EDR 304: K-2 Writing Workshops by Imani Miller

EDR 304: K-2 Writing Workshops by Imani Miller https://padlet.com/millerrae94/Bookmarks Claire Kinane, Imani Miller, Abigail Jones, Clay Kopko en-us 2021-03-08 18:47:39 UTC 2021-10-04 22:27:03 UTC hello@padlet.com What is a Writer's Workshop? cekinane https://padlet.com/millerrae94/Bookmarks/wish/1778115201 In grades K-2, participating in a writers workshop is crucial. At this age students are at the beginning stages of learning how to formulate sentence structure, and learning about the foundations of writing. This is the age range where you can set the tone as the teacher and create an accepting, open, student centered, diverse, safe, innovative community of writers where students feel comfortable sharing their ideas and or thought process.

In the Read, Write, and Talk textbook it emphasized “the value of making peer connections and how important it is to let students have time to interact with one another.”(Souto-Manning, Martell, 2016,Pg. 50) As adults, we tend to think that a writer's workshop has to deal with words, while this is true to some degree it also can take the form of illustration. In kindergarten or the earlier grades , sometimes students are asked to illustrate their stories. If one thinks about it, writing can be seen as a picture. Even though students may not be writing an essay they are still illustrating a story in which they could tell you orally. For example, in the Writing Workshop text it mentioned how “creating a narrative involves coming up with a mood and some sort of emotion”(Shubitz,Dorfman, 2019, LOC 580). If students are given the chance to explore their ideas during a writer's workshop it will help them to develop as writers, and it will help them to define what a writers workshop means to them.

References:

Shubitz, S., Dorfman, L. R., Roberts, K., & Roberts, M. B. (2019). Welcome to writing workshop: Engaging today's students with a model that works. Stenhouse Publishers.

Souto-Manning, M., & Martell, J. (2016). Reading, writing, and talk: Inclusive teaching strategies for diverse learners, k-2. Teachers College Press.

-Claire Kinane

]]> 2021-09-29 13:51:13 UTC https://padlet.com/millerrae94/Bookmarks/wish/1778115201 How writers workshop meets diverse needs of various student populations millerrae94 https://padlet.com/millerrae94/Bookmarks/wish/1787774648 Writers Workshop is particularly important time for teachers to observe how the many unique languages and literacies are developing throughout their diverse classrooms. It is a time to for teachers to become less academically critical and become more avid listeners of their students. It is a time for teachers to become more understanding of how the diverse children in their classrooms use language in their world; how their students use language according to who they are talking to or what writing activity they are doing. It is also a time where teachers are required to provide diverse options for reading responses such as Mentor texts or texts that are more closely associated to the real lives of our students.

However, before any real reading and writing comprehension can be assessed; there needs to be a broader acceptance of literacy diversities and differences, starting with classroom all across America . In Reading, Writing, and Talk, the authors explain to us that," more fully accessing students' communicative repertoires requires expanding teaching and learning beyond the walls of the classroom (Souto-Manning, M., Martell, J., & Ladson-Billings, G. 2016, pg. 20). Building and affirming strong foundations for diversity in your writers workshops, requires teachers to be forever learners and open communicators. The texts gives us examples of how to expand our skills; such as visiting and engaging with the families of our diverse students in order to gain knowledge and insight of the child within the home. As well as visiting within the community, the book stating that home and community visiting has been proved as "an effective tool for learning from young children" (Souto-Manning, M., Martell, J., & Ladson-Billings, G. 2016, pg. 20). Once your workshop is rid of limited thinking and restrictions, it is vitally important for teachers to have a plethora of diverse resources and extensive time to practice during their workshops. For example, in the Writing Workshop the authors' provide tips for English Language Learners such as providing diverse mentor texts or picture books for active engagement; stating that it is important for teachers to, "allow students freedom to sketch, use their own language, participate, in oral rehearsal before they write, and partner with another writer to do some collaborative writing"
(Dorfman, L. R., & Shubitz, S. 2019, pg. 1188). Options, options, options; seems to be the best way to meet the needs of all students that will participate in our writing workshops.

- Imani Miller

References
Dorfman, L. R., & Shubitz, S. (2019). Considerations for English Language Learners [E-book]. In Welcome to Writing Workshop: Engaging Today’s Students with a Model That Works (p. 1188). Stenhouse Publishers.

Souto-Manning, M., Martell, J., & Ladson-Billings, G. (2016). Reading, Writing, and Talk: Inclusive Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners, K–2 (Language and Literacy Series). In Reading, Writing, and Talk with Diverse Children (p. 4). Teachers College Press.

]]> 2021-10-03 18:44:51 UTC https://padlet.com/millerrae94/Bookmarks/wish/1787774648 Abigail Jones: How to Engage Students During Writing Workshop cekinane https://padlet.com/millerrae94/Bookmarks/wish/1790613670 In grades K-2, a writing workshop is an important way for students to express their feelings, explore writing and grow as a learner. It is essential for teachers to create a writing environment where the students are engaged and motivated to write. According to the Welcome to Writing Workshop textbook, “the key to engagement lies in motivation” (Shubitz, Dorfman, 2019, p.25). A student’s gender, culture, and identity are all factors that the student accounts for when looking for motivation towards writing. Giving opportunities for students to write about topics that interest them is a way to get them motivated, and help them find their writing identity. Providing the option for the students to choose their writing style is another way for them to get motivated and engaged during the writing workshop. It’s important for the students to try everything because once they find what they enjoy it will inspire them to work hard and to gain confidence in themselves as writers.

References

Shubitz, S., Dorfman, L. R., Roberts, K., & Roberts, M. B. (2019). Welcome to writing workshop: Engaging today's students with a model that works. Stenhouse Publishers.

]]> 2021-10-04 18:39:14 UTC https://padlet.com/millerrae94/Bookmarks/wish/1790613670 How to keep students engaged pt2 ck948449 https://padlet.com/millerrae94/Bookmarks/wish/1790896407 For students in K-2 making sure they are engaged in their writing is very important. Writers workshops are centered towards student learning rather than teaching based instruction. Letting the students write about something they are interested in a selected structured manner can help their engagement level because they enjoy what they are writing about while they are working on improving their skills as a young writer.

In Reading, Writing, and Talk it mentions that, “ Often (students) work independently but sometimes collaborate to get someone else’s expertise.”(Souto-Manning, Martell 2016 pg 125). Even at a young age vocalizing their story or putting it into pictures can help them when it comes to the writing process and what exactly they want to write. It is important for the student to have confidence when they are writing and writing about something that they like they may be more into what they are writing.

Citations:

Souto-Manning, Mariana, and Jessica Martell. Reading, Writing, and Talk: Inclusive Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners, K-2. Teachers College Press, 2016.

Clay Kopko

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