The First 20 Days of Writing
From pencils and pens
to self-management
Brainstorm!
• Let’s try to create a list of all of the different
things a teacher has to do to get from Day
One to having a student-managed writing
workshop.
The First 20 Days of Writing
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Timeline of First 20 Days
Seeds for Writing
Introducing Writing Folders
Introducing Writing Checklist
Introducing Pens
Managing Conferences
Introducing Peer Conferences
Supplies I Need to Start Writing Workshop
Timeline of First 20 Days
• Lesson 1– Structure of Writer’s Workshop (mini-lesson, writing, sharing)
– Decorate Writing Folders
• Lesson 2 –
– Seeds for Writing (Watermelon vs. Seed)
– Many forms you can use (What If?, Piece of My Heart, Favorites, Topic List,
People, Places, and Things that are important to me)
– Can extend over multiple days
• Lesson 3 –
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What to do when I’m ready to write
Black pen, Draft pocket of writing folder
Paper to use, lines to write on, name, Do a Write Aloud that isn’t perfect
Write Quietly
• Lesson 4 –
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Behavior Management system
Ask 3 Before Me
Green, Yellow, Red
Loss of privileges
Can extend over multiple days
Timeline of First 20 Days
• Lesson 5 –
– What do I do when I don’t know how to spell a word?
– Spell it the best you can and move on
– Anchor Chart of Spelling Self-Help Chart
• Lesson 6 –
– What do I do when I’m done?
– Up to 3 stories in writing folder
– Use portfolio for additional pieces
• Lesson 7 –
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Writing Checklist
Read your story out loud to make sure it makes sense
Introduce blue pen, Write Aloud
Can extend over multiple days if you notice that many students need extra
help with sentence structure.
• Lesson 8 –
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Writing Checklist
Add to your story
Asking questions about a story (Model this)
Anchor chart (What Can I Add To My Writing?)
Timeline of First 20 Days
• Lesson 9 –
– Writing Checklist
– Cross out things you don’t want
– Write aloud, important to model this
• Lesson 10–
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Introduction to conferencing
Show video clip
What to bring to a conference
How to sign up for a conference
May extend over multiple days
• Lesson 11 –
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Writing Checklist
Introduce red pen
Circle words that do not look right
Model / Write Aloud
• Lesson 12 –
– Writing Checklist, Introduce Trial Page pocket of folder
– Use trial page to check spelling
Timeline of First 20 Days
• Lesson 13 –
– Writing Checklist
– Look up the circled words
– May extend over multiple days of dictionary skills
• Lesson 14 –
– Writing Checklist
– Read your story out loud. Listen for where your voice stops. Add
punctuation.
– May extend over multiple days of sentence work.
• Lesson 15 –
– Writing Checklist
– Check for capitalization at the beginning of your sentences.
– May extend over multiple days of capitalization practice.
• Lesson 16 –
– Introducing Peer Conferences
– Meeting place, Timer, Goals, When can I meet?
– Anchor Chart: Peer Conference Guidelines
Timeline of First 20 Days
• Lesson 17 –
– Final Copy
– Uses pencil, special paper
– How to incorporate changes into final copy
• Lesson 18 –
– Modes of Writing
– Brainstorm list of types of writing (magazine article, letter, research
report, poetry, recipe book, etc.)
– Divide students into groups to come up with samples of types of
writing for a poster/bulletin board
• Lesson 19 –
– How to Use Your Portfolio
– Order to staple papers in, where to put them
– Final Copy, Rough Draft,
What Can I Add to My Writing
• Tell more about the characters
– What do they look like?
– Who do they remind you of?
– What character traits do they have?
• Tell more about the setting
– What does the place look like?
– What sounds are around you?
– What does the place remind you of?
• Tell more about the actions
– How did she move? Run? Skip? Crawl?
– How did he talk? Yell? Whisper? Shout? Stutter?
– How did she look? Angry? Sad? Excited?
Spelling Self-Help Chart
• Say the word slowly and write down what you
hear.
• Write what you hear first, next, and last
• Think of the way the word looks
• Write the word in parts
• Think of another word with similar parts
Peer Conference Guidelines
• You may pick a partner to meet with you when you
have finished the whole writing checklist.
• Meet on the brown carpet.
• Sit EEKK! (elbow to elbow, knee to knee)
• Set the timer for 4 minutes
• Partner A reads his piece of writing
• Partner B asks questions to help him understand the
piece of writing
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What is the writing piece about?
Is there a confusing part?
What do I need to know more about?
What do I like about this piece?
• Partners switch roles if needed
Seeds for Writing
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People who are important to me
Places that are important to me
Things that are important to me
My favorites
What if…
Brainstorm a class list to keep in folder
T Chart of characters and settings
Managing Conferences
• Use a signal to mean that you are off limits
– Tap light, hat, tie, flower in your hair
• Create a behavior management plan or warning
system
– Create ownership by allowing students to help you
decide on consequences
• Use your FAB to help you keep track of
conferences
• Options:
– Teacher-scheduled conferences 4 days a week
– Student-scheduled conferences 1 day a week
• Keep sign-up sheet on front board
Timeline
Brainstorm
Workshop Warning System
• 1st Warning: Get back on track
– Turn card to yellow
• 2nd Warning: Move to new work area
– Turn card to orange
• 3rd Warning: Lose recess / Letter to parents
– Turn card to red
Timeline
You may use the restroom one time during
workshop if the pass is available.
Supplies Needed for Writing Workshop
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8-pocket Writing Folders
Printed Cover Page for folder (or blank paper)
Clear zipper pouches for pens
Black, Blue, and Red pens
Pencils and erasers
Writing Paper (options for paper)
Printed copy of writing checklist (laminated)
Half-sheets of writing checklist (optional)
Copies of Trial Page (pg. 86 in Scaffolding Young Writers)
Chart paper and markers