Let It Go: Using Reading and Writing Workshop To Develop Reading and Writing LOVE

If you want to try Reading/Writing Workshop in a high school, consider this advice...

Two weeks ago my colleagues and I presented at the Illinois Reading Conference. Our focus - how we have started to change the culture of reading in our school by using reading/writing workshop. The highlight of the whole presentation was the advice that my colleagues gave to the attendees.  As teachers we all know that the hardest part of a reading and writing workshop is not reading how others do it, but instead actually implementing it with our own students.    

Here were my favorite "Must Do's" from our presentation:

#1 - Set aside 10-15 minutes everyday for independent reading.  By giving students time, we are acknowledging that we believe reading choice is important and we care about them growing as readers in our classes.  Our students now cherish this time in class.  They are actually reading and many times grumble when the timer goes off and we have to move on to the lesson.

#2 - Book Talk everyday.  The more we share books with students, the better our chances of helping them find one that they will read.  The best recommendation I learned from Penny Kittle is to hold the book, know the book, and share a passage with the students.  Every time I read a page or two of my favorite parts, it increases the likelihood of that book being checked out. We also do Teacher Book Talk Tuesdays where we switch up rooms and book talk in a fellow English teacher's classroom for the first 5-10 minutes.  Kids love hearing what other teachers recommend.  Book trailers are also a hit for hooking students into books.

#3 - Conference with your students.  To motivate our students to read more, we have to get to know them individually - their likes, dislikes, etc.  Our teachers conference with students any free minute that they have (before class, during reading, during writing, homeroom, after school, during sports practice, etc.) These conferences help us know what to book talk in your classes and can help you stretch a student to a more challenging text.

My colleague's electronic log

#4 - Hold your students accountable. Have your students fill out a reading rate log and a to-read list.  Our students set weekly page goals based on their reading rates.  As they become better readers, their reading rates increase and they are expected to read more.   We do give them a "stamina grade" each week.  If they are meeting or exceeding their reading rate goal they receive full points.  

An example of a to-read list

How to find your reading rate

       








#5 - Have your students reflect on their reading growth.  At the end of each term our students write a reflection.  All of our reflection prompts come directly from Penny Kittle, Kelly Gallagher, and Teri Lesesne's books.  This writing gives us an opportunity to help our students set goals and evaluate how they are doing in class.  This is the most powerful writing I have seen from students. When I read these, I always make sure to have a tissue box nearby.

An example reflection prompt from last spring

I can honestly say that we are changing the reading culture of our school one student at a time.  It definitely isn't easy and in the beginning, students will push back.  But, don't give up. You will see a change too.