On this page, I freely share some of my best writers workshop resources.
In 1996, inspired by my work with the Northern Nevada Writing Project, I added a new tool to my classroom: A weekly writer's workshop. It took me several years to make the tool work for my classroom and for my style of teaching. When it did work, I suddenly realized I had become the writing teacher I had hoped to be.
Above all, I understand this about teachers using writer's workshop: no two teachers' workshops should be alike. Each teacher must find his/her way and believe in the tool.
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In 2001, I contributed eighteen pages about Writer's Workshop to the Northern Nevada Writing Project's newly revised Secondary Writing Guide. Every secondary English teacher in Washoe County, Nevada, received a copy of the 450-page resource, which later became too costly to continue reproducing. Darn those rising paper prices! Since it's no longer being printed, I happily share those eighteen pages here:
A Writing Workshop: one teacher’s approach
Inspiration for a Writing Workshop: For many years, I successfully implemented a Writing Workshop in my classroom. Authentic writing poured from my students during those semesters. The topics that were written about belonged to my students; the structure of their writing time was mine. Ideas seemed recklessly up for grabs at times, yet learning always occurred. It was an exciting time to teach, and it was my Writing Workshop that made it happen inside my classroom.
I based my writing workshop on an exciting 2-hour demonstration I’d seen by fellow NNWP-consultant Candy Carter, an outstanding secondary English teacher here in Northern Nevada. I had been a Writing Project consultant for less than a year back then, and I was actively searching for better ways to structure my writing classroom. Candy's demonstration was exactly what I was looking for at an ideal moment for me. I was inspired.
When my students entered my classroom the following fall, they were introduced to a new structure that would eventually take over my classroom. Candy had generously shared her workshop format, which ended up being different than my own. When it comes to a writing workshop, I think it’s best when teachers don’t take exact structures from fellow teachers; workshops need to be 50 percent borrowed, 50 percent self-created, give or take ten percent.
I say this so you know it's okay to take what you want from the resources I provide below, but don’t integrate your workshop to be exactly like mine. Make your workshop fit you and your classroom teaching style.
Click here to open and print the entire eighteen-page document, which comes with classroom resources and variations for a poetry-based writer's workshop.
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In 2005, I coordinated the creation of a new resource for the Northern Nevada Writing Project: The Going Deep with 6 Trait Language. This teacher guide has become one of the most successful resources ever produced by the NNWP, and thousands of teachers from all over the world have obtained copies for their classrooms. I was the project's coordinator, but I also contributed many of my 6 trait resources from my writer's workshop. I share some of my favorites here:
6-Trait Revision & Editing Post-It Notes
Note: I created four additional variations for each trait, and I offer a 30-page document that contains the original Post-Its from above, plus all the variations on pages with 6 per sheet. You can read more about these variations on My Products page.
Other 6-Trait Resources I created for my Writers Workshop
Like these free resources? I invite you to check out the resources I sell on My Products page. |
