I’ve gotten so many questions about what my Kindergarten Writer’s Workshop looks like that I thought I’d write a blog post to walk you through our time! Thinking about starting writing workshop in your classroom? This post is the perfect place to start!
{This format isn’t just for kindergarten! This is an ideal writer’s workshop model for 1st grade and 2nd grade as well!}
We start every writer’s workshop with a mini-lesson. The mini-lesson will be about 10-15 minutes long.
These mini-lessons may include a mentor text, allow the teacher to model writing, and teach one specific skill. I use the mini-lessons included in my Writer’s Workshop units so they are already planned out for me!
Before I have my students go write independently, I have them think through what story they will write. Then, they will turn and talk with a partner about their story. This last about 2 minutes.
I think that this part of the writing workshop is SO important, but it often gets over-looked. However, oral language is the backbone of writing. Our students won’t be able to write a story if they can’t tell it first!
One of the most important parts of writer’s workshop is making sure there is time to write every single day! This may start off as 5-10 minutes, but should grow to around 30 minutes. You can read my ideas for building writing stamina here.
An important component to independent writing time is that students have a choice in what they are writing. I will give them the stipulation that it has to fit into our current writing genre, but they get to choose a topic or story that is important to them.
So what is the teacher doing during this time?
As students are writing independently, the teacher should be either pulling small groups of students to work with or conferring with individual students. As you’re conferring, you are working with a student on a writing goal specific to them.
We end every Writer’s Workshop with a share time. Usually I will choose 2-3 students who have a good example of whatever my mini-lesson was on to share. They read their writing to the class and we silent cheer!
I hope this post helps you see what your writing workshop can look like, but I have some ever better news. I’ve planned out your entire writer’s workshop for you!
My Writing Workshop units plan out each part of the writing workshop for you and include mentor text ideas, anchor charts, writing paper, and scripted lesson plans you can follow if you want to!
Find those units here!
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