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You've heard all about Readers' Workshop and the "switching" of classrooms that happens in First Grade. The First Grade Team works very closely together to make reading a happy and successful experience for the students. You may wonder what happens during Readers' Workshop, so please read along.
When students are in their Readers' Workshop rooms they are doing Fundations, the phonics program, receiving Guided Reading (small group) instruction, and completing activities at Literacy Centers. While some students are in Guided Reading groups, other students are doing activities at various Literacy Centers around the classroom. These centers include Word Work (sight word & word family practice), Writing, Listening (to books on tape), Computers, Independent Reading, and Buddy Reading. Each of these Centers is designed to help improve and strengthen specific literacy skills in a fun and hands-on way. Not all of the Centers have a paper-pencil task. Some Centers include building words with magnets or listening to poems and chants on the computer.
It is amazing to see how independent the students become over the course of the year. It is very likely that the children will switch classrooms during this time or the adult they read with may change. This is all for the best interest of your child. We are monitoring each child's progress very closely so that they are working on the necessary literacy skills at their level. We want the students to feel challenged, but in an appropriate and realistic way. We want them to learn to love to read at a young age!
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO VOLUNTEER!
We are very grateful for the time and effort you put into helping the First Grade Readers!
We thought it would be helpful to provide more information about volunteering in our classrooms. Please call or email us if you have any questions or need clarification about something. No question is a silly question!
What is Readers’ Workshop?
During this time teachers are meeting with small groups of students to teach specific literacy skills, including phonics and comprehension skills. The other students are independently practicing these skills at literacy centers around the classroom. Each activity has a purpose that is directly linked to improving literacy skills. Readers’ Workshop is a focused and structured 1.5 hour block of time.
Why do we need volunteers during this time?
Since teachers are working with small Guided Reading Groups, the other students are working independently. It can be disruptive to a reading group if a teacher has to leave the group to help a student at a center. Time is precious during this block, so we have worked hard to set up routines for the students working independently. However, those students often need reminders of what do. They may have a question about the directions or they may need some help staying on task. When we have volunteers we can count on you to help the students with those questions while we give our full attention to the students in each reading group.
How can volunteers help?
You can help in many ways! Become familiar with the routines in the classrooms. Be aware of how the teacher has designed this block of time. Walk around to each center to make sure the students are following directions, understand what they are doing, and staying on task. Offer to help the students with reading the directions. If you see that they have made a mistake or misunderstood something, help them to fix it. Provide some extra help if they cannot complete the task. You can also read with the students. Remember, it should always be the student’s work. The teachers have signals (bell, clapping, or a chime) to let the children know when it is time to switch to the next activity. Please remind the students they have to clean up their centers before moving to the next activity. We are trying to teach them to be responsible and to help clean up, so it would be great if you reinforce that, too. Teachers will tell the students when it is time to switch back to their homerooms.
How do the students know where they should be during Center Time?
Each classroom will have centers that look very similar. In each room there is something called a “Work Board.” The Work Boards are set up differently in each room, but the students know to look at that board to see where they should go. The centers may include:
ü Word Work
ü Writing
ü Reading
ü Listening Center
ü Computers
ü Poetry
ü Literacy Games
ü Independent Work Time (follow up activities from Reading Group)
What are some good things to say to the students?
Everyone loves being praised J Students thrive on words of encouragement or positive feedback. Instead of just saying, “good job,” the kids will understand the praise better if it is specific.
· I notice you are _____________________
· I like the way you are _________________
· I can see that you are trying hard to ________________
· My eyes see ______________
· Even though that book has tricky words, you ___________
Which room should I go to?
Ms. Grigway and Mrs. Burnham do Fundations from and then Guided Reading/Centers from . Ms Huebner has Guided Reading/Centers from and then Fundations from . Please check your volunteer schedule to see where you will be working. We know that you would love to be in the same classroom as your child, but at times your help will be needed elsewhere. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
The students are all working very hard to become stronger readers. Certain tasks may be more challenging for some students. We think this goes without being said, but please do not share literacy and academic information about students with other parents. A child’s work and progress is a private thing and as a volunteer we ask that you respect that.
THANK YOU AGAIN and we look forward to working with you during Readers’ Workshop J
