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Q: I keep hearing about something called the Writer’s Workshop. What exactly is it? A: The Writer’s Workshop encourages students to become involved in the writing process by using their own topics and writing for their own reasons. It is a technique which has been successfully used in both kindergarten and high school. Typically, there are four components to a Writer’s Workshop: (1) a mini lesson, (2) writing, (3) teacher-student conferencing, and (4) sharing. Mini Lessons. Mini lessons are brief (usually 10-15 minute) lessons taught by the teacher on topics such as skill reinforcement, the elements of stories, and the characteristics of good writing. Mini lessons are usually presented to the whole group, but may be offered to small groups or individual children. Writing. The writing component (which usually lasts for 20-40 minutes) involves, as noted above, children writing on topics of their choice. For younger children this tends to be a group experience; older children are encouraged to write independently. Written work is stored in student portfolios. Conferencing. While the children are writing, the teacher meets with children individually to review what they have written, and pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. Teachers often make use of what they learn during these conferences to influence the next day’s mini lesson. Sharing. During this 15-20 minute concluding activity, children may be asked to share an excerpt of what they wrote to illustrate a teaching point or volunteer to read a whole story. Teachers also share their own writing with children to model behaviors they would like children to learn.
Q: Are there any out-of-school programs that I can tell parents about that will encourage children who like writing? Can I attend any of these myself? A: Fortunately, there are many programs for both students and their teachers. Here are a few noteworthy programs: The Westridge Young Writers Workshop. This program is designed to demonstrate the power of literacy. Participating teachers and students learn firsthand about the process of publishing a book. The following books ---all of which are available from amazon.com--were written and published by 4th -7th graders attending this summer workshop:
Over 200,000 copies of these books have been sold. Young Authors Program. This Boston-based program encourages teachers to help students create original, illustrated bound books. The program has three goals:1. To recognize and encourage children’s outstanding writing efforts2. To encourage and support those classroom teachers who provide children with opportunities to participate in all phases of the development of a piece of quality writing3. To create a special setting where children can exchange and share their own published bound books Iowa Young Writers Workshop. A growing number of colleges and universities offer summer Writer’s Workshops and summer Writing Camps for middle and high school students. The university of Iowa, home of the famous Iowa Writers’ workshop, sponsors two 2-week summer sessions for “serious” students. Here’s how the program’s director Trish Walsh describes the workshop: You know you are a writer because you write even when it's not an assignment for school, because you read insatiably and aspire to write books as amazing as the ones that make you do that reading/walking shuffle to dinner, because hours slip by unnoticed when you engage your imagination. You write because there is nothing in the world like the feeling you get when you finally finish that poem or short story. You write because it's fun. You write because you have to. Come meet others like you and share your work at one of the most exciting places to write: the University of Iowa, home to the Iowa Writers' Workshop, the International Writing Program, and the Center for the Book. All writers know that writing is a continual process of revising, re-viewing our work. Several things can catalyze that process: having blocks of time simply to focus on writing and nothing else; meeting peers with whom we can share ideas and discuss challenges; and finding teachers who can help us get to new ways of seeing. The Studio is not just a place, but a writing community in which you and your writing can grow.
Q: How can I find out what publications will accept students’ work? A: Fortunately, such lists already exist. The Springfield, IL school system has identified these sources: Chickadee, The Young Naturalist Foundation. 59 Front Street, E. Toronto, Ontario MSE 1B3 Canada. (Age range 4-8. The environment. Accepts letters for "Something to Chirp About," a monthly feature.) Children's Digest. P.O. Box 576B, Indianapolis, IN 46206. (Age range 8-10. Health, Safety, and Nutrition. Accepts poetry, jokes, riddles, stories up to 700 words. In "What Do You Think?" children write about questions asked in earlier issues.) Child Life. P.O. Box 576B, Indianapolis, IN 46206. (Age 7-9. Health, Safety, and Nutrition. Accepts poetry, stories up to 500 words, jokes and riddles. "All Yours" features letters to the editor.) Children's Playmate. P.O. Box 576B, Indianapolis, IN 46206. (Age range 5-7. Accepts artwork and poetry.) Cricket. P.O. Box 100, La Salle, IL 61301. (Age range 6-12. Literary. Accepts children's contributions for "Letterbox" and "Cricket League." Cricket League contests are held monthly in two or three categories - drawing, poetry and short story. Rules for the contests are explained in each issue.) Ebony Jr! 820 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60605. (Children. Accepts original poems, short stories, essays, jokes riddles, cartoons and artwork.) The Electric Company. 200 Watt Street, P.O. 2924, Boulder CO 80322. (Age range 6-9. General interest. Unsolicited material accepted, including jokes for "Tickly Yourself." Specific guidelines for other contributions such as poetry, short stories and essays appear in each issue.) Humpty Dumpty. P.O. Box 567B, Indianapolis, IN 46206. (Age range 4-6. Health, Safety, and Nutrition. Accepts children's artwork.) Highlights for Children. 803 Church St., Honsdale, PA 18431. (Age range 2-12. General interest. Accepts original poetry, short stories, jokes, riddles, brief personal narratives, letters to the editor and "Creatures Nobody Has Ever Seen." All contributions are acknowledged with an extremely kind letter.) Jack and Jill. P.O. Box 567B, Indianapolis, IN 46206. (Age range 6-8. Health, Safety, and Nutrition. Accepts artwork, poetry, jokes and riddles, letters to the editor, and short stories up to 500 words.) Turtle. P.O. Box 567B, Indianapolis, IN 46206. (Age range 2-5. Accepts children's art work.) Pennywhistle Press. Box 500-P, Washington, D.C. 20044. (Age range 4-12. General interest. Weekly. Accepts drawings, jokes, riddles, and letters to "Mailbag." Contests are also held periodically.) The McGuffey Writer. 400 A McGuffey Hall. Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056. (Age range preschool through 18. Children's writing. Accepts poetry, cartoons and art as well as short stories and essays. Word limit is two typewritten pages. Longer works are often excerpted.) Stone Soup. Children's Art Foundation, P.O. Box 83, Santa Cruz, CA 95063. (Age range 6-13. Literary. Accepts poetry, short stories, drawings and book reviews. Longer works that describe personal experiences are encouraged. Children interested in doing book reviews should address their correspondence to Jerry Mandel. Stone Soup will provide the book to be reviewed.) Wombat. Journal of Young People's Writing and Art. 365 Ashton Drive, in art and writing. Accepts original poetry, short stories, prose, essays, artwork (black and white preferred or color with strong line definition), cartoons, puzzles and book reviews.)
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