Structure for Writing Workshop
Over the course of this year, countless times I read this: to get better at writing, I must write – definitely a big overarching idea.
I get it – and every time I sit down to write I hear a little voice saying comments like: “You can do it. Just get started”; “You have something to say – so say it, and then clean it up”; “you won’t get better at writing if you don’t put in the work”.
I am hopeful that over the years our students who participate in writing workshop won’t struggle with writing the way I do. And, what does that mean for us? We need to structure the writing experience in authentic, kid-friendly ways that will fire up kids to want to write. We need to give them plenty of writing time.
The other big reoccurring idea: use mentor texts to show kids what accomplished authors do to produce a good piece of writing.
Jennifer Jacobsen in No More “I’m Done!” lays out a possible approach and values using what many of you do already – use the mini-lesson to teach writing features. She suggests:
I see that deciding on the content of mini-lessons might easily be overwhelming. Because I am such a novice on how to teach writing, I tend to want one solid book or one respected writing author and follow their suggestions until I get my sea legs – such an approach would help me plan a writing workshop approach. I guess what I’m saying is – I want some “meat on the bones” – I value contributions from the likes of Lucy Calkins, but she’s ahead of me. We have had success with Jan Richardson’s reading model. Maybe what we need is to find a Jan Richardson in the writing world. I have read from some great sources on writing, but I don’t think I’ve come across the right author/source on the teaching of writing – a source that most of us would rally around.
The hunt is on – if you know a source, please share it.
I get it – and every time I sit down to write I hear a little voice saying comments like: “You can do it. Just get started”; “You have something to say – so say it, and then clean it up”; “you won’t get better at writing if you don’t put in the work”.
I am hopeful that over the years our students who participate in writing workshop won’t struggle with writing the way I do. And, what does that mean for us? We need to structure the writing experience in authentic, kid-friendly ways that will fire up kids to want to write. We need to give them plenty of writing time.
The other big reoccurring idea: use mentor texts to show kids what accomplished authors do to produce a good piece of writing.
Jennifer Jacobsen in No More “I’m Done!” lays out a possible approach and values using what many of you do already – use the mini-lesson to teach writing features. She suggests:
- Day 1 - read a picture book or an appropriate piece of writing – cover to cover- without stopping –Make sure it’s a joyful experience. Use your voice to show the rhythm of the text, to thoughts and feeling of the character/s, the pacing of the book. You may want to raise questions during this first reading – predictions – strategies that must be modeled before the text is revealed.
- The book you select on Day 1 is the book you can use as a mentor text on Day 2. And, teachers can pull out a writing mini-lesson from the text.
I see that deciding on the content of mini-lessons might easily be overwhelming. Because I am such a novice on how to teach writing, I tend to want one solid book or one respected writing author and follow their suggestions until I get my sea legs – such an approach would help me plan a writing workshop approach. I guess what I’m saying is – I want some “meat on the bones” – I value contributions from the likes of Lucy Calkins, but she’s ahead of me. We have had success with Jan Richardson’s reading model. Maybe what we need is to find a Jan Richardson in the writing world. I have read from some great sources on writing, but I don’t think I’ve come across the right author/source on the teaching of writing – a source that most of us would rally around.
The hunt is on – if you know a source, please share it.
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