I really enjoyed today's discussion on writer's workshop. I thought I had a good understanding of the program, but today's discussion really helped me feel more confident in implementing it into classroom. I plan to take a bit from my experience in New Zealand and from this class to help my students the most. I really like how in New Zealand, the student first self corrected their writing. Then I would have the peers edit and revise each other. In New Zealand, I saw a teacher had 'conference' times on the board, whenever the student was ready for a conference they would write their name down and when the teacher was ready, she would call the next student's name. The conferences also allowed the teacher to group students with similar ability levels for small group instruction.
I enjoyed writer's workshop because you are able to keep the student's work and able to show the progress. As a student, I think it's important that they are working towards something. I know I would have enjoyed publishing a book like the one Dr. Schmidt and her 2nd grade class did. I loved all the ideas that we discussed in class, writing a book review on your own story, advertising for your story, or creating a digital story. After 5-6 weeks, I would like to allow the writing time to 'publish' the students work. This is a great way to motivate some students. I really believe writer's workshop is great for all ability levels!
I agree with you, I think that allowing time for the students to explore more of the concepts of a published book is really important and motivating. I think that talking about the different types of books and dust covers and About the Authors is really fun and the students really enjoy all of this work. I also think that this is a good time to use technology innovatively in their work.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of students signing up for conference times with the teacher. This would let the students and teacher know whose turn it is. When I was in fifth grade I conferenced with the students on their writing and I always had the issue of them crowding around me trying to be first. This made me feel rushed and the student I was working with didn't get the amount of time that they needed with me because we were both distracted. If I would have had them sign up for times, then there would have been a set order. It would have helped a lot!
ReplyDeleteI think it would have been really neat to see the Writer's Workshop style in New Zealand firsthand. I think it is a great idea to have conference times. When I was in kindergarten, each morning the students would either illustrate or add at least three ideas (sentences) to their illustration.When they had finished writing their story, they would come up to me so I could look over it. There were a lot of times that students would stand in a small line and wait their turn to have their story checked. Instead of having the students stand in line and waste time, a conferencing schedule could have been set up in which the students could have written their name on the piece of paper and could work on illustrating their next story. I could have used this paper to call on the student who was next to have his or her story read.
ReplyDeleteI do swear by this approach - it makes such a difference in the classroom related to routine and just respect by the students. They are constantly helping each other. I also used the board to track students who were ready for editing, revising, teacher conf. and author's chair!
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