Hey all! I get emailed daily about my Writer’s Workshop Units. They’re available in my TpT Store for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade! Search below for some of the more Frequently Asked Questions I recieve, like “Can I see a more thorough sample of the units and daily lessons?” or “Will this work if I only have 30 minutes?” or “What in the world is Writer’s Workshop?” or more! If you don’t see your answer below, please don’t hesitate to email me at AppleSlices4th@gmail.com.
What in the World is Writer’s Workshop?
Writer’s Workshop is one of my favorite ways to teach! It is broken down into three sections: 1) Mini Lesson 2) Independent Writing and 3) Share Time.
- Mini Lesson: This is exactly what it says, mini. The focus of Writer’s Workshop is on students writing, so it’s important to keep the lesson at the beginning of writing between 5-10 minutes.
- Independent Writing: The longest part of Writer’s Workshop, this should last as long as it possibly can! I strive for a minimum of 45 minutes whenever possible. I know that’s not always the case so check below if you only have 30 minutes for writing (I’ve been there)! This is when you squeeze in Writing Conferences!
- Share Time: Students learn the most from each other. At the end of the day, it’s important to take 5-10 minutes to allow a few kiddos to share their writing. They love it and it gets them even more excited about writing. Tips and tricks for choosing who shares is included in each lesson plan.
Will this work if I only have xx minutes?
YES! The best part of my writing units are that they will work with any schedule. I used them when I had my dream schedule and 75 minutes for writing every day and I used them for an entire year when I just had a mere 30 minutes of writing 4 days each week. All you do is adjust the Independent Writing Portion. For example:
Schedule with 30 Minutes of Writing:
- Mini Lesson: 5 Minutes (Make it happen – set a timer and stop at 5 minutes! My lessons make it easy for you so no excuses)
- Independent Writing: 20 Minutes
- Share Time: 5 Minutes
Schedule with 60 Minutes of Writing:
- Mini Lesson: 5-10 Minutes
- Independent Writing: 45 Minutes
- Share Time: 5-10 Minutes
Do I need to teach these units in the order you’ve included?
Nope! Not at all 🙂 I recommend this order, but you should do what works best for your classroom (always)!
How do you teach grammer with these units?
Grammar is not technically included in these units. I usually teach grammar separately and in writing conferences during Independent Writing. I always have a weird 10-15 minute gap throughout the day where I would focus on teaching one grammar lesson/week and reviewing it all week long. Then I notice gaps or areas of weakness when meeting with students in writing conferences. Using that data, I form small groups that I meet with during Independent Writing and teach that focus lesson.
Can I see a more thorough sample of your writing units?
Absolutely! Find the unit you’d like to view below (all grades are available) and click on it!
4th Grade Writing Units
Shop Units HERE.
5th Grade Writing Units
Shop Units HERE.
6th Grade Writing Units
Shop Units HERE.
How similar are the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade units?
Many people ask if the units are very similar between grade levels. Yes, there are many similar lessons, but they are not all identical. The third units (4th and 5th Grade Opinion Writing and 6th Grade Argument Writing) are very different and all of the units use different materials and resources, even if they have the same, or similar, lessons. The standards for writing are similar, so the lessons cover a lot of the same material. I actually used them in a 4th to 5th grade loop I taught. Even though they were also very similar, the students enjoyed it because they knew the expectations I had for them (that second year) and even if they said something like, “We did this last year!!!” I could say to them, “But you have grown so much as a writer. I expect you to take what you knew last year and add on what you’ve learned since then.” They always are able to dig deeper and build upon what they learned previously. Because they were comfortable with the expectations, they did much better than if they were doing a completely different lesson!