1. Writer’s Workshop 101 Susan Goro
“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” ~Louis L’amour

2. What does it look like?

3. Mini lessons 5 – 15 minutes in length Done as a whole group
Teacher uses mentor text to show examples of teaching point (can be just a portion of the story)
Students jot down quick notes & refer to their writing to find an example of teaching point. They can star/highlight a part to focus on later
Topics may include:
Dialogue
Punctuation/grammar
Powerful endings
Interesting hooks
Vivid details
Non-fiction text features

4. Resource for Mentor Texts

5. Mini Lessons Ideas…

7. Analyzing (or revising)
exemplars with the
class during
mini lessons

8. 1 : 1 Writing Conferences &
Independent Writing
You can meet at their table or they can come to your table
Benefits other students to overhear your advice to their peers
Meetings should be quick & goal- oriented (5 min.)
They stay at table and rotate into the “author’s chair”
They leave with a goal on a sticky or written into their journal
Keep anecdotal notes on each student for reference
Students write continuously and without interrupting you

9. Resource for Conferences

10. Partner T.A.G. T = Tell them something they can add or change
After independent writing time, students get with a partner (pre- chosen) and take turns reading one of their stories to each other.
They can use a checklist while one partner reads to see if they included all the necessary parts.
This part of writer’s workshop is a privilege and can be taken away 
T = Tell them something they can add or change
A = Ask them a thoughtful question about their writing
G = Give them a compliment (something you liked about their writing or writing style)

11. Resources for Writing Checklist

12. Closing Meeting
Author of the day reads their story or favorite part to class
Recap teaching point or mini lesson

13. “When you’re done,
you’ve just begun.”

14. Heart maps: what do you love?
Favorite color
Hobbies
Favorite food
Activities
Important people in their life
School subject
Books
Movies
Favorite sports
Restaurants
Memorable holidays
Pets
Special memory
ABCs of heart mapping
Places they like to visit
Heart maps: what do you love?

15. Publishing Party
Will occur when students have at least 1-2 “final” products for that genre
Teacher chooses a mystery class to pair up with for shared reading of writing pieces. The T.A.G. format is still applied as feedback during the exchange
Helps students to celebrate their writing progress

16. Student Friendly Rubrics
Resource for
Student Friendly Rubrics
Rubrics-FREE-Grades

17. Additional Writer’s Workshop Resources
research-unit-of-study.pdf
etailedLessons.pdf

18. “The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other
“The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other. Without collaboration, our growth is limited to our own perspectives.” ~Robert John Meehan
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What is something that has worked for you in the past that you’d like to share?

19. THANK YOU!
Instagram: ms_goro