Writers Workshop

1
Writers Workshop

• How does it look at WCI?

Jann Geyer and Barbara Albaugh
2
Writers Workshop at WCI

• In addition to using the language and methodology
  of Lucy Calkins, we use the work of Nancy Atwell
  who has extensive middle school experience and
  has written several great books on teaching with
  a workshop model.

3
WCIs 07-08 Process

• Three day training in August 2007 by New York
  Writing Project Hosted by San Ramon Valley
• Ongoing support from writing coach
• English department in-service
• On-going 6th grade collaboration
• 6th and 7th grade teachers share Writing Project
  strategies and genre units

4
WCI Writing Coach

• Cheryl Wozniak
• teacher on special assignment for San Lorenzo as
  literacy coach
• teaches model writing lessons with our classes
• meets one-to-one with Core 6 teachers
• suggests curriculum directions and provides
  materials
• Has provided Core 7 and entire English department
  with lesson plans and discussed future
  possibilities

5
Materials Needed

• Writers Project is an intensive process and
  requires materials
• LCD projectors and Avervisions (thank you PTA)
• Notebooks
• Genre folders
• Lots and lots of copying for mentor texts
• A dynamic coach!

6
Genres Taught in 6th

• 6th grade ELA standards
• Personal narrative/memoir
• Research
• Response to literature
• Persuasive/editorial
• Fiction
• Expository writing that includes summary, cause
  and effect, problem/solution and compare contrast
  organization

7
Model of Genre Unit

• Read mentor texts and collect ideas
• Look at components of the specific genre
• Draft
• Revision/craft mini-lessons
• Editing mini lessons conventions
• Publish and celebrate

8
A Prepared Student Has

• Genre folder
• Rough drafts of student genre writing
• Mentor texts with notes
• Writer and Reader handbook for mini lessons
• Writers Notebook

9
Writers WorkshopTenets

• Mentor Texts
• Teachers model writing and thinking about writing
• Guided pair discussions between students
• Students write every day
• Students share their writing

10
Mentor texts
11
Paired learning
12
(No Transcript)
13
Guided learning
14
(No Transcript)
15
Choice
16
Shared writing
17
Class learns together