Writers Workshop

If youre not modeling, youre teaching something else.

~Rich Allen

Lesson Plan Format

Mini-Lesson:
Students Write/
Teacher Confers:

Authors Chair:

This session is designed to offer the most current

information for integrating strategies in your classroom.
Please visit the link below for session information created
especially for you by this presenter.
Link:
http://www.cherylsclassroomtips.com/2015/03/writerworkshop.html

Goals of Writing

Students see writing as a way of telling about things.

Students develop fluency in writing.
Students learn to use grammar and mechanics in the
context of their own writing.
Students learn about specific forms of writing during
focused instruction.
Students read through writing.
Struggling writers are supported in order to
maintain their motivation and self-confidence.
*Arens, A.B., Loman, K.L., Cunningham, P.M., Hall, D.P. (2005)

What does kindergarten writing look like?

~Sample from Miss Kara Kelley from Nixa, MO.

Notes:

Notes:

4th Grade Writing Sample

*The same lesson-plan structure is used to teach kindergarten-sixth grade.
Teacher: Mrs. Cheryl Dick, Nixa, MO
Kailey 2-20-14
A Day in the Life of Jasper
Hi,
up
go
up

my name is Jasper and my day starts with the ring of an alarm clock. I jump
and run around my house because I know Im going to get my delicious food. I
and wake up my little brother. He yawns, stretches, and then starts to jump
and down in his crate because he knows it is time for breakfast.

When my mom or dad comes out, I wait at the door excitedly while they get my
food out of the garage. They bring in my food and pour it in my bowl, and then
they go and get my little brother out of his crate and we devour the food in less
than 5 minutes.
I book it down the stairs because I have to go to the bathroom, bad. My mom or
dad opens the door for me and I let it all out.
I look around curiously. Wheres my brother? I hear vicious growling behind the
tall shed, so I go and investigate. Benji (my brother) is growling at one of those
annoying cul-de-sac cats. They are as aggravating as the Barbie Girl song. I go
help Benji scare away the irritating cat.
I hear something coming from the playground behind my house. I hear children
laughing and having a great time at the park. I always love to talk to them and
to laugh with them, especially the mini ones.
I cant believe how kind kids can be because sometimes they throw me sports
balls. They will throw me footballs, tennis balls, soccer balls, and many more. The
sports balls are fun to play with and when I get tired of playing with them, my
little brother Benji and I like to eat them for a pleasant afternoon snack.
People call me the bird whisperer. They call me that because I hunt birds that
are bathing in my cold water. So, if you have any friends that are birds, tell them
to stay away from my freezing water. My family doesnt know how I get the
birds or why I hunt the birds, but I guess its in my blood. I dont actually eat
the birds... I guess I just hunt them so they are out of my silver water bowl.
Every now and then there is this frosty white stuff that sprays onto the ground.
It is freezing cold. It is as cold as a snowstorm in Antarctica. My little brother
Benji gets mad at the sub-zero snow and he likes to try to fight it, but his nose
just ends up buried deep in the frigid fluff. Im lucky because my dad built Benji

