We Are Readers: Launching Reader's Workshop

The beginning of first grade is exciting, yet daunting for teachers, students, and parents. No more naps. No more toys. Big chairs. Small crayons. The beginning of first grade is the perfect time to establish a love for reading quality books.

I begin this task by introducing new first graders to Reader's Workshop: a structure of the literacy block that they will partake in throughout the year. My lessons focus on structure, routines and procedures, and allowing students to take ownership over their reading. "We Are Readers," is a unit that relies heavily on Read Aloud and mentor texts to teach a love of reading, and to teach the structures and expectations of Read Aloud time within the Reader's Workshop block.

Some excellent Read Aloud books for the beginning of the year that I have found to be successful include:


Swimmy, by Leo Lionni
Wemberly Worried, by Kevin Henkes 
The Librarian of Basra, by Jeannette Winter 


Each of these books can be extended throughout a couple of days, as beginning first graders have about a ten minute threshold of wiggle-free time on the carpet. Below you will find relevant information to help you select a Read Aloud text from the list above, and to also plan a lesson surrounding the book.


Swimmy, by Leo Lionni

Purpose: To introduce the idea of teamwork and leadership to a class of new students.
Read Aloud Objective: Readers will explain how Swimmy and the other fish worked as a team to accomplish a big goal. Readers will explain how this can be done in the first grade classroom.
Turn and Talk/Accountable Talk Questions:
1. Why is Swimmy swimming alone in the beginning of the story? Can you make a text to self connection?
2. What does teamwork mean? How are the fish working as a team, and why?
3. What makes Swimmy a leader, not a follower?
4. How can we act like Swimmy and his school of fish in our classroom when we work like a team? Why is this important? 
Follow Up Activities:  Students create "Personal Swimmy Plans" for how to be first grade leaders that help the team. Or, students each create one small red fish, that will be added to a large poster in the shape of a fish. Together, all the fish will create one large fish as a team, just like in the book swimmy. Title the poster: "_________________works as a team just like Swimmy!"



Wemberly Worried, by Kevin Henkes

Purpose: To pose the concept that everyone worries about something, especially the beginning of a new school year. It is normal to feel nervous in the beginning of first grade. Students will learn that when one stops worrying, everything tends to work out and be happier in the end.

Read Aloud Objective: Readers will make text-to-self connections and will identify similar feelings they might be having about the school year. Readers will brainstorm ways to stop feeling worried and to embrace excitement for first grade.

Turn and Talk/Accountable Talk Questions:
1. What does it mean to worry? Everyone worries, it is normal!  Have you ever worried about anything before?
2. Do you think that what Wemberly worries about could really happen? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think that Wemberly is so worried about starting the school year? Can you make any text-to-self connections?
4. What helped Wemberly stop worrying?
5. What can we do to stop worrying about first grade?
Follow Up Activities:  Students create posters about their excitement for first grade, and what they hope to learn. These posters will be displayed around the room to show positive associations with the new school year, in hopes to releave some of the tension and worry that will undoubtedly be going around the room. OR, students write letters to Wemberly and tell her why she should NOT worry about starting the next school year.



The Librarian of Basra, by Jeannette Winter

Purpose: To introduce the importance of books, and why it is important to treat books like treasures in and out of our classroom.

Read Aloud Objective: Readers will identify reasons why books are so precious, and why/how we can treat them like treasures in our classroom and at home.

Turn and Talk/Accountable Talk Questions:
1.  Why does the librarian hide the books? Why might they be so important to her?
2. Do you predict that the books will be okay?
3. What would it be like if we had to hide our books like this? How would this impact our learning if we couldn't use them?
4. Why do we need to treat books like treasures and how can we do that in our classroom?
Follow Up Activities: Students create "Books are Treasures" banners that explain why and how to treat classroom books like treasures. Students partake as a whole class in the creation of a Library Rules poster to help keep our books safe.