Writing
Workshop Essentials
o Environment
o Writing
supplies area includes:
§
Pencils, markers, erasers
§
Post-its, index cards, envelopes
§
Spell-check machines, dictionaries, thesauruses
§
Mentor texts
§
Staplers, paper clips, tape, push-pins
§
Evidence of demonstration texts and teacher
writing
o Meeting
area includes:
§
Chart paper
§
Author’s chair
o Mini-lessons:
o Link
to the unit of study
o Contain
a clear and concise teaching point
o Include
active engagement
o Link
to independent work
o Stay
within the 10-minute guideline
o Workshop
routines are evident through:
o Writer’s
notebooks for grades 3 and up with appropriate quality/quantity
o Writing
folders for grades K-2 with appropriate quality/quantity
o Writing
folders for work in progress for Grades 3-up
o Charts
on the wall that serve as instructional tools and are evidence of strategy
instruction
o Solid
35 minutes of writing block to allow for conferring and small group work
o Writing
partnerships
o Students’
understanding and use of mentor texts
o Mid-workshop
teaching point
o Evidence
of publication and movement through the writing process
o Daily
end of workshop shares:
§
Occur in the last 5 minutes
§
Provide evidence of the mini-lesson teaching
point
o Conferring
includes:
o A
system of note-taking
o Management
that supports a no-interruption policy
o Evidence
of Compliment-Research-Teach-Challenge strategy
o A
balance of individual, partner and small group conferences
This is what I have so far and I am really interested in feedback, as well as ideas on how to use it.
Happy writing,
Melanie
This is what I have so far and I am really interested in feedback, as well as ideas on how to use it.
Happy writing,
Melanie
You have a great framework here. I wish it had an image somewhere in the post so I could pin it!
ReplyDeleteEmilyK
Melanie,
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if Regie Routman has a list. Anchor charts are so critical; I wish I saw them more "regularly" because they are such good evidence of "visible targets" for student learning!
HI Melanie,
ReplyDeleteYou have everything on the list. I would add that you need to give yourself permission to make workshop a learning experience for you too.
My workshop now looks much different than it did when I began (4+ years ago). My mini-lessons have gotten shorter, I've learned to streamline small group "seminars" for students who need specific reteaching. I've changed they formats of student journals - formats that allow for more choice. I've learned where technology can be integrated and where/how it proves to be a distraction. My anchor charts look different.
Enjoy the journey - it is worth it!