Chapter 8

Chapter 8 discusses how to organize and set up daily writing through writer’s workshop. In the chapter, it says, “Do what you can to have a peaceful writing time.” In order to establish a peaceful and productive writing zone in my classroom, we dim the lights and I turn on classical music that plays through the speakers in my room. I have a conferencing area in my room so that way students can go to this area to discuss in pairs, this way other students who are writing are not distracted by conversations. I spend a long time at the beginning of the year modeling what writer’s workshop looks and sounds like. I even have the students act out the incorrect and correct ways it should look. They love doing this!

As I was reading this chapter, I was also reminded of a writing workshop field trip we did at Kaleidoscope this fall with our fifth graders. During this, they had an author speak to the kids about his process in writing. He gave the kids a great motto to use when writing, “always keep your pencils moving!” He said that when you get stumped, don’t set down your pencil, instead, draw swirls on the side of your paper to help keep your brain active. I thought this was a great message to give the kids. This is now one of our guidelines during writer’s workshop!