How to Get Started With a Writer's Workshop in a Classroom
Children are encouraged to write well in classrooms with the aid of writer's workshops. Using writer's workshops allows students to become comfortable with the writing process by allowing them to create stories in steps, and to make revisions as they progress. Outlines and discussions are among some of the ways to introduce a writer's workshop. Many teachers start writer's workshop discussions with a choice of story prompts to help children pick a topic and begin writing.
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Instructions
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Write an outline on the board of the writer's workshop steps the students will use. List Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Editing and Publishing as the five steps involved. Discuss each step with the class and allow students to ask questions.
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Hang posters in the classroom that define each step of a writer's workshop. Free posters are available for anyone using writer's workshops from The Writing Site, other online sources, or you can create your own. (See Resources.)
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Offer story prompts to young students in Kindergarten or first grade to help them choose a story topic. Create a list of story prompts for students to start writer's workshop stories, or use prompts offered on teacher support websites. (See Resources.)
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Put the students into groups of 4 or 5 to begin sharing ideas for their prewriting stage. Allow time for the students to choose their story topics and discuss them within their groups. Visit each group to find out what the students have chosen for story material. Offer suggestions to students who are struggling with choices or ideas.
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Break up the groups and instruct the students to begin writing their drafts. Reassure the young authors that they are free to make mistakes at the drafting stage of the writer's workshop.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Writing image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
