I love writer’s workshop! I’ve had the chance to go to Columbia University Teacher’s College in NYC for the Reading & Writing Project run by Lucy Calkins twice for writing! Writing has gone from my least favorite to one of my most favorite subjects to teach. I want to give you 5 more tips to get writer’s workshop up and running. Want to see the first 5 tips? Check out >>THIS<< blog post.
Like I said earlier, this is post #2 with tips to get Writer’s Workshop up and running. Click the image below to see the first post.
So onto the next 5 tips to help you get started with Writer’s Workshop
1. There is No Such Thing as “Done”
- Reread their piece.
- Add to the words.
- Add to the pictures.
- Start a new piece.
2. Teach Students to Set Goals
3. Make Writing Tools Accessible
4. Use Writing Partners
5. Have & Use Exemplar Pieces
Ultimately, an exemplar piece of writing is a sample piece of writing that you expect your students to do. So you will probably want a couple piece for each unit, a low, middle and high so you have pieces to use with any student.
These pieces can be used in mini-lessons, conferences, shared writing, small groups, etc. You can even keep them in page protectors and use a dry erase or vis-a-vis marker and just write on the page protector when you want to teach how to do something. When I want a student to add dialogue in their writing, I first show them how to add dialogue in one of my exmplar pieces a little above their level. Then I have them add dialogue in my same exemplar piece and then I have them go off and add it in theirs. If I had my exemplar piece in a page protector, I just wipe it all off and go on to the next group or conference.
These make it so easy to support all of your students without having to come up with something on the fly. When they help you add to your piece, then add it to their own, it’s great practice!
BONUS: HAVE FUN!!
There you have it! 5 more great tips to get Writer’s Workshop Up & Running. I hope these can help you, especially at the beginning of the year. I know when I was just starting, I would take any tips I could get to figure out how writer’s workshop worked.
Please share and pin so others can see these great tips too!
Until next time, happy writing!
Megan Jones says
Hi Paige! I’ve recently discovered your blog from Pinterest and I absolutely LOVE the posters for “When you think you’re done, you’ve just begun.” Anyway you could share them with me? I am loving reading your different blog posts from your experience at the teacher’s college. I would love to experience that one of these years!! Thanks so much.
Paige says
Hi Megan, Thanks so much for the comment. I’ll email them right now. Email me at [email protected] if you don’t get them. I’m so glad you have found my posts helpful!
Our Elementary Lives says
Hi Emily, Thanks for the comment. I don't have it available to download, but if you email me at [email protected] I can share it with you. It was an exclusive freebie for my newsletter followers. You can sign up here: Our Elementary Lives Newsletter Sign Up Thanks, Paige
Emily Reynolds says
Do you have the posters on the "When you're done" chart available in your shop as a download? I like how you added "Reread" as the first step! Thanks for all the ideas!