Writer's Workshop

This week, we've launched our afternoon writer's workshop.  The class has discussed the idea that if we write every day, we'll get a lot of practice and therefore gradually get to become really good writer's.  Many other students relayed that they believe writing to be fun, relaxing, and much discussion was had about the purpose of writing.  "My mom writes you notes." "We write a grocery list."  My dad types a lot on the computer...I think this is like writing too but without a pencil.  We observed all the writing in our classroom and have been reading many books.  Throughout the year, we will use many books as models for our own writing.  This year, the students are only using a pencil to do their drafting (pictures and words) and will be allowed to use color during the publishing process, which will happen ever 4-6 weeks.  Each lesson begins with a mini-lesson where the students hear a teaching point, hear the language authors use, have a discussion on the teaching point, and find a connection to their own writing.  The students then independently work on their own writing piece while I confer individually with about 5 children per day.  After the writing time, we close the lesson with a share and review of the strategy taught.  The student have been getting used to learning about how to use supplies, where to keep them, what to do when they're stuck, and what to do when they think they're done.  Our current unit of study is personal narratives.  During this unit, students are writing about experiences they've had.