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1. The Think Pad - A notebook where kids write one word, a short response, or a whole story. Used multiple times every day across subject areas. Janiel says, "We write in them, and we diagram, chart, and draw right over the lines."
2. Running Topics List - Keep an on going list of writing ideas up on the wall as ideas present themselves throughout the day. Kids can always use this list during Workshop to get started when they're stumped. (Later kids can make individual lists of their own ideas in their Think Pads.)
3. Author's Chair - Every day she has a few students share some of their writing at the end of Writer's Workshop. "I schedule students' Author's Chair time by the days of the week. The first five students on my class list share on Mondays, the next five or six on Tuesday, and so on through Friday. First, when their day of the week comes up, writers know they have the option to share or pass. If they choose to share, their job is to be prepared."
4. Quick Jots - "These are quick moments to think, job down (one word, a few words, phrases, or sentences), question, list, brainstorm, web, respond, or note. Anytime I want to ask a question, get an opinion, or check students' understand may be a good Think Pad time."
5. Don't edit at first. - Don't focus on conventions so much. Get kids writing, enjoying writing, and willing to take risks in writing before correcting grammar. And don't always correct everything. Choose one or two skills to focus on and correct those.
This book is really practical. Janiel gives details on how she runs her Writer's Workshop daily and progresses throughout the year. Includes many ideas, differentiation, and ESL. Very easy read, short, and completely useful. None of that theory we all dread reading for "professional growth". I'll definitely be putting some of her ideas into my Workshop this year. Thanks Janiel Wagstaff!
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