Writers' workshop offers students time and space to navigate through the writing process. This involves teacher mini-lessons, modeling, independent writing time as well as time for conferencing, feedback sharing and sharing of projects.
Have each student bring two copies of their work to workshop and one copy for themselves. During each student's turn to present, have them state what issues need to be discussed through discussion.
Getting Started
Writers' Workshop is an engaging classroom learning method designed to introduce young writers to a straightforward writing process and an opportunity to showcase creative pieces. Every unit includes exercises focusing on specific skills such as sentence structure or grammar that each student keeps track of in his or her individual journal.
At independent writing time, the teacher circulates around the classroom conferring with students on their progress. This could involve short conferences as she moves around or gathering small groups together for more in-depth examination of writing samples.
Some writers also opt to hold peer editing sessions during this time, which can help students revise and enhance their work. At these sessions, writers ask their peers what they appreciate about the piece as well as where there could be improvements made - this informal assessment helps teachers plan future lessons effectively.
Finding Clients
Writing workshops have quickly become an increasingly popular practice in secondary English classes. Perhaps this is due to your teaching colleagues incorporating them in their classes with positive results, or administrators pushing teachers to use this strategy.
While student choice and responsibility often take center stage in Writers' Workshops, teachers play an indispensable role in leading this learning experience. Through mini lessons and coaching students through the writing process while providing feedback on assignments as they come up, their teacher ensures students develop as writers.
Students then participate in "work time", an allotted period during which they apply what they've learned during both mini lessons and in previous writing assignments. At "work time", students write independently or with partners, read each other's work, listen and offer comments; all while being in an environment which fosters safe critique - but listen closely for any feedback given so as to decide how and if to implement any.
Pricing Your Work
Writing is an invaluable skill that should be appreciated, so writers should set their rates appropriately. Freelance writers' rates must reflect all time spent researching, composing and revising work before sending it off to clients as well as expenses like office supplies, software and equipment expenses.
After the mini-lesson, the writer's workshop component emphasizes writing. Students are encouraged to write independently and collaboratively using what they learned during the mini-lesson. Teachers conduct one-to-one writing conferences with children as well as meet with small groups or whole class for further instruction in specific skills.
Conferences between peers are an integral part of this process and often lead to better work through providing feedback and encouragement. Many teachers use this time as an opportunity to model the writing process for their students as well. Some instructors encourage peer editing by creating writing groups in which members take turns reading and critiquing each other's creative pieces.
Networking
Successful freelance writers typically create a specific writing niche, drawing clients with their expertise. This approach helps them earn higher rates than if they took on any work that comes their way.
Sharing is an integral component of writer's workshops, providing students with an opportunity to seek feedback on their writing from peers in a safe and supportive environment. Sharing also helps students feel part of a writing community while serving as an incentive for returning to drafts of their works in progress.
At the independent writing phase of Writers' Workshop, teachers move around the room observing and conferring with individual students. Teachers may use mini-conferences to gather informal assessment data or plan future instruction; or pull together small groups to teach specific writing techniques. Furthermore, each Writers' Workshop unit offers resourceful ideas for conferences discussions.
