Activity Objective

The goal of Lucy Calkins' Writing Workshop: A Program for Teaching Writing is to use a method developed by Lucy Calkins to aid students in understanding the interacting stages of the writing process by providing students with strategies to organize their writing and helping students to develop writing fluency.

What You Need

Prep Time:

10-20 minutes
- Prepare mini-lesson
- Gather writing material

Task Time:

30-40 minutes
- Teacher introduces the writing session
- Teacher conducts mini-lesson
- Students work on writing
- Teacher and students share writing

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Calkins, L. (2010). Getting Started with Units of Study for Primary Writing, Grades K-2. Portsmouth, NA: Heinemann. http://www.heinemann.com/products/E03742.aspx

Students:
- Writing material

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Direct instruction:
- while teacher introduces the writing session and conducts mini-lesson

Modeling:
- while teacher shows students how to use a writing strategy

Consultant:
- while students work on writing 

Supporter:
- while teacher and students share writing

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during introduction of session, mini-lesson and sharing of writing

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 and include 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 posted exemplars
      a. Encourage students to add details and exciting words to make their work more interesting to read

- Use a rubric to assess student progress and guide your instruction

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Instruct mini-lessons related to the various stages of the writing process

- 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:

- 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