My writer's workshop takes place during our Daily 5 station. Usually we focus on one or two writing skills a week. I introduce this skill on Monday, and we learn it as a class through a mini-lesson. The students get practice during Work on Writing throughout the week in their writer's notebook. These mini lessons range from types of writing (persuasive, letters, informative, story writing, etc.) to working on writing structure and the writing process.
Here's what our writing corner looks like...
This is the table where we write. In the bins are my monthly writing prompts for the whole school year, and other creative prompts that match up with our skill. 

This is one of the walls filled with supplies. I keep lots of post-its, index cards, colored pencils and pens, scissors, staplers, hole punch, erases, and all sorts of writing supplies at hand. The tote bag has our class mascot and class mascot journal that our "VIP" takes home and writes in each week. The paint chips are "vivid" adjectives that my kiddos created during an adjectives mini-lesson. They LOVED it and we made a class ring of good adjectives with them! I constantly see my kiddos reaching for it to juicy up their writing.
This is another part of our wall. I keep our "Trait Crate" close at hand because it reminds kiddos of mini-lessons we work on. There are multiple colored pens and lots of pencils. The green bins have "rough draft" paper and "publishing paper" that is fun and bright colored!

Our writing center pencils have "wild" duct tape so kiddos know they STAY there! It works wonders because when a kiddo sees someone with one outside of the writing center, they immediately call them out! Cracks me up :)
Another favorite of my students are the Whole Class Writing Journals. These are just a few of them. When they finish their writing they can pick one of these up to write in, or they can write in them during "free writing workshop time."They beg me to write in them and they LOVE reading their classmates writing, too!
One of my most beneficial mini-lessons is my "Comma Rules" quick check. In 4th grade we struggle so much with writing complex sentences that aren't run ons. So I whipped up these little rule reminders and we spent a week going over and practicing a rule a day. These little posters hang right by my workshop as reminders to my kiddos of the rules now! You can get this mini lesson for free here.
This is something else we focus on a lot! We go through the writing process together in the beginning of the year. Students have this to refer to during writers workshop to remind themselves of the steps they need to take to "publish" a writing piece. Once they've taken these steps they can sign up to be "in the spotlight" on Friday and share their published work! They love it :)
I'd love to hear about your workshop! Link up and share :)
Love your writing process posters!!! Thanks for linking up!!
ReplyDeleteJivey
ideas by jivey
I love the idea of having a shared classroom journal! We made figurative language books for all of the skills (simile, metaphor, idiom, etc) and it is a favorite "book" that they like to read. This would be a great incentive for them to write good stories and get new ideas!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Amanda
Collaboration Cuties
I am so excited to try whole class journals next year. I love your "Comma Rules" posters! I started taping my pencils this year - somehow they are so much more exciting to write with!
ReplyDeleteLooking From Third to Fourth
So cute! I love the organization and the colors...the same colors I have in my room!
ReplyDelete:) Kaitlyn
Smiles and Sunshine
Great organization! I love the idea of putting duct tape on the end of your pencils. Pencils are always disappearing from my writing area.
ReplyDeleteForeman Teaches
I love the rules posters and the tape on the end of the pencils. I am going to have to do that next year!
ReplyDeleteHunter's Tales from Teaching
Those pencils with the tape are awesome! I'm going to have to give that a try. I also like that you talk with your students about the writing PROCESS so they know there are steps to be taken before publishing. One of the biggest battles I fight is the "one and done" mentality. Great ideas! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Mrs. Laffin's Laughings
I love that tape/pencil idea!! I just found your cute blog through the Fairytales giveaway, I'm your newest follower!
ReplyDelete✿Sue✿
✿Science for Kids Blog✿
Love the Whole Class Writing Journals! I will be adding those to my writing station very soon. :). I'm your newest follower! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCreating Lifelong Learners