so I made this chart for ME and I keep it at my guided reading table so I can keep track of my students. At a quick glance I can check to make sure my students are at the correct center group.

I also like to meet with each student individually the first week of school before I start guided reading groups to complete this Reading Interest Inventory I made. This form and conference time gives me so much information about my students! I love this time with each student.

In a 5 minute conference I learn so much without any written assessments.

For example:

How many books do they have at home? This number will give me a lot of background about the family as readers and will allow me the chance to send a “care package” home so they will always have something to read at home.

I love hearing their answers to "What makes you a good reader?". Actually, I get more "strategy" answers from my struggling readers, where as my higher readers don't always know what makes them good readers because it's automatic for them.

 I have them read me a page or passage from the current book they are reading. This gives me a quick check on fluency and comprehension.

I also have my students set a reading goal for themselves, some need a little more guidance than others, but it’s important that it’s their goal and not mine. I want them to be motivated to complete this goal and if it’s my goal, I may not get the buy in.

For example, I may need to offer guidance or probe if they don’t have any reading goals or make unrealistic goals, like read 200 pages a night.

*Goals need to be realistic, measurable, and motivating!

If you think this Reading Interest Inventory would be beneficial in your class, you can pick it up at here at my TPT Store for FREE. Just be kind, if you download, please leave feedback.

 

Go check out all the wonderful ideas by Jivey and the other fabulous bloggers that link up!

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Don't forget to link up this Saturday! What have you been working on this summer that will motivate your students? Any idea can be used! Let's get motivated together!