Today, I invite you to think about what the writing workshop model offers for teachers and students and how it relates to Michigan’s ELA High School Content Standards.
Differentiating Writing Process from Writing Workshop
- Quick write: What is Ray’s argument that she is trying to make for teaching writing? Do you agree or disagree with it?
- Pair and share: Discuss your response in relation to your own experience as a K-12 student. What is your experience as a writer in school?
Examining the Writing Workshop in Action
As you view the video, please take note on how you see Ray’s “essential characteristics” of the writing workshop and what the teacher and students are doing:
- Time for writing
- Teaching
- Talking
- Periods of focused study
- Publication rituals
- High expectations and safety
- Structured management
As you see the writing workshop enacted, and realizing that this is just one lesson, to what extent do you see these essential characteristics coming in to play? What did the teacher do? The students?
Examining Michigan’s High School ELA Content Expecations
Get a paper strip with a single content expectation. On the back of this strip, please write a one-sentence description of what you think this would look like in a classroom. What would the teacher be doing? What would students be doing?
Understanding the expectations: As you walk around the room and network with your colleagues, discuss your expectations in light of Ray’s “essential characteristics.”
To what extent do Ray’s characteristics and the content expectations:
- Overlap and support each other?
- Oppose or contradict each other?
- Seem completely unrelated? Why?
Combining Theory and Practice
Get a full version of HS ELA Writing Expectations.
- Where do you see evidence of a “writing process” approach in the content expecations?
- Where do you see evidence of a “writing workshop” approach?
- What specific skills do the content expectations demand that may or may not align with Ray’s vision of teaching in the writing workshop?
- How do the different genres and media (especially media related to technology) map on to Ray’s understanding of the composing process?
Exit Slip
Begin to draft a response to Ray that takes the new HS expectations into account. You may respond by answering any of the questions that we have explored today or one that you now have in your mind. Please post the final draft of this response to your blog.