Do you use Writer’s Workshop in your classroom? If not, what’s your hang up? Before I began implementing Writer’s Workshop in my classroom, I was a little intimidated. How do I have time to set up folders, teach a lesson, conference with students every day, have students share every day, etc.? I used Launching Writer’s Workshop for Kindergarten, Launching Writer’s Workshop for First Grade, and Launching Writer’s Workshop for Second Grade over the years to help me organize all of my thoughts, set up my student folders, and plan my writing instruction with a clear direction.
Writer’s Workshop time is broken down into 3 parts: Mini lesson, workshop, and share time.
Pie chart courtsey of Clemson Reading Recovery https://readingrecovery.clemson.edu/
3 Parts of Writer’s Workshop
Mini Lesson
Your Mini Lesson is just that- mini! It should not take more than 10-15 minutes of your writing block. This is where you model for your students exactly what you want them to do or learn. Set a clear focus and be explicit with your students: “Today, I am going to teach you…”. The students should not have to wonder what you’re teaching them. Once the teacher has modeled the skill or strategy or used a mentor texted to demonstrate the skill or strategy, you end the mini lesson with your teaching point and charge students to see if they can model it in their writing.
Workshop
Your workshop time should take about 30-40 minutes. During this time, the student spends time writing and practicing the skills you just taught, while the teacher conferences with students. As teachers we should be looking for items to praise in student’s work along with items that students need to refine. Our conferencing groups include students will similar needs in terms of writing skills. Focus on one specific skill per conferencing session so students do not become overwhelmed.
Sometimes it isn’t possible to group students with similar skills because you haven’t seen their current writing. In that case, teachers must read a student’s writing to determine their need (s), decide the skill they will focus on, compliment the student on something they have done well, and remind how honing this particular skill will assist students in their writing.
Share
You should spend around 5-10 minutes of share time each class period. Do not skip this part! It used to be the first thing I skipped in my lessons, but over the years I have learned how valuable this can be for all students. This can look different from session to session. Students can share aloud orally with a partner or small group, or the teacher can point out findings in student’s papers he or she discovered while conferencing. Students may also come to the front of the room or stand up to share a specific page or portion of their writing they are proud of.
