Writing Workshop

Writing Workshop is a method of teaching writing using a workshop method. Students are given opportunities to write in a variety of genres and helps foster a love of writing. Writing Workshop allows teachers to meet the needs of their students by differentiating their instruction and gearing instruction based on information gathered throughout the workshop.

Components of the Writing Workshop:

Read Aloud/Mentor Text:

Usually, when teachers use Writing Workshop, they teach using genre studies. Examples are personal narratives, information writing, procedural writing (how-to), poetry, and so forth.

If students are expected to produce writing in these genres, then they need to be immersed with books based on those genres. These texts are known as mentor texts.

Read alouds are a way to use authors as mentors for writing styles and genres.

Students can see how writers use different styles and literary elements to create pieces of writing.

Teachers are not required to read the entire text. Excerpts are acceptable and recommended.

Mini-Lesson

The mini-lessons for Writing Workshop teach concepts, strategies, and techniques for writing while encouraging students to write in different genres or styles. The 10 minute mini-lessons gives teachers the opportunity to give direct instruction to students and model the lessons using authentic literature or teacher's own writing. Sample mini-lessons can include:

• procedures for Writing Workshop
• writing strategies and skills
• literary elements
• literary techniques (i.e. voice, descriptive words, etc.)
• genre studies
• text features

Independent Writing:

The majority of time in Writing Workshop is devoted to independent writing. During this time, students are prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing their writing pieces.

Conferencing

During independent writing time, the teacher confers with students about their writing. The purpose is to ask students how their writing is going and to teach them something that makes sense at the time.

Guided Writing

During independent writing time, the teacher can gather a group of students to work on guided writing. The teacher works with a group based on their needs. This is particularly helpful if a group of students is having difficulty with a concept.

Sharing

During the share portion, students contribute what they did during their independent writing time, either with the whole group or with a peer. This gives students the opportunity to observe and learn from each other.