Reader's workshop is part of a comprehensive reading framework.Typically, it allows students to work independently, both as individuals and in small groups. The students read, talk and write about content and features in nonfiction. The scaffolding level in reader's workshop can be varied by altering the level of aid by the teacher or fellow peers.
In reader's workshop, the students work on their own, or with other students,or with the teacher observing, helping or assessing the students. It can also be a mixture of independent work and group work together. Reader's workshop can last for 60 to 90 minutes daily.It may include instruction through: read alouds, shared reading, guided reading, reading and writing discovery circles, independent reading, extension activities, and level appropriate work.
Levels of instructional scaffolding in reader's workshop:
(In order from highest level of scaffolding to least)
Modeled
- Highest level of scaffolding
- Teacher demonstrates
- Students watch
- Example: Read Aloud
- Second highest level of scaffolding
- Teacher leads
- Teacher is "expert"
- Students are "in training"
- Example: Shared Reading
- Middle level scaffolding
- Student demonstrates
- Teacher assists
- Example: Guided Reading
- Second to least level scaffolding
- Students work in groups
- Teacher supports by observing
- Teacher supports by helping
- Teacher supports by assessing
- Example: Reader's Workshop
- Least level of scaffolding
- Students practice independent activities
- Teacher observes
- Teacher assesses
- Example: Ability-level extension activities
Writer's Workshop
Writer's workshop is part of a comprehensive writing framework. It allows students to work indpendently and in small groups, writing about or creating their own nonfiction. The level of scaffolding can be varied depending on the instructional levels of scaffolding used. Typically, the students work independtly or with groups. The teacher's role is to observe, help, and assess. Writer's workshop can be included in 30 to 60 min blocks daily.
In writer's workshop, students may write on self-selected topics as well as assigned topics that are associated with content-areas being covered. Scaffolding blocks can alternate by first having high scaffolding modes followed by lower scaffolding modes. The teacher conferences with individual students or groups of students to assess and aid as needed. The workshop ends with a quick sharing session as a whole group where students can share their writing and ask for feedback. Nonfiction can be read during writer's workshop for students to draw on and remember information for their writing.
Levels of instructional scaffolding in writer's workshop:
(In order from highest level of scaffolding to least)
Modeled
- Highest level of scaffolding
- Teacher demonstrates
- Students watch
- Example: Modeled Writing
- Second highest level of scaffolding
- Teacher leads
- Teacher is "expert"
- Students are "in training"
- Example: Interactive Writing
- Middle level scaffolding
- Student demonstrates
- Teacher assists
- Example: Guided Writing
- Second to least level scaffolding
- Students work in groups
- Teacher supports by observing
- Teacher supports by helping
- Teacher supports by assessing
- Example: Writer's Workshop
- Least level of scaffolding
- Students practice independent activities
- Teacher observes
- Teacher assesses
- Example: Ability-level extension activities
