Unit of Study: Setting Up Writer’s Workshop
Grade: 1
Title: Unit 1
Length of Study: 3 weeks
Genre Description: What is writer’s workshop?
Priority Standards:
Supporting Standards:
W.1.3.1.d. With guidance and support from adults, focus on a
topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and
add details to strengthen writing as needed. (CCSS: W.1.5)
W.1.3.1.e. Use pictures or graphic organizers to plan writing
W.1.3.2.b.ii . Capitalize dates and names of people. (CCSS:
L.1.2a)
W.1.3.2.b.iii . Use end punctuation for sentences. (CCSS:
L.1.2b)
W.1.3.2.b.v Use conventional spelling for words with common
spelling patterns and for frequently occurring irregular words.
(CCSS: L.1.2d)
W.1.3.2.b.vi . Spell untaught words phonetically, drawing on
phonemic awareness and spelling conventions. (CCSS: L.1.2e)
W.1.3.2.b.i Write complete simple sentences.
Essential Questions:
Why do we write?
How do I use pictures and words to tell my experiences/stories?
How do writers use other authors as mentors for writing?
Mini Lesson Concepts/Topics
Routines & Rituals
Resources
http://jmeacham.com/writing.mini.les
sons.htm
Units of Study for Primary Writing
by Lucy Calkins (ex. The Nuts and
Bolts of Teaching Writing)
1st 30 days of Writer’s Advantage
(on s- drive)
Launching the Writing Workshop
pg. 16-25 by Denise Leograndis
*Resources listed can be used
throughout this unit of study.
Mentor Text
Unit of Study: Setting Up Writer’s Workshop
Structure of Writer’s Workshop
conferencing: Small-Group Writing
*mini lesson
Conferences by Holly Slaughter
*writing time
*conferencing
*sharing
Transitions Within the Workshop
*where to meet
*how to move from one activity to
the next
*how to move from place to place
Where You Sit
*How does it look?
*How does it sound like?
Who Your Partner Is
*knowing your partner
*assign partners (W.1.3.1.d;
W.1.3.1.e)
Partner Share
*modeling appropriate partner talk
*staying on topic
*level of noise
*how it looks ex. knee to knee;
shoulder talk (W.1.3.1.d; W.1.3.1.e)
Supplies
*location
*how to use them
Using the Paper
*types/templates of paper
Using Resources Around the Room
*word wall
*charts
*dictionaries (W.1.4.1.b; W.1.4.1.c)
What to do When You’re Stuck
and/or Have a Question
*ask 3 before me
*question chair
*sign up sheet
*use of word wall; etc.
Max’s Words by Kate Banks
The Boy Who Loved Words by
Schotter
Unit of Study: Setting Up Writer’s Workshop
What to do When You Think
You’re Finished
*start a new piece
*peer editing
*add to words/ pictures
*final copy
Where to Keep & Find Your Work
*turn in basket
*finished side of writing folder
*table tub
Author & Audience Etiquette
*listening (eyes and ears on the
speaker)
*hands to yourself
*sit smart (W.1.3.1.d)
When I’m Done Chart by Lucy Calkins
Cd-Rom Resources for Primary
Writing
The Meanest Thing to Say by Bill
Cosby
Learns to Listen by Howard Binkow
Unit of Study: Setting Up Writer’s Workshop
Going About the Business of
Writing
http://jmeacham.com/writing.mini.les
sons.htm
Units of Study for Primary Writing
by Lucy Calkins (ex. Launching the
Writing Workshop)
1st 30 days of Writer’s Advantage (on
s- drive)
Using Picture Books to Teach
Writing With the Traits K-2 by Ruth
Culham & Raymond Coutu
Literacy in the 21st Century: A
Balanced Approach by Gail
Tompkins
First Grade Writers; What You
Know by Heart; In Pictures and In
Words; About the Authors by Katie
Wood Ray
No More I’m Done! by Jennifer
Jacobson
Mentor Texts by Lynne R. Dorfman &
Rose Cappelli
Everyday Editing by Jeff Anderson
*Resources listed can be used
throughout this unit of study.
