Readers’ Workshop is one way that teachers organize many aspects of reading instruction. In a Readers’ Workshop your child has many reading experiences in a supportive learning community so he or she can feel confident and capable in whole class, small group, and independent learning environments. Children are provided with a variety of opportunities to read. Students will read independently, and in small groups. Importantly, they will have opportunities to share and explore the ideas being communicated in texts. As with reading, students learn a great deal about the conventions of text by writing for real purposes. Students are provided with many opportunities to write, both for their own purposes, and in the contexts of classroom learning.
Writers’ workshop is a method which unleashes each person’s own voice on paper. With few restrictions for rough drafts, young students can begin writing before they have mastered the technicalities of writing. This enables them to reflect on their lives and record their reflections and feelings.
The Writing Workshop is affirming and encouraging. Students find their own voices and become empowered. They make their mark on the world by recording their own observations, hopes, and dreams. The beginning writer and the advanced writer approach writing on equal footing.
Overall, the classroom program is structured to allow students to engage literacy in a variety of ways. Students have opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas in whole class discussions. There are many opportunities for small groups to collaborate in their learning, such as developing ideas about scientific or mathematical concepts. Actively engaging in activities provides students with the opportunity to explore their understandings across a range of areas.