1.1 Community of Readers and Writers
1.1 Community of Readers and Writers
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Describe what a classroom community of readers and writers 'looks like, sounds like, and feels like'
A. What is a Community?
A community is a group of people who share a commonality based on unique shared interests. It is like a team where people help each other and create a sense of belonging1,2.
Communities can be based on various things, such as hobbies or shared goals, and provide a space for people to connect and support one another2.
B. What is a Reading and Writing Community?
A reading and writing community is a group of people who connect, learn, and grow as readers and writers.
A reading and writing community consists of individuals who have a shared interest in reading and writing. Together, they engage in practising and refining their reading and writing skills and strategies.
Imagine it as a group where you:
engage in conversations about different books
explore the various ways people write stories
offer help and support on reading and writing
provide meaningful feedback to each other
express your thoughts, or share your work with others
Read the story below to discover how Sejal built her love for stories in the Reading and Writing Community.
Meet Sejal, a fourth-grader who absolutely adores stories.
One day, she learns about a Reading and Writing Community, a place where children like her come together to share their love for reading and writing.
Excitedly, Sejal joins this group. The members share about books they are reading, read some books together, find and tell others about cosy reading nooks, and also exchange colourful pens with each other. Everyone is on the same team, helping each other become better readers and writers.
As part of this community, Sejal makes friends who love stories just as much as she does. They chat about all kinds of books, from daring adventures to silly tales that make them giggle. Together, they explore the magic of storytelling, sharing tips on how to make characters interesting and create surprise endings.
But the most exciting part is that when they come together, they give each other feedback on their writing, fostering a supportive and creative environment for everyone to grow as storytellers.
Sejal feels a sense of belonging in this wonderful reading and writing community. It becomes a collaborative and supportive haven where Sejal, and her friends, improve their reading and writing skills in a fun and meaningful way.
Being part of the Reading and Writing Community is like having a superpower – a power to express thoughts, share stories, and make reading and writing an exciting adventure every day.
A reading and writing community can look like:
C. The Value of Engaging in a Reading and Writing Community
The main purpose of the reading and writing community is to create a collaborative and supportive place where we can together get better at reading and writing in a fun and meaningful way.
Reading and writing are essential life skills crucial for success in school and beyond. Through reading and writing, we gain knowledge about the world, establish connections with others, and share our opinions and ideas3.
Read Sejal and Sumit's conversation below to see how excited Sejal is about her Reading and Writing Community. While you are reading, pay attention to the benefits Sejal mentions about joining this group.
D. What the Reading and Writing Community Looks Like, Sounds Like, and Feels Like?
E. Why is it Important to Follow Shared Classroom Expectations?
During the reading and writing time, it is important to follow the expectations decided by the class so that we can maximise our learning together.
In class, we will discuss the expectations and agree on what we all think.
Following shared classroom expectations is important for several reasons:
When everyone follows the same expectations, it fosters a positive and focused atmosphere, making it easier for everyone to concentrate and learn.
Following shared expectations holds everyone accountable for their actions. It teaches responsibility and helps us understand the impact of our behaviour on the learning environment.
Classroom expectations teach important life skills like discipline, responsibility, and respect.
In this unit, you will learn to collaboratively work towards building your own grade 4 reading and writing community.
Summary:
Summary:
A reading and writing community consists of individuals who have a shared interest in reading and writing. Together, they engage in practising and refining their reading and writing skills and strategies.
The main purpose of this reading and writing community is to create a collaborative and friendly space where we get better at reading and writing in a fun and meaningful way.
During the reading and writing time, it is important to follow the expectations decided by the class so that we can maximise our learning together. This can be achieved when we know what to expect and clearly understand what it takes to be successful at a task.
Extension/Further Reading:
Explore this list of 50 classic books that you will be eager to read. You may also find some of these books in the school library. Click here to take a look.
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