Arrwa Mogalli District Instructional Coach Howe Montessori February 3rd, 2016 Dearborn Public Schools Writing Workshop Writers Workshop Routine minutes each day Based on the needs of the students Mini-lessons Guided Practice Independent Practice Sharing Lessons 5-15 minutes Teacher direct instruction Focuses on the 6Traits of writing & Common Core State Standards Prewriting Stage Think Observe Experience Brainstorm Collect Vocabulary What does the instructional routine look like? Drafting Stage Take notes Focus on content Seek assistance Brainstorm Collect Vocabulary Revising Stage Rethink Read aloud Seek response from others Check for meaning Check for adherence to six traits Make additions/deletions Editing Stage Focus on Mechanical Correctness Punctuation Grammar Peer Editing Publishing Stage-Presenting-Final Copy Check for proper format (newspaper, letter, essay etc..) Share with appropriate audience Recopying/Typing Focus on format and appearance Lets Take Look at Writers Workshop! What are the Six Traits? Ideas Organization Sentence Fluency Voice Word Choice Conventions Ideas A paper with good ideas and content is clear and focused. It holds the readers attention. They are what we have to say and the reason we are writing. It is either connected with our own experiences or else we have researched the topic thoroughly. Organization Organization gives direction to our writing. The organization helps enhance and showcase the central theme or storyline. The order, structure, and presentation of information moves the reader through the text. Sentence Fluency Sentence Fluency gives our writing a sense of rhythm and grace. The writing has an easy flow when read aloud. It invites expressive oral reading. This is accomplished through logic and creative phrasing. It has a variety with sentence length and structure. Voice Voice gives our writing personality, flavor, and style. Through voice, the reader understands what we care about. The words speak directly to the reader in a style that is expressive, and engaging. The writing demonstrates sensitivity to the needs of the audience. Word Choice Word Choice enriches and enlivens our writing. Using the right words in a precise manner adds energy and clarity to our work. Writing with strong Word Choice conveys the intended message in an interesting, and natural way. As we choose words for our writing we use language to paint a picture for the reader. Conventions Once our writing is complete, we are ready to edit and proofread. It is time to prepare our writing so others can read it and enjoy it. The writer who uses conventions correctly and effectively demonstrates an understanding of grammar, capitalization and spelling. Types Of Writing Narrative writing: tells a personal experience or story and always includes characters, setting, and plot (examples: short stories, journals) Expository/Informational writing: informs, explains, clarifies, or defines (examples: research paper, essay, report) Persuasive/Opinion writing: informs and attempts to convince the reader to take the Ways You Can Help Your Child Provide Your Child With a place to write Read! Read! Read! Encourage your child to keep a reflective journal Provide writing opportunities for your child Be a role model Start a vocabulary notebook Ask questions Help your child publish his or her writing