The Writing WorkshopWrite. More. Gooder.

Why do we write?We have eyes, and we’re looking at stuff all the time, all day long. And I just think that whatever our eyes touch should be beautiful, tasteful, appealing, and important.

~Eric Carle

The Writing WorkshopIn Writer’s Workshop classrooms, full class lessons are short and tightly focused on practical real world issues. As in professional writing workshops, emphasis is placed in sharing work with the class, on peer conferencing and editing, and on collection of a wide variety of work in a writing folder.

The Writing WorkshopTeachers write with their students and share their own work as well. The workshop setting encourages students to think of themselves as writers, and to take their writing seriously.

Why teach this way?The idea behind Writer’s Workshop is simple: if we know from experience that a workshop approach to the teaching of writing works well for aspiring professional writers, why shouldn’t we use this approach in our classrooms?

The basic structure ● A mini-lesson (7-12 minutes)

o Connectiono Teaching Pointo Active engagement o Link

● Independent Work and Conferencing (30-40 minutes)

● Share (5-10 minutes)

The mini lessonThe success of the entire writing period lies in the effectiveness of the mini lesson. This is intended to be an explicit writing instruction session in which the teacher leads a discussion of a single writing concept.

What makes a strong mini lesson?

Brevity

Focus

Authenticity

Advantages of the writing workshopStudents incorporate their learning in an authentic way

Students aren’t intimidated by new concepts because they know they’re not on the hook for performance on an upcoming test

Students spend less time on worksheets, fill-ins, repetitive drill work, and other sub-skills of writing

Advantages of the writing workshopStudents develop greater confidence and independence

Most teachers like it better (once they get used to it)

Most students like it (right away!)

Advantages of the writing workshop

DIFFERENTIATION

Important conference questions

What are you working on?

Can you read me some of what you’ve got?

How is it coming along?

Is there anything I can help you with?

What are you going to do next?

Tips for better sharing● Teach students how to make constructive

comments to their peers by modeling that kind of commenting yourself

● Make sure that everyone knows that all comments are only suggestions

● Make sharing voluntary● Conduct periodic small group shares● Share your own writing often and be a good

listener

Off you go!

Questions?

Whatcha thinkin ‘bout?

Follow upMuch of the text in this presentation was taken directly from Welcome to Writer’s Workshop by Steve Peha

Teaching That Makes Sensewww.ttms.org

There are many resources, tips, and discussions that can be accessed on The Reading and Writing Project of Teacher’s College

readingandwritingproject.org