Greetings. As we prepare to kick off the New York Academy school year, I would like to share with the NYA School Community a sample of the best practice we will be implementing this 2017-18 school year.
“The Readers Workshop Approach”
How do we learn to engage in authentic reading?
How do we become readers who make meaning and think deeply?
This school year, New York Academy will implement the Readers Workshop Approach, which is a method of instruction where the teacher models how to learn during a mini-lesson, then guides students (with a gradual release of responsibility) to work independently and self-direct learning. As students read independently, the teacher coaches them one-to-one or in small groups.
This one-to-one and small group learning differentiates instruction to meet the individual needs of each student; it is driven by formative assessments to identify the unique needs of each learner. In other words, instruction for each child is at their just right level – not too hard, not too easy.
This method of instruction focuses on the goal of fostering passionate, lifelong readers.
It is based upon fundamental principles:
- Students have choice and ownership of reading and learning.
- Students know, understand, and apply a standard daily reading routine.
- Students engage in the authentic act of reading daily.
- Students become self-directed, self-regulated readers through a gradual release of responsibility.
The Readers Workshop Approach is designed for use in all grade levels and any subject area.
The daily standard routine and protocol is as follows:
1) Mini Lesson [5 to15 minutes]
- The teacher presents the learning point.
- The teacher models thinking and the authentic act of doing (“show, don’t tell”).
- The teacher guides students to turn and talk periodically to try and apply what has been modeled.
2) Independent Practice with Conferencing & Coaching [20 to 40 minutes]
- The teacher facilitates students to engage independently in learning.
- Students engage in independent learning, paired learning, and small group learning.
- The teacher conferences and coaches students one-to-one or in small groups.
3) Sharing [5 to 10 minutes]
- The teacher guides students to self-evaluate their learning, share with one another, affirm efforts, and celebrate accomplishments.
Reading intelligence is a driving force in learning.
A leveled reading library is critically important to the workshop approach, whether to support achievement in reading, writing, conversation, and/or presentation – the pillars of literacy for lifelong learning! New York Academy just invested in a leveled reading library with over 6,000 books!
Regardless of the content area, becoming a skilled and passionate reader is critically important. Research supports that we ‘learn to learn’ through the Readers Workshop Approach and engaged learning.
Stop by the school and ask to see our leveled reading library!