Literacy: Writer's Worshop

Why should we use Writer's workshop?

• Our lives are worth writing about (consider, what in your life is worth writing about, model your own material)
• Writing is a craft that can be taught
• Drama or trouble is the writer's friend (and is fun to write about)

3 things writers need

1. time
2. choice
3. response (from readers)

Structure:

1. mini lesson: let writers inside the teacher's head (5-10 min.)
2. independent writing: build stamina first! (20-30 min.)
3. conference during independent writing
4. sharing: can also share parts of pieces (5-10 min.)

Other tips:

• Build an environment where students feel safe to take risks bc this is where the best writing comes out
• Writers learn from each other
• Teach the writers, don't fix the piece of writing (Lucy Cox)
• Instead of "do this" say "look for this"
• call students writers
• kids need scaffolded support / framework
• publish often so kids know it's important
• to sustain momentum, use writing partners and remember that not everything needs to be published

Links:
An amazing link by Katherine, full of resources
writersworkshophelp.blogspot.com