Readers' Workshop Spot: Getting Started

Launching Readers' Workshop

The first few weeks of school are important for laying the foundations of Readers' Workshop. Children need time to learn systems and routines that will allow you to create a reading community and to establish a successful literacy block.

The Reading Committee has provided sample frameworks for you in your workshop folders to use when planning your launch of Readers' Workshop. These are meant to be used as guidelines; feel free to make them your own by adjusting timing and topics as needed for your particular class. There are many additional books, websites and resources available to use for guidelines in planning your first few weeks of Readers' Workshop. Please explore the following suggestions:

Professional Books:

Guiding Readers and Writers by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell

Revisiting the Reading Workshop by Barbara Orhevec and Marybeth Alley

Around the Reading Workshop in 180 Days by Frank Serafini

More Than Guided Reading by Cathy Mere

The Next Step in Guided Reading by Jan Richardson

Guided Reading in Grades 3-6: Everything You Need to Know to Make Small-Group Reading Instruction Work in Your Classroom by Mary Browning Schulman

Links to online resources:

Newsletter from Center Grove Community School Literacy Coaches

Lists, in order, a main topic for each of the first thirty days of launching Reader's Workshop.

First Twenty Days of Reading: Primary

First Twenty Days of Reading: Intermediate
Detailed descriptions of lessons for the first twenty days of Reader's Workshop. These resources include ideas for anchor charts, key points to cover each day when establishing daily routines and expectations for workshop. From Austin Independent School District.

Sample Focus Lessons for Launching Readers' Workshop: Grades K-2

Sample Focus Lessons for Launching Readers' Workshop: Grade 3

Sample Focus Lessons for Launching Readers' Workshop: Grades 4-5

All of these resources come from the Wachusett Regional School District. Lesson topics include What is Readers' Workshop? Building Stamina, Choosing Good Fit Books - and many more!

The Curriculum Corner
This site has been created and maintained by two classroom teachers. This is an extensive site, but the following links will take you directly to the page that includes resources for launching readers' workshop:

Grades K-3: As you scroll down the page, you will find links to printable lesson plans for each day. Many of these lessons include ideas for anchor charts, templates, mentor texts and much more.
Grades 4-6: This page includes ideas for getting started with Readers' Workshop, establishing routines and procedures and creating anchor charts with intermediate grade students.

The First Twenty Days: What You Need to Accomplish - from Teachersnetwork.org. As you can see, there are many resources available to you as guideline for organizing the first twenty days of workshop. This article does a nice job of giving an overall summary of topics to cover in order to lay a solid foundation for workshop in your classroom.

Read-Alouds to Launch Readers' Workshop
From Scholastic, this article includes books that celebrate reading as well as books that emphasize specific reading workshop management points.