An important part of your child’s first grade literacy and mathematics
learning experience will be in the form of “workshops”.
This teaching approach is geared towards providing children with authentic
learning experiences. I spend a great deal of time and effort on
workshop plans, and I firmly believe that this method is best for meeting
children’s needs.
Each workshop will begin with a whole class mini lesson, focsing on a
skill, strategy, or habit that children need to learn and use during
independent work. Next, children are engaged in "just right" independent
activities, while I am conducting individual and group learning conferences.
Finally, workshops will end with a share time, where the students and I
reflect and make important learning connections.
Workshops give learners the chance to participate in activities
that are "just right" for their needs, and it gives me and Mrs. Jackson the
ability to work with small groups, or one-on-one with the students. Your
child will spend the first weeks of school learning how to be successful
during workshop time. They will be encouraged to make good choices and to use
their time wisely. It can be a challenge for some children,
as it requires them to work independently for small blocks of time each day.
Workshop Goals:
1. To provide engaging, process-oriented, hands-on curriculum.
2. To allow children to make choices.
3. To provide "just right" activities for the children to complete.
4. To include both small group activities and individual activities.
5. To provide activities that meet the varying interests abilities of the
students.
6. To give children a chance to work independently.
7. To encourage children to try new things.
During workshop.....
1. Children do work that is meaningful and authentic.
1. Each activity has a specific academic goal.
2. Children keep a written account of what is accomplished.
3. Children may earn "moolas" for completing tasks during workshop. These
moolas can later be used to "buy" items at our “Open Market”.
4. Children receive “Planning papers” for recording their work. I keep
detailed records of workshop behaviors. Children who are able to make choices
easily, stay on task, complete their work, and record what they have done will
continue to work independently during Workshop. Children that have trouble
with these skills will be assigned workshop tasks.