Writer's+Workshop

Writer's Workshop is a district initiative and should be used as a framework for teaching writing in every classroom. A writer's workshop block will vary in time based on the age of the students. Ideally, you would teach a 10 minute mini-lesson, have a block of independent writing time during which you rotate and conference with students, and then end with share time. Ideas for mini-lessons can come from Lucy Caulkins materials, Empowering Writers, and your Chatham County Writing Guide.

There are many ways to organize your writer's workshop and you will need to find what works best for you. Some ideas for organization:
 * 1) Make a chart with the writing process for students to keep you up-to-date with where they are in the writing process.
 * 2) Create a writing toolbox with the tools students may need during this time to avoid interruptions such as extra pencils, small sharpeners, erasers, revising/editing checklists and pens, pens for publishing, highlighters etc.
 * 3) Set up an area in the classroom where students can easily access a variety of graphic organizers for planning.
 * 4) Have students create a list of ideas of what they can write about.