Introduction to Writer's Workshop

        Reading about writer’s workshop was actually pretty informative and interesting. Based on the book’s description of a writer’s workshop, I had never actually participated in one (besides the first day we had class). I think it’s pretty safe to say that in my school we were taught the writing process rather than the art of actual writing. If we had been given a writer’s workshop as the book describes it, I think me, as well as my former classmates, would have enjoyed writing a whole lot more. I remember thinking of writing as a boring job rather than something that could ever be considered an enjoyable activity. It was not until I got older (probably around college) that I appreciated writing more, but even then it was only writing for myself that I enjoyed doing. This kind of goes along with the book saying that student choice is really important when it comes to writing. I remember reading that part and highlighting the heck out of it. We hear a lot in our classes about student choice and how to incorporate students’ interests in the lesson plan activities and I think this is a good way to do it. I mean, the students should have the opportunity to write about whatever interests them, that way, they are more inclined to produce quality writing. I know that when I write for myself or about something that interests me, my writing quality is a lot better. I’m also more proud of what I write for myself than, say, a essay for class or something.

        While reading about writer’s workshop, there were a couple of things that surprised me and kind of made me nervous as well. While I think it is great to have a large chunk of time devoted to writing I am concerned with how much time that actually is. With so much focus on standardized tests in our schools, do we have time in the week to set aside 2 ½ hours completely devoted to writing? I really like to think that we can make the time. There has to be a way we can teach our students everything that we are supposed to cover in a day or week and still have time laid aside for them to produce something for themselves that they actually care about. There has got to be a way that we can do this. Which, kind of, leads me to the question of, how often are we supposed to have a writer’s workshop? Every day? Two times a week? Three times a week? Once a week? The book mentioned that once a week was probably not enough—and I agree with that, but how often are we supposed to have one? I think if I knew an approximation then I would better see how I could fit a true writer’s workshop into my future classroom (which I totally want to do).

        A second thing that I was curious about was how to introduce a writer’s workshop? While reading I kept thinking how great all of this sounded and how I would really like to have this in my classroom but I couldn’t think of how to start it. I completely agree with the book when it states that our students are going to come into our classroom not knowing how to participate in a true writer’s workshop (unless their teacher the year before did it, which would be fantastic J ). How do we teach/show our students how do to this? I’m kind of scared to just tell them what I hope for them to do and have a focus lesson on something and then just let them go. Also, what age group does a writer’s workshop actually start? I was in a Kindergarten classroom last semester and they had “writer’s workshop” but it was more like getting down the basics of how to write (capital letters, moving from L to R—concepts about print type of stuff). Is that still concerned a writer’s workshop? Or is a writer’s workshop more for older students (3-5)? How can we modify a writer’s workshop to fit younger grades that might not be able to focus for large chunks of time on writing?