We begin the workshop with a read-aloud of a picture book or a continuing chapter book. Students have input into the book selection. Quiet reading is next. After the silent quiet reading time, the reading segment of Communications Workshop continues with a variety of activities. Some students enjoy partner reading.
Friends pair up to share books they have been reading.
Sharing includes showing pictures, inventing a story to go with the pictures, talking about the book, or reading the book aloud. Some students listen to tape-recordings of books at the listening center at this time. Others continue to read independently or to conduct research on self-chosen topics. The mini-lessons focus on reading and writing skills and strategies and on procedural elements of the workshop. After a break for gym, music, art, library, or computer instruction, the Communications Workshop resumes with quiet writing in daybooks.