What is the Objective of Writer's Workshop?
The 3 Parts of Reader's Workshop:
Mini Lessons:
6 Traits of Writing:
Types of Writing Taught in 5th Grade:
Narratives (Personal and Informational)
Persuasive
Expository
- Matches individual writers
- Teaches independence
- Explicitly teaches strategies and skills to become better writers
- Values time spent writing, volume of writing, and a variety of writing experiences
- Follows predictable structures and routines
The 3 Parts of Reader's Workshop:
- Mini Lessons
- Independent Writing with Conferences
- Sharing
Mini Lessons:
- 5-10 minute lessons
- Short, focused, and direct instruction on one aspect of writing
- Topics come from standards, units of study, and from teacher assessments of what most of the class needs.
- Students are engaged, jotting notes in their notebooks and ready to go back to their seats to demonstrate those skills in their independent writing
- 20-40 minutes
- Students are engaged in FVW (free, voluntary writing), using strategies learned in mini lessons, sometimes meeting with partners/groups, and also reading their writing
- Teacher is individualizing the instruction for everyone during conferences
- Students are using a writer's notebook, other paper, or a computer
- 5-10 minutes
- Gather students together to use students’ work and experiences to illustrate teaching points.
- Teacher celebrates or summarizes what he or she observed or talked about with students.
- Students can share examples of their learning.
6 Traits of Writing:
- Ideas: The central message and the details that support that message
- Organization: The internal structure of the piece, the thread of logic, the pattern of meaning.
- Word Choice: The specific vocabulary the writer uses to convey meaning and enlighten the reader.
- Voice: The tone and tenor of the piece. The personal stamp of the writer, which is achieved by a strong understanding of audience and purpose.
- Sentence Fluency: The way phrases and words flow through the piece. This is the auditory trait because it is "read" with the ear as much as with the eye.
- Conventions: The mechanical corrections of the piece. Capitals, Punctuation, Spelling, Grammar
Types of Writing Taught in 5th Grade:
Narratives (Personal and Informational)
Persuasive
Expository