-
Welcome to Writer's Workshop!! In Second Grade, students participate in a daily writer's workshop. We focus on helping students find writing topics, elaborate on ideas, and also moving through the entire writing process. This workshop is held daily. Each month, two-three self-selected pieces of writing will be graded using a writing rubric.In addition to student-selected writing, students will be given 1-2 writing prompts a month. All writing prompts will be graded using a Writing Rubric. Below are some resources commonly used for writing in Second Grade. If you have any questions, please let me know. The Writing Process Prewriting selecting things you like or do or know a lot about, making a list of ideas, thinking about your audience Drafting choosing one thing to write about and writing a story Revising reading your story to others, thinking about what others said, changing your story to make it better, rewriting or adding your changes Proofreading correcting any writing mistakes, having someone check your work for errors Publishing giving your story a title, illustrating your story, or even making your story into a book Proofreading Marks What does Writer's Workshop Look Like in 2nd Grade? In Second Grade, Writer's Workshop is broken into three parts. First, the students have a mini-lesson. This usually lasts anywhere from 5-15 minutes, and it is the time of the lesson where students think about writing, learn a skill, engage in the skill, and learn to apply the skill to their writing. Second, the students have time for writing practice. This session lasts about 15-30 minutes. During this time, the students work on developing and drafting their writing. It is also during this time where students meet with the teacher for individual and group conferences. This is also a time where the students showcase the skills they have learned/are learning. The final component of Writer's Workshop is time for sharing. This lasts between 5-15 minutes, and this is the portion of the period where students have a chance to share their work with their peers and see how others are applying the strategies we are learning. What happens during a Writing Conference? Conferences are a time for students to meet with the teacher to refine and enhance individual writing skills. To an outsider, they look like a conversation between two people who like to talk about writing. During this time, the teacher observes, praises, guides, and connects with students. The conference is crucial to meeting individual student needs and enhancing student writing abilities. What is the Writer's Notebook? The Writer's Notebook is a tool that students will use to keep track of their writing throughout the year. Students decorate their cover and personalize the notebook to match their personalities, and it helps the students to come up with ideas for writing! :) Each writer's notebook is divided into 8 categories/sections: Managing Writer's Workshop, Ideas, Sentence Fluency, Organization, Word Choice, Voice, Conventions, and Miscellaneous. What can I do at home to help my child? There are many things you can do to help your child become a better writer! First, model, model, model! :) Students love watching adults write. It's where they pick up the best ideas! You can do this a few different ways, but this sequence is a fan favorite: 1) I do, you watch me. 2) I do, you help me. 3) You do, I help you. 4) You do, and I watch you! Another great way to encourage your child as a writer is to share. Share your grocery list, share the story you read, or share the wrote you note to remind yourself about something. Finally, display and celebrate your child's work. Hang it on the fridge, decorate your bedroom door, or even just put it in a notebook on the coffee table. The more comfortable your child gets with writing, the more excited they will be to show it off. :)
