Response to Reading #1

I really like how Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide was student focused. I like the concept that students are able to make their own choices. So many times I give my students the choice of an activity, whether it’s doing a read-up or working on word wall words and rarely do they detest either. I like the idea of allowing my students to have the freedom to write about whatever they choose. As I leafed through my student’s writing pieces this past week, I realized that their writing quality was so much better when they were told to “free write” rather than a writing piece that was assigned a topic. The “free write” pieces were filled with much more detail while the other pieces were limited.

When reading, I realized that when students are not limited and have freedom, they have a voice in their writing. They are able to let their thoughts flow freely and their writing is rich. I also like that writing workshop is a process. I like that students have the time to brainstorm. Not only brainstorm, but use different resources to do so. In using different resources, students also have that choice. So many times students are just thrown into writing and not given the opportunity to gather their thoughts before they start the writing process. However, how long do you allow students to be in the prewriting stage? Do you allow them as much time as they need? I suppose if my student wasn’t making progress in the prewriting stage that is where I would intervene and help them to get started.

I feel that the hardest part about the writer’s workshop for me would be the student conferences. In my classroom I do student conferences. When reading I do the same thing that they said in the book. That is, look at the clock and realize it’s time for my students to leave and I have only worked with one or two students. It would be more beneficial to cut down the time I spend with students and allow them to be more independent.

I really like how students are encouraged to share their work with others. So many times students share their work with the class and the teacher gives a positive comment and everyone claps, but what about some conversation? I like how students should ask the reader questions and pull more information out of them. Then they can go back, edit their work and add more details.

I definitely think that I could use the writer’s workshop in my class. I like that students can be more independent, free writers and they can express themselves in their own way.