1. A Guide to the Common Core Writing Workshop and Units of Study
Presented By
Cory Gillette
Literacy Coordinator
Darien Public Schools
Add blank calendar, blank unit (make an easy-to-use one), 3 blank pages and a set of blank nf papers

2. “As teachers we need to shift our attention from simply product and the surface features, to an equal concern with process and meaning.” - Donald Graves A Fresh Look at Writing

3. What children need to become good writers
Time to write every day
Choice in topic
Explicit instruction

4. Activity v. Workshop Activity Teacher models.
Students independently do task.
Task is completed.
Workshop
Teacher models strategy that builds on previous work.
Students work independently using past teaching and the teaching of the day.
The next day the work continues.

5. Structure of Writing Workshop
Minilesson
Teacher explicitly teaches one strategy to the entire class.
Independent
work time
Writers work independently on their writing.
Teacher differentiates instruction through
-small groups (strategy lessons, guided writing/coaching, shared writing, table lessons)
-Conferences (research/decide/teach, coaching, compliment, teach, research)
Share
Teacher does a teaching share that uses student writing to teach or reinforce. Teacher teaches another strategy.

6. The Writing Process Collect Pieces or Drafts Select a Piece or Draft
Primary Grades
Upper Grades
Collect Pieces or Drafts
Select a Piece or Draft
Revise
Edit
Publish
Generate/Rehearse
Select an Idea
Develop the Idea
Draft
Revise
Edit
Publish

7. Writing Process Chart:

8. Why We Believe in Units of Study
Units of Study give the class a common focus
Units of Study help build writers who understand the purpose and structure of different genre
Units of Study that build on each other allow us to teach writing as a continuum, focusing on different levels of writing skills in each unit
Units of Study give students multiple opportunities to go through the writing process
Units of Study help enforce a big idea that Writing Workshop is about ‘the writer, not the writing’

9. Narrative v. Expository Writing
Tells a story.
Can be true or made up.
Narrative writing contains story elements.
Examples:
Personal Narrative
Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Expository (Informational and Opinion)
Talks about ideas
Conveys information
Can contain facts and or opinions.
Can follow an essay structure.
Examples:
Personal Essay
Feature Articles
All About Books
How To Books

10. Expository Writing We are looking for writers to…
Present ideas about a specific topic
Organize/structure information about that topic
Elaborate on that idea with specific evidence using a variety of strategies to do so.
Stick to an idea for a chunk/paragraph/essay
Categorize information so that like parts are together
Connect parts together with transitional phrases

11. Narrative Writing Write in sequence.
We are looking for writers to…
Write in sequence.
Write about a smaller and smaller moment in time.
Write with specific descriptive detail of setting, dialogue and action. That is, it is not summarized.
Develop characters who mimic real people with positive and negative attributes.
Write dialogue in a way that either moves the plot forward or reveals new information about the main character.
Move between the inside (internal) and outside (external) story.

12. Series Overview: A Guide to the Common Core Writing Workshop
4 units per grade to support the CCSS
If…Then…Curriculum
Writing Pathways
CD of resources
Go over the series
Show the books
Explain the purpose of each book

13. Assessment Based Teaching:
On-Demand Performance Assessments
Student-Facing Checklists and Goal Setting
Show prompt and learning progression for a grade
Talk about qualities of good writing
Activity: Look at a student piece and grade against the learning progress and talk about future teaching (Print 3rd grade piece)
Show student-facing checklists from the book and talk about goal setting