1. +
Writer’s and
Reader’s
Workshop
A Guide for Parents

2. +
The Workshop Model
The Workshop model is a framework for learning;
a tool for organizing instruction. It emphasizes
the importance of genuine reading and writing,
and modeling targeted skills for students.
Differentiated Instruction means that the
teacher is offering different options to meet the
needs of each student. In the workshop, we
vary the difficulty of materials to challenge
students at different readiness levels

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Parts of the Workshop Model

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Reader’s Workshop
 Just Right Books – self-selected books
read during the workshop
 Book Baggies – a place to store
books and tools for reading
 Reading Partners – practice
strategies together
 Leveled Library – books sorted and
organized by difficulty
Details of Reader’s Workshop
Students read a variety of self-selected books for extended
periods. They construct meaning and connections as they learn
from and about reading. Students learn effective comprehension
strategies as they apply them to fiction and non-fiction books.

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Writer’s Workshop
Students develop writing strategies and skill, learn about the
writer’s craft, and use writing as a tool for learning and
communication. Writing for sustained periods, they explore
different genres and formats for a range of purposes and for a
variety of audiences.
Details of Writer’s Workshop
 Invented Spelling – puts focus on the
idea rather than spelling tricky words
 Writing Partners – practice strategies
together
 Writing Folder – a place to store
writing (this will evolve in higher
grades)

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Independent
Work Time
 Guided Groups
 Flexible – changes frequently
throughout the year
 Homogeneous – based on student
needs
 Teacher Conferences
 One-on-one with teacher/student
 Short – about 5 minutes
 Targeted skill in the moment
 Running Records (Reading
Assessment)
 Student reads one-on-one with
teacher
 Comprehension questions after
reading
 Teacher analyzes students’ reading
errors
What is happening in
the classroom while the
students are working?

7. +
Resources
 http://readingandwritingproject.com/
 http://www.readingrockets.org/article/267 - Inventive
Spelling