What does Writing Workshop look like in our room? Writing workshop has three main components; the mini-lesson, independent practice and sharing. Before joining on the carpet for the mini-lesson, students prepare for writing workshop time by getting out their writing folders and reviewing what they were working on during our last session. Writers make decisions about whether they will continue a piece they had already begun or start a new piece. After making a plan for their own writing, they join their partner on the floor to discuss writing plans/ideas and await the start of the mini-lesson.
Mini-lesson A whole-group lesson based on the needs of the students. The focus of the lesson may be a routine or a writing strategy that helps the writer share their ideas. Some of the strategies taught focus on adding important details, including a beginning, middle and end and making our writing more readable. The teaching point is stated and modeled. Students are then actively engaged with the whole-class, working to practice what was just taught.
Independent Practice During this phase of our writing workshop block first grade writers return to their seats and use various strategies taught during mini-lessons as they write about the small moments in their lives, opinion letters, or informational books.
Sharing Just before the end of our writing time students have the opportunity to share what they have been working on with their partner, their team or sometimes the whole class.