Writing Workshop Resources
Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide by Ralph Fletcher and JoAnn Portalupi
 This book explains writing workshop and how it helps build strong writers. It is a practical book, providing
everything a teacher needs to get the writing workshop up and running.
NonFiction Craft Lessons: Teaching Information Writing K-8 by Ralph Fletcher and JoAnn Portalupi
Craft Lessons: Teaching Writing K-8 by Ralph Fletcher and JoAnn Portalupi
 Both of these books are filled with mini-lessons to teach during writing workshop. They include materials
needed and the children’s literature (mentor text) that supports the lesson.
Cracking Open the Author’s Craft: Teaching the Art of Writing (with DVD) by Lester L. Laminack
Saturdays and Teacakes by Lester Laminack
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These are two great companion books! In Cracking Open the Author’s Craft: Teaching The Art of Writing,
Lester Laminack shares the author’s craft through his picture book, Saturday and Teacakes. You can read or
listen and watch to his explanations (on the DVD) and see how he uses imagery, metaphors, and word
choice in his own book.
Books by Ralph Fletcher
 These four books provide the basis for keeping a writer’s notebook of ideas and how writer’s work. He
interviews “real authors” and shares lots of real experiences. It’s an inspiration to you as well as kids.
How Writers Work: Finding a Process that Works for You by Ralph Fletcher (Avon Books)
A Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher (Avon Books)
Live Writing: Breathing Life Into Your Words (Avon Books)
Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out (Avon Books)
Wondrous Words by Katie Wood Ray (NCTE)
 A book filled with real classrooms examples and lots of practical texts with many mentor text suggestions.
Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson (Stenhouse)
 Grammar integrated with writer’s workshop.
 Filled with practical, grammar-based mini-lessons!
FOR KIDS – Writer’s Notebooks:
Amelia’s Notebook by Marissa Moss (Simon & Schuster)
Amelia’s 5th Grade Notebook by Marissa Moss (Simon & Schuster)
Amelia’s 6th Grade Notebook by Marissa Moss (Simon & Schuster)
Max’s Log Book
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by Marissa Moss (Scholastic)
These great, highly readable books allow kids to see and experience what a writer’s
notebook looks and feels like.
Max’s Log Book deals with his parent’s split and eventual divorce in a very sensitive
way that kid’s can relate to.
6+1 Traits Resources
6+1 Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide Grades 3 & Up by Ruth Culham (Scholastic)
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the gold book
6+1 Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide for the Primary Grades by Ruth Culham (Scholastic)
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the purple book
Both of these books are the essential guide to all things 6 Traits filled with practical, classroom-based
examples.
Using Picture Books to Teach Writing with the Traits: K-2 by Ruth Culham & Raymond Coutu (Scholastic)
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This is an annotated bibliography of more than 150 Mentor Texts with accompanying lessons.
Picture Books (6th edition) NWREL (Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory)
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This is an annotated bibliography of more than 150 Mentor Texts as well as lessons.
Wee Can Write: Using the 6+1 Trait Writing Strategies with Renowned Children’s Literature
by Carolyn McMahon and Peggy Warrick 2007 NWREL (Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory)
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An easy, practical book with many lessons to implement.
This books layout is based on the 4 seasons.
Each season includes about 10 picture books with mini-lessons to accompany for each of the Six Traits!
This includes a really nice rubric for emerging writers!
Highly recommended!