Unit of Study: Setting Up Writer’s Workshop
Author: A True Story by Helen
Why Writer’s Write
*audience
*purpose
Lester
What Do Authors Do? by Eileen
Christelow
(W.1.3.1.a; W.1.3.1.b; W.1.3.1.c)
Tell Me a Story Mama by Angela
Johnson
Simon Finds a Treasure by Gilles
Tibo
Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type
by Doreen Cronin
Dear Mr. Blueberry by Simon James
Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
Author: A True Story by Helen
Students as Authors
(W.1.3.1.a; W.1.3.1.b; W.1.3.1.c)
Lester
From Pictures to Words:A Book
About Making A Book by Janet
Stevens
What Do Authors Do? by Eileen
Christelow
Tell Me a Story Mama by Angela
Seed Ideas/Experiences
(W.1.3.1.e)
Small Moments: Personal
Narrative Writing by Lucy Calkins
and Abby Oxenhorn Session I pg. 1.
Johnson
Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
I’m in Charge of Celebrations by
Byrd Baylor
I Want to Be by Thylias Moss
Something Beautiful by Sharon
Wyeth
What Do Authors Do? by Eileen
Planning to Write
(W.1.3.1.e)
Illustrations
*filling the space
*using details
(W.1.3.1.e)
Small Moments: Personal
Narrative Writing by Lucy Calkins
Christelow
Arthur Writes A Story by Marc
Brown
and Abby Oxenhorn Session II pg. 11. What Do Authors Do? by Eileen
Christelow
My Pony by Susan Jeffers
The Big Hungry Bear; The Red
Ripe Strawberry by Don & Audrey
Wood
Unit of Study: Setting Up Writer’s Workshop
Labeling Your Pictures
*specific nouns (ex. friend to Joe)
(W.1.3.2.b.vi)
What are Details & Adding Details
(W.1.3.1.d)
My Map Book by Sara Fanelli
Eating the Alphabet; Growing
Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
books by Donald Crews or Richard
Scary
Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee
Show, Don’t Tell! Secrets of
Writing by Josephine Nobisso
What Do Authors Do? by Eileen
Christelow
The Big Hungry Bear; The Red
Ripe Strawberry by Don & Audrey
Wood
Sentence Structure:
*spaces between words
*capitals
*periods
*nouns
*verbs
*adjectives
*prepositions
(W.1.3.2.b.i)
Max’s Words by Kate Banks
The Boy Who Loved Words by
Schotter
Punctuation Takes A Vacation;
Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day
by Robin Pulver
How Far Will a Rubber Band
Stretch? by Mike Thaler
Arms, Elbows, Hands, and Fingers
by Lola Shaefer
Dear Mr. Blueberry by Simon James
Improving Your Writing
I Can Write Like That! by Susan
Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
*strong verbs
Ehmann & Kellyann Gayer (pg. 66-77) Fix It by David McPhail
*voice
The Fixits by Anne Mazer
*onomatopoeia
Author: A True Story by Helen
*proper nouns
Lester
*organization
*adjectives
*prepositional phrases
*word choice (W.1.3.1.d)
Students Reference Mentor Texts
Author: A True Story by Helen
*students go back and re-visit
Lester
modeled mentor texts
Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee
(W.1.3.1.d)
*use any of the mentor texts modeled
during mini lessons
Unit of Study: Setting Up Writer’s Workshop
On Demand Writing Prompts:
What
What
What
What
did you do this summer?
does your family do for fun?
is your favorite meal to eat?
do you like to do with your friends?
*choose 1 for the class to do as a whole
Common Formative Assessment Tasks: Checks for Understanding
Collect a Baseline Writing Piece
Exit Slip Ex. Why do we write?