WRITERS WORKSHOP

Writing Mini Lessons For Primary Grades

My beliefs about writing, stem from the books that I have read about emergent writers.  Visit the F.A.Q. section of my web site for answers to common questions that I have received about my approach to Writer's Workshop.  The lessons on this page reflect the lessons that I've used with Kindergarteners and First Graders.  I've included additional resources and downloads the the very bottom of the page.  Please keep in mind that this page is a work in progress.  I will continue adding lessons over the school year (2008 - 2009).

 

Writer's Workshop Notebook:
 1.  Your Notebook Belongs to You
 2.  Your Notebook Has a Home
 3.  Your Notebook Has Parts
   
Tools Writers Use:
 1.  Crayons
 2.  Markers
 3.  Color Pencils
 4.  Transitioning to Pencils
   
Establishing a Workshop Routine:
 1.  We Begin Writer's Workshop at the Carpet
 2.  We Listen To and Watch the Teacher
 3.  We Can Help the Teacher
 4.  We Sit with our Writing Buddies when Writing
 5.  We Add the Date to our Writing
 6.  We Meet with the Teacher when Done
 7.  We Share our Writing Progress
   
Storytelling:
 1.  Everyone has a Story to Share
 2.  What is Near and Dear to your Heart
 3.  We Share Stories using Oral Language
 4.  We Share Stories using Pictures
 5.  We Share Stories using Words/Text
   
Authors and Illustrators:
 1.  Writers are Called Authors and Illustrators
 2.  Illustrators Draw the Pictures
 3.  Your are an Illustrator
 4.  Authors Write the Words
 5.  Your are an Author
   
Labeling:
 1.  What Labels Are
 2.  Purpose of Labels
 3.  What Labels Look Like
 4.  What We Can Label #1
 5.  What We Can Label #2
 6.  What We Can Label in our Classroom
   
Moving Beyond Labels:
   
Spelling Strategies:
 1.  Letters, Words, and Sentences
 2.  Utilizing the ABC Chart
 3.  Utilizing the Word Wall
 4.  Utilizing Mini Offices
 5.  Utilizing Environmental Print
 6.  S-t-r-e-t-c-h It Out Spelling
 7.  BARB's Spelling Strategy Posters
 8.  Sight Words are to be Spelled Correctly
 9.  Spelling Pattern Anchor Charts
   
Detailed Illustrations:
 1.  Detail to Color, Shape, Space, and Size
 2.  Do You Have 5+ Illustration and Color Details?
 3.  Utilizing Drawing Books
   
List Making:
 1.  What a List Is
 2.  Why We Make Lists
 3.  What Lists Look Like
 4.  Lists Have Titles
 5.  When To Write a List
 5.  How To Use a List
   
Letter Writing:
 1.  Letters are Notes that We Write to People
 2.  Letters can be Written by Anyone
 3.  Letters can be Written to Anyone
 4.  Letters are Written for Reasons
 5.  Letters Look a Certain Way
 6.  Letters can be Written by YOU
   
Brainstorming:
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Editing:
 1.  Determining What the Problem Is
 2.  Determining Why There is a Problem
 3.  Determining Who Can Fix the Problem
 4.  Determining How to Fix the Problem
 5.  Using an Editing Checklist
 6.  Checking for Matching Words and Illustrations
 7.  Checking for Capitalization
 8.  Checking for Spacing
 9.  Checking for Spelling
10.  Checking for Punctuation
   
Revising:
   
   
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Publishing:1
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Sharing:
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Conventions of Writing:
 1.  Capitalization
 2.  Punctuation
   
Ideas:
 1.  Beyond "I like ____ and I love___."
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Word Choice:
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Sentence Fluency:
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Organization:
 1.  Organizing Text on a Page
 2.  Using Good Spacing Between Letters and Words
 3.  Adding A Title to Your Story
   
   
   
Voice:
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Pattern Books:
5 Day Unit (2008-2009)    1
Anchor Chart Picture (2007-2008)
Anchor Chart Titles (2007-2008)    1
Picture Book Cover Labels for Anchor Chart
Mentor Texts Book List    1
Pattern Story Paper Templates for Students    
Pattern Story Paper Icons for Writing Table Drawers   
   
Question and Answer Books:
5 Day Unit (2008-2009)    1
Anchor Chart Picture (2007-2008)
Anchor Chart Titles (2007-2008)    1
Picture Book Cover Labels for Anchor Chart
Mentor Texts Book List    1
Q&A Story Paper Templates for Students    
Q&A Story Paper Icons for Writing Table Drawers   
   
Personal Narratives:
   
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Nonfiction:
 1.  Writing About Things We Know About
 2.  Adding Nonfiction Text Features to our Writing
 3.  Question and Answer Books
   
Fiction:
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Poetry:
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Additional Teacher Resources
Video of Writer's Workshop in Action
Developmental Stages of Writing Printable 
Book List from the Mini Lesson on this Site 
Professional Books about Writing 
Wanted Poster: "Writer's Workshop" Volunteer [sample]
Wanted Poster: "Writer's Workshop" Volunteer [blank]
Writers "To Do" Checklist - Full Sheet
Writers "To Do" Checklist - Half Sheet
Writer's Workshop Mini Lessons in Printable Format
Writing Checklist Labels 
Writer's Workshop Anchor Chart Sign for Routines/Expectations
Writing Paper - by ?
Writing to Read 2007 - A Nellie Edge Resource
Writing to Read 2008 - A Nellie Edge Resource
Writing Paper Drawer Cards/Labels (Avery 8163/Avery 8371)
Writing Process Pictures/Images/ClipArt/Titles - 8 1/2 by 14
Writing Process Captions
Writing Process Anchor Chart Pictures
Story Map Brainstorming Sheets
Mrs. Pierre's Status of the Class Teacher Sheet
Reading and Writing Observation Sheet - Weekly
Meacham's First 20 Days of Kindergarten Writer's Workshop
Meacham's Kidwriting Parent Helper Guide for Kindergarten
Hat Homework Announcement (1st Grade)
Weekend News
Daily News
Field Trip News
Assorted News Templates
Pattern Story Paper 1
Pattern Story Paper 2
Pattern Story Paper 3
Simple Story Paper
Topics to Write About Anchor Chart Picture
Topics to Write About Labels
Topics to Write About Title
Meacham's First Grade Writing Rubric (Ideas/Conventions)