Reading and Writing Workshop
For students in Kinder thru Third Grade
two classes per week directly after the k-2 course
Price: $600 per semestser
2560 Soquel Avenue Suites 201, 204, 205, Santa Cruz, CA 96062 | 831-331-5611 | santacruzlearningcenter@gmail.com
Workshop Highlights
- Engage with Read-Alouds: Listen to captivating stories or short novels and participate in discussions about the main ideas, characters, plot, and themes.
- Deepen Comprehension: Use art, graphic organizers, and question-and-answer sessions to understand and explore story elements.
- Expand Vocabulary: Learn and discuss new words and phrases to enhance language skills, guided by mentor texts and engaging art projects.
- Develop Writing Skills: Participate in the writing process, including brainstorming, drafting, writing, editing/revising, and publishing their work.
- Collaborate and Share: Engage in both independent activities with peers
Class Structure
Each class incorporates three key pedagogical categories:
1. Direct Instruction:
- Read a short story aloud
- Story elements and comprehension
- Sentence structure and genre writing
- Transition words, punctuation, and capitalization
- Parts of speech and vocabulary development
2. Independent Activities:
- Provided with a word bank with key vocabulary from the story, students use the words to write their own simple sentences or a short story.
- Students draw a scene from the story and write a few sentences describing it.
- Provided with sentence starters related to the story (e.g., "My favorite part was...", "I think the character felt... because...") and have students complete the sentences.
- Students choose a character from the story and list traits or feelings the character exhibits, using simple words or drawings.
3. Sharing and Discussion in Small Groups with Instructor Facilitation
- Showcase their finished work or work-in-progress
- Students create a collaborative story by taking turns adding sentences. After the story is complete, they discuss how their contributions shaped the story and what they might change.
- Provided with cards containing questions or prompts related to the story. Students take turns picking a card and discussing the prompt with the class.
- One student sits in the "hot seat" and answers questions from classmates while pretending to be a character from the story. This encourages critical thinking and empathy.
Course Benefits
- Build a strong foundation in reading comprehension and writing skills.
- Foster a love for reading and writing through interactive and creative activities.
- Develop critical thinking and language skills.
- Gain confidence in both individual and collaborative learning environments.
Our Reading and Writing Workshop is a comprehensive and engaging class that meets twice per week and is designed for Kindergarten through Second Grade students. Here, we combine the joy of reading with the creativity of writing, fostering a love for language and literacy from an early age.