Writers Workshop: Imagining What is Possible #engaginglitminds
Imagine:
a classroom where students are engaged in their learning.
a classroom where students genuinely care about one another.
a classroom where students discuss ideas and explore multiple perspectives.
a classroom where inquiry is led by the students.
a classroom where students practice self-regulation and celebrate each other.
a classroom where there is a focus on a bigger picture outside of the classroom.
Do these sound like lofty goals that seem out of reach? Are you wondering how all of this can be possible in one classroom?
Well, so am I! But, in Engaging Literate Minds, these are not lofty goals, but reality in several classrooms. The authors of this book offer a peek into their classrooms, where this is happening each day - students learning in a culture where they are making a difference in the lives of others. Communities having thoughtful conversations. Individuals who can identify a problem, work to find a solution, and see themselves as a valuable member of a literacy community.
Writer’s Workshop was the favorite part of my day in my third grade classroom. It was the time where students took charge of their learning and made numerous choices regarding their writing and learning. They decided what they were going to be writing about, from comics to fiction to nonfiction and more. Collaborative conversations were heard among students as they discussed character development, revisions that needed to be made, next steps in their writing process, and identifying a topic. Students worked individually, with a partner, or with a small group and made decisions about what they wanted to publish and how.
Writer’s Workshop was based on the need for student choice. Students took charge of their learning and worked with topics that they found interesting and relevant to their lives. They worked together and were not afraid to ask their classmates for help or to simply test out an idea. Students celebrated each other and were genuinely excited to hear about each other’s writing. They cared about their work and each other. Those lofty goals I mentioned at the beginning were not really all that lofty. They were the reality in my classroom during Writer’s Workshop.
If this was possible in one small part of my day, is it possible to extend these goals into the rest of my day and other subject areas? Would my students be more engaged in their learning and take pride in what they were doing? Would I see a change in attitude and motivation of my students if they had more choice and were taught to work together and be kind? As I continue reading Engaging Literate Minds, I hope to continue to discover how I can change my mindset of what my classroom and students can be doing in order to provide the best learning environment possible.
This post is part of our 2020 Summer Book Study. Find all previous posts and more information here. Also, we will discuss Engaging Literate Minds every Wednesday at 4:30 P.M. at the newsletter. Sign up below - it's free!
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash