flow of the day

Flow of the Day

• Philosophy• Structures and Routines• Launching WW• Methods of Teaching• Tips for Using the U of S Books

Writing Workshop: An Introduction

Presented byShana Frazin

shana@readingandwritingproject.comTCRWP

http://tc.readingandwritingproject.com/

Three Things You Know to be True about the Teaching of

Writing• The ability to write well is a skill that each

and everyone of us can develop.• Writing is social, not isolated and solitary• Revision is not a stage in the writing

process

Not Forgotten I learned to ridethe two wheel bicyclewith my father.He oiled the chainclothes-pinned playing cardsto the spokes, put on the basketto carry my lunch.By his side, I learned balanceand took on speedcentered behind the widehandlebars, my handson the white grips my feet pedaling.One moment he washolding me upand the next momentalthough I didn't know ithe had let go.When I wobbled, suddenlyafraid, he yelled keep going—keep going!Beneath the trees in the drivewaythe distance increasing between usI eventually rode until he was out of sight.I counted on him. That he could hold me was a giventhat he could release me was a gift.

Story of Writers:What have you read that’s like what you are trying to write?

• I was brushing my tef.• What’s in the box?• Sophia

Lifelong Writers Write Well When They…

• Communicate meaning• Use genre knowledge• Structure their writing• Write with detail• Give their writing voice• Use conventions

Pause and Process

• I learned…• I am thinking about…• I really want to try…

Key Principles of Workshop Teaching

• Good teaching matters• Mentorship matters• Invitations are more powerful and

compelling than assignments• We must BE what we teach• Expertise is developed through work,

repeated practice• Good teaching is responsive

Creating a Sense of Community in Writing

Workshop• Storytell• Read aloud wonderful literature• Encourage Ss to bring in artifacts from their

reading and writing lives• Establish the values of your community• Mode your own passionate love of reading

and writing• Find diverse experts within the classroom

community

Primary Writing Process

• Rehearse• Draft • Revise(over and over and over, then…)• Further revision• Edit• Publish

UG Writing Process• Collecting Entries• Choosing a Seed• Developing the Seed• Drafting • Revising• Editing• Publishing

Components of Balanced Literacy

• Reading Workshop (reading is done by the learners• Writing Workshop (writing is done by the learners)• Shared Reading (reading is done with the learners)• Interactive Writing (writing is done with the learners)• Shared Writing (writing is done to the learners) • Read Aloud (reading is done to the learners)• Word Study (word work is done with and by the

learners)

Structure of Workshop• Minilesson• Independent Writing—Conferring & Small

Group Instruction• Mid-Workshop Interruption• Independent Writing—Conferring & Small

Group Instruction• Teaching Share

Architecture of a miniLesson

Connection: Engage, connect, name the TPTeach: Tell, Show, TellActive Engagement: Set-up, monitor and coachLink: managed choice

Architecture of a Conference

• Research• Support• Decide• Teach• Link

Getting Started: classroom environment

Celebrating Writers and Writing

Charts that Match Our Teaching and Learning

Writing Centers

Word Walls

Writers Write to Deadlines

Pause and Process

• I learned…• I am thinking about…• I really want to try…

Managing a Productive Writing Workshop

• Have reasonable expectations• TEACH it, don’t just tell it• Put yourself out of a job! Foster

independence.• Be consistent and have routines.• Practice what you preach(from Shanna Schwartz, rock star staff SDer)

Other Considerations

• Partnerships• Notebooks and folders• Your own writing notebook• Mentor text

Record Keeping

• Purpose:• Practice: 3, 2, 1• Class at a glance• Sections for individuals, partnerships, and

small groups

• Pitfalls: all or nothing thinking

Narrative Units: Characteristics of a Personal Narrative

• Tells a story about an event in the author’s life• Establishes tension or conflict early in the

story, which is resolved by the end• Focuses on one or more scenes, which are

ordered in time• Develops characters and shows how main

character changes during the event• Develops the setting• Implies or states the importance of the story