Guiding Readers and Writers (Grades 3-6): Teaching, Comprehension, Genre, and Content Literacy

This book is so helpful. I am definitely buying this book. It literally takes you step by step in creating guided reading, from groups to how to facilitate it. I really love the 20 day steps to creating independent readers. There is also a lot of instructional support you can use when teaching students how to read. My mentor used this book to hash out some writing dilemmas she was having. I didn't look at the writing portion too much so I am not really well versed in the writing but I at least know this book will have loads of information since my mentor loved it so much. For me, the reading portion is what I most focused on. You cannot read this book in one sit down, obviously, but I think it is a great resource to have when referring to something that can answer questions you may have about reading instruction quickly and effectively.

This book changed my life as a literacy teacher by getting me to really think about what I was doing to teach my students how to read, about words, and writing. Great vignette at the beginning of the book to support your "overall picture" of a workshop classroom, ideas for management (for you and the students), and setting up reading journals. They do provide a guideline weekly schedule that I was able to successfully use as a model while dipping my feet into workshop. Highly suggest using in conjunction with Calkin's Units of Study for writing/reading. Easily adaptable with Words their Way and using for content integration with social studies & science. Even if you never try out Workshop or have any interest in it, I suggest teachers give it a read for a fresh perspective in teaching and learning.

This book really helped me better understand the roles of the teacher and the students during the reading, writing, and language/word study blocks The authors break each of the blocks in the 3-block framework into components, and they show you how to structure your schedule in the most efficient way to accommodate all aspects of your language arts program so it's meaningful for students. The book is loaded with extras, like graphic organizers and student surveys. Great resource book!

You simply cannot start a reading and writing workshop in your upper elementary classroom without having read this book. This book is more than a how-to. It includes so many resources that you can use for your workshop. It helped me to design my students readers notebooks. and even included template blackline masters that I could photo copy and paste into the students notebooks. Additionally, every single chapter includes a focus on how to reach struggling readers and writers. I am not a parent. But if I had a child in the upper elementary grades, I would want his/her teacher using this book to design their literacy curriculum.

It's a big book and I've only skimmed it. But, I've already incorporated a lot of ideas into my classroom and my 3rd grade students aren't complaining...rather they're enjoying language arts. Of course, TAKS is not until February so time will tell if it works according to my state's standards.I'm excited about another F&P product that I saw by chance in the principal's hallway. My admins have ordered the Word Study program. I'm sure this will really help me with the Word Study part of the total F&P Reading & Writing "system" [which is what the Guiding Readers & Writers book is all about].

Having had no training whatsoever in guided reading, our upper elementary teachers were told to "adopt" this reading strategy into our reading curriculum. This book is a godsend! It takes you through step by step, sets up "a day in the life of a student" using guided reading, and includes book lists for leveling your own library... plus so much more!! My only regret is that I ordered it the first week of school. I would have liked the summer to take it in slowly. I carry it back and forth to school daily. I probably should order another copy to keep at home!

I think that this book is one of the best and most useful books that I have read that helped me with my teaching of reading and writing. The sections on the reader's workshop and also the writer's workshop was especially insightful. One thing that I found most useful were guidelines for what exactly teachers can teach for mini lessons during reader's or writer's workshop. For example, they give many examples of writer's craft mini lessons, as well as management lessons, grammar, conventions, etc. This book is well worth it. It would also be very useful to anyone trying to pass a state exam for teaching reading, etc.

I was turned on to the authors of this book by a reference to them in Donalyn Miller's The Book Whisperer. I orginally checked it out of the university library here in town and when I found it was a resource I could use at home to help my children to develop as readers and writers, I bought a copy. If you have passion for helping children learn to love reading and to become writers, then this is an excellent book. You will find the information to be accessible and will help you develop curriculum either for your home schooling efforts or for your classroom.

I will use it as a reference for guided reading and writing in my classroom. The authors have been quoted many times for their effective methods and extensive research in improving literacy in children.

Love this book, it puts it all together for you in an easy way to understand. Reading, writing and word study....love it!!!!!