1. Launching Reader’s Workshop Day 1
Teaching Point: As insightful readers, we read between the lines of stories, making notes as we go by scribbling in margins (only if we own the book) or on Post-its, so that we see more in the stories we are reading.
Active Engagement: Reading complex books is somewhat like watching a baseball game: the more we bring to the game in terms of knowledge and insight, the more the game reveals to us. Remembering our signposts is important in revealing the deeper meaning of the book. Use these bookmarks to help remind you of the signposts while you read.
Independent Practice: As you read today and every day, mark the page or use a Post-it to indicate the signposts you may notice. If you use an e-reader, highlight a passage and note what signpost you may be noticing.
Notice and Note Bookmarks and Post-its

2. Launching Reader’s Workshop Day 2
Teaching Point: Insightful readers not only take the time to notice and note important elements of a text, but also use those elements to make predictions, inferences, and connections in order to better understand what the text is really about.
Active Engagement: Watch and observe as I use a Signpost from my text and use it to learn more about what is really going on in the story. Notice how I captured a snapshot of my thoughts. I can develop this thought further in a journal response by adding my thinking and making inferences.
Independent Practice: As you read today and every day, use your Signposts to gain a deeper understanding of what you are reading. Write about the significance of your Signposts in your journal.
Homework: One-page free write in your journal (Entry 1.4)

3. Launching Reader’s Workshop Day 3
Teaching Point: As powerful readers, we use artifacts to help us reflect on and improve our reading lives. One artifact that is incredibly useful as a tool for keeping statistics is a Reader’s Book Record.
Active Engagement: Look at my RBR – see how I tracked my reading and my goals for reading.
Independent Practice: Set up your RBR in your binder. Enter your first book and when you started it. Don’t forget to make notes as you read. Be honest about your reading!
Have copies of rbr ready for students

4. Launching Reader’s Workshop Day 4
Teaching Point: As we prepare to turn to a reading partner, we know that one thing we’ll do is retell what’s happening in our story so far. Realize that no one can listen to a detailed account of the plot. It may be some of the most important reading work we do because we have to think back over the parts of the story, decide what’s important so far, and then make decisions about what to share.
Active Engagement: One way we can improve our skills for this important work is to make conscious decisions about how to retell a story – it’s part of having agency as a reader, matching our method for retelling to the reading work we want to do. We may:
Talk about what is happening right now
Focus on character development
Talk about what the story is starting to be about
Independent Practice: As you encounter story elements in your reading, post-it, write in the margins (only if you own the book), or highlight the passage and make a note in your e-reader.
After you have marked important elements in your story, remember to note why they are important. Be prepared to talk about your novel to your partner at a later date.
During Active Engagement read a picture book halfway through and have students mark on a piece of paper or Post-it the important elements for a re-tell. Then have them post them on the board or report out after a team discussion.