Hook Your Students

on Writing

Jee Young Kim

jykim@apis.seoul.kr
&
Elaine Lee
elainelee@apis.seoul.kr
March 11, 2011
Asia Pacific International School
 Writing Workshop Model

 Writing Workshop is about giving students the

opportunity to live like real writers.

 Students are involved in the writing process through

various units of study.

 Students have a writer’s notebook where they

records ideas, thoughts, and drafts.
 What does the structure of a writing
workshop lesson look like?
 Mini-lesson: 10-15minutes

 Work Time: 30-40 minutes

 Teacher is conferring with students at this time or

giving small group instruction.

 Share: 5-10 minutes

 Mini-lesson

 Short Instruction on one aspect of writing

-craft, process, convention

 Explicit Instruction

 Students practice the teaching point

 Usually in a meeting area (Rug area)

 Students sit next to writing partners.

 Mini-lesson Structure

Connection- Connect the lesson to students, state the

teaching Point
Teaching- Explicit teaching
Active Engagement- Students have a chance to
practice
Link- Restate the teaching point
 Work Time
 A quiet time of students working on their writing.
(Music playing)

 Students are using the strategy/lesson learned

during the mini-lesson.

 Teacher goes around conferring with individual

students on their writing or holds a group
conference.

 Teacher records what was discussed during the

conference.
 Share Time

 Develops a community of writers

 Provides an audience

 Develops communication skills

 Teacher directs the share time

 Writers share & celebrate their writing

Video clip of the Writing Workshop Model in our
classrooms.
 What is the writer’s notebook?

A place where writer’s record ideas, inspiration,

thoughts, and drafts.
Includes all genres of writing
Students have choice in what they write about.
How does the writer’s notebook fit into the writing
process?

Adapted from the work of

Randy Bomer, A Time For
Meaning
Launching the Writing Workshop
 Strategies for Generating
Personal Narrative Writing
 Think of a person who matters to you, then list clear,
small moments you remember with him or her.
Choose one to sketch and then write the
accompanying story.

 Think of a place that matters to you, then list clear,

small moments you remember there. Choose one to
sketch and then write the accompanying story.

 Notice an object, and let that object spark a memory.

Write the story of that one time.
 Qualities of Good
Personal Narrative Writing
 Write a little seed story; don’t write all
about a giant watermelon topic.

 Zoom in so you tell the most important

parts of the story.

 Include true, exact details from the movie

you have in your mind.
 Qualities of Good
Personal Narrative Writing
 Begin with a strong lead – maybe setting, action,
dialogue, or a combination to create mood.

 Make a strong ending – maybe use action, dialogue,

images, whole-story reminders to make a lasting
impression.

 Relive the episode as you write it.

 Looking at Published
Personal Narratives

What do you notice about the students’ writing?

 Writing Conference Clip

What is the structure/sequence of the conference?

What does the teacher do well here?

What did you notice about the writing workshop

through this conference?
Ideas for Celebrating Published Writing

Toast – Have a toast to celebrate writing

Gallery Walk- Silent reading and responding to

students’ writing pieces

Open Mic- One student reads to the class & invited

guests at a given time.

Meet & Greet- Students share their writing to small

groups of students.
Inside/Outside Circles
Ideas for Celebrating Published Writing

Invite parents and teachers.

Read Aloud to Book Buddies

Publish an anthology of short stories/poems from

the class.

Students dress up as a character in their story.

 How can I learn more about the
writing workshop model?
 1) Attend the Reading and Writing Project summer
conference at Columbia University, this summer!
 Dates: Writing Institute- June 27 – July 1st
Reading Institute- July 5th- July 9th
Cost: $675 per session
 How can I learn more about the
writing workshop model?
 Visit and observe teachers using
the writing workshop model.

 Professional Resources

 Internet Resources
 Internet Resources
 The Teacher’s College Reading & Writing Project-
http://rwproject.tc.columbia.edu/
 Great Site on Writing Resources-
http://www.mrsmcgowan.com/reading/writing_resources.html
 A Blog with great resources from 2 experienced teachers using
the writing workshop model-
http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/
 Lucy Calkin’s Website on The Writing Workshop Units of Study
books-
 http://www.unitsofstudy.com/home.asp
 Beth Newingham’s Site with a variety of teacher resources
http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/