Writing Workshop

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Home : 2002 : November : 4

Writing Workshop
By Julie/IN

I love Writing Workshop. I've had so many successes with it this year. The three main components of a good writing workshop are a brief mini lesson, student writing time and finally share chair. I organize my writing workshop
with binders. Each child has a binder with their digital picture printed off and slipped into the plastic cover at the front. The binders are divided into 5 sections: narratives, expository, book responses, letters, and poems. They add more pages when they need them. Then I have a list of steps for Publishing:

1. Think of an idea
2. Write your story
3. Read your story
4.

Read your story to a partner
5. Revise your story. Add details.
6. Edit your story (They come to a table where we have red pens and they use the editor's checklist. They can circle 5 words that they would like help with.)
7. Ask for a conference (They put a clothespin with their name on a sign requesting a conference.)
8. Publish your story (I have another binder--I love binders!--with stationary with borders around it. They can choose their stationary.

The children can only publish after they've written 5 pieces. And that number starts over each time they publish.

Lucy Calkins is an author who's books you want to get your hands on. I'm reading The Art of Teaching Reading and The Art of Teaching Writing. I just go back and forth between the two. I was really into the Writing book but I'm going to a Guided Reading Workshop on Friday so I thought I should start Calkin's Art of Teaching Reading.