Activity Objective

The goal of Working on Writing: A Component Of The Daily Five is to use a method developed by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser to provide students with practice applying their writing skills and help students to develop writing fluency to ease the process of composing.

What You Need

Prep Time:

10-20 minutes
- Prepare Working on Writing chart
- Prepare writing centre
- Prepare Writer's Workbooks (1 per student)

Task Time:

2, 30 minute sessions
Session 1:
- Teacher and students brainstorm ideas for the Working on Writing I-chart
- Students model how to Work on Writing
- Students work independently and practice Working on Writing

Session 2:
- Teacher gives mini-lesson
- Teacher reviews activity
- Students select Working on Writing as part of The Daily Five

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers

Students:
- Writing materials
- Lined notebook

Optional:
- Computer

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Direct instruction:
- while class brainstorms ideas for the Working on Writing I-chart and during mini-lesson

Supporter:
- while students model how to Work on Writing

Facilitator:
- while students work independently and begin writing

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during brainstorming session, student modeling and mini-lesson

Individual:
- when students Work on Writing

Assessment Ideas:

- Hold conferences with each student and record goals and next steps
      a. Make observations and take anecdotal notes while reviewing students' work

- Provide students with formative feedback including strengths and next steps
      a. Record anecdotal comments on students' first drafts
      b. Provide students with oral feedback during one-on-one conferences or small group instruction

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Display students work on a writing wall

- Encourage students to share their writing during an "author's chair" or paired writing activity

- Each week select an "author of the week" and display his/her work in a special place

Additional Comments:

- Working on Writing is a component of The Daily Five, an instructional framework for reading and writing. The Daily Five is a method developed by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser and provides students with a series of independent and guided literacy tasks.

- During this component students work on a piece of writing of their choice. Providing students with sentence starters, story ideas and writing topics will help them get started.

- At the writing center provide a variety of writing materials including: pens, pencils, small books, lined paper, blank paper, story starters.

- Introduce the Writer's Workbook and have students brainstorm and record ideas at the back of their Writer's Workbook. Encourage students to use their Writer's Workbook for writing first drafts.

- Have students keep their writing in a writing portfolio. At the end of each term invite students to reflect on their writing by selecting their favorite work. Encourage students to share their writing portfolio with their parents each term.

- Students are always eager to share their writing with others. Invite students to share a piece of writing during an "author's chair". 

- Ideas for Working on Writing: http://www.thedailycafe.com/public/department66.cfm

Other Adaptations/Modifications:

- Provide a quiet working space for students disturbed by sound