• Writer's Workshop

    What is Writers’ Workshop?

     

    Writers’ Workshop is an approach to writing instruction that addresses the needs of all students in the class.  Writers’ Workshop begins with a mini-lesson where the teacher shares the teaching point, allows students time to think, process, and practice before sending students off to write independently. During independent writing, the teacher confers with individual students to assess progress and provide 1:1 instruction to help students grow as writers. Sometimes the teacher may work with a small group of students who share similar writing needs during the independent writing time.  Finally, Writers’ Workshop ends with a group share where students discuss and share their writing.

     

    What do students write?

     

    Instruction during Writers’ Workshop is organized around units of study (e.g., personal narrative, poetry, nonfiction).  During a unit of study, the teacher may ask students to write in a particular genre, or practice writing techniques related to the unit of study, but specific writing topics are selected by the students based on their personal experiences and interests.

     

    Why Writers’ Workshop?

     

    The district has adopted the Writers’ Workshop model for a number of reasons, including the following:

    ¨      The Writers’ Workshop supports and complements Readers’ Workshop

    ¨      Writing craft and conventions are explicitly modeled

    ¨      Assessment drives instruction

    ¨      Students have choice and ownership in their writing

    ¨      Experiences foster self-expression and a love of writing

     
Last Modified on July 20, 2022