What is Reading Workshop?
Reading Workshop is a research-based approach that addresses the needs of all students in a classroom. Reading Workshop begins with a focus lesson where the teacher explicitly models a strategy or skill. After the focus lesson, the students read independently to practice the strategy or skill. Reader's Workshop focuses on the teaching of reading strategies. The purpose of Reader's Workshop is to foster independence among readers.
During independent reading work time, students apply what was focused on during the mini-lesson to their independent reading. Students read books on their independent reading level and apply skills or strategies to their reading. The teacher confers with students during independent reading to be sure they are successful in their practice or to provide 1:1 instruction around any particular needs. The teacher also works with a small group of students who have similar needs during independent reading.
Finally, Reading Workshop ends with a group share to summarize the important understandings of the lesson. This sharing allows children to learn from each other and to take responsibility for their own learning.
The structured nature of Reading Workshop builds a predictable routine and guarantees opportunities for differentiated instruction and intervention. The ultimate goal of a Reading Workshop is always to develop life-long readers.