Writer's Workshop
"If there's a book you really want to read, but is hasn't been written, then you must write it." - Toni Morrison
In third grade, we use the Writer's Workshop model. We focus on the development of a writer, providing authentic experiences for students to write and practice the stages of the writing process (prewrite, draft, edit, revise, publish).
Our writing block consists of 45 minutes that includes the following components:
- Mini-lesson that focuses on a specific skill or strategy for the day explicitly modeled by the teacher
- Independent Writing
- Conferencing
- Share
In third grade students work on the organization/structure, fluency, and elaboration of their writing through a variety of genres. Students practice a variety of detail techniques to assist in the elaboration of their writing, including the use of sensory details, the show don't tell method, good word choices, similes, and specific versus general details. As we discuss what it means to be a writer, students are provided with multiple opportunities to revise and edit their work through independent editing/revising with checklists, peer editing, and teacher/student conferencing.
Units include:
- Launching the Writer's Workshop
- Crafting True Stories (Narrative)
- Changing the World (Persuasive/Opinion)
- The Art of Information Writing
- Literary Essay
- Writing About Research
- Once Upon A Time (Narrative)
- Poetry- Writing, Thinking, and Seeing More