Preparing for Writing Workshop
We have just finished a week of half days and Monday will be our first full day. This means the beginning of Reading and Writing Workshop! I've just finished setting up the basics of my writing center, although there are many things I'd like to slowly add to it. Here's what I have it in right now:
Three types of writing paper to choose from (no lines, one line and two lines)
A variety of writing and coloring tools
Scissors
Glue
Staplers
Tape
Sharpener
Writing Center
I have also prepared the children's writing folders to house their first piece of writing on Monday. As advised by Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP), I have placed my red and green stickers on either side to help children organize their pieces of writing into finished work on one side and work in progress on the other. What I've added in is an alphabet card to aid the children during their writing and a clear pocket in the middle with a sheet where I will put their individual learning objectives/goals as I confer with each of them. What I plan to do is use Post it notes to stick the strategies they are working on onto this sheet. Keeping it in a clear pocket helps to prevent the Post its from falling off. I may add and/or remove other tools from their folders depending on the writing unit.
Red and green stickers as well as an alphabet strip
Clear pocket with writing strategies sheet
The children's folders are organized by their table colors so that an assigned helper can go and get their table's writing folder box for the group. Finally, I have small pots with pens and a date stamp on each table. I plan to keep all the pots in the writing center and have the children take the pot to the table just for Writing Workshop. They have a different 4-section pot with more writing options for other times in the day.
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How have you prepared for Writing Workshop? Are there any suggestions you might have to help me improve on my writing center, folders, or other aspects? Would love any ideas to help my class' workshops to run as smooth as possible! :)