Activity Objective

The goal of What Writers Do: A 5-Step Writing Process is to aid students in understanding a specific process that they can use to help them write meaningful and well-developed compositions.

What You Need

Prep Time:

20 minutes
- Prepare What Writers Do chart
- Decide on a topic for modeled writing and draw a picture
- Gather writing material

Task Time:

30-40 minutes
- Teacher introduces the Writing Workshop
- Teacher explains the five key things that good writers do
- Teacher models the five key things using an example
- Students write about a familiar experience

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers

Students:
- Lined paper
- Pencils (1 per student)

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Direct instruction:
- while introducing What Writers Do

Modeling:
- while showing students the steps involved in the writing process

Consultant:
- while students write about a familiar experience

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during introduction of the 5-step writing process

Individual:
- when students write about a familiar experience

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

- Provide students with oral feedback during one-on-one conferences or small group instruction

- Self-Assessment: Have students assess their work by comparing it to the What Writers Do chart
      a. Encourage students to add details and exciting words to make their work more interesting to read

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Display the What Writers Do chart at the writing centre

- 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:

- Providing a clear sequence of steps for students can help them to understand the components of the writing process. This 5-step sequence is just one example of a strategy that students can use to help them write (it focuses heavily on planning and pre-writing). You can modify this process to suit the needs of your students or to support the writing of different kinds of texts (for example, adding a revision step, changing the "drawing a picture" step to a brainstorming step).

- 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."

Other Adaptations/Modifications:

- Provide a quiet working space for students disturbed by sound