Qualities of an Effective Writers’ Workshop
What is Writers’ Workshop?
Writers’ Workshop is a time for students to write about topics of their choosing. Students learn that writing involves having something to say; they find real reasons to use writing to express and convey their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Students study professional authors and a variety of genres throughout the year and use these studies to learn more about the craft of writing. Teachers explicitly model the process and conventions of writing through focus lessons and individual writing conferences.
Writers’ Workshop is a time for students to write about topics of their choosing. Students learn that writing involves having something to say; they find real reasons to use writing to express and convey their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Students study professional authors and a variety of genres throughout the year and use these studies to learn more about the craft of writing. Teachers explicitly model the process and conventions of writing through focus lessons and individual writing conferences.
How does Writers’ Workshop look at the various grade levels?
- In kindergarten, students have Writers’ Workshop 4–5 times per week for approximately 20–30 minutes, although as the school year progresses, it is common for the Writers’ Workshop to grow to 45–60 minutes in length. Writers’ Workshop begins gradually as the students learn the routines during the first six weeks of school. Students write about topics that are of interest to them and study different styles and genres of writing. Kindergarten students begin by using drawings to convey their stories and can gradually begin to add words and sentences as they are developmentally ready to do so. Writers’ Workshop routines, work options, and behavioral expectations are taught slowly and carefully so that the students understand how to work independently and productively over an extended period of time. In kindergarten, students can also write collaborative big books, charts, and signs. Writers’ Workshop begins with a short focus lesson, includes time for students to draw and write independently, and ends with a group share session.
- In first and second grade, students have Writers’ Workshop 4–5 times per week for approximately 45–60 minutes. Writers’ Workshop begins gradually as the students learn the routines during the first six weeks of school. Students write about topics that are of interest to them and study different styles and genres of writing. Writers’ Workshop routines, work options, and behavioral expectations are taught slowly and carefully so that the students understand how to work independently and productively over an extended period of time. Students may be writing, reading to support their writing, drafting a new piece, conferring with a teacher or peer, revising, editing, or publishing a piece. Writers’ Workshop begins with a short focus lesson, includes ample time for students to write independently, and ends with a group share session.
- Students in grades 3–6 have writer’s workshop 4–5 times per week for approximately 45–60 minutes. Students write about topics that are of interest to them and study different styles and genres of writing. Writers’ Workshop routines, work options, and behavioral expectations are taught slowly and carefully so that the students understand how to work independently and productively over an extended period of time. Students may be writing, reading to support their writing, drafting a new piece, conferring with a teacher or peer, revising, editing, or publishing a piece. Writers’ Workshop begins with a short focus lesson, includes extended time to write independently, and ends with a group wrap-up session.
What does the teacher do?
The teacher carefully plans each Writers’ Workshop to include:
Once the students begin writing, the teacher:
What do the students do?
Every day, the students WRITE for an extended period of time. Students self-select writing topics and write with a purpose. They work with a teacher one-on-one and in small groups to develop skills as writers. Students understand the components of the writing process and know their options when they complete one phase. They are working as writers for the entire workshop period. At any point during the workshop they may be:
It is important that the teacher helps the class generate expectations for Writers’ Workshop so that students know what is expected of them, where to find materials, and how to take a piece through publication, among other things. These rules should be posted in an area where students can easily access them. Some students may want a small copy of the rules in their writing folders.
The teacher carefully plans each Writers’ Workshop to include:
- A focus lesson
- A time for students to write and perhaps try what has been modeled during the focus lesson
- A group share, in when the class reconvenes as a community of writers. During the share, students often talk in partnerships or small groups, and the work that has been done by a student or students may be highlighted to serve as a model for the rest of the class. The teacher has a teaching point to make in the share, and it is made in a way that also helps students reflect on the work that they have done.
Once the students begin writing, the teacher:
- Meets individually with a few students to confer about their work and to explicitly teach writing strategies and conventions
- Assesses student progress and learning needs; analyzes writing samples; documents individual strengths and needs to target instruction and develop future focus lessons
- Meets with small groups to provide targeted instruction while the other students write independently
What do the students do?
Every day, the students WRITE for an extended period of time. Students self-select writing topics and write with a purpose. They work with a teacher one-on-one and in small groups to develop skills as writers. Students understand the components of the writing process and know their options when they complete one phase. They are working as writers for the entire workshop period. At any point during the workshop they may be:
- Writing
- Illustrating
- Reading previous entries in their notebooks
- Reading to support their writing
- Conducting research to support their writing
- Drafting
- Conferring with a teacher or with a peer
- Revising
- Editing
- Rereading
- Publishing
It is important that the teacher helps the class generate expectations for Writers’ Workshop so that students know what is expected of them, where to find materials, and how to take a piece through publication, among other things. These rules should be posted in an area where students can easily access them. Some students may want a small copy of the rules in their writing folders.
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What do the students write? In general, students write about topics of their choosing. They draw from experiences in their lives, from other texts they have read, or from their own observations. During a unit of study in Writers’ Workshop (e.g., poetry, memoir, Eric Carle, etc.), the teacher may ask the students to write in a particular genre or to practice writing techniques related to the unit of study. What are the most important things about Writers’ Workshop?
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- Each student believes “I am a writer.” Students are taught to see the potential in their lives for writing topics and ideas, and they live their lives accordingly.
- The structure of Writers’ Workshop is simple and predictable.
