Differentiation Made Easy:
Teaching with a Workshop Approach
Teaching with a Workshop Approach
Workshop Structure
1. Whole Group Minilesson
To begin your workshop time, I start off with a minilesson. This is a short lesson that focuses on a reading, writing or mathematics strategy. We show students how we use the strategy in our writing, reading or math problem solving. We should keep in mind the age of our students, and keep the lessons short and sweet. In a fifth grade classroom, I keep my lessons to around 10 minutes. During my minilessons, I have the students do a turn and talk with a partner. Also, I have the students meet in a particular place in the classroom rather than having them sit at their desks. For reading workshop I'll usually teach 2 minilessons, whereas in writing I'll teach one minilesson.
During minilessons and throughout the day, another teaching strategy I use is called whole brain "power teaching." This is a great interactive way to make sure students are moving and are engaged. Below, I posted an example of power teaching in action in a real classroom and it teaches the basics of whole brain teaching. There are a ton of videos on YouTube if you search "power teaching" and some videos on the basics if you want to include some of the techniques in your own classroom. I don't use all the techniques, and you certainly can pick the ones you want to utilize in your own room or use them all!
Want more information about Whole Brain teaching??!! Who wouldn't...visit the website HERE.
2. (Students) (~40 minutes)
After the minilesson, students will work independently on their writing, reading or math work. Students can work at their desk or around the room.
3. (Teacher) Meet Individually & Small Groups (~40 minutes)
During this part of the workshop, the teacher meets with individuals to conference with them, or can work in small groups of students. Before dimissing the students from the whole group lesson, I will let students know if I will be meeting with them. What I do for my reading workshop, is after the first minilesson I'll meet with individuals and after the second minilesson I'll meet with a small group of students.
4. Closure
Have the students share a writing piece or a strategy they tried out during the workshop.
| readers_workshop_timing.doc |
Here is a visual representation of what my Reader's Workshop looks like and how I divide the time up into these components.
| writers_workshop_timing.doc |
Here is a visual representation of what my Writer's Workshop looks like and how I divide the time up into these components.
