Teaching Writing with Writers Workshop
An Individualized Method to Teaching Students How to Write
Dec 10, 2008
Writers Workshop is a child-centered method of teaching writing skills. It teaches students how to write for the viewpoint of the reader, and the purpose of revision. Writers Workshop includes group instruction time, individual writing time, sharing from the Author’s chair, and individual conferences with each child during the week. This allows for individualized lessons for every ability level, including gifted and slower learners, and is versatile over many different curriculum's and grade levels.
Group Instruction Time for Writing
The importance of Writers Workshop is guiding the students, not dictating where they should go, and addressing common problems. The teacher will often decide what lessons would benefit the entire class after meeting one-on-one with each student and finding a common need for a particular lesson. For example, the teacher may find that a lesson in proper adjective use would benefit the entire class, thus calling for a group instructional time.
Individual Writing Time Each Day
Allowing ample time for students to write is essential to the writing process, and encourages students to view writing as important and enjoyable. This can be accomplished by setting a routine each day with a specific amount of time set aside for writing. The daily practice will also benefit students who struggle with writing or who have a writing disability, but be sure to provide any modifications for these students as dictated by their IEP.
Authors Chair for Peer Editing
The students all share their written work with their teacher and the other students from the Author’s Chair. With an open and encouraging classroom atmosphere, the teacher can have a couple of students read their writing to the class each day for additional learning experiences. The class listens to the student read their work, and ask questions, make suggestions, and offer praise to help the students writing improve.
Individual Student Conferences
The teacher meets individually with each student once a week to discuss how to improve his or her writing in a student conference. These conferences are where individual instruction can take place on the child’s level. Lessons here can include vocabulary, editing, revision and anything else the teacher finds necessary to teach.
The key to Writers Workshop is highly individualized instruction as well as a communal effort that encourages sharing. Every student learns at his or her own pace, and Writers Workshop can accommodate for each child on an individual basis, which allows students to learn at a developmentally appropriate rate.
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