I? have used writer's workshop for teaching genre and non-genre studies. I begin each year with a very quick study, "Writerly Life," in which students explore the importance of a writer's notebook (based on Ralph Fletcher) and then select a seed idea and process the work.? I put a slant on research paper based upon studies I did with Randy Bomer and had them write a piece based upon Writing for Social Action.? They learn the elements of research paper, including MLA format, structure, and thesis statement, however they select a topic they are passionate about and then write off of that.? I have been doing this for 5th to 8th graders.
Good luck! Kristine -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Sent: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 8:20 pm Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] workshop Thank you, Renee, for your ideas. I noticed that in writers workshop in all the classes I visited students were writing about themselves, which is all they seem to do in all three years at the middle school I visited. I'd like my students to be able to write a research paper. I guess that if there are not any hard and fast rules, then I can use the workshop format to teach a research paper. That's good news for me. Jan ------------- Original message from Renee <[email protected]>: ------------- > Hello Jan, > > I don't think there are any hard and fast rules about readers' and > writers' workshops, especially regarding when they should start or > which should go first. There are so many ways to run these workshops, > and so many ways to implement them, that these answers really depend on > the students involved. > > Speaking only for myself, I can say that readers' and writers' > workshops have looked differently in my classroom in different years > and with different grade levels. What I think works is for a teacher to > decide on the goals and then just give it a try. > > Having said all that, I can also say that what has worked for me in the > past is to try to keep it as simple as possible, to make sure that I > build independent work skills into the students, and be willing to > change the structure if it isn't working in some way. > > :-) > Renee > > On Jan 17, 2009, at 5:53 PM, [email protected] wrote: > > > I am some more questions about workshop. They are all related. I > > should probably add that I teach middle school. > > > > Is it necessary to start writing workshop years before a school starts > > reading workshop? Does it matter which goes first? Can teachers > > start both in the same year? > > Is it necessary to have workshop during the majority of class time? > >> > Thanks for letting me know what has worked for you. > > Jan > > > > > > "When you learn, teach. When you get, give." > ~ Maya Angelou _______________________________________ ________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
