Writer’s Workshop Using the 6+1 Trait approach to writing

What you Need Writer’s Notebook –Table of Contents Two folders with pockets –One for daily writing –One for your published writing (this will be for your portfolio) Loose leaf paper

Structure of Writer’s Workshop Opening Lesson – 5-10 minutes Work period – minutes Closing – 5 minutes

Opening Lesson Here I will talk about how your work is progressing, discuss other authors and what makes their writing successful, strategies that will help improve your writing.

Work Period After the opening, you will be required to try the strategies in your own writing. During this time, you will be in your seats and work at planning, prewriting, drafting, editing, revising, re-reading, proofreading, and WRITING. Also, you may sometimes meet with me or a peer to discuss your work. Rubric for the work period

Closing We come together as a class for some time to share your work. –Tried something new –Solved a problem –Wants input from the whole class –Used a strategy –Completed something

Requirements Keep your Writer’s Notebook up to date with all recent mini-lessons on strategies Use these strategies in your own writing DO NOT erase, just put a line through your ‘mistakes’ Keep EVERYTHING you write, you are NEVER allowed to throw anything away that you wrote Complete a portfolio at the end of each semester of writings that you have published and assignments that show growth as a writer and reader.

Monthly Overview

Writing Portfolio The portfolio is a valuable tool that allows you to reflect upon and evaluate writing as a process which develops and changes over a period of the school year and throughout your years of high school. It is an organized collection of writing that demonstrates your growth as a critical thinker and a reflective writer/rewriter. Treat your portfolio as a reflection of yourself – your goals, ideas, strengths, weaknesses, and progress as a writer and reader.

Objectives for Writing Portfolio Each student is expected to... –approach writing as a work in progress and not just a product to “get done” –write to demonstrate learning in a particular area and thoughts on a particular subject –write/rewrite with the expectations to improve upon previous strengths and correct previous weaknesses –take ownership of their portfolio by keeping it current, neat, and organized –complete the process of self-reflection

Process of Self- Reflection Before the end of each semester... the student will choose at least three works from their Writing folder(s) (assigned in that semester) to revise, complete a “Self Reflection Sheet” for that work, and attach the reflection sheet and ALL revised papers to the front of the published paper. You may include any documents which support your accomplishments as a writer and reader (i.e. responses, drafts, assessments, reading record sheet). Self Reflection Portfolio Sheet

How your Portfolio will be Graded 6+1 Traits of Writing is the writing rubric that will be used for all of your writing pieces. This does include any assignments that I require you to hand in during the semester that may or may not end up in your portfolio 6+1 Traits Rubric