• Writer's Workshop

    What is the Objective of Writer's Workshop?

    -Matches individual writers

    -Teaches independence

    -Explicitly teaches strategies and skills to become better writers

    -Values time spent writing, volume of writing, and a variety of writing experiences

    The Three Parts of Writing Workshop:

    1. Mini-lessons

    2. Independent writing with conferences

    3. Sharing

    Mini-lessons:

    -5-10 minutes

    -Short, focused direct instruction on one aspect of writing

    -Topics come from standards, units of study, and teacher assessments of what most of the class needs

    -Students are engaged, jotting notes in their notebooks, and ready to go back to their seats to demonstrate those skills in their independent writing

    Independent Writing with Conferences:

    -20-40 minutes

    -Students are engaged in free, voluntary writing using strategies learned in mini-lessons, sometimes meeting with partners/groups, and also reading their writing

    -Teacher is individualizing instruction for everyone during conferences

    -Students are using a writer's notebook, other paper, or iPad

    Sharing:

    -5-10 minutes

    -Gather students together to use student work and experiences to illustrate teaching points

    -Teacher celebrates or summarizes what she observed or talked about with students

    -Students can share examples of their learning

    Six Traits of Writing:

    1. Ideas: The central message and the details that support that message

    2. Organization: The internal structure of the piece, the thread of logic, the pattern of meaning

    3. Word Choice: The specific vocabulary the writer uses to convey meaning and enlighten the reader

    4. Voice: The tone and tenor of the piece, the personal stamp of the writer, which is achieved by a strong understanding of audience and purpose

    5. Sentence Fluency:  The way phrases and words flow through the piece...this is the auditory trait because it is "read" with the ear as much as with the eye

    6. Conventions: The mechanical corrections of the piece: capitalization, punctuation, spelling, grammar

    Types of Writing Taught in Sixth Grade:

    *Narrative

    *Argument

    *Informational