Writing workshop is a structure that we use to teach writing strategies and skills to students. Students attend the mini-lesson at the beginning of workshop time, where they learn what the strategy of the day is and how to use it. They practice it with a partner and the teacher during the mini-lesson.

Students then practice the skill or strategy independently (on their own) by writing their own books, based on the genre of the unit. For example, during the small moment unit, students will write about something true that happened to them. During one of our nonfiction units, students write about a topic they’re an expert in.

To be successful in learning a skill or strategy, you have to practice it. A student will be successful if they practice the strategies in their writing and creation of their books.

If your student is successful, they will be able to:

• Talk about the strategy using an explanation of how they can use it in their writing.

• Use the strategy in their writing and show where and why they used it in their writing.

• Set a goal using the writing checklist that is based on a learning progression of what second graders are expected to be successful in.

• Revise and edit their writing by self-evaluating and comparing it to the second-grade checklist.

A strategy becomes a habit if they can use the strategy regularly without thinking about how they are using it.