Writer's Workshop
In our classroom, we practice the craft of writing through a method called Writer's Workshop with the goal of fostering life-long writers. I have modified the original idea of Writer's Workshop just a bit to fit the needs of our classroom but it is based on four principles: students will write about what they know and their own lives, students are given a high degree of choice about what they will write about within a framework, they will use a consistent writing process, and it will foster independence in writing. I use literature and author studies to teach the craft of writing, provide a scaffolded support system that encourages writers to take risks, and provide frequent feedback in the form of peer and teacher conferences.
Sometimes we will write specific types of writing pieces such as informational, persuasive and opinion essays, narrative fiction, and poetry, giving students a chance to practice writing across genres.
Sometimes we will write specific types of writing pieces such as informational, persuasive and opinion essays, narrative fiction, and poetry, giving students a chance to practice writing across genres.
Grammar and Language
Grammar and spelling play an important role in learning to write - but after the writing process has taken place. In the end, form and presentation DO matter (I always tell my students that it doesn't matter much in the end how good your writing is if it's full of spelling and grammatical errors) but content comes first.
I mix in language lessons with writing lesson to give authentic examples and how to use language rules in context, along with some direct practice with language and grammar. We have bi-weekly vocabulary and spelling lists and students are expected to use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation as much as possible.
I mix in language lessons with writing lesson to give authentic examples and how to use language rules in context, along with some direct practice with language and grammar. We have bi-weekly vocabulary and spelling lists and students are expected to use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation as much as possible.