The more I learn about the reading workshop model, the more I really like it. [And the idea of a reader's or writer's workshop is a model-NOT a specific curriculum.] I like the structure of a lesson format both for myself and my students.
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While there are quality box curriculums available for reading/writing/phonics workshop, the biggest issue is that they ARE boxed curriculums. The needs and reading development of my students represents a wide range, and I need something I can tailor to match the kids in front of me.
Jennifer Serravallo's
The Reading Strategies Book has been a tremendous resource for me in creating reader's workshop lessons that work for my students. With 300+ lessons grouped in 13 different catergories, the lesson you need is there.
I was able to use the lessons to create a unit on character feelings and traits (and help kids understand the difference). I made a one pager for each concept and an anchor image to refer to.
Seriously, the book made it so easy to think through a small number of powerful lessons to help my students understand the work a writer does to show us feelings and traits. We spent a couple of days on each lesson usually connecting it back to a previous read aloud and referencing them again in our reading groups.
I chose the lessons from Goal 5: Supporting Comprehension in Fiction that I thought would best support my students for this unit. I added in some SIMPLE anchor activities that we did whole class and referenced during our small groups.
I loved this one from
Dragon Was Terrible. The book by Kelly DiPucchio is so much fun. I printed out a large version of the page (that's in the minilessons), and the kids wrote what he might be thinking on this page. You could easily do this with another book where a character is illustrated having a very strong feeling.
You can download the minilesson unit here. I'm sharing this one to give you an idea of how I organized it. I've made another unit and plan to make more. I don't feel comfortable sharing them because the text is pretty much straight from the book, and I want to respect the author's work.
Plus, you'll want to make decisions to best support the needs of the students that sit in front of you. I hope you'll take a look at these lessons to see how accessible
The Reading Strategies Book makes creating your own minilessons.
