Writing Workshop: Helping Writers Choose and Focus on a Topic

Materials and Technology

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Flipchart with paper and markers
  
  
• Pencils and crayons
  
  
• Portfolio binders or folders

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PRINTOUTS

• Journal paper with illustration box
  
  
• Lined paper

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WEBSITES

• Journal Writing Ideas

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PREPARATION

To prepare for this lesson, it is important that students have a good understanding of the structure and expectations of a writing workshop.

• Students will gather at the start of each session for a short minilesson.
  
  
• Students will work independently and with partners or small groups to draw illustrations and create first drafts.
  
  
• As students draw and write, you will be holding one-on-one conferences to discuss each student's writing and to help with revisions.
  
  
• At the end of each workshop session, students gather to share their writing.
  

To prepare, it is also beneficial if students have a pool of self-selected topics to choose from. If you need to develop this pool of topics with students, a good place to start might be at the Journal Writing Ideas webpage. Depending on students' needs and abilities, you could share the entire list with them or present them with a shorter version of it. Of course, you will want to teach students strategies to find their own topics for writing. In this and subsequent workshop sessions, encourage students to add to their own topic lists.

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