WRITING


Organizing Your Writer's Workshop

Writer's Workshop has never been my strength as a teacher. I often feel that something is lacking.
Therefore, I did TONS of research on the Internet over the summer. I also read several professional Writing sources
that were recommended by my Principal. I found many components of Writer's Workshop that I plan on
implementing into my classroom this year (see below for 6 Traits Writing)
. My schedule allows for only 30 to 35 minutes per day, so I had to make some adjustments

to the recommended times.Here's what my schedule will look like:

8-10 minutes - Daily mini-lesson
3-5 minutes- journal practice
15 minutes - Student Writing
3-5 minutes- Sharing

Mini-lessons: The daily mini-lesson will come from Writing Wizardy by Maity Schrecengost. Students will "practice"
the mini-lesson with their own writing. The idea is for students to refer
back to these ideas while they are writing their own pieces.
**Note** the beginning of the year mini-lessons will be based on the 6 Traits of Writing (see below)

Student Writing:While students are writing, I will be informally conferencing with individual students. I plan on having
a clip-board containing sticky labels to carry with me (thanks to teacher Christine Campbell for this idea).
 This way, I will be able to write anecdotal notes about the students' writing progress.

Sharing: All research has shown that students NEED to share their writing, otherwise is has little meaning
to them. The books that I read suggest allowing students to share only a sentence or paragraph that they
are particuarly proud of.

6 Traits Writing Format Includes the following:
Conventions: Students will be aware of writing conventions. I.E. correct spelling,
punctuation, grammar, and usage, paragraphing, and capitalization
Get a Conventions poster here
Ideas: Students are aware of details, knowing what's important or interesting, and
writing will make sense and have purpose
Get an Ideas poster here
 
Organization:
The writing piece will be have a beginning, middle,and end as well
as make sequential sense
Get an Organization poster here

Sentence Fluency: Students will practice writing a variety of sentences with
different lengths, as well as using more complex sentences.
Get a Sentence Fluency Poster here

Voice: There will be evidence of the student (their voice) behind the writing. Denotes
an enthusiam for writing and may evoke an emotional response from the reader.
Get a Voice poster here

Word Choice: Students are aware of language; they will stretch to try new words
and understand there are different ways to say things
Get a Word Choice poster here



L I N K S
Reading Lady

Writing Fix
this site includes interactive writing games to stimulate the brain!

How To Start Writers Workshop
this site has WONDERFUL ideas about beginning WW and management of WW

Writing Centers
just one of the many center ideas that are listed

Online Thesaurus
Online Dictionary

Writing
this entire site is AWESOME, there are so many links that I haven't had a chance
to check them all out. I will be using Ms. Renz's home reading projects idea this year

Click the pandas below to go home


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