Topic: Establishing Reader’s Workshop- Respectful Conversations in Reading
Standards: ELACC2SL1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
a. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).
b. Build on others’ talk in conversations by linking their comments to the remarks of others.
c. Ask for clarification and further explanation as needed about the topics and texts under discussion.
Essential Question: How do readers collaborate respectfully?
Duration: about 1 hour
Materials: Anchor chart paper, “The Art Lesson” by Tomie dePaola, pre-made poster of sentence starters for discussion, “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” by Mark Teague
Overview or notes pertaining to lesson: Students learn how to communicate respectfully with each other.
Mini Lesson: We have been learning about creating a classroom community and being respectful of others. Today we will practice how to work together respectfully. Make an anchor chart of the different parts of reader’s workshop and respectful behaviors during each: whole group mini lesson—raise your hand to speak, turn and talk—face to face, knee to knee, share and listen, independent work time—listen, share, kind words. Use the book “The Art Lesson” (from a previous lesson) to reread parts of the story and ask students questions. Display a conversation starter poster—I notice that…., I can connect/relate to that because…, I like what _____ said about _______. Demonstrate how to use sentence starters to answer questions about the book.
Guided Practice: Have students practice using some of these conversation starters when answering the questions. Allow students to practice turn and talk and raising hands during whole group discussion.
Independent Practice: Send students to their seats but keep the conversation starters posted. Display How I Spent My Summer Vacation (previously read) and tell students they will practice answering questions about this book using the conversation starters. Ex: The boy in this book went to visit his aunt for the summer. Have you gone to visit a family member for the summer? The main character seems very adventurous. What do you notice in the story that proves he is ready for adventure? What was your favorite part of the book? While students are working, you can call students for beginning of the year reading assessments.
Closing: Close with a review of concepts and let them know that they can use these conversation starters any time of the day in any conversation when appropriate. Also allow a few students to share their answers to the questions.
image credit: http://speechwriting-ghostwriting.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c53ec53ef019b04cc610b970d-pi