Writers’ Workshop is a program for our Children’s House Elders, and our Lower and Upper Elementary students, that supports their writing development. During weekly meetings, children receive lessons on the strategies of good writing. They practice writing narrative, persuasive, and informational pieces in real contexts, including nonfiction chapter books, persuasive letters, stories, poems, and more.
Children share and celebrate their written pieces with each other during each session. Children become familiar with and practice engaging in every step of the writing process: brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. They learn to give and receive peer feedback, as well as receive feedback from their Guide. The goal of Writers’ Workshop is to inspire, support, and enhance our young writers.
The model we are using is based on the work of Lucy Calkins and Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project.
Children’s House Writers’ Workshop
In Children’s House, our youngest writers are beginning to learn the foundations of writing practice. They have been focusing on adopting the identity and mindset of a writer and the students are excited as they prepare for an amazing milestone—publishing their own books! This rewarding experience will celebrate all their hard work, dedication, and creativity. Each student will take home their bound “published” book as Winter Break approaches. It’s a special keepsake highlighting their unique talents and will surely be a source of pride for them!
We have identified the following key lessons and Steps of the Writing Process:
- “We are all writers!” This is such a powerful message considering writing is very powerful and we are all capable!
- “Stories are everywhere”. This helps children to understand that
- “Envision” or “Mind’s eye”. This is the concept that we can see things in our mind’s eye even if the object is not in front of us. We will practice this by envisioning one of the playgrounds in our mind’s eye and drawing a sketch of what that looks like to us and labeling specific things and people.
- “Once we are done, we have just begun.” This process requires great patience, perseverance, and determination, which can be acquired through practicing this motto.
A few of the books the students have enjoyed this year include:
Lower Elementary Writers’ Workshop
Writer’s Workshop is an additional opportunity for children to develop independent writing skills. Each Writing Workshop begins with a short mini-lesson, after this the children all work on their independent writing. Conferences with individual children or small groups are held in order to offer support and guidance. Writing Workshop typically ends with a time for the children to share their written work with their peers.
This month in Writers’ Workshop, the Lower Elementary students have continued to work earnestly on their penmanship, both in print and cursive. They are also writing acrostic poems in honor of the season, which we hope will be completed in time to send home before the holiday. And recently we learned about portmanteaus; be sure to ask your child about it!
