Writing and Reading Workshop Classroom Management Considerations

This summer I have had the privilege of working with a number of educators who are preparing to implement either a reading or writing workshop next fall.  After discussing the structures and components of a workshop model, many begin considering the management tactics and considerations necessary to support student engagement and foster student independence.  Below are some of the considerations to support strong management within a workshop model.  I believe that the management norms in place should:

• Support students understanding the predictable nature of a workshop
• Foster student agency and independence in their work
• Emphasize that all students feel safe to take risks within the learning community

MIni Lesson

Bringing your class together for the mini lesson

• Teaching and practicing transitions
• What materials are needed?
• Mentor Texts
• Anchor Chart
• Demonstration notebook

Establishing long-term partnerships, research teams, and clubs

• Consistent spots during the mini lesson
• Practice and model how to turn and talk

Independent Reading or Writing Time

Sending students off to work: The transition from mini lesson to work time

• Teaching students how to transition from ML to work time
• Giving strategies as to how to get themselves reading or writing

• Assigned reading or writing spots
• Goal Setting Techniques
• Teaching and modeling how students can rely on one another for support (use of partnerships)
• Use table conferences and strategy lessons to support productivity of the class
• Leveraging your link portion of the mini lesson so students goal set and have a plan of action
• Pausing students during the mid-workshop interruption to help refocus or offer new inspiration
• Teach and support reading and writing stamina

I would love to hear your tips for classroom management in a Reading or Writing Workshop!  Please add to the comments.

Resources: Calkins: A Guide to the Common Core Reading Workshop