Writing Workshop in RTMRTM Students are WRITERS!

November 9, 2010

Writing Process The movement to encourage “writing

process” in classrooms is more than 30 years old.

It represents a shift from teaching product to process:

We call it “Teach the writer, not the writing!”

Study Driven:A Framework for Planning Units of Study

in the Writing Workshop

Writing Workshop Writing Units of Study, and Mentor Texts

Writing Workshop

Children have choice about topic

Writer’s folders in the primary grades

Writer’s notebooks in the upper grades

Writing WorkshopTeachers are facilitators.

The level of student engagement is VERY high.

Year One Pilot Summer 2009, “units of study”

In 2009-10 seventeen teachers piloted and trained

In 2009-10 visited other school districts

Year Two Pilot

Thirty-three additional teachers joined

All first grade teachers

Teammates of the piloting teachers.

Writing Workshop The time commitment to teaching

this way:

45-60 minutes, 3-4 times per week

Writing, Year Three All remaining grades 1-5 teachers

will be using the new writing units of study in the 2011-12 school year.

Mentor Texts Children develop “vision” before their

writing and re-vision processes

Teachers and students study well-written examples

Mini-Lessons• Plan

• Teach

• Model

• Engage

Writing PartnershipsStudents work with a similar-ability partners

Conferring•Research•Decide•Compliment•Teach

Good recordkeeping during these conferences is essential.

Share Share their work

Talk about their strategies

Listen to/give constructive feedback.