I will be introducing Writer's Workshop next week to my Kind. class and am completely overwhelmed on how to go about it. I can't wait to 'hear' more!
I do reccomend that you read Katie Wood Ray's About the Authors book. If your school has the Lucy Calkins Units of Study that is great as well. The first day I start my writers' workshop I really try to get them excited about writing. I usually will read them No David by David Shannon because he wrots that book originally when he was 5 years old. I then tell how they are authors too and are going to write books. Then I ask what they are going to write about and hand them a paper as they tell me. You have to keep really positive and upbeat. I do explain to them a rule I have is that I will not spell words for them. They need to stretch it out like a rubber band. By this I mean "happy" as "hhhh (child puts h) aaaa (a) ppppp (p) yyyyyy (child usually puts e) Let the kids go without many rules the first day and see what they do. Then you can add a rule or a procedure each day to get them going int he right direction. Make sure to have the kids share their books and point out things they are doing well. Every child has something they are doing well. I hope this helps you get started. I am looking forward to hearing from you in the furture. I know you will do great this week. Let me know if there is anything specific you need help with.
Smiles,
Megan
I will be introducing Writer's Workshop next week to my Kind. class and am completely overwhelmed on how to go about it. I can't wait to 'hear' more!
I do reccomend that you read Katie Wood Ray's About the Authors book. If your school has the Lucy Calkins Units of Study that is great as well. The first day I start my writers' workshop I really try to get them excited about writing. I usually will read them No David by David Shannon because he wrots that book originally when he was 5 years old. I then tell how they are authors too and are going to write books. Then I ask what they are going to write about and hand them a paper as they tell me. You have to keep really positive and upbeat. I do explain to them a rule I have is that I will not spell words for them. They need to stretch it out like a rubber band. By this I mean "happy" as "hhhh (child puts h) aaaa (a) ppppp (p) yyyyyy (child usually puts e) Let the kids go without many rules the first day and see what they do. Then you can add a rule or a procedure each day to get them going int he right direction. Make sure to have the kids share their books and point out things they are doing well. Every child has something they are doing well. I hope this helps you get started. I am looking forward to hearing from you in the furture. I know you will do great this week. Let me know if there is anything specific you need help with.
Smiles,
Megan