Are you dreading the year because of writing? Here are some great ideas for you to get your writing workshop ready to go! I LOOOOVVVVEEEE writing and hope you will too after this post!
Supplies:
Composition Notebook for each student
2-3 prong pocket folder - 2 for each student
Clothespins (1 per student)
or color ones: 
10 1 inch metal binder rings
or color ones: 
2 binder clips
Chart paper
Post Its or Redi-Tags:
or 
Directions:
1. Print Free Spelling Dictionary and any writing resources you have for students.
Place the resource pages in the fasteners and the spelling dictionary in one of the pockets in the folder.
A List of Students Resources helpful for Writing Workshop:
1. 1O Exciting Beginnings
2. Power of 3
3. Topic Sentence and Relevant Details
4. Transition Words
5. Importance of Sequence
6. Million Dollar Words and Phrases
7. Figurative Language
8. Variety of Sentences
9. Audience
10. Purpose
11. Dialogue
12. 10 Ways for Strong Conclusions
13. Capitalization Rules
14. Usage Rules
15. Punctuation Rules
16. Spelling Rules
17. Writing Process
18. Writing Checklist
19. Million Dollar Dictionary
20. Character Traits
If you need Students Resources, click below. If you purchased an interactive
notebook, Student Resources ARE included!
2. Power of 3
3. Topic Sentence and Relevant Details
4. Transition Words
5. Importance of Sequence
6. Million Dollar Words and Phrases
7. Figurative Language
8. Variety of Sentences
9. Audience
10. Purpose
11. Dialogue
12. 10 Ways for Strong Conclusions
13. Capitalization Rules
14. Usage Rules
15. Punctuation Rules
16. Spelling Rules
17. Writing Process
18. Writing Checklist
19. Million Dollar Dictionary
20. Character Traits
If you need Students Resources, click below. If you purchased an interactive
notebook, Student Resources ARE included!
Free Spelling Dictionary!
2. Laminate and Post Writing Process Posters.
There are two versions that can be found in my store for free! One for primary and one for upper elementary classrooms. Laminate and place them on a writing bulletin board. Use small metal binder rings or ribbon to attach each poster to the next. Use large binder clips to attach them to the wall or bulletin board. Don't staple them onto the board! You want the posters to stick out so the clothespins will work effectively! Write student names on the clothespins and instruct them to move their name down the bulletin board according to their current writing step. You can paint your clothespins to match your decor or get the colored ones! This will show where students are in the writing process at a quick glance. It is especially helpful during teacher or peer conferencing.
1. Prewriting
2. Rough Draft
3. DARE to Revise
4. CUPS for Editing
5. Peer Reflection
6. Final Copy
Include:
stapler
white out
markers
colorful pens/pencils
dictionary
thesaurus
tape
glue
4. Print off writing anchor charts
See below. Use these resources in your writing center or bulletin board. Laminate to preserve them for several years.
5. Create a poster or part of wall for students to write the titles of their published stories.
Idea- I've used chain links before too! Anything works to show their hard work!
6. Set up a Writer's Notebook
A. Have students create a cover page. Use clear packaging tape to seal it! Volunteers work great for this project!
B. Tabs: Use a separate folder for resources. I decided on two tabs. (One for "Mini-lessons" and one for "My Own Writing") We placed our "Ideas" section at the beginning without a tab. Some teachers like a tab for this as well! The Redi Tags are the easiest but more expensive than Post Its.
Easy Way To Make Tabs with Post Its- Take 2 colors of Post-It notes and cut them in strips. I folded it over once. Then tape one color strip onto the 6th page (leaving the first 5 pages for brainstorming ideas) and another color strip half-way through the notebook. I used clear packaging tape and placed it on both sides of the tab and both sides of the page so it looks like it is a laminated piece. We didn't even label the tabs and it worked great!
C. Create a Table of Contents
We started our table of contents on the first page in "Mini-Lessons" and left three pages for recording the future table of contents pages. As students learn the standards and the mini lessons, they number their pages and keep track on the Table of Contents page!
7. Use the other folder for their published work. (Final Copies)
We call these our Writing Portfolios. Collect everything that they have published throughout the year! Poems, stories, writing across the curriculum, bulletin board pieces, etc. Place them in a folder with brass fasteners. Have volunteers file them each nine weeks and allow students to take them home for parent review. At the end of the year, they get to keep their final product! It is a great end-of-year gift! Another great idea is to set them out on table during parent/teacher conferences so parents have something to look at while they are waiting.
8. Post Writing Workshop schedule in your plan book.
10-15 min: Mini Lesson
10 min: Notebooking the lesson
30-60 min: Independent writing, conferencing, peer reflections, guided writing
10 min: Sharing
9. Post Rules for Writing Workshop
A good visual to keep noise down is to get a block and write "Writer's Block" on it. Tell your students that we want to avoid writer's block by keeping quiet. If I raise the block, that means it is too noisy! Have students initial it for ownership of the rule!
1. Listen and share ideas during the lesson.
2. Writing time is quiet time.
3. Take risks in writing.
4. Keep notebook neat and organized.
5. Be prepared before meeting with your peer editor.
~Writers and peers may only have one conference per writing period.
~Writers: Explain where you need help, then read your paper out loud to your editor.
~Peers: Listen to the writer, fill out observation form, and give meaningful feedback.
10. Presentations
When student publish their writing, I like them to present their work whether it is in small group or whole group. Their peers can evaluate them with presentation cards if you wish! If you have an AUTHOR'S CHAIR, perfect!
10-15 min: Mini Lesson
10 min: Notebooking the lesson
30-60 min: Independent writing, conferencing, peer reflections, guided writing
10 min: Sharing
9. Post Rules for Writing Workshop
A good visual to keep noise down is to get a block and write "Writer's Block" on it. Tell your students that we want to avoid writer's block by keeping quiet. If I raise the block, that means it is too noisy! Have students initial it for ownership of the rule!
1. Listen and share ideas during the lesson.
2. Writing time is quiet time.
3. Take risks in writing.
4. Keep notebook neat and organized.
5. Be prepared before meeting with your peer editor.
~Writers and peers may only have one conference per writing period.
~Writers: Explain where you need help, then read your paper out loud to your editor.
~Peers: Listen to the writer, fill out observation form, and give meaningful feedback.
10. Presentations
When student publish their writing, I like them to present their work whether it is in small group or whole group. Their peers can evaluate them with presentation cards if you wish! If you have an AUTHOR'S CHAIR, perfect!
