Minilesson 1

Student Responsibilities in the Writing Workshop

This year you will be taking part in a writing workshop. As in any other class, you will assume various responsibilities. To ensure a successful experience in the writing workshop, you will do the following:

·         Come to class each day ready to write.

·         Maintain a workshop binder in which you will keep your writing.

·         Bring your workshop binder to class each day.

·         Find and develop topics for your writing.

·         Experiment with different types of writing.

·         Learn and use the rules of written English.

·         Complete pieces of writing in a timely manner.

·         Learn and use new techniques, methods, and strategies to improve your writing.

·         Work with peer authors in learning new skills and strategies.

·         Follow directions; behave properly; do not disturb other writers.

·         Take pride in your writing; produce the best writing that you can.

·         Share your writing with others; read and respond to other’s writing.

·         Grow as a writer.

Organizing Your Writing Workshop Binder

Your binder is divided into the following sections:

·         Minilessons

·         Prewriting

·         Drafts

·         Published

Classroom Routine

·         Each daily class period begins with a minilesson taught by me. This lesson will be anywhere from five to fifteen minutes in length. You will take notes over all minilessons and keep those notes in the “Minilesson” section of your workshop binder. You will keep these notes all year and refer to them as needed.

·         Sometimes, you will have a short daily assignment to complete and turn into me.

·         The bulk of each class period is devoted to silent sustained writing. You will write every day. Writing time is approximately thirty minutes each day.

·         Each class period ends with a short closing by me and an opportunity for students to share their writing experience for that day.

Formal Writing Assignments

·         You will draft, revise, edit and publish a piece of writing approximately every two weeks. You will publish four pieces of writing per quarter.

·         You will type these four pieces of writing before submitting them for a grade.

·         I will grade each piece using the Tennessee Writing Rubric.

·         Each piece of formal writing will count as a test grade.

Daily Assignments

·         You will often times have daily skill and strategy practice.

·         This daily practice will help you develop into a stronger writer.

·         The daily practice is shorter and due during that class period.

·         Daily practice counts as a daily grade.

Quizzes

·         You will have one quiz per week that covers skills and strategies needed to become a stronger writer.

·         Quizzes count as a daily grade.

Homework

·         You will have homework.

·         Homework is assigned at the end of the class period and due the next day.

·         Homework is a daily grade.

Timed Writing Assessments

·         You will take at least one timed writing assessment per quarter.

·         Timed writing assessments take the entire class period to complete.

·         Timed writing assessments will count as a test grade.

Quarterly Exams

·         You will take one exam per quarter.

·         The exam covers skills and strategies needed to be a stronger writer.

·         The exam counts as a test grade.

Grades

·         You will have two types of grades.

·         Daily grades count 60%.

·         Test grades count 40%.

Today’s Writing Task:

·         Free write about beginning a new chapter in your life.

·         Include your fears, concerns, and goals for this year.

·         This is a prewriting assignment.

·         Be prepared to share.

·         Assignment is due tomorrow.

·         It must be at least two handwritten pages on standard notebook paper.