Launching the Writer’s Workshop

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Phase 1: Identify Writing Topics
Phase 2: Establish Writing Procedures
Phase 3: Introduce the 6 Traits
Phase 4: Build a Writing Rubric
Connections to TAP, RISE, and College & Career-Ready Standards

Word Template
K-2 Sample | 3-12 Sample

Introduce the writing modes

Connect modes of writing to author’s purpose.

Grades K-5 P.I.E. | P.E.N.
Grades 6-12 P.I.E. | P.E.N.

Brainstorm writing topics

Create a life map on paper or a digital version, similar to this Google commercial.

Execute the “Book Springboard”

Read list book and have students make text-to-self connections. What experiences and potential writing topics does that make you think of?

Define the 3 parts of a workshop

Suzi Wagner, literacy coach in Danville, IL, clearly defines writer versus rider in her “Who is a writer?” mini-lesson.
PowerPoint | Google Sheets

Writer versus Rider S2 ML1 PPT Launch WW

Southern Door Elementary teacher (Brussels, WI) Jessica Meacham outlines writer’s workshop expectations using these Smartboard Notebook documents.

List the expectations for Independent Writing Time
and include a timer within the Just Write document.

The Writer’s Workshop document includes all three parts of the workshop and the specific activities of each.

Introduce procedures, expectations, and rhythms

When executing the 4 steps of a mini-lesson, identify which trait the skill supports.

Increase transition efficiency with code phrases between mini-lesson, writing time, and author’s chair.
PowerPoint | Google Sheets

Depict the appropriate volume of students’ voices using an anchor chart.

Introduce the writer’s notebook

Add a quick-find bookmark with a piece of ribbon taped to the spine of a composition notebook.

Should you need a pocket in the notebook, create one by folding over a page and gluing it to the next one… or adhering a small envelope to the back cover.

Primary teachers love Tonya Gill’s writer’s notebook that moves through the developmental stages of writing—drawing, labeling, listing, etc.

Consider the flexibility of loose paper when creating a writer’s notebook. The “spolder” idea is a great one for those who have access to a comb-binding machine.

Create the same effect using a combination of a single folder (with tabs) and 1-3 additional pocket folders (without tabs). Turn the pocket folders inside out and hole-punch them. Using the tabs, fasten them together.