Writing Workshop is a time in which students receive targeted teaching through mini-lessons (whole class), strategy groups (small groups), and conferences (one-on-one). Your child is taught to use writing checklists and learning progressions, or rubrics, in order to self-assess and set goals to elevate the level of their writing.
Throughout the year, your child will work through the writing process
by generating ideas, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing many pieces of writing across three genres: Narrative, Informational, and Opinion. |
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Narrative Writing Students learn how to write a focused story that contains a clear beginning, middle, and end. These are “small moment stories” that narrow in on significant parts of events your child has experienced. This unit of study teaches students to use transitions to show the passing of time, cut out the unimportant details, develop the characters, and show (not tell) by adding descriptive details, such as character thoughts, actions, and dialogue. A big focus of this work is on creating stories that come to life on the page and evoke strong feelings in the reader. Writing at Home - Journal about interesting things that your family has experienced
- Create a graphic novel or comic strip (be sure to add writing!)
- Write a sequel or prequel to a favorite movie, book, or tv show
- Take a favorite character and write your own story about them
- Write an alternate ending to a favorite movie, book, or tv show
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Informational Writing Informational, or expository writing, is writing to inform or teach about a topic. Students learn to write "All About" books in the lower grades and move to essays in the upper grades. Students also learn to elaborate on their topic, moving from providing facts to including definitions, observations, quotes from texts, and interviews. Writing at Home - Be a journalist by writing a news article after observing or experiencing something interesting
- Pick a favorite activity and write a “how to” piece
- Research a favorite topic and write a book teaching others all about it
- Make recipe cards
- Send letters or emails to loved ones
- Create a family anthology with stories from different generations
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Opinion Writing In opinion, or argument writing, students move from writing their likes and dislikes about a topic in the early grades, to making a claim about a topic and providing reasons and evidence to support this claim in the upper grades. They write organized essays that include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Students also use transitions such as and and because to elaborate their opinion in the lower grades graduating to for example, for instance, also, another, and in addition to in the upper grades to signify examples and elaborating evidence. Writing at Home - Have your child write an essay about why someone is special to them for a holiday or birthday gift
- If your child wants something, have them write an opinion piece to convince you
- Research a favorite topic and write a short book about it (be sure to add your opinion!)
- Write book reviews and recommendations for your local library or book shop
- Write product reviews online
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