Must-Haves for Reader's & Writer's Workshop!

Hi! I am linking up with Lindsay from My Life as a Third Grade Teacher for her first linky party (and it's a good one!)...

This is something I love to think about--and talk about! And make things for! 

Here are some of the most important materials I need for my students in both workshops... 

A classroom library featuring a wide selection of reading.

Since I teach newcomer ELL students in grades 4 and 5, I really need a variety of texts to reach all learners in my classroom...from those just learning to read for the first time to the students reading closer to grade level.

I like to have several different options for my students. So we have a leveled section, a genre section, and a section of books sorted by subject (nonfiction topics, such as "marine life" and "sports").

Storage for Reading Materials

I know I just talked about our Reading Drawers the other day, so I won't go on about them again. I'm really looking forward to using them this year!

 

 Reading Strategies on Display

Long before I was working with an actual Reader's Workshop model, I was reading and practicing away at the wonderful strategies in The CAFE Book. Since then, I've been tweaking and adapting it a bit to fit the needs of my students and to work within our Reader's Workshop. Having those reading strategies visible makes such a difference!

 

Space for Anchor Charts

 

Ok, it would probably make more sense to say the anchor charts themselves, but I don't have any yet since school hasn't started. I save a huge bulletin board space in my classroom for our anchor charts (this goes for Writer's Workshop as well).

 

Comfortable Reading Nooks

I was really fortunate to have received a huge carpet featuring the flags of the world from Donors Choose. It is the center of the classroom and a favorite place to read.

I also like to have a couple of small carpets and pillows in different areas, so the students can have space throughout the room when reading independently.

(Those pillows have pretty much had it but I am in love with my new brightly-colored chevron carpets!!! Thanks Alisha and Ginger!!)

Reader's and Writer's Binders

We use these binders are for our Reader's Responses, writing pieces, reading logs, graphic organizers, and more. For me, these are some of the most important tools for both workshops.

I'm in the process of setting these up as we speak (well, we're not really talking but you know what I mean!). Last year, I used separate binders for the two workshops, but I am merging them into one binder for this year's class.

I'm working on some additional sections for them this year--more to come on that later! 

And that's about it! What are some of your must-haves for Reader's and Writer's Workshop? Thanks Lindsay, for a wonderful linky party!!