Focus Lesson for Writers' Notebooks

Lesson Topic	Launching the Writers’ Notebooks
Materials	​Teacher’s Writer’s Notebook “What Writers Collect in the Writer’s Notebook” anchor chart Student Writers’ Notebooks
Connection Set the tone.  Link the new teaching to ongoing work and NAME THE TEACHING POINT.  “Today I want to teach you…”	I have LOVED listening to all of your stories the last few days. You all have a knack for telling stories in a way that makes me want to hear more. But you know what else has happened? Listening to your stories reminded me of stories of my own! Like, when Charlie told that story about going to day camp, it reminded me of the summer that I was a counselor at camp. I hadn’t thought about that in a long time, but listening to Charlie made me think I might want to write about my camp days. I kept getting reminded of my own story ideas, and since I didn’t have anyone to tell my stories to, I decided to write them in my Writer’s Notebook. Today, you are all going to get your very own Writer’s Notebook!   Today I want to teach you that writers are always on the lookout for writing ideas. The Writer’s Notebook is a very important tool for a writer. It is a place for writers to gather their thoughts and ideas, and to try out different ways of writing. Writers grow ideas in their Writer’s Notebook before they bring them out into the world.
Explicit Instruction Show them exactly how to do what is being taught.	Let me show you what I mean. Here is my Writer’s Notebook. It is full of things that matter to me as a writer. My ideas, my observations, my wonderings, the things that I am interested in and care about…there is a place for all of it in my Writer’s Notebook. I collect my ideas here. I’m not sure yet what I will make from them: many of these ideas and entries may not even be turned into any published writing project. But there is always a chance for them. And it is important that, as a writer, I have a place to gather and hang onto my writing ideas. That is what the Writer’s Notebook is for.   Sometimes, when it is time to sit down and write, an idea will come right to me. For example, when I finally had a chance to sit down yesterday, I was ready to get to it: after listening to Charlie, I had been thinking all day about that summer that I was a camp counselor. So as soon as I opened my notebook and put pen to paper, the ideas started flowing.    But there are other times when the ideas don’t come so quickly. In that case, it is helpful to have a little bit of guidance, especially when Writers’ Notebooks are so new. I have this anchor chart here that could be a resource for you.   Show students the anchor chart “What Writers Collect in the Writer’s Notebook.”
Guided Practice Ask them to try out what has been taught. Coach into the work.	Now you each have in your hand your very own Writer’s Notebook. Brand new, fresh pages, ready to be filled with your life. Take a moment and think about your very first entry. What are you going to launch your Writer’s Notebook with? Do you already have an idea in mind? Will the anchor chart help you? When you know what you want to do, put your thumb up. When everyone is ready, ask the children to share their ideas in small groups.
Send-Off Transition students from the lesson to independent work.	Writers, you are ready to start a very important leg of your writing journey today. You are all writers, so it is time to start living like one. Your Writer’s Notebook is a very important tool, an essential part of living the writerly life. I hope you are all as excited as I am to get started!