An Elementary Teacher’s An Elementary Teacher’s Guide to Using Guide to Using Writer’s Writer’s WorkshopWorkshop In the Classroom In the Classroom

A. Lent2007

What is Writer’s What is Writer’s WorkshopWorkshop

Writer’s Workshop is an approach to Writer’s Workshop is an approach to writing in which students are in charge of writing in which students are in charge of their own writing. The teacher facilitates their own writing. The teacher facilitates the learning through a mini-lesson at the the learning through a mini-lesson at the beginning of writing time. The goal of beginning of writing time. The goal of Writer’s Workshop is to get students to Writer’s Workshop is to get students to develop the same thought processes as develop the same thought processes as real writers. real writers.

Basic Set Up of W.W.Basic Set Up of W.W.

5 Days a Week5 Days a Week 60 minutes per day, Kinder- 45 min.60 minutes per day, Kinder- 45 min. Mini-lessonMini-lesson Writing TimeWriting Time Author’s ChairAuthor’s Chair

Time Management Time Management 11stst- 5- 5thth Grade Grade

Mini-Lesson

10-15 minutes

Author’s Chair

10-15 minutes

Student Writing Time

30 minutes

Getting StartedGetting Started

Classroom SetupClassroom Setup

Have a separate gathering area for Have a separate gathering area for Writer’s Workshop.Writer’s Workshop. Students sit on the floorStudents sit on the floor Label this area with a significant symbol so Label this area with a significant symbol so

that students know where the “Writer’s that students know where the “Writer’s Workshop” area is. Workshop” area is.

Posters around should indicate that the area Posters around should indicate that the area is “writing”is “writing”

The Writer’s Workshop area

needs to be clearly labeled.

Supply AreaSupply Area

The supplies need to be in a central location where students have The supplies need to be in a central location where students have access to them. access to them. Individual student foldersIndividual student folders

Kept in a basket, tub, or mailboxKept in a basket, tub, or mailbox

Sticky notesSticky notes To tab necessary revisionsTo tab necessary revisions

Extra pencilsExtra pencils TapeTape ScissorsScissors Writing paperWriting paper

Individual student

composition notebooks

Highlighters and extra pencils

Colored pens, pencils, and fun pencil toppers (for revising

only)

BooksBooks

Books need to be kept in crates/tubs.Books need to be kept in crates/tubs. Books should be relevant to the genre of study.Books should be relevant to the genre of study.

MemoirsMemoirs FantasyFantasy Tall talesTall tales Etc.Etc.

Students refer to books for real life writing Students refer to books for real life writing examples.examples.

Book tubs are clearly labeled with each genre of study.

Ready to BeginReady to Begin(first 15 minutes)(first 15 minutes)

Mini LessonsMini Lessons

Mini lessons are conducted during the Mini lessons are conducted during the first 15 minutes of Writer’s Workshop.first 15 minutes of Writer’s Workshop.

Mini Lessons are written on chart paper.Mini Lessons are written on chart paper. All chart paper must be displayed All chart paper must be displayed

throughout the classroom. throughout the classroom. Students refer to chart paper as needed.Students refer to chart paper as needed.

Mini Lesson IdeasMini Lesson Ideas

Gathering area rubricGathering area rubric Punctuation rulesPunctuation rules Great beginningsGreat beginnings Great endingsGreat endings ConventionsConventions Capitalization rulesCapitalization rules Response Group RulesResponse Group Rules Any area that you find your students are having Any area that you find your students are having

trouble in is a great mini-lesson idea. trouble in is a great mini-lesson idea.

Example of the chart paper used

during a mini lesson about the characteristics of

good writing.

(2nd grade)

Store bought posters can be used for students to reference to as well, however, the mini lesson chart paper is the main focus of all information learned in Writer’s Workshop.

It’s a good idea to put all of your store bought posters together and hang them on a hanger for student’s to have easy access to them when needed.

Time to Write!Time to Write!(30 minutes)(30 minutes)

Silent Writing TimeSilent Writing Time

Students remain quiet while writing.Students remain quiet while writing. Response group may be going on in corner Response group may be going on in corner

table.table. Teacher/Student conferences will be going on.Teacher/Student conferences will be going on. Hint: classical/calming music helps students Hint: classical/calming music helps students

remain quiet.remain quiet. I like to pick the top 5 quietest students and let them I like to pick the top 5 quietest students and let them

sit wherever they would like around the classroom.sit wherever they would like around the classroom.

Response GroupResponse Group

Students join a response group to read each Students join a response group to read each others stories and get suggestions. others stories and get suggestions.

Only 3 students at a timeOnly 3 students at a time Students read one at a time. The students Students read one at a time. The students

listening respond:listening respond: ““I like the part about…” and “I want to know more I like the part about…” and “I want to know more

about…”about…”

The response group is going on while the rest The response group is going on while the rest of the class is silently writing at their desks.of the class is silently writing at their desks.

To alleviate stress and confusion in my classroom I made this poster. The students know that if they want to join the response group they must take a number and sit at the response group table. They wait until all three people are there then they start their response group.

This is the table where the response group is held.

ConferencingConferencing

Students have the opportunity to sign up for Students have the opportunity to sign up for writing conferences.writing conferences.

Students must have a specific question they Students must have a specific question they need answered.need answered. Is my beginning great?Is my beginning great? How is my ending?How is my ending? Are my periods correct?Are my periods correct?

Inappropriate QuestionsInappropriate Questions Is my paper good?Is my paper good? Can you tell me what is wrong?Can you tell me what is wrong?

Time to Wrap It UpTime to Wrap It Up(last 15 minutes)(last 15 minutes)

Author’s ChairAuthor’s Chair

The last 15 minutesThe last 15 minutes 2-3 students read in Author’s Chair.2-3 students read in Author’s Chair.

The chair must be decorated or stand out from other The chair must be decorated or stand out from other chairs in the classroom.chairs in the classroom.

Teacher chooses students to read that have Teacher chooses students to read that have demonstrated an understanding of the mini-demonstrated an understanding of the mini-lesson concept for the day. lesson concept for the day.

Students do not have to read the entire paper Students do not have to read the entire paper during this time. during this time. If it’s a good beginning, students only read the If it’s a good beginning, students only read the

beginning.beginning.

Example of an Author’s Chair

So Why Writer’s So Why Writer’s Workshop?Workshop?

Writer’s Workshop allows students to Writer’s Workshop allows students to become active thinkers in the writing become active thinkers in the writing process. It also allows students to write process. It also allows students to write about the topics that are important to the. about the topics that are important to the. This ownership instills an excitement and This ownership instills an excitement and desire to write each day. When students desire to write each day. When students want to write the quality of writing improves want to write the quality of writing improves and so does the learning.and so does the learning.

Final Note…Final Note…

The ideas represented in this slideshow are my The ideas represented in this slideshow are my representation and beliefs about what Writer’s representation and beliefs about what Writer’s Workshop is. All ideas are used in my own 2Workshop is. All ideas are used in my own 2ndnd grade classroom.grade classroom.

I found this website that has various ideas I found this website that has various ideas about Writer’s Workshop. Some may be of about Writer’s Workshop. Some may be of interest of help to those of you just getting interest of help to those of you just getting started.started. http://reading.indiana.edu/ieo/bibs/writwork.htmlhttp://reading.indiana.edu/ieo/bibs/writwork.html