First, I would highly recommend reading Growing Readers (Collins) and Reading With Meaning (Miller). They will help you immensely with your lesson planning. Secondly, I completely understand your frustrations- I am actually doing my Master's research on comprehension strategies and have found the reader's workshop format the best for my group (a flexible, high-ability reading group in 2nd grade that I have for 45 min. 5 days a week). What I am currently doing is choosing a strategy a month (last month was making connections) and I usually read a picture book and we discuss connections that we make. We might take a few days on one book or refine our connections with different quality books but I usually do a mini-lesson that is 10-15 minutes. I then have them think about applying that strategy to the book they have chosen (a "Good Fit" book from Daily 5). We have 10-15 minutes of sharing time at the end where the kids are able to share their connections with the group. It has been working marvelously for my 2nd graders. We are on visualization and my students are loving it! I hope this helps you! -Briana MN, Grade 2 _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.
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