Writing Workshop

Writer's Workshop is the name given to our writing time each day. We call it Writer's Workshop because that is what "real" authors call their special writing time, since our students are becoming "real" authors", we have adopted the name as a part of our daily instruction. 

Each day the workshop will last about one hour. During the first 10-15 minutes there will be a mini-lesson, or direct teacher instruction. The focus will be learning about techniques and strategies that good writers use. After the mini-lesson, students will have independent writing time where they are allowed to choose the topic for their writing. By giving the students choices in their writing, it makes the writing more meaningful and engaging. While the students are writing I will be meeting with individuals or small groups to conference with them about their writing and to encourage their growth as writers. Sometimes in the middle of the independent writing time we will pause for a "mid-workshop share." This will be a time for the teacher to refocus the group, or to highlight the extraordinary efforts of an individual writer in the class. At the end of the workshop, about 10 minutes will be spent giving the students an opportunity to share their writing with the class or a writing partner. The listeners will help to give two stars and a wish- two things they liked about the writing and one suggestion.

Students will learn to write, revise, edit, and publish stories throughout the school year. They will also begin to assess their writing and learn to implement the characteristics of quality writing into their own work. Most of our writing will be kept at school and will be sent home at the end of the year. Whenever you are visiting the classroom we would like to invite you to take a look at our progress as writers. The Writing folders are housed on a shelf in the classroom and visitors are welcome to peek at our work. I will also share them with you when you come in for conferences.

Parents often ask what they can do at home to help their child succeed in writing.  You can be encouraging your child in their writing efforts at school by having discussions about different topics. The more the children orally talk about their ideas, the easier it is for them to write about them at school. Encourage them to have these oral experiences by asking them about the details of their stories. Instead of saying "I love my bike," we would like to stretch them to "I love my red bike because it is the fastest bike on our street."

At the end of each writing unit, the authors have a celebration. We have celebrated with other classes, younger kids and parents.