Nonfiction Readers Workshop, Robinson, Summer 2023
Course Number: |
EDU 5620 C05 |
Instructor: |
Melinda Robinson |
Location: |
Online asynchronous |
Dates and Times: |
July 10-September 10, 2023 |
Credits: |
3 Graduate Credits |
Tuition: |
$1,195 |
Course Description
This online course, geared for 2nd-8th grade teachers, will be exploring how to integrate nonfiction literacy standards into social studies and science in your classroom. We will explore the research behind the use of nonfiction in the classroom and how to set up a nonfiction readers workshop. You will use the resources and the learning to create a series of units to use throughout the year that will get your students independently selecting good sources, asking questions to drive their research, taking notes and sharing what they have learned. The ultimate goal of the course is to develop strong readers of nonfiction texts and to create a year-long plan for this workshop.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions:
How has the approach to nonfiction changed under the Common Core?
What is the nonfiction workshop approach and what benefit does it present
to our students?
How can we help our students to ask deeper questions as they approach
their nonfiction reading?
How can we create a year of nonfiction readers workshop incorporating our
common core standards.?
How can I assess my students reading, notetaking and presentation of their
knowledge?
Course Schedule
Weekly Focus and Expectations:
Week 1: July 10th- Practices of a Great Reader and Why we need Nonfiction Readers Workshop
- We will explore the 8 practices of a great reader.
- We will explore how a readers workshop approach could help students’ use of these practices
- We will explore the research behind the changes in approaching nonfiction with Common Core.
- We will research why nonfiction readers workshop is important in our classrooms.
- By Thursday the students will post their reflection to the prompt and by Sunday they will respond to at least two others’ posts.
Week 2: July 17th - Explore the steps of nonfiction readers workshop.
- We will explore the steps of nonfiction readers workshop.
- We will reflect on the scale of teacher to student control in each step.
- By Thursday the students will post their reflection to the prompt and by Sunday you will respond to at least two others’ posts.
Week 3: July 24th- Importance of good questions
- We will explore the research behind teaching our students to ask good questions.
- We will look at the hierarchy of good questions.
- By Thursday the students will post their reflection to the prompt and by Sunday they will respond to at least two others’ posts.
Week 4: July 31st - Starting our spreadsheets
- We will consider the timing available to schedule in nonfiction readers workshop.
- We will explore choices in notetaking for our students.
- We will brainstorm how to get nonfiction texts for our classroom.
- Students will begin the first step of their year-long spreadsheet. The unit titles and focus questions will be added.
- By Thursday the students will post their reflection to the prompt and by Sunday they will respond to at least two others’ posts.
Week 5: August 7th- Standards and Mini-lessons
- We will explore resources for mini lessons. Participants will begin a mini-lesson idea bank.
- We will review the common core informational text standards for their grade.
- We will review different organizations for the standards, how to group them.
- By Thursday the students will post their reflection to the prompt and by Sunday they will respond to at least two others’ posts.
- Participants will add standards to their year-long spreadsheet.
Week 6: August 14th - Publishing
- We will explore the resources for sharing-out or publishing the students’ research.
- Participants will add the possible publishing ideas to their year-long spreadsheet.
- By Thursday the students will post their reflection to the prompt and by that Sunday they will respond to at least two others’ posts.
Week 7: August 21st - Assessment
- We will explore different rubrics and progressions to consider how to assess students’ progress.
- By Thursday the students will post their reflection to the prompt and by that Sunday they will respond to at least two others’ posts.
Weeks 8: August 28th - Guided Reading and Conferencing
- We will explore articles and videos about guided reading and conferencing with nonfiction.
- We will explore articles and videos about guided reading and conferencing with nonfiction.
- By Thursday the students will post their reflection to the prompt and by that Sunday they will respond to at least two others’ posts.
Week 9: September 4th - Conclusion and Reflection
- We will reflect on our learning and growth throughout the course.
- By Thursday the students will post their reflection to the prompt
- By Sunday, the final project should be added to the Canvas site.
Required Texts
All materials will be provided, there are no materials that will need to be
purchased. This is a small sampling of what will be used.
Young, Terrel. The Classroom Library: A Place for Nonfiction, Nonfiction in
its Place. Reading Horizons, Berkeley Press, 2007.
McConnel, Caroline. The Essential Questions Handbook. Scholastic
Teaching Resources. 2011. Print.
Cox, Janelle. “Teaching Strategies to Use Inquiry Based Learning.” Web
Blog Post. Teachhub.com.
For additional course information
Melinda Robinson
For additional registration information
Center for Schools Team
(802) 468-1325