Free ResourcesWriting Workshop
The Writing Workshop is often referred to as a “program.” In fact, it is not a program but rather a philosophy or approach to teaching writing that emphasizes children using the writing process vs. composing for the purpose of producing an end product.
A Writing Workshop classroom takes students through the different stages of writing including collecting ideas, selecting an idea, gathering around that idea, drafting, crafting, revising, editing, and finally publishing. It also invites them to do all of the things a writer does including researching, exploring, talking, reading, and thinking.
A writing workshop is organized into units of study spanning three to six weeks. These in-depth studies enable students to explore different types of text and how they are constructed and crafted.
Successful writing workshops share several characteristics including:
- A safe environment for students to talk about and explore new learning about writing
- Consistent and regular time dedicated to writing
- Focused units of study that allow students to choose topics that they care about and are invested in writing about
- Explicit instruction
- Publication rituals