and I an awesome dog house and he put warm carpeting in it. The carpeting is
as warm as a bonfire.
Every so often I hear some ear piercing roars. The thunder is as as loud as 5
lawnmowers combined. After some thunder, I usually get rained on, and I get
soaked. Thats when my warm doghouse comes in handy. My brother Benji gets so
scared that he is a vigorously vibrating phone. He leaps into the doghouse so fast
that he looks like an Olympic runner. I go in there with him but I dont sprint
into it like he does, instead I walk in like a turtle. We wait, and wait, and wait
until... my awesome family gets home.
My family gets home and we tell them we want to come in. We yell like referees
when they dont have a whistle. Finally, my friend Kailey comes and gets us. We
are as happy as kids in a candy shop! We go upstairs and sometimes we have
some leftover crust from Kailey and Jaydens peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
(because they dont like the crust).
My friends Kailey and Jayden sometimes do tricks with Benji and me. They will
give us treats when we do the tricks they want us to do. The treats are as
tasty as cupcakes. My family has taught me to do the tricks sit, nose, lay down,
come, stay, and others but not roll over cause it was too tough for them to
teach me that. My brother Benji has only learned a few tricks because he is way
too disobedient to teach. He doesnt stay, he doesnt lie down, and he most of
all hates to stay still. I will be playing with a chew toy and hell just waddle right
up and take it away from me. I try to chase him for it and so does Kailey but he
runs and takes it right into his crate, and Kailey and I both know neither of us
can fit in his tiny crate. Once Kailey and I are gone, he will mosey out and lie on
the carpet and chew on my toyits like hes trying to rub it in my face.
My family sits on the couch and stares at this big black thing and they hit a big
button on this long remote looking thingy-majigger and the black rectangle lights
up and turns into a colorful dream. I think they are spying on people. They
always watch people dancing and they even sometimes watch peoples lives and
they laugh like its a comedy. Its as crazy as feral cats. Ive always wondered
if my family was super spies. Sometimes they wear these dark glasses and other
times they wear these big heavy coats. Sometimes I just dont understand my
family, they can be so mischievous!
Last year one of the kids, Jayden, got this new pet and it eats, sleeps, does its
business, and runs on his loud wheel. The wheel gets so annoying at night when I
am trying to sleep. The wheel at night almost never stops turning. Its like a
never ending black hole of noise. I wonder if Jayden is trying to replace us. Im
very curious about that, as curious as Curious George.
At the end of the night my family puts Benji in his crate and they go lay in bed.

Have you ever wondered what a dog does over night and have you ever known
anything missing? Im just kidding, I dont steal stuff like some other dogs, also
known as Benji. Benji steals it and chews it up like its a chew toy. Hes known
as the robber in the family. Well during the night I mostly sleep but I also mop
the floor with my tongue. My family never rewards me for how many crumbs I
pick up. But there are some really tasty things on the floor from dinner. I
usually get tired of cleaning so I wander into Kaileys room and slip into a deep
sleep on the floor.
I wake up the next morning and repeat the same routine, so if you want to hear
about the morning again, go back to the top. That is my day... all day, every day.

*Mini-Lesson, conferring, record-keeping, and authors chair strategies will be

available on my website:
http://www.cherylsclassroomtips.com/2015/03/writer-workshop.html

References and Research-Based Citations

Allen, R. (2010). High-Impact Teaching Strategies for the XYZ Era of
Education. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Allen, R. (2008). Green Light Classrooms: Teaching Techniques that Accelerate
Learning. Corwin Press.
Allington, R. (2006). What Really Matters for Struggling Readers: Designing
Research-Based Programs. Second Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education,
Inc.
Arens, A., Loman, K., Cunningham, P., Hall, D. (2005). The Teachers Guide to Big
Blocks. Greensboro, NC: Carson-Dellosa Publishing.
Cunningham, P., Hall, D., Cunningham, J. (2000). Guided Reading the FourBlocks Way. Greensboro, NC: Carson-Dellosa Publishing
Fisher, D., Frey, N. (2007). Checking for Understanding: Formative Assessment
Techniques for Your Classroom. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development.
Kagan, S., Kagan, M. (2009). Kagan Cooperative Learning. San Clemente, CA:
Kagan Publishing.
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Peterborough, NH: Crystal Springs Books.
Jensen, E. (2006). Enriching the Brain: How to Maximize Every Learners
Potential. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.
Jensen, E. (2003). Tools for Engagement: Managing Emotional States for
Learner Success. San Diego, CA: The Brain Store.
Jensen, E. (1997). Brain Compatible Strategies. San Diego, CA: The Brain Store.
Marzano, R.J. (2007). The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive
Framework for Effective Instruction. Alexandria, VA: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Marzano, R. (2006). Classroom and Assessment and Grading that Work. ASCD.
Alexandria, VA
Marzano, R.J. (2001). Classroom Instruction That Works: Research- Based
Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement. ASCD.
Tomlinson, C. (1999). The Differentiated Classroom, Responding to the Needs of
All Learners. Danvers, MA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development.
Clip Art: https://www.thistlegirldesigns.com/shop/