Hi! I am the reading workshop teacher and head teacher at Custer County Middle School. This is my eighth year teaching in this district. Our middle school houses the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade classes, and our enrollment is around students. In the language arts department we teach using the workshop approach. Students go to reading workshop two days a week and writing workshop (taught by Karen Kelling) the other two days. My typical class period includes read aloud, vocabulary instruction, a mini lesson, and silent-sustained reading. In addition to other class requirements, students must read at least 400 per quarter, present one book talk per quarter, and read at least 20 min each evening.

On a personal note, the rest of my family also spend their school days at Custer County. My husband, John, teaches K-8 physical education, and my children, Sarah (9th gr.), Becca (6th gr.), and Noah (4rd gr.), all attend school here. We love it in Westcliffe!

In reading workshop class, we are still in the process of evaluating students' reading accuracy and fluency. These assessments should be finished by mid-October. In addition, each class has begun a read aloud vocabulary units, and mini-lessions. The current curriculum for each class is outlined below:

All M.S Reading Workshop Students:

• Present one book talk by the end of each quarter.

• Read at least 20 minutes each night and hand in reading minute sheet each Monday.

• Read at least 400 pages per quarter. Fill out exit form for each finished book and hand in to Mrs. T.

Contact Me by:

michelle.tollotson@ccbobcats.net

Classes: