Literacy at Stone Bank School
Reader's Workshop and the Bookroom Purpose
What is Reader's Workshop?
Reader's Workshop is a teaching method that involves the components of a mini-lesson which gives direct, explicit instruction, independent work, teacher guided strategy groups, and share time. This structure allows teachers to teach skills, behaviors, and strategies that help all children grow as readers no matter what their reading level is. Independent work time gives the children the opportunity to read and directly apply the lessons that were just learned. Through demonstration and guided practice in a variety of genres, children learn to navigate a variety of texts independently. Reader's Workshop provides children with the time, environment, individualized instruction, and community to help them become independent lifelong learners.
Why a Bookroom?
When children choose books that interest them, they are more motivated to read and work harder to make sense of the texts. Our kiddos need access to a library of reading materials that has multiple copies, is leveled, and organized by our reader's workshop unit genres. This is their place to go to choose books for their book boxes for Reader's Workshop work. Research says that when children spend time reading texts that they can experience success with in decoding, reading fluently, and comprehending, it directly impacts the growth and development of these interdependent skills. Our Stone Bank bookroom is the heart of reader's workshop because it allows for student choice while still setting up our kiddos for success in just right books within the unit of study being taught within the classrooms. It also gives our teachers another resource to pull leveled books for strategy groups. The bookroom does not replace our fabulous library, rather it is an extension of our classrooms. The two have very different purposes. Our library is not F & P leveled and organized by reading units of study. Our library is a place for our kiddos to check out any book they choose, and it will continue to be where our kiddos get their books to read for enjoyment and check out to bring home to enjoy.
Classroom Libraries and the Bookroom
Each teacher's classroom library is just as valuable for free choice reading and to use as another resource to supplement more book choices for the unit of study for his or her class. However, the bookroom offers a much more diverse supply of books at a wide variety of reading levels. This will ensure that teachers will be able to meet all the needs of the children in their classrooms. Our goal is to continue to add to this room to give our children the greatest opportunity for choice and to instill the love of reading.
What Can a Bookroom Look Like?
The pictures below are not from our school, but rather to show families what a bookroom can look like. Our school has started the process in creating a bookroom, which is located in the room behind the library circulation desk. The PTO is raising funds to help fill Stone Bank's bookroom with a large variety of books to support meeting all children's needs and interests.
A Room Full of Books
The books are arranged by reading unit genres for kids to easily find the unit their class is working on.
A Closer Look at One Section
Here is a closer look at the mystery section where children can choose a book to work on during reader's workshop.
Books Arranged by Level
For each genre section, the books are arranged by level so kids can easily find their textband to make their book choices from.