Reading Workshop

Oh my!! I haven't realized how long it has been since my last post! Report cards and conferences commandeered my time!  Now that assessments are over, we are back to our regular routine!  I have provided a glimpse into our math games, so I thought it was time to introduce you to our reading workshop!  I start every day with a story and some overarching concept. We have been working on the basic story elements of main character, setting, problem, and solution.  We have also started discussing the main idea of a story and how we can find supporting details in the text.  After I read the story and teach the mini-lesson, everyone goes back to their seats to complete some individual work on the day's lesson.  Then students practice the spelling skill of the week or review skills from past weeks. We have been working hard on short vowels, blends, adding -s and -es to words, ABC order, and we have started learning how to use a dictionary.  When students have finished their mini-lesson paper and the spelling review, they then go to clubs. There are 4 clubs that the children rotate through every day except Tuesday.  We have the book nook, the computers, an art center, and word work.  Here is a look into some of the activities that we do!

Here is our reading workshop bulletin board with the student's names and the days they visit each club.  It also gives examples of the weeks work for the art center and word work.  This week, during art time, we painted a turkey.  We assembled, read, and colored a book about pilgrims in our word work center.

 Here is where the supplies are kept for our art projects and our word activities.



The students in the computer club are busy playing reading games at a website called starfall.com.  They love being able to pick out their own game and work on skills of their own choice.

 Here are some students coloring their pilgrim books. When they were done making their book, they had to read it with a friend.

Here is a closer look at some of the pages in the pilgrim book!

 This turkey is colored, so now it is time to add the feathers. I love how the feathers are all different colors. There are some very creative kids in our class!

 Here is a friend contemplating what kind of legs and feet to give his turkey.

 There are many activities that students can choose to do in the book nook. They can silent read or pick new books for their book boxes.  They can use tubaloos like the friend above. Tubaloo's help the children listen to themselves read and helps them improve their fluency.  Kids can also use the magnetic ABC wall, use word dominoes, create word necklaces (that stay at school), and I am almost ready to open our listening center. (If I open everything at once, everything gets boring by February)

A friend has chosen to read a big book about animals on the rug.