In a readers and writers workshop, everything comes back to choice.
Have you seen the movie You’ve Got Mail? If so, you’ll recall the scene where Tom Hanks is giving Meg Ryan business advice. “The Godfather is the answer to any question. ‘What should I pack for summer vacation?’ ‘Leave the gun, take the cannoli.’ ‘What day is it?’ ‘Maunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday.'”
It’s the same with choice. “How will I know they’re reading if I haven’t read the book?” They’ll be engaged, authentically, because they’ve chosen their books. “How will I get them to want to revise their writing?” They’ll want to strengthen the writing about topics and in genres they’ve chosen. “How can I assess them if they’re all reading different books?” You offer choice in ways for students to show their mastery–reflections, conferences, blogs, and more.
Choice is the keystone.
We have written about choice here and here and here. It crops up again and again in our writing, thinking, and talking.
And we’re excited to talk more about choice with you all this Saturday, April 2, during The Educator Collaborative’s annual Gathering. This amazing, free, inspiring day is the perfect way to spend a spring Saturday, as it will leave you energized, rejuvenated, and brimming with ideas. It’s the modern PLC at its best, and the perfect way to help you finish the school year strong.
Tune in at 1:00 EST as we discuss choice as the keystone in English instruction. We’ll share:
- Research to support choice in literacy education
- Strategies for teaching independent vs. small group vs. whole-class novels
- Why conferring is at the heart of workshop
- Writer’s workshop non-negotiables and the use of skills learned from independent reading
Please let us know in the comments, via Twitter (@amyrass or @litreader), or on our Facebook page what questions you have about choice as the keystone in secondary English classes. We’ll be happy to answer them Saturday, and we can’t wait to see you there!
Three Teachers Talk 