Re: Atwell's _The Reading Zone_

["Diane Dye" <dededye1@tx.rr.com>]

I have the book lined up for one of my summer readings.  It's not very 
lengthy.  I have used the reading writing workshop model for the past 14 
years, I know that it is difficult to implement when you have a short amount 
of time and a large amount of students, but it can be done.  I do know that 
for certain no other model moves students forward in their literacies that 
this one.  I think for grammar and vocabulary instruction, what she is 
talking about are the 6 week long units that we used to do.  Grammar 
instruction is integrated into the writer's workshop where the model begins 
with a mini lesson, then writing time, peer conferencing, revising time, 
and student-teacher writing conferences.  But before I go any further I 
really need to read the book.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marji Morris" <mlmorris05@peoplepc.com>
To: <middle-lit@interversity.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 8:10 AM
Subject: Re: [middle-lit] Atwell's _The Reading Zone_


> i think you need some whole class reading--if nothing else to establish a 
> common vocabulary. in Atwell's first edition of In the Middle, she said the 
> same thing--then revised it in the second edition. i really like her 
> approach in general--have used it for years, but any plan needs to be 
> tailored to your students' needs, your teaching style, etc.
> (i haven't read this book yet, so i'm responding from intuition.)
> marji
>
> -----Original Message-----
> > From: SommerWind410@aol.com
> > Sent: Jul 5, 2007 6:29 AM
> > To: middle-lit@interversity.org
> > Subject: [middle-lit] Atwell's _The Reading Zone_
> >
> > Has anyone else read this?  If so, what are your thoughts?
> >
> > Our LA department is in the process of revamping our curriculum, so in my
> > mind, there's a whole lot of chaos right now.  And I am still struggling 
> > to
> > grasp -- as I have been for years -- how a reader's and writer's workshop 
> > could
> > and would realistically work in a week of five 53-minute periods.  I've
> > attended Atwell's seminar on _Lessons That Change Writers_ and Calkins's
> > presentation on writer's workshop, and still, things do not totally gel 
> > for  me.  I
> > especially have a hard time with fitting in regular in-class  independent 
> > reading
> > time and sticking to a predictable schedule.
> >
> > In this title, Atwell emphasizes that kids do need that  "predictable,
> > bedrock schedule" and advocates three days of writing  workshop per week, 
> > two days
> > of reading workshop, and thirty minutes of reading  for pleasure every 
> > night of
> > the week.  She'd also squeeze in spelling study  and poetry wherever she
> > could but would "give up vocabulary study and grammar  study...book 
> > reports,
> > public speaking, oral reports, projects, dialectical or  double-entry 
> > journals..."
> > All of this she deems worthless.  She  writes, "if a grade is being
> > assigned," (IF?) it is based on three  items:  how well a student met his 
> > personal
> > reading goals which  were set at the end of the previous marking period,
> > "adherence to the rules and  expectations of reading workshop," and "the 
> > quality of
> > thinking that shows up in  the letter-essays."  (Every three weeks, 
> > students
> > write a letter-essay of  at least two pages to either the teacher or to a 
> > student
> > of their choice about a  book they have *finished* reading.)
> >
> > It sounds as though she isn't doing much, if any, whole class or shared
> > reading.
> >
> > I just finished the book this morning and am still trying to sift through 
> > it
> > and collect my thoughts on it.  Just wondering if anyone else had read  it 
> > or
> > has any thoughts about these ideas.  Thanks in advance for any  responses.
> >
> > Cathy :-)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ************************************** See what's free at 
> > http://www.aol.com.
> > ---------------------------------------------------
> > Report list problems to listmom@interversity.org
>
>
> ________________________________________
> PeoplePC Online
> A better way to Internet
> http://www.peoplepc.com