Writer’s Workshop Writer’s Workshop Metzler Elementary Third Grade Mrs. Westgard

What is Writer’s Workshop? Writer's Workshop is a teaching technique that invites students to write. Writer’s Workshop makes writing a meaningful part of the classroom. Writer’s Workshop is based on educational research. Writer’s Workshop is a Best Practice for teaching literacy.

Why use Writer’s Workshop? Writer’s Workshop lets students write about subjects that interest them. Writer’s Workshop helps students learn the traits of quality writing. Writer’s Workshop allows students to experiment with different types of writings. Writer’s Workshop differentiates, or personalizes, instruction in order to accommodate the learning needs of all students.

What are the Components? There are four components in Writer’s Workshop. The components are: –Mini-Lesson (5-10 minutes) –Status of the Class (2-3 minutes) –Writing & Conferencing (20-40 minutes) –Sharing (5-10 minutes)

What are Mini-Lessons? Mini-lessons are quick lessons about some aspect of writing. Mini-lessons are fast discussions about some part of language. The teacher engages students by exploring quality writing, by demonstrating a writer’s secret, or by modeling/reinforcing some language convention.

What is Status of the Class? Status of the Class provides information about how students’ works are progressing. It is a fast response from students indicating if they are Prewriting, Drafting, Conferencing, Revising, Editing, Illustrating, or Publishing.

What is Writing? Writing is the act of actually placing thoughts on paper. Students write on regular notebook paper. Students skip lines to allow for revising and editing.

What is Conferencing? Conferencing has two parts. –In part one, the teacher listens and talks to the student about a writing. –In part two, the teacher makes a teaching decision based on this conversation. The teacher shows the student one item that helps not only this writing, but many other writings.

What is Sharing? Sharing is students reading their writings. Sharing is done in the Author’s Chair. Students play TAG during Sharing. –T ell one compliment. –Ask one question. –Give one suggestion.

When is Writer’s Workshop? Writer’s Workshop is a daily activity. Mrs. Westgard’s homeroom will enjoy Writer’s Workshop each morning. Mrs. Rieke’s class will enjoy Writer’s Workshop every afternoon.

What Skills Are Addressed? Writing Process Qualities of Outstanding Writing Strategies Used by Writer’s (Writer’s Secrets) Six Traits of Writing Conventions of Language

Is Writer’s Workshop Graded? Writer’s Workshop is graded using: –teacher’s daily notes –teacher’s records from conferences –students’ participation rubrics –students' writings –students’ self-assessments

Is Writer’s Workshop Helpful? Writer’s Workshop helps foster the joy of writing within students. Writer's Workshop helps build students' fluency in writing. Writer’s Workshop helps students practice the conventions of language. Writer’s Workshop helps develop life-long writers..

More Information… The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy Calkins Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson Writing Like Writers: Guiding Elementary Children Through a Writer's Workshop by Kay JohnsonWriting Like Writers: Guiding Elementary Children Through a Writer's Workshop Guiding Readers and Writers Grades 3-6 by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell