Getting Started

On Monday, I will start Writer's Workshop with my Kindergarten class. I have done a Writer's Workshop in the past, but after our first session, I decided to approach it a little differently this time. I won't be running around the room trying to transcribe for the kids. That was exhausting. I had never thought about the fact that I don't fix their pictures so why should I fix their words? I'm going to start with the book "Will You Be My Friend?" by Eric Carle and show the class how to tell a story with pictures. I'll let you know what happens.

Online Resources

I found this entire book online last year (through ERIC): Primary Writer's Workshop: Developing Process Writing Skills.

It has some good management ideas and is a quick read. You can download/save it to read from your computer. (Click on the book title for the link.)

Another book I found online is Vicki Spandel's Seeing With New Eyes. I just stumbled across it yesterday, so I haven't read it yet. It's a long one--over 300 pages. It's about assessing primary writing. (Click on the book title for the link.)

A couple of resources online that I think are very useful.

Jessica Meacham's site (Melissa mentioned this one at the workshop. Lots of minilesson ideas & forms)

Picture book inspired lessons at Writing Fix

Lesson plans and powerpoints for teaching using writing workshop


Diane

OK! This Blog thing is new to me, and I am proud of myself for following through with this. I am glad that I did because now I feel as though I have my own little writing family to share with on this journey. Our first workshop was so very enlightening for me. It completely turned my way of thinking around - as far as teaching writing is concerned. I am so excited about it that I am going to start my 6 year old daughter on it. I think that helping her create a writer's notebook and writing folder will not only help to prepare her to be a life-long writer, but also bond us together by keeping important memories and thoughts etc. in a special place to share. I am also sharing this with our K, 1 and 2 teachers and hope to be able to recruit some of them to the next workshop in November.

Units of Study (Calkins)

I mentioned the Units of Study by Lucy Calkins at the workshop today. It's how I got started with Writers Workshop. They are fabulous, but I still felt like a lone leaf on a tree trying to implement them... ;-) Thanks, Melissa, for leading this institute and creating this blog for sharing.

I have some detailed lessons plans that were written for the first unit in Calkins's set, Launching the Writing Workshop. They are for K-2. If anyone wants a copy, let me know. I'll send them to you.

Blog

I thought today went well, and I am REALLY looking forward to us sharing our ideas, experiences, and needs through the Institute AND blog.

I learned so much information today at the workshop. I am a little nervous about getting started, but I am excited. I had a good idea about how to implement writer's workshop, or at least I thought I did, but after today, I know I can do it. I am going to start on Monday!

Welcome

Welcome to our Writer's Workshop Institute Blog! I wanted to create a way for us to collaborate outside of our Institute time and considering we are practicing our own personal writing skills- a Blog seemed to be the perfect answer. I am curious to see how this Blog will evolve. It can become what we need it to be. It is like having some seeds, without a picture of what may grow on the outside of the package. What do you want this to become? How do you see yourself using it to talk with others in our Institute? Haven't you always wondered what it would be like to have 20+ people to talk to about what you are doing in your classroom while KNOWING they are doing the same thing? I know I have. This Blog can be a place where we ask each other questions and get answers. Perhaps we use this as a place to share our triumphs. We can cry on shoulders or help each other dust off our pants when we've had a bad day of Writer's Workshop. If you are a member of this Institute, you are truly a pioneer in my mind. You are blazing a trail and I am honored to be your "guide" in a sense. This is a journey- welcome to the Writer's Workshop Institute.