Writer’s workshops are becoming very popular as a method of writing instruction. Teachers at all levels--from elementary school to college—are foregoing the traditional lecture and allowing students to choose their own writing topics and work at their own pace. Teachers are realizing that giving their students time to write independently and allowing them to share their work with others are effective ways of building writing skills.
If you are not confident in your writing ability or you simply hate to write, a writing workshop can be a wonderful experience. You often get to set your own writing goals and write whatever you want. The idea is that “good writers write.”
While every teacher runs a workshop differently, the same basic format usually applies.
Mini-Lesson
Most writing workshops begin with a mini-lesson. A mini-lesson is a short lesson of about 5 to 15 minutes in length designed to help students on a specific area of their writing. Lessons may be about topic generation, thesis statements, writing effective paragraphs, grammar, sentence fluency, and other focused topics. Writers get a great deal of value from mini-lessons because they are usually related to real-world writing issues, and they get to apply what they’ve learned immediately in the writing workshop.
Status of the Class
Most teachers keep a record of each student’s progress with a Status of the Class log. They will circulate among students as they are writing and ask for an update on each student’s writing process. Every teacher will record this information differently, and some will use the Status of the Class as a participation grade.
Don’t be intimidated when the teacher asks how you are doing. If you are struggling with a writing piece, let her know. She will probably take some time to help you or pair you with another struggling student to let you help each other. Status of the Class is simply the teacher’s way of making sure each student is moving forward with their writing goals.
Independent Writing
This is the most important aspect of the writing workshop. It’s the time you have to develop your skills as a writer. You will probably be given anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to write independently. Use this time to set goals for yourself. Decide what you want to accomplish as a writer. Then just start writing!
If the words don’t come right away, don’t panic. Brainstorm or freewrite until you get rolling. Some teachers allow students to meet in small groups to help each other during this time. If you feel you are not “doing” the writer’s workshop correctly, check with your teacher. Chances are if you are making a genuine effort to become a better writer you are doing exactly the right thing.
Sharing Your Writing
Sharing is a time for you to learn from your fellow students. The teacher should offer some guidance for how to critique each other’s work effectively and how to accept constructive criticism. Use this time to bounce ideas off your classmates. Also listen attentively to the writing of others. You can get some great ideas from the minds of other writers. Don’t feel you have to share everything you write. Pick the pieces you would most like some help with.
Writer’s workshop is great way to become a better writer. Approach it with an open mind, and you will soon gain confidence and ability in your writing skills.
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