Writer's Workshop Structure and Curriculum

Independent Writing Time

• Establish rules/routines
• Have a plan as a writer~ write what they have always dreamed of
• Think of questions instead of topics
• Provide inspiration each day
• Help them understand the range of possibilities (genres, themes, student choice, etc

The Nature of Workshop Curriculum

• "They grow more when teaching supports their work, we need to think carefully about the kinds of things we will be teaching them."
• Strategy Teaching
• Technique Lessons
• "If anyone tries this, let me know"
• Conventions (grammar, punctuations)

Focus Lessons: Whole Class Teaching

• Teacher shares own learning as a writer
• Clear objective~ show and tell
• Don't expect mastery
• "Plant a new possibility in the room"
• Okay for teachers to do all the talking for these 5-10 minutes (draw them in by talking about them and their writing)
• No guided practice needed
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Basics of Writer's Workshop

Why do Writing Workshop?

1. It's theoretical
2. It's engaging
3. Mimics how real writers write

Writing Process vs. Writing Workshop
Workshop:
     Find good reasons to write, has a real-world outcome, creates real writers
Process:
     Emphasis on "getting things done"

Characteristics of Writer's Workshop's Process

1. Choice (direct students in their choice but give them freedom to select a topic)
2. Time (30-45 minutes sustained writing time, every writing assignment won't be a masterpiece, emphasize quality over quantity)
3. Teaching (focus lessons, small group teaching, conference with students, praise students' good work)
4. Talking (writers need to be heard and have confirmation in themselves)
5. Focused Study (genre studies, grammar, craft, point of view, publication)
6. Publication Rituals (various methods~ technology-based, make a hard-cover book, make an artifact to go along with story)
7. Structure (build a community of writers)