Writer's Workshop

Writing Mini Lessons For Primary Grades

My beliefs about writing, stem from the books that I have read about emergent writers.  Visit the F.A.Q. section of my web site for answers to common questions that I have received about my approach to Writer's Workshop.  The lessons on this page reflect the lessons that I've used with Kindergarteners and First Graders.  They are presented in no particular order.  If you wish to see the progression of minilessons from last year (2008-2009), check out my Planning Guides page.  Each year is different, and I change things up based on student needs.  Therefore, the order of lessons is not what counts, but rather if I am I delivering lessons my students need, prompting them to grow as writers.

The Units: 

Frontloading Writing Forms Writing Process Writing Traits Writing Genres
Notebooks/Journals Detailed Illustrations Prewriting Ideas Pattern Books
Tools Writers Use Labeling Drafting Conventions Q & A Books
Establishing Routines List Making Revising Word Choice Personal Narratives
Authors and Illustrators Letter Writing Editing Organization Fiction
    Postcard Writing Conferring Sentence Fluency Nonfiction
    Card Making Publishing Voice Poetry
        Sharing/Presenting Presentation    

 

The Resources:

Frontloading
Writer's Workshop Anchor Chart Sign for Routines/Expectations
Writer's Workshop TIMELINE
Writers "To Do" Checklist - Full Sheet
Writers "To Do" Checklist - Half Sheet
  Left Handed or Right Handed?
  Voice Level Anchor Chart Pictures (07/08 & 08/09)
Writing Forms
Letter Writing: Santa Letter SMART Board Notebook
Letter Writing: Santa Letter Anchor Chart Pictures
Writing Process
Writing Process: Pictures/Images/ClipArt/Titles - 8 1/2 by 14
Writing Process: Wall Chart Captions
Writing Process: Anchor Chart Pictures (Zip File)
Writing Process: Kim Pierre's 2nd Grade Status of the Class Teacher Recording Sheet
Prewriting: Story Map Brainstorming Sheets
  Editing: Editing Pencil Color Images for LARGE Wall Anchor Chart 
  Editing: Editing Pencil Empty Pencil  
   Editing: Editing Pencil Student Editing Pencils (Versions 1, 2, 3, and 4)
    Editing: Editing Pencil Student Pencils (Version 5) 
  Editing: Editing Pencil Student Pencil Icons
Editing: Sledding Party Story
Editing: Lesson Picture (Zip File)
   
Writing Traits
TRAITS Poster Anchor Chart
Ideas: Topics to Write About Anchor Chart Pictures
Ideas: Topics to Write About Labels
Ideas: Topics to Write About Title
Ideas: "Ideas List" for Individual Students created by Tammy Sanders
Ideas: Narrowing the Topic and Finding Details ABC Char
Ideas: Labeling SMART Board Notebook File
    Ideas: Storytelling Glove (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How) 
    Ideas: Storytelling Glove (Title, Characters, Setting, Problem, Solution) : Three Pigs (LARGE VERSION)
  Ideas: Storytelling Glove (Title, Characters, Setting, Problem, Solution) : Three Pigs (STUDENT VERSION)
   
  Conventions: Capitalization Sentence Sort SMART Board Notebook 
Conventions: Common and Proper Nouns - (Capitalization)
Conventions: Missing Punctuation - (Punctuation)
  Conventions: Barb's Spelling Strategy Posters 
  High Interest Theme Word Sheets (Zip File) and Picture of Storage Container
  Organization: Storyboard Sequencing Image 
   
Word Choice: More Description Please! (Zip File)
  Word Choice: Five Senses SMART Board Notebook 
Word Choice: Lesson Pictures from 2008-2009 (Zip File)
Word Choice: Onomatopoeia Sound Recording Sheet
  Sentence Fluency:
   
Voice: Hat Homework Announcement (1st Grade)
  Voice: Faces of Voice Poster available at Kristine Smeken's Six Traits Site
   
   
Writing Genres
Personal Narrative Unit: Definition Sheet for Anchor Chart Wall Display
Personal Narrative Unit: Wall Anchor Chart Pictures (Zip Files - 07/08 & 08/09)
Personal Narrative Unit: Book Covers
Personal Narrative Unit: Possible Stories We Can Write Chart (Version 1 and 2)
Personal Narrative Unit: Topic Titles for Mentor Texts
  Nonfiction Unit: Community Helper Research Report Flip/Flap Book Printable
  Nonfiction Unit: Ocean Life Research Report Flip/Flap Book Printable 
  Nonfiction Unit: Insects Research Report Flip/Flap Book Printable
  Nonfiction Unit: Big Cats Research Report Flip/Flap Book Printable 
  Nonfiction Unit: Birds Research Report Flip/Flap Book Printable  
Pattern Stories Unit: Wall Anchor Chart Picture (07/08 & 08/09)
Pattern Stories Unit: Titles for Wall Chart
Pattern Stories Unit: Titles of Pattern Book Types for Wall Chart
Pattern Stories Unit: Teacher List of Mentor Text Possibilities
Pattern Stories Unit: Book Covers for Anchor Chart 
Q&A Unit: Wall Anchor Chart Picture (07/08)
     Q&A Unit: Titles for Anchor Chart
  Q&A Unit: Teacher List of Mentor Text Possibilities
  Q&A Unit: Book Covers for Anchor Chart 
Professional Development
Video of Writer's Workshop in Action (the host site is down, will link when it is up again)
Developmental Stages of Writing Printable 
Professional Books about Writing 
Writing to Read 2007 - A Nellie Edge Resource
Writing to Read 2008 - A Nellie Edge Resource
Printable Paper
Writing Paper - by ?
Weekend News
Daily News
Field Trip News
   How to Build a Snowperson 
Assorted News Templates
Pattern Story Paper 1
Pattern Story Paper 2
Pattern Story Paper 3
   Pattern Story Paper Images for Drawer Labels
Simple Story Paper
Writing Paper Drawer Cards/Labels (Avery 8163/Avery 8371)
  Speech Bubble Paper 
Volunteer Writing Mentors
Wanted Poster: "Writer's Workshop" Volunteer [sample]
Wanted Poster: "Writer's Workshop" Volunteer [blank]
Meacham's Kidwriting Parent Helper Guide for Kindergarten
Mentor Text Book Lists
  Book List from the Mini Lessons on this Site (not yet ready!)
Assessment
Writing Checklist Labels 
Writing Observation Sheet - Weekly
  Writing Vocabulary Record - Weekly 
Ideas Student Rubric by Tammy Sanders
Conventions Student Rubric by Tammy Sanders
Word Choice Student Rubric by Tammy Sanders
Sentence Fluency Student Rubric by Tammy Sanders
Organization Student Rubric by Tammy Sanders
Voice Student Rubric by Tammy Sanders
Meacham's First Grade Writing Rubric (Ideas/Conventions)
Meacham's First Grade Writing Rubric - Quarter 3 (anchor chart template)
  Meacham's First Grade Writing Rubric - Quarter 3 (quick glance)
Ideas and Conventions Wall Anchor Chart Rubrics Created with Students (Zip File)
How Many Sentences Did I Write Today?
Intervention
3-Step Goal (For Students with Attention/Focusing Challenges)
Writing Visual (For Students with Attention/Focusing Challenges)
Prompted Writing
  Prompted/Project Writing - Rainbow Blizzard 
   Prompted/Project Writing - Rainbow Blizzard (Prewriting Sheet) 
  Story Starters Writing Prompts 
  Pictures for Prompted Writing