1st Edition
Welcome to Reading Workshop Structures and Routines that Support All Readers
In Welcome to Reading Workshop: Structures and Routines that Support All Readers, Brenda Krupp and Lynne Dorfman bring their years of collective experience leading successful reading workshops to showcase the structures, routines, rituals, and behind-the-scenes decision making that will have your reading workshop running smoothly and effectively. Within the pages, you’ll find ways to effectively use self-selected reading materials, create mini-lessons, build time for reading conferences and small group work, and use assessments to guide instruction.
In this practical guide, you’ll find tips and ideas to make these techniques immediately attainable, including:
- Recommendation lists from much loved books to classroom implementation suggestions
- Easy to access video clips to extend learning
- Expert contributions and tips from the field
- A rich appendix with templates, lessons, and resources
- Reflection questions to promote collegial conversations
Whether you’re a brand-new teacher or seasoned veteran, you’re looking to try something new or working on refining your current reading workshops, the authors welcome you to join them in an exploration of this powerful instructional model. Welcome to Reading Workshop will inspire you and your students with an excitement for reading that fosters engagement and builds life-long readers.
Introduction: A Model to Help Students Become Readers Chapter 1 A WELCOMING FOUNDATION FOR READERS Chapter 2 BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF READERS Chapter 3 THE POWER OF READ-ALOUDS AND MENTOR TEXTS TO INSPIRE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THE READING WORKSHOP Chapter 4 RESPONDING TO READING Chapter 5 MINILESSONS: BRINGING READERS TOGETHER FOR EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION Chapter 6 CLASSROOM LIBRARIES: SHARING THE EXCITEMENT OF READING Chapter 7 INDEPENDENT READING TIME: SUPPORTING READERS AT WORK Chapter 8 SMALL GROUP WORK: SAFE ENVIRONMENTS TO SHARE THINKING AND BUILD CONFIDENCE Chapter 9 SHARING AND REFLECTION: BUILDING TRUST AND RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER’S IDEAS Chapter 10 CLASSROOM ASSESSMENTS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE; Afterword LET’S GET STARTED
Biography
Brenda J. Krupp has 33 years of experience as a classroom teacher and staff development coach in the Souderton Area School District. She has worked with the National Writing Project and the state affiliate (PA Writing and Literature Project) as a co-director for the Summer Invitational Institute and as a presenter at National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conference, Keystone State Literacy Association conference, as well as local conferences. This is her first book. Lynne R. Dorfman has 38 years of experience in Upper Moreland Township School District as classroom teacher, gifted education teacher K–5, writing and literacy coach, reading specialist, and staff developer. Lynne's co-authored many books including Mentor Texts, 2nd Edition: Teaching Writing Through Children's Literature, K–6 and Welcome to Writing Workshop: Engaging Today's Students with a Model That Works. Currently, she's an adjunct professor for Arcadia University and independent literacy consultant.
“At the heart of Welcome to Reading Workshop is the idea that reading instruction can and should be engaging, flexible, and thought provoking. Lynne Dorfman and Brenda Krupp have provided a wealth of ideas to support both the experienced and new-to-workshop teachers as they nurture and teach their own community of thriving readers. This book is a keeper, and one you will refer to over and over again.” —Lynn Connery, Reading Recovery Teacher Leader
“There has never been a more important time to focus on reading workshop. Each chapter of Welcome to Reading Workshop: Structures and Routines that Support All Readers provides a practical guide to implementing reading workshop through building community, powerful minilessons, interactive read-alouds, explicit instruction, authentic classroom-based assessments, and the value of independent reading. This book belongs in the hands of all classroom teachers, reading specialists, and administrators!" —Jessica Kilcollum, Reading Specialist, Grades 3–5
“From building a reading community with students to the basics of planning daily whole class and small group lessons, Welcome to Reading Workshop synthesizes essential pedagogy into one easy-to-read text. No matter what curriculum you teach or how long you have taught, this book is filled with practical ideas to lift student voices and allow them to take charge of their learning process. Thank you, Brenda and Lynne.” —Tammy Mulligan, Second-Grade Teacher and Author
"This book is a valuable resource for educators of all experience levels. Brenda Krupp and Lynne Dorfman provide authentic, easy-to-implement practices that inspire students to embrace a love of literacy while learning the necessary phonics and comprehension skills to ensure reading success." —Dr. Jen Greene, Second-Grade Teacher
“I've presented at several conferences and workshops alongside Brenda and Lynne and I'm consistently impressed with how earnest they are, not only in their teaching, but also in their desire to learn. How they break down complicated, multifaceted strategies into educator-friendly, and more importantly, child-friendly approaches, is refreshing and effective for any classroom.” —Peter Catalanotto, Children’s Book Author and Illustrator
“Welcome to Reading Workshop brings all the elements of effective reading instruction, together with creating a community of engaged readers in ways that support peer-to-peer conversations about texts, individual needs and interests, and most importantly, an excitement for and love of reading, learning, and sharing with others. The authors share a comprehensive model of reading and language support, with evidence-based approaches and details for creating classroom and school (and home-) based reading workshop communities. Videos, examples of book talks and anchor charts and minilessons abound, along with detailed strategies and approaches to creating reading workshop communities. This book is the most comprehensive I have read on this topic and will provide any teacher with everything they need to support diverse readers in their classrooms!” —Dr. Peggy Hickman, Associate Professor of Education, Arcadia University
“This book is a one stop shop for reading workshop. It is written for first year teachers and veteran teachers because it provides all the essential components of an effective reading workshop. It runs the gamut from kid watching, conferring, the minilesson architecture, and highlighting the importance of reading instruction in the elementary classroom. This book includes everything that is needed to run an effective reading workshop. —Dr. Beverly Hanrahan, Reading Specialist, Certified Reading Recovery Teacher
“The implementation of reading workshop has the power to play a dynamic role in the heart of a successful literacy classroom. Each vital component of the workshop invites a community of readers to dive into diverse literature with critical thinking, quality discussion, and purposeful writing tasks. Brenda Krupp and Lynne Dorfman present teachers with real class scenarios, along with a lesson format that includes engaging book talks, choice clubs, and meaningful responses to inspire young minds on fire! Welcome to the Reading Workshop would be a productive grade level or district-wide curriculum study for professional learning. It is truly a boon companion resource for literacy teachers who strive to challenge ALL levels of readers to new realms of deeper understanding.” —Eileen T. Hutchinson,WCASD, Reading Specialist, PA Writing and Literature Fellow 99’/05’
