Writer’s Workshop 2023

Since the beginning of Writer’s Workshop we have seen the children grow in confidence. We are beginning to hear children claim writing as a favorite part of the day, and notice that they are reluctant to put their work away when our writing time is done. This enthusiasm provides an excellent buffer for both present and future writing challenges. The children are encouraged to write about topics they are an expert on, themselves! In the pictures below you will see how the children’s work varies, as each is working on their own goals! Such as adding details to the pictures, adding labels, writing a sentence, stretching over many pages, or more sentences! They choose their goal at the beginning of each writing time and reflect how they achieved that goal at the end.

Many students are forming sentences and using strategies to sound out words. All of the students are working hard and developing meaningful writing habits.

Children are choosing the paper that fits their purpose. They can choose blank or lined paper.

When we finish a story we think: Do I need to add to the pictures? The words? Or am I ready to start a new story?

Our stories are beginning to stretch over many pages!

The children have finished publishing one of their stories. When they get ready to publish, they look through their writing folder and decide what is an example of my strongest work? They add color to their pictures, a front and back cover and choose a title that fits their story.

As they finish their publications, they share them with the class and their story goes into our classroom library for their classmates to read! They answer questions and comments after sharing them. As audience members, children are working on listening to the story and giving nice advice, comments that make us grow as writers. They have learned to say, “next time maybe you could….” and “___ would make your story even better!” By giving this nice advice children are stretching themselves and learning to take suggestions from fellow writers.

As your child shows interest, you can help your child write at home as well:

• Encourage your child to draw detailed pictures to tell fictional or real-life stories.
• If your child is interested, he/she can label items in the picture. Be mindful that “k,” “cn,” “ktn,” and “kitten” can all spell the word kitten in Kindergarten.  
• Great questions to ask are, “What sounds do you hear in that word?”or “Can you show me how you stretch out that word?”
• This is not the season for correcting spelling patterns. The aim is for the child to become confident in his/her understanding and power over the written language, which will provide him/her with the confidence to enter the world of reading. (Too much “pressure” can serve to create a negative self-concept in regards to reading and writing.)