The kids truly own their education. Writer s Workshop. Writer s Workshop isn t something I would be ready to implement as a beginning teacher, but it is something I want to eventually try. Another instructional strategy that I will use is direct instruction in the form of mini-lessons, particularly with mechanics and editing. I can base my mini-lessons on mistakes kids are making in their actual work as well as what the standards want me to teach them about mechanics and editing.
Vocabulary knowledge is of course important as well.
We each bring something different to a book because we each have had different life experiences. By teaching them skills and strategies, I am giving them tools to become better readers. One of the most difficult things for 6th graders to read is content area material. Indeed, I have skimmed through the science and social studies texts for sixth grade and they are pretty dense. To help make them more accessible to students, I need to do some footwork.