Writing: Writer's Workshop
--Information Courtesy of http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/writers/index.html, http://www.unitsofstudy.com/default.asp and Lucy Calkins Units of Study for Primary Writing: A Yearlong Curriculum--Resources for Primary Writing CD-ROM
What Is Writing Workshop?
Writing Workshop is used in elementary classroom in order to build confidence and writing fluency through continuous and repeated exposure to the writing process. Writing Workshop is a time when children participate in mini-lessons, interactive/ group writing, independent portfolio writing, and conferencing. Units of study will include The Writing Process, Narrative Writing, Opinion Writing, and Nonfiction/Explanatory Writing.
What Is Different About Writing Workshop?
Writing Workshop differs from other forms of writing instruction because students are writing individual stories based on their own experiences. We do not have assigned topics. Students are also writing at their individualized ability level. Students are encouraged to use the strategies that we have learned to write at "their personal best". That level is different for every student. As students write, the teacher is conferring with authors individually or in small groups to address the varying abilities, needs, strengths, and writing stages of the students.
What Are The Main Purposes of Writing Workshop?
Writing Workshop has many instructional purposes:
- Expose students to a variety mentor authors
- Expose students to the writing process
- Teach 6+1 Traits for Effective Writing
- Teach effective strategies for fixing-up (editing) and fancying (revising) writing
- Teach children to write in a variety of contexts and genres
What Is the Focus of Writing Workshop In 2nd Grade?
During writing workshop, 2nd graders learn to write daily through a variety of activities. Students learn how to organize their writing and develop personal narrative stories (small moments). Because 2nd graders are allowed to choose their own topics, students begin to move from a focus on picture-developed stories to stories that are more complete.
Writing Workshop in 2nd grade also focuses on story planning and brainstorming, peer conferencing, revision, teacher conferences for editing, and a focus on grammar and conventions. Students become more independent and fluent in the writing process.
Writing Workshop in 2nd grade also focuses on story planning and brainstorming, peer conferencing, revision, teacher conferences for editing, and a focus on grammar and conventions. Students become more independent and fluent in the writing process.
What Will My Child Be Doing During Writing Workshop?
Writing Workshop include mini-lessons, time for writing and conferencing, and share time.
- Independent and Responsible--Students work on writing their more formal writing (stories). This time can also be used for peer conferencing, revision, and publishing of student work.
- Teacher's Table--Students go to the teacher's table for focused instruction and teacher conferencing. Conferencing focuses on at least one compliment (a positive) and one writing goal (an area I want them to work on).
- Author's Spotlight--Students work on their choice of a current story or their Free-Writing Journal. These students are also responsible for sharing out at the end of writing time. Students share by reading what they wrote/worked on.
- Writer's Basket--Students work in their Free-Writing Journal during this time.
What Topics Will Be Covered During Writing Workshop?
Each Writing Workshop has an overall focus that is modeled and discussed during the mini-lesson. Mini-lesson topics progress in difficulty through the year and focus on writing strategies and writing craft.:
- Writing Workshop Format
- The Writing Process
- Pre-Writing
- Writing
- Editing
- Revising
- Publishing
- 6 +1 Traits of Good Writing
- Ideas
- Organization
- Voice
- Word Choice
- Fluency
- Conventions
- Presentation
- Other Topics
- Stretching and Sounding Out Words
- Adding Details
- Writing Dialogue
- Revising with a Partner
- Author Studies
- Writing Styles
What Will My Child's Writing Look LIke? Will It Have Proper Writing Conventions and Spelling?
Your child's writing will change dramatically throughout the year!! Please remember that your child is a growing author. Our focus is on their ideas as an author. As the year progresses, your child's writing will become more conventional.
- Beginning of the Year: Your child's writing may be difficult to read as they are writing simple labels or short sentences. Words may spelled with only a few letters. As we continue to learn more sounds and spelling patterns, your child's writing and spelling will improve.
- Middle to End of the Year: By the middle and end of the year your child's writing should be more detailed and include longer, more complete sentences. You will notice that your child's writing is more readable, but may not be completely correct. Children are encouraged to stretch out words by saying them slowly and recording the sounds they hear. They are also encouraged to reread and make changes so what they have written matches what they say. Please take time to read your child's writing. If in the end you can't read their words, don't be afraid to ask your child to try again by recording one word, one sound at a time. We want to allow each child to make vibrant, detailed word choices. These words are often not at the child's spelling ability, but through hard work and sounding out, their work becomes more readable.
What About Grades? Is Each Piece Read, Corrected, and Graded?
Each piece of your child's writing is valued. Real-life author's do note revise and publish every idea. Our student author's also realize that every piece of their writing does not need to be perfected, but each piece is part of the writing and learning process. All of your child's writing will be read through the conferring process; however, not all of their writing will be corrected or graded. Your child's grade will be based on their overall mastery of the writing goals for each unit.