When I was doing writer's workshop, I found the level of engagement my students had in the actual topics/purposes of their writing had a direct effect on their level of engagement in the process. The more engaged they were, the less I had to concern myself with managing their behavior. A book that is probably an oldie by now, but helped me wonderfully, was Nancy Atwell's In The Middle. It's all about middle school writing workshop. Lessons >From A Child by Lucy Caulkins is also an awesome resource even though it's about younger kids. She really helped me see how important student "ownership" of their own writing is. (I guess these references tell how old I am?:) Cathy Title I Reading In a message dated 8/27/2009 9:15:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
When I worked in the junior high, I co constructed a chart with the students to determine what effective writers do. Then, I also modeled conferences and did as suggested below. What are the others doing? If it is not on the list of what effective writers do, then I emphasized the students shouldn't do it. HOwever, I did have one particular challenging year. With those students, I would have a day where I would allow everyone to conference. I also tried to conference with more than one student at once. I'd put several students together who were working on similar genres or with similar needs. That way, I could minize the time I was conferring. But for most classes, setting up the expectations in the beginning, modeling and revisiting when it isn't working is the best practice. Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cynthia Travaglini" <[email protected]> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 4:59:10 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Conferring during Workshop This goes with the planning and set up of the writing and reading workshop. During the beginning weeks you instruct the students on what readers' and writers' workshop will look like. Everyone being respectful of the others and working very quietly- You may want to grab a copy of Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop and review the Implementing phase. She goes over it very thoroughly what it should like and sound like and how to get your students there. ________________________________ From: mosaic-bounces+ctravaglini=lumberton.k12.nj...@literacyworkshop.org on behalf of [email protected] Sent: Thu 8/27/2009 2:10 PM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies EmailGroup Subject: [MOSAIC] Conferring during Workshop My school will start writing workshop this fall. How do you make sure students continue working when you conference with individuals about their work? Other teachers have reported (and I have noticed in my own experiences) that when the teacher works with one student, the other students think they can take that time to socialize. In a short time, no one is working, and everyone is just visiting. I need some exact words that will work with middle school students. Thanks! Jan _______________________________________________ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ Lumberton Township Public Schools Leaders in Educational Excellence Visit us on the web at http://www.lumberton.k12.nj.us This message is for the named person's use only. It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it fro m your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the message states otherwise and the sender is authorized to state them to be the views of any such entity. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- _______________________________________________ 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. _______________________________________________ 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.
