Here is a handout created by the district office to explain the literacy initiative. Let me know if you have any questions.

What is Different about Reading Instruction in the WachusettRegionalSchool District this Year?

 

This year, Readers’ Workshop will begin to be implemented in all classrooms throughout the district.

 

What is Readers’ Workshop?

 

Readers’ Workshop is a research-based approach that addresses the needs of all students in the class. RW 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. During independent reading, students are reading “just right” books that are matched to their individual abilities and interests. 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. Sometimes, the teacher may work with a small group of students who have similar needs during independent reading. Finally, RW ends with a group share to summarize the important understandings of the lesson.

 

What are Strategies?

 

Strategies are “in the head” problem solving processes. Strategies are tools for decoding and understanding what you read. Strategy instruction helps students develop, access, and apply these strategies independently. Some examples of strategies your child will learn about include the following:

 

• Retelling
• Creating sensory images
• Making connections
• Inferring
• Determining importance
• Asking questions

 

Why Readers’ Workshop?

 

The district has adopted the RW model for a number of reasons, including the following:

 

• Assessment drives instruction
• Every student reads a “just right” book
• Key strategies are explicitly modeled
• Students have choice and ownership in their reading
• Experiences foster a love of reading

 

What about the “Other” Literacy Skills?

 

Readers’ Workshop is one component of a daily 90 minute literacy block. Writing also takes place during the day in addition to the literacy block components.

Readers Workshop (45-60 minutes)

Phonics/Wordstudy (15-25 minutes)

Interactive Read Aloud (15-20 minutes)

Writing (30-45 minutes)