How Do Readers' and Writers' Workshops Support the PYP and the MYP?

A few weeks ago, I was in Hong Kong with a group of fantastic educators.  We all gathered together to learn more about best and next practices in balanced literacy—particularly in the context of international schools.  The conference was led by the incredible Erin Kent and hosted by American School Hong Kong.  I had the pleasure of presenting multiple workshops and leading the labsites in grades five and six.One of the workshops I led centered on how reading and writing workshops support the PYP and MYP programmes.  A common misconception is that these two methodologies are at odds.  In truth, they marry beautifully and are even stronger together than apart.  After all, they are both grounded in inquiry, agency, conceptual understanding, and skills for lifelong learning.  For example, take a look at a recent document for the enhanced PYP below.Doesn't this sound exactly like a workshop classroom?  After all, as the TCRWP—a leader in workshop instruction—puts it: "Our work aims to prepare kids for any reading and writing task they will face or set themselves, to turn them into life-long, confident readers and writers who display agency and independence in their future endeavors."  Furthermore, they go on to say: "The structures of workshop teaching calls for teachers to adapt a responsive stance to instruction, taking their cues from children and planning instruction that articulates next steps or goals that address their needs."Of course, as is often the case, students can say it even better than I ever could.  Thus, during my workshop, I also shared some clips of our MYP students at Tokyo International School using their Approaches to Learning skill of reflection to consider the ways reading and writing workshops help them to develop their AtL skills and empower them with agency.  Please check out their insights below.  There are multiple mic-drop-worthy moments that remind me once again of how we learn just as much (if not more!) from our students as they learn from us.Student Voices: AtL SkillsStudent Voices: AgencyWe can't refute them, can we?UPDATE: For an even deeper dive into this topic, check out my DisruptED TV Magazine article here.