Mr. Ro Update Week 3

Writer's Workshop is a designated time of 60 minutes each day where students become “authors”.  Our lessons are taken, primarily, from the Units of Study for Intermediate Writers authored by Lucy Calkins and the Teacher's College at Columbia University in addition to Six Plus One Writing Traits Instruction and The Writing Revolution. 

 The first 10-15 minutes of Writer’s Workshop is a designated minilesson, or direct teacher instruction focusing on the six traits of writing (Conventions, Sentence Fluency, Organization, Ideas and Content, Word Choice, and Voice) the different modes of writing (Narrative, Expository, Persuasive, etc.), and techniques and strategies that good writer’s use. 

 After each mini-lesson students will have independent writing time where they will choose their own topic for their writing and have an opportunity to practice skills and strategies taught in the mini-lesson. By giving the students choices in their topics, the writing becomes authentic, engaging, and meaningful. During this independent writing time, the teacher will be meeting with individuals or small groups to conference and encourage their growth as authors.  

Occasionally during independent writing time, we will pause for a "mid-workshop share." This will be a time for the teacher to refocus the group, or to highlight the extraordinary efforts of an individual writer in the class. At the end of the workshop, about 10-15 minutes will be spent giving the students an opportunity to share their writing with the class or a writing partner.  

Students will learn to write, revise, edit, and publish stories throughout the school year. They will also begin to assess their own writing and learn to implement the characteristics of quality writing into their own work. 

Parents can be encouraging in their child’s writing efforts at school by having discussions about unit topics at home and encouraging students to write at home in an at-home journal.  Today I will be sending home their first writing assessment or on demand piece.  

Below I've attached the 3rd-grade Narrative Writing Rubric and model sample of a third-grade narrative.  This is our goal for writing instruction for the year and what all students will be working towards this school year.

Here is a model of what our goal for third-grade writing looks like.  Below you will find pictures of students in various stages of the writing process.  Please read over this model with your child as well as your child's piece he or she is taking home today.  Then ask your child to reflect on his or her piece and where he or she can improve his or her writing!  Have a great weekend!