First Grade Shared Reading Lessons for Reading Workshop: Unit 3

This is a set of shared reading lesson plans and reading strategy visuals for first grade students. The 30 lessons in this unit teach decoding, comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary strategies to help students successfully read simple nonfiction texts.

This unit is for you if you want to:

• Engage your students in meaningful, fun whole group lessons 
• Grow your first graders’ reading confidence, and
• Accelerate your students’ reading progress!

The lessons in this unit are designed to be very flexible - you can use the suggested texts or choose your own. The lessons can also be rearranged to meet your school's curriculum or scope and sequence!

In addition to detailed lesson plans, strategy visuals, and graphic organizers, you’ll also get:

• Suggestions for high frequency words and vocabulary words (from the recommended texts)
• Class skill checklists
• An individual rubric
• A conferring form
• A list of Common Core Standards addressed (this unit aligns with many other standards systems, too)

This is the third unit in a series of 7. I recommend teaching this unit toward the middle of the school year. You can definitely use this unit on its own, but keep in mind that the units before / after this unit may further review or build on skills addressed here. For the complete first grade shared reading bundle, please click HERE!

FAQs:

What is shared reading?
Shared reading is an instructional practice in which you, the teacher, lead students in a reading activity where the students can clearly see the words of the text. You do some modeling during shared reading, but you also encourage students to participate in the reading as much as possible. Each shared reading lesson focuses on a strategy that students can then practice on their own, as they read (or pretend-read) independently.

What is the reading workshop model? If I don't use a reading workshop model, can I still use this unit?
The reading workshop model is an approach to teaching that typically includes a minilesson and independent student practice (reading / other literacy activities). As long as you want to teach some type of shared reading or minilesson to your first grade students, then this unit can work for you!

Where can I see a list of the lessons?
A list is included in the free preview! This list will allow you to see the skills and strategies covered in this unit. There are 30 lessons included.

How long will each lesson take to teach?
The lessons are flexible, but I recommend setting aside 10-15 minutes for each shared reading lesson.

What books will I need to teach these lessons? What if I don't have access to those books?
Check out the preview for a complete list of suggested nonfiction texts! For each week, I suggest different options for books that you can use. I also describe what type of text you might choose if you want to use a different text altogether. These lessons are VERY flexible in terms of the books you use! 

You'll want students to be able to clearly see the words of the texts, so make sure that you have a document camera or some other means of projecting the texts for students to see.

What are the levels of the books?
In this unit, I use Levels G, H, and I books (F&P Guided Reading Levels). Your students do not need to be able to read these books on their own, as you will provide plenty of support. Also, you can easily adjust the text levels by substituting your own books.

Can I skip lessons or use the lessons out of order? 
Absolutely! These lessons are designed to be very flexible. I explain more about skipping lessons and using lessons out of order in the video instructions included in the unit. If you don't have time to do shared reading every day, it's not a problem (although I do recommend daily shared reading if you can manage it!).

How long will this unit take to teach? 
I recommend spending 6 weeks on this unit. 

Are the materials editable?
Editable versions of the lesson plans are included, yes! Other printables with clipart, however, are not editable due to the copyright agreements on the graphics I use.

Which Common Core Standards are addressed in this resource?
RI.1.1, RI.1.2, RI.1.3, RI.1.5, RI.1.10, RF.1.3, RF.1.4, RF.1.4a, RF.1.4b, SL.1.1b, L.1.4, L.1.4a
You can use the above list list (with the CCSS) to correlate to any local standards you may use. Keep in mind that just because a standard is addressed does not mean that this unit teaches it to complete mastery (most standards are addressed again in later units).

This unit is part of the complete shared reading bundle for first grade, which you can find HERE!

What if I have more questions?
Feel free to email me at Alison@learningattheprimarypond.com. I'm happy to help!