Literacy Workshop: Where Reading and Writing Converge

I've reread this professional development book three times (as evidenced by the sticky noted copy in the picture) and love the way it links reading, writing, listening, speaking, AND social-emotional learning with identity, community-building, and especially---student goal-setting. The authors are both gifted educators; I've had the privilege of learning from them at state and national conferences. I learn something new every time I see them present and now, every time I revisit this book. Although the Views from Here sections are earmarked for primary and intermediate classrooms, gifted educators in middle and high school could easily adapt lessons using the same recommended texts (and yes, picture books are incredibly powerful tools beyond the walls of our elementary buildings; they are also perfect mentor texts for older struggling writers who need more accessible text from which to model their writing). I highly recommend this for anyone who is looking to strengthen their Literacy Workshop instruction.

The authors include useful information on combining reading and writing in a workshop model. Terrific resource for new teachers.

I really wanted to like this book. I liked the idea of it, but I just don't see how the ideas carry over into the middle grades as the publisher suggests. This book is just for K-5, not K-8.

Great for gaining more insight on the workshop process!

Great resource for teachers in all grades!

Great resource!

Unfortunately this book was not printed well. Many of the pages were too short and therefore did not get cut. Not worth battling. Returning it.

In the Literacy Workshop, authors Maria Walther and Karen Biggs-Tucker help us to take a closer look at the Reading and Writing Workshop and the impact of simple adjustments that will connect the two in powerful and purposeful ways that enrich the instructional process. Maria and Karen beautifully describe this interrelationship in the Literacy Workshop as a place where "children inhale author's words and ideas and exhale their own interpretations and extensions of those thoughts in their conversations and responses." Then in the pages that follow they brilliantly show us what that looks like in fifty incredible lesson examples and demonstrations along with suggestions, charts and supports across the pages of the book. The Literacy Workshop is reciprocity in joyful action!