1. Mrs. Sullivan-Smith 7th grade English

2. READING: In class novels, short stories, plays,
READING & WRITING
ARE INTERTWINED
READING: In class novels, short stories, plays,
non-fiction material, student work, independent reading (assigned & self-selected)
WRITING: Narrative, Persuasive, Expository, Informational (assigned & self-selected topics)

3. What is Writing Workshop?
Writing Workshop is time in class and at home for students to work on assigned and self-selected writing projects.
The workshop model I use is the one described by Nancie Atwell in her book In the Middle (1998).
The key elements of workshop are time and choice.

4. Why use Writing Workshop?
Students write—and their writing improves
Writing time is scheduled and required
It is naturally differentiated
It’s a fabulous way to enforce revision
Students are acting like real writers in a community of writers - “speaking the lingo”
Students are supported by peers & teachers - they feel comfortable taking risks

5. What students do in class…
Plan, research, draft, type, revise, edit, make final copies
Take notes on the mini-lessons in their binders
Add new rules to their editing lists
Sign up for teacher conferences
Confer with the teacher
Meet in peer conferences
Explore & follow up on contests/
publication opportunities*
Work on all writing for the class—
both assigned and self-selected

6. What students do outside of class…
Write (workshop or assigned): Plan, research, draft, type, revise, edit, make final copies
Work on assigned and/ or workshop pieces

7. DEEP Revision To see again/ to see with new eyes
Students MUST SHOW EVIDENCE OF REVISION throughout the writing process based on peer and teacher suggestions
Often, revising while typing is a viable option

8. Editing- individualized
Students use their personal editing list and an editing checksheet to edit their own papers & peers’
Students use pen (red/blue/purple) for editing
Teacher edits pieces (2nd drafts) and includes new, individualized editing rules for each student
Highlight FIRST WORD of every sentence to check for variation of sentence beginnings
Read paper from BOTTOM to TOP

9. TYPING Typing is required for 2nd Drafts & Final Copies
In case of technological malfunction, many OPTIONS are available:
it to Mrs. S.
Save it on a flash drive, bring it to school &
print in school
Type IN school – during resource, during lunch, before school, after school
LAST RESORT – the old-fashioned method!
NEATLY HANDWRITE, skip every other line

10. A typical lesson
Literature/ Reading: Poem discussion, lit circle meeting, whole class reading/ discussion, quiz, library visit (15-30 min.)
Mini-lesson (5-30 min.)
State-of-the-Class conference (5 min.)
Writing Workshop or Reading Workshop (30 min.)
Curriculum work: Vocab, Word Study, Spelling, Lit Terms, Editing Lessons, etc. (0-30 min.)

11. First Quarter
Introduction to the Writing Workshop: Expectations and Procedures
Introduction to the Reading Workshop
Basic Writing Principles
Friendly Letter
Sensory Language/Figurative Language
Literary Elements
Free Verse Poetry
Memoir*
Suspense story

12. Second quarter Introduction to Book Club/Literature Circles Research*
Mythology
Novel study
Ongoing Writing & Reading Workshop

13. Third Quarter Persuasive writing*/ essays
Vocabulary (Greek & Latin Word Elements)
Ongoing Writing & Reading Workshop
Drama – Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
SOL
Review

14. Fourth Quarter Ongoing Writing & Reading Workshop Poetry
Literary Analysis*
Focus on character development &
theme
SOL Review
Novel study

15. 8th grade WRITING and READING SOL TESTS
MARCH: WRITING SOL
Short Paper portion
Multiple Choice portion
MAY: READING SOL

16. COMPOSING WRITTEN EXPRESSION USAGE/MECHANICS
WRITING FOCUS AREAS (from the SOL Writing Rubric) 8th grade – SOL Writing Test
COMPOSING
Organization – a central idea, elaboration, unity, transitions
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Make it memorable! Specific Word Choice/Precise Vocabulary, Figurative Language, Tone and Voice, Varied Sentence Structure
USAGE/MECHANICS
Grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling

17. PLEASE SUPPORT & ENCOURAGE READING & WRITING AT HOME
Fill your house with diverse types of reading material, providing kids an assortment of
fiction & non-fiction
Talk about what you are reading & ask kids
higher-level questions about what they
are reading
Discuss writing techniques of published writers
Provide encouragement & offer
constructive feedback on your child’s writing

18. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME
I’M HERE TO HELP
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME