The Structure of

 

 

 

Mini - Lesson

Each day Writer’s Workshop begins with a mini-lesson. This is where I can make a suggestion to the whole class...teach a skill, model a technique, reinforce a strategy or look at a mentor author.

Examples of Mini-Lessons

Content Focus
  • The Writing Process
  • Getting an idea
  • Adding detail; expand sentences
  • Stories that tell what happen and the response to what happens
  • Choice of words, use descriptive language
  • Leads that grab attention, create mood
  • Endings, make a lasting impression
  • Small Moments
  • Observations
  • Paragraphing
  • Staying on focus
  • Working with a seed idea
  •  Voice
  • Story Structure
  • metaphors, similes, personification

Units of Study:
Writerly Life
Summary
Personal Narrative
Craft Study: Comparisons
Craft Study: Voice
Punctuation
Persuasive  Essay
Letter Writing
Reports
Feature Article
Memoir
How to Essay

 

Conventions Focus

  • Use appropriate spacing

  • Spelling phonetically
  • Spell "High Frequency" words correctly
  • Capitalize I, names
  • Capitalize beginnings of sentences
  • Ending punctuation marks
  • Quotation marks
  • Commas
  • Using appropriate grammar
  • Using paragraphs
  • Recognizing and correcting run-on sentences

Student Checklist for Writing

Did I read my paragraphs to make sure each sentence makes sense?

Does each sentence start with a capital letter?

Does each sentence end with punctuation?

Did I indent my paragraphs?

Did I check my spelling?

Does my story have voice?

 
 

Independent Writing Time

After the mini lesson students will return to their seat for independent writing. They will work in their notebooks, start a draft, confer with the teacher or partner, edit a draft or publish a finished piece.

 
 

Conferring

While the students are writing, I am able to confer with them. We go over their writing plan to make sure they haven't chosen a topic that is too big. We discuss what they want to say and why they have made this choice. I listen to them as they read aloud what they have written and provide feedback. I may re-teach a mini lesson or teach a new skill.

 
 

Publishing

When the students have gone through the writing process they write a final copy. At the end of a unit of study we have a celebration and share what we have written.

 
 

Sharing: 5 minutes

At the end of our writing time students may read a part of what they have written that day. Usually it is something that I have asked them to try after the mini-lesson.

 

HOMEWORK

 

Personal Narrative Journals

A personal narrative tells about an event or events that happened in the writer’s life. It includes details about what happened and how the writer felt. The story has a beginning, middle and an end. An introduction explains the topic. The paragraph explains what happened in a sequential or time order.

Beginning the second quarter, students will complete a weekly personal narrative in a journal. This gives me an opportunity to see if they are following the writing process. I can also see if they are applying the lessons from class in their writing. The journals are due each Thursday and they are returned on Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
       
       
       
       

 

The Writing Process:

Prewriting: thinking about a topic, brainstorming and planning

Drafting: quickly putting thoughts on paper

Revising: reworking the organization and details

Editing: reviewing and correcting spelling, grammar, capitalization,

and punctuation

Publishing: make final copy and share with others

 

 
                                                                                                              

 

 

This page is maintained in accordance with Shenendehowa's web publishing guidelines by Susan Morrissey.