WRITER’S WORKSHOP

Students will be learning the various tools for successful writing during writer’s workshop. This workshop consists of a short mini lesson and 30-45 minutes of writing time each day. Students will have an opportunity to create the following pieces of writing throughout the year:

-         Personal Narrative

-         The Writing Process/ Magazine Feature Articles

-         Informational Writing- How To Writing

-         Writing from Knowledge & Experience-  MEAP Writing Skills

-         Research Project

-         Poetry

* Within each unit students will also learn how to develop character actions, dialogue, physical descriptions, settings & internal thinking.

Students will also be learning rules for writing. These rules include:

-         All sentences start with a capital letter

-         Capitalize the names of specific people and places

-         All sentences end with a punctuation mark. ? !

-         No capital letters in the middle of words

-         No two sentences in a row should start with the same word

-         The word AND should not be in a sentence more than once

-         How to vary sentence beginnings

What can parents do to help?

-         When your child shares his/her work with you, comment on the content of the writing

-         Don’t look for errors in spelling . . . we are still working on that!

-         Encourage your child to write at home. Here are some suggestions:

o   Make a list of things you need from the grocery store

o   Write thank you notes

o   Keep a journal/diary

o   Write a wish list

o   Make a scrapbook