RECIPE for Writers Workshop
Ingredients:
Directions:
Writers Workshop has 4 main parts:
Servings:
I have used this model with up to 34 students in a classroom. If you have an additional adult in the room, they can help with the student conferencing.
In the Lucy Calkins book you are supposed to allot a certain number of minutes to each, but in the real world, we don't always have perfect 60 minute blocks for writing. In the additional resource page I will add all the sheets you see in the presentation.
- Writing Notebook (here students will be taking notes from the mini-lesson
- Writers Notebook (this is the notebook they will be using to do their actual writing)
- Writing Conference sheets and clipboard (students will be signing up to meet with you using this document)
- Writing Folder (will contain information and definitions for different genre types, and a record of their writing projects)
- An assortment of stickers, cool pens, colorful tapes, photographs and glitter (if you don't mind some mess and finding it in your pillow days after you have used it.)
Directions:
Writers Workshop has 4 main parts:
- Read Aloud (5-10 minutes): Teacher reads a story to students and models the mini-lesson topic. Students interact with the text, teacher and each other.
- Mini Lesson (5-10 minutes): Teacher explicitly teaches topic, students write notes in their writing notebook (I have students date and number each page)
- Independent Writing (20-45 minutes): Students quietly and independently write in their notebook (if you are wondering what they write, during the first 20 days, you have 1 day where students collect seeds, you may also begin a sort of prompt or genre you want them to focus on). The teacher plays quiet music (optional but students and I love it) and conferences with students individually. Because you use a conference sheet, it moves very smoothly, students understand the process and (because you have taught it) they know what to do while they wait to meet with you.
- Share time (5-10 minutes): Students share what they are working on, it does not have to be completed, it can be work in progress. I allow students to ask each other questions, just like you would if you were meeting your favorite author. You can have a fancy chair for them to sit in too.
Servings:
I have used this model with up to 34 students in a classroom. If you have an additional adult in the room, they can help with the student conferencing.
In the Lucy Calkins book you are supposed to allot a certain number of minutes to each, but in the real world, we don't always have perfect 60 minute blocks for writing. In the additional resource page I will add all the sheets you see in the presentation.