Writing workshop... What's that?
When you hear the phrase 'writing workshop' what comes to mind?
For me, when I first heard the term writing workshop, I thought that it was the teacher engaging in group discussions and activities that would help him or her be better able to teach students how to write. However, after this week of video watching and discussion, I soon realize that writing workshops entail so much more.
Writing workshops are not about teaching students how to spell words nor is it about teaching students how to use transitional words or giving them prompts. Writing workshops are student structured discussions and activities that allow for the teaching of the writing process. These workshops allow for teachers to help students through the writing process; that is:
- generate ideas or topics for writing
- research the selected topic
- draft their writing piece
- revise their writing
- edit their writing
- share their final product
Writing workshops are made up of three parts: Mini lessons, Work time and Share time.
Mini Lesson: The key to the mini lesson is to keep it mini. During this time, teachers will teach students a particular skill,
share a mentor text and do an anchor chart (Not So Wimpy Teacher, 2018).
Work Time: This stage should have the most time. During this stage, students working independently. Students will be
encouraged to choose their topic of writing and they are allowed to work at their own pace. In doing so, they
are writing about something that they enjoy without feeling as though they are being rushed.
Share Time: This should be the shortest time period which gives students the opportunity to share their writing with their
classmates.
Writing Conferences
Writing conferences are apart of the Work Time stage in the writing workshops. During this time, teachers are able to differentiate in order to help meet the needs of each student in the classroom. The teacher may walk around the class, looking at what students are working on and guide them in the areas that they seem to be struggling in.
Writing conferences can also be done in groups. If there are a group of students who seem to be struggling in the same area, the teacher may collectively address the issue, thus, helping more students each day. Jamie from Not So Wimpy Teacher (2018), suggests placing students in groups which correspond to a day of the week so that students know that on Tuesday (for example) is this set of students turn to have conferencing with the teacher.
In the end, writing workshops and by extension, writing conferences are very important as they allow for the writing process to be taught while still achieving the goals and objectives of the lesson and also allowing students to have fun with their writing and write about something that is important to them.
I believe that each teachers should find time in his or her class schedule (maybe two or three times per week) to engage students in writing workshops and conferences which would assist them in becoming better writers.
-Onida Tyrell
I agree with what you said, Onida. The writing workshop is a great and successful method of teaching our students to write, since it helps them grow into competent writers. Writing workshops are most emphatically not about spelling or providing students prompts; rather, it gives students the privilege to pick their own topic and work at their own pace. Additionally, it provides teachers with the opportunity to conference with students to guide and assess their writing. Onida, this is an excellent and well-written blog. Thumbs up!
ReplyDeleteOnida this post is quite similar to one I read from Zoe. It is one that I would recommend to other teachers so that they can become educated as to why writing workshops and conferences are important in the classroom. Through your post teachers will see that writing workshops are used to guide students through the writing process.
ReplyDeleteOnida I agree with what you said. I also believe the this will also helps students to see themselves are writers. It also gives students the ability to express their thoughts and emotions through writing.
ReplyDeleteWriting workshops should definitely be student centred Onida. It is the teacher's responsibility to guide their students through the steps of the writing process so that they can eventually develop into skilful writers.
ReplyDeleteWriting workshops... Definitely an interesting term. I agree that it should be student centered and the responsibility lies of the teacher to guide the students through. I like the idea of a mini lesson and then allowing students the opportunity to write and then share. In this way, they can learn from each other. Well done.
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