Writing Workshop

Like the Reading Workshop, Writing Workshop also serves as a management tool for effectively teaching writing in a Comprehensive Literacy Approach and was perfected by Nancie Atwell, in her book, In the Middle.

This daily block of 60 minutes devoted to writing instruction, has the same set-up as a Reading Workshop:  A whole group minilesson begins the workshop by focusing on some aspect of writing: craft, conventions or procedures for the workshop to work smoothly.  A period of sustained independent writing on various writing projects follows the minilesson.  During this independent writing time, teachers meet with small groups who have similar needs (guided writing) for a short, intensive focused lesson or more commonly meet with individuals in writing conferences.  The workshop is ended by a group share for the purpose of providing feedback to 1-3 writers who share a portion of their writing or an entire piece.  During this critical component, students listen to authors read their pieces and then provide pointed feedback as to what worked well within the writing and offer suggestions on how to improve the piece.

This management tool works very well in that it allows for teachers to reach all students daily through minilessons, and work with some students in small, flexible guided groups  or in conferences for intensive, differentiated instruction.  During this time, children have substantial time for independent practice that increases stamina for testing, spelling development, writing proficiency, and motivation through personal choice.

For a heuristic of the components of Writing Workshop, click here.

For forms and documents helpful in implementing a Writing Workshop, click here.

For research that supports a workshop approach, click here.