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Programs and Projects
Writer's Workshop
 Writer’s
Workshop Instructional
Help students draft, share, edit, and publish their writing. Give
daily mini-lessons on ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence
fluency, and conventions.
The ROLE OF THE EDUCATOR IS:
- Work with whole class or small groups of students to provide
general guidance on any aspects of writing
- Provide specific instruction on mini-lessons
- Allow students to select their own topics with feedback from
educators
- Give individual conferences with writers, giving selected feedback
WHAT VISITORS WILL SEE:
- Use of word walls, dictionaries, thesaurus, and other resources
to help students write
- Use of words like ideas, organization, voice, word choice,
sentence fluency, and conventions used by educators and students
- Use of mini-lessons for honing the craft of writing
- Examples of books written by the students displayed and celebrated
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WRITER’S WORKSHOP OVERVIEW:
All students participate in a writer’s workshop process to
help improve their writing. Here are the components of the workshop.
(Schleper, 2002):
1. First Draft:
Each student writes about a topic that holds special interest to
them. For some, this means drawing a picture. For others, it may
be writing a complex story.
2. Share With Class:
Each student shares the writing with the class. As each student
finishes sharing, the group queries the student about the writing.
One person will write down the questions. This list of questions
is later used by the writer to guide the revision.
3. Second Draft:
When the student finishes sharing, the student then begins working
on the second draft.
4. Content Conference:
Once finished with the second draft, the student and educator meet
for a content conference, where the educator reviews the writer’s
progress and may suggest additional improvements.
5. Self-Edit:
The student self-edits the piece, using forms developed by the educator.
6. Editing Conference with Educators:
After self-editing, the student puts the writing in an editing box.
The educator reads through the piece, highlighting the positive
aspects as well as those needing improvements. Together, the educator
and student meet, discuss what works and what needs work, and then
the student makes necessary changes to the story.
7. Prepare for Publishing:
The student composes the writing, including a "dedication"
and an "about the author" section. The whole piece is
then typed on a computer.
8. Publish the Book:
The student binds their book, shares it with the class, and shares
it with parents and caregivers.
During the daily writer’s workshop, educators and students
participate in:
- Mini-Lessons (10 minutes) on techniques for writing
- Writing (30 minutes) for all, while educators observe and have
conference with students
- Sharing (10 minutes) where students shared what they are working
on
For more information about Writer's Workshop, click on the topic
of interest below:
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6 + 1 Traits for Writing:
At the Clerc Center, the 6+1 Traits Writing Framework is used for
an analytic scoring system and to develop mini-lessons.
The 6+1 Trait Writing Framework, developed by the Northwest Regional
Educational Laboratory in Portland, Oregon, is a powerful way to
learn and use a common language to refer to characteristics of writing,
as well as create a common vision of what “good writing”
looks like. The traits include:
- Ideas —the content of the piece, the
main theme along with the details that enrich and develop that
theme.
- Organization—the internal structure,
the thread of central meaning.
- Voice—the author’s feelings, humor,
and emotions regarding the subject written. The author includes
a personal tone that distinguishes the piece from others.
- Word choice—the use of rich, colorful,
precise language that moves and enlighten the reader.
- Sentence fluency—variety and rhythm in
the writing. The writing is free of awkward word patterns that
slow or confuse the reader.
- Conventions—little details such as spelling,
punctuation, paragraph indentation, capitalization, grammar, and
word usage that make the piece work.
- Presentation—includes a nice, clean,
clear piece that is pleasing and attractive to the reader.
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For Kindergarten through Grade 2
6+1 Assessment for Beginning
Writers, Page 1 (PDF, 123KB)
6+1 Assessment for Beginning
Writers, Page 2 (PDF, 144KB)
For Grades 3 though 12
6+1 One Pager (Advanced), Page
1 (PDF, 156KB)
6+1 One Pager (Advanced), Page
2 (PDF, 176KB)
A GOOD PLACE TO START:
For more information about the 6+1 Trait Writing Framework, visit
the following Web sites:
Northwest
Regional Educational Laboratory 6+1 Trait Writing
Wiredinstructor
Six Traits Links
Sowams
Curriculum Seminars Writing
Good Books for Teaching 6 + 1 Traits in the Classroom [ Word,
8 pages ] [ PDF, 22KB
]
For Mini-Lesson Information:
Atwell, N. Lessons That Change Writers. Portsmouth, NH:
Heinemann, c2002.
Culham, R. Picture Books: An Annotated Bibliography with Activities
for Teaching Writing. Portland, OR: Northwest Regional Educational
Laboratory, c1998.
Dierking, C. C., and Jones, S. Growing Up Writing: Mini-Lessons
for Emergent and Beginning Writers. NY: Maupin House Publishers,
c2003.
Fletcher, R., and Portalupi, J. Craft Lessons: Teaching Writing
K-8. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers, c1998.
Hoyt, L. Snapshots: Literacy Minilessons Up Close. Portsmouth,
NH: Heinemann, c2000.
Lane, B. After the End: Teaching and Learning Creative Revision.
Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, c1993.
Portalupi, J., and Fletcher, R. Nonfiction Craft Lessons: Teaching
Information Writing, K-8. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers,
c2001.
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Supportive Research and Descriptive
Literature:
Atwell, N. In the Middle: Writing, Reading, and Learning with
Adolescents. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, c1987.
Culham, R. 6+1 Traits of Writing. NY: Scholastic, c2003.
Fisher, S. The Writer’s Workshop. Washington, DC:
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University,
c1994.
Graves, D. Writing: Teachers and Children at Work. Portsmouth,
NH: Heinemann, c1983.
Graves, D, and Hansen, J. "The author’s chair."
Language Arts, 60, (1983), 176-183.
Schleper, D. R. "Writer’s workshop: I-Chun “Eugene”
Shih=Brave student." Odyssey, 1:2, (Spring
2000), 23-26.
Spandel, V. Creating Writers Through 6-Trait Writing Assessment
and Instruction. New York: Addison Wesley Longman Publishers,
c2001.
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CLERC CENTER RESOURCES:
"Calling up literacy" Odyssey (Summer 2000) (PDF)
"Writer’s
workshop: I-Chun “Eugene” Shih=Brave student."
Odyssey (Spring 2000) (PDF)
"Writer's
Workshop: Beauty from Chaos" Perspectives in Education
and Deafness (May/June 1999)
WEB RESOURCES:
Kim's Korner
for Teacher Talk
Kid Authors
KidsCom
Merlyn's Pen
Young
Author's Workshop
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