Recently, a group of teachers created this list:
The above list generated from teachers’ own experience complements what researcher Brian Cambourne calls the Eight Conditions of Learning. These conditions of learning undergird the reading workshop, and are integral in helping students become lifelong readers.
In reading workshop, you might consider the conditions of learning in this way:
Surround children with high interest, quality literature.
Model reading and writing for children; read-aloud a variety of texts, write notes and lists, stories and all kinds of texts together.
Set up a low-risk environment so that children can see themselves as readers and writers. Make books and other materials easily accessible for children.
Make expectations realistic, meeting students where they are along a progression of stages of literacy learning.
Giving students choice over what they read, the materials they use, and the strategies they use to read hands responsibility over to children.
Create an environment where children can make mistakes and try out new learning.
Provide plenty of time for children to read and write often and engage in lots of conversation.
Provide meaningful feedback that children can learn from.
You can find out much more about Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning straight from him, at his website.
Reading workshop provides a framework in which we can create the conditions students need to become lifelong readers. This Wednesday join host Brooke Geller to chat about ways you can foster a lifelong love of reading.
Each Wednesday night at 7:30 pm EST the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project hosts a Twitter chat using the hashtag #TCRWP.
Not on Twitter? Take Heinemann’s free Twitter for Educators course here.
She can be found writing on Two Writing Teachers and on Twitter at @BethMooreSchool