Writer’s workshop time is a little like herding cats. Each child has a different story to tell, a different need for how to write, and different supports needed from you. So how can you manage it all and have students productively writing?
Managing Writer’s Workshop Tip 1: Teach the RUBRIC first!
Get out that rubric, read it with the students, grade some past writing samples or ones you created, and have use the rubric. They should know your expectations before they even start planning.
Managing Writer’s Workshop Tip 2: Establish Your Writing Conference Guidelines. (FREEBIE – Click the Link in Pink)
Practice, model, and practice some more. Teach the students when they should conference, why they should conference, and how to conference. Have a list of prepared questions to help you stay focused as well. When you conference ALWAYS have the child read the writing to you. Take notes as they read. By reading it aloud the students are able to find many mistakes themselves. Be patient, let them make the corrections as they go. These FREE Guides will help you in establishing your Writing Conference Guidelines.
Get the FREE Writing Conference Guides.
Managing Writer’s Workshop Tip 3: Edit, Revise, Edit, Revise
Teach students how to edit and revise. Establish your procedures for self-evaluating and peer conferences. Let them know that the goal is to publish a piece that the audience will enjoy. Rushing to finish in one draft won’t engage readers. Help them know that editing is the small changes and revising is the big changes.
Managing Writer’s Workshop Tip 4: Give Time to Write
I know…when? How? Writing takes the backseat on your schedule some days. Find any chance you can to give your students extended writing time. If that means you do a mini-lesson one day and then write the next, do it. Writing is a process and it needs time. Once your students finally get into a flow they need the time to really get their imaginations on paper.
Don’t have time to plan all of this? Let me help. Here are some resources that will help your students to love writing. Each unit includes a rubric, detailed lesson plans, grammar mini-lessons, suggested books to read, exemplars for teaching the rubric, and for modeling expectations. Writing guides are provided to help students generate ideas, organize their writing, and for publishing. Wall displays are provided with each unit as well.
Managing Writer’s Workshop Tip 5: Make the Most of Your Author’s Share
Author’s share is the perfect time to reteach, introduce new ideas, and model how to discuss writing. Take the time to model how to talk about writing. What questions do you have as a reader? What do you enjoy about the piece? If you would like to learn more about the Author Share time, click here (or on the image) to read the post How to Make the Most of Author’s Share.
Second Grade Resources (Click Each Resource to Learn More)
Third Grade Resources
Fourth/Fifth Grade Resources
Across Grade Levels
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Each time I try to download any of your freebies, I get taken to a form to sign up for the newsletter. Since I’m already subscribed it tells me that my email address has had too many requests to join. Needless to say, I have yet to successfully download any of the freebies. ? Please help!
Oh no! That isn’t good. I’m still learning. Send me an email to Trammell13@gmail.com and I will get all of them to you!
I’m also having a hard time downloading the freebies
Send me an email to jessica@jessicazannini.com and I will send you the guides.