How will implementing the Reading Workshop structure impact the achievement levels of my 4th grade students?

Seminar Title

How will implementing the Reading Workshop structure impact the achievement levels of my 4th grade students?

Reading Workshop

4th Grade

Elementary

Reading

Reading

“I hate reading.” How often do you hear this from your students? I am excited about my research of implementing a Reading Workshop format for reading class. As a reading teacher I want my students to love reading while achieving to their greatest potential. Using a Reading Workshop format I have been able to get my students engaged and motivated to read while making gains in their reading. My students are able to have choice in what they read while small groups are being held to meet individual needs. Reading Workshop format can be applied to any grade level, and while it is specific to reading class, it could also be formatted and applied across other disciplines. If you are stuck and frustrated with your reading class and not sure how you can help you students achieve while loving reading, come and lets chat!

Over the last 4 years I started teaching reading. Every year I have sought out more information on how best to teach reading and specifically to students who are considered below grade level readers. Each year I have changed and grown in what and how I have been teaching reading. After my last year of teaching reading, I was struggling to know what are the most important pieces of teaching reading and how can I help my students achieve more. This process lead me to my guiding question of How will implementing the Reading Workshop structure impact the achievement levels of my 4th grade students? The research I found stated four main factors that help students achieve; independent reading (away from school), access to books, motivation & engagement, and lastly quality instruction. I am unable to control students reading time outside of school but I can motivate them and get them engaged in quality books by having an abundance of books for students to choose from. I can also control the quality of instruction that I give my students. I found out that using a reading workshop format for reading helps students achievement levels. Reading workshop also lends itself to small group time to help meet learners needs. To help motivate and get students engaged in what they are reading, they need time to explore and pick books they want to read. My implementation of reading workshop was done over a 5 week period. Students were first introduced to independent reading time and practiced until they were reading independently for 15 minutes. Students were then introduced to shared read aloud, mini-lesson, and small groups during independent reading time. As I look at students Accelerated Reading results, I can see that students levels are increasing. Students are loving their independent reading time and are more engaged in their reading. I am excited about how reading class has gone and the gains that my students have made, and will continue to make. Because of the impact I have seen, I look forward to seeing how students growth continues after a full year.