WHAT IS READING WORKSHOP AND WHY DOES EMILY HANFORD HATE IT?

Reading workshop is an approach to reading instruction that falls within the parameters of whole language. It may seem more complicated, but once you understand the process and structure of reading workshop, a lot easier, and a lot more effective to implement. And it is multilevel and can be individualized to the specific needs and interests of your students.

Reading workshop is not a method with step-by-step procedures that must be followed (with fidelity) like a recipe. Rather, it is an approach to reading instruction based on research and research-based theory related to how humans learn literacy.

Reading workshop is not standardized. In a reading workshop, what you would see would be based on the teacher, students, age, level, etc. What works with one class doesn’t always work with another. Thus, in each teacher's classroom, you might see different things. Reading workshop is structured, it’s planned, there’s very direct and explicit instruction based on individual students' needs, and it’s strongly research-based, using real reading science, based on how real humans best learn.