Defining Writer Workshop-Inside The Classroom

! Daily workshop for at least 45 -60 minutes a day. 

! Lessons based on craft teaching points needed by student writers.

! Explicit teaching of craft and lesson focus ideas needed by young writers

! Lessons start with short read aloud from STELLAR literature focused on craft.

! Students write each day for authentic purposes.

! Teacher models using think aloud

! Teacher conferences during independent writing time with students.

! Student work is displayed and celebrated
            The workshop model is not a program. Instead, it's in the delivery of instruction with effective researched based practices.  The teacher must understand the intentional touches with print or words that is in exemplar text for craft technique to paint a picture in the readers mind.  If you want to impact and improve your student's knowledge of craft, you must be the expert of it first.    Know the differences in the craft techniques and types of elaborations commonly used.  I highly recommend reading Lester Laminck's Cracking Open the Author Craft to deepen your understanding, knowledge and practice of craft techniques.  With careful attention to details, the instructor develops a full piece layered with craft  into each section that includes the teaching points over three or four days in advance prior to instructional blocks.  The most important part of the workshop is the share time!  Students need immediate feedback as you will see what teaching points that students owns...