Writer's Workshop

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     pencil Writer's Workshop

    Mini Lesson:

    The mini-lesson is where I can make a suggestion to the whole class...raise a concern, explore an issue, model a technique, reinforce a strategy. First my students are engaged in their own important work. Then I ask myself, "What is the one thing I can suggest or demonstrate that might help most?"   A mini-lesson generally lasts 5-10 minutes. I try to choose a teaching point that I feel would benefit many members of the class.

    Independent Writing/Collecting Entries

     

    After the mini lesson, students work in their Writer's Notebook to collect entries that may later become published pieces of writing.  The total writing time lasts for about 30 minutes, but during that time some students may be involved in conferences with the teacher or with their peers.

    Students choose entries in their notebooks to take into "draft form."  It is these carefully selected pieces of writing that will be taken through the process of editing and revising so that they can be published and shared with others.  All entries in the Writer's Notebook do not become published prices of writing.  All published writing is added to each student's Writing Portfolio, and some pieces will even be put into student created books.

    WRITER'S NOTEBOOK:

    Our writer's notebook is a place to write entries that will possibly be used for future writing projects.Throughout the school year, the children are encouraged to live like a writer. Start to notice events happening around you, words people say, and question the things you see, hear, taste and feel. Here is a sample list of some possibly notebook entries the children can use:

    Writer’s Notebook Entries

    • Very close observations of things, capturing sights, sounds, tastes, smells, moods, etc.

    • Questions about a subject, a person, a thing, a place, etc.

    • Lists of things we might want to think about later

    • Quotes from music, movies, or books

    • Writing generated from photographs

    • Memories

    • Ideas from news stories we hear

    • Character ideas from interesting people we see

    • Setting ideas from places we visit

    • Entries about things that interest

    • Research data

    • Reflections about things we see, hear, or think

    • Poetry

    • Family stories that we know

    • Writing generated from conversations we've had or have heard

    • Lists of people or place names of interest

    • Entries about things we care about

    • Things we wonder about

    • Celebrations or victories

    • Dreams

    Conferring

    While students are involved in independent writing, I use this time to confer with my writers.  I take notes during conferences to document students' progress and to plan future mini-lessons.  During this time I may:

    • Listen to students read their entries aloud

    • Help students decide what they want to say

    • Provide feedback

    • Re-teach skills taught during mini lessons

    • Teach necessary new skills

    • Reinforce a writer's strengths

    • Give writers new ways of thinking.

    Sharing

    At the end of writing workshop everyday, students are brought back together for a 5-10 minute group share and reflect. During this time we discuss how the mini lesson strategy worked for them in their writing. We also listen to see if our fellow writers discovered anything new about how they approached the work and/or suggestions that can help others. We always walk away learning something new about ourselves as a writer.