Achieving Student Progress through Reading and Writing Workshops

© 2015 by Kristin Gordon and Kimberly Hicks -- www.readitandteach.com -- #ntrccon15

Achieving Student Progress Through

Reading and Writing Workshops

Kristin GordonKimberly Hicks

North Texas Visioning Consortium ConferenceJuly 2015

https://ntrcvisioningconference2015.sched.org/event/478d7c2720e15e901943739f3426ba4f#






Things to Know

All session handouts and resources are uploaded to www.slideshare.net/readitandteach

WEB: readitandteach.blogspot.comCONTACT: [email protected]

Kristin Gordon@alwaysabsorbing

Kimberly Hicks@MrsHicksSays


basic needs resilient

inclusion values

collaboration


1. Workshop Rating 2. Years in Edu.

3. Twitter Handle 4. Goal for Session

NAME


History of Writing Instruction


Writing Workshop Musts

ChoiceTimeTeachingTalkRituals & Norms


Most important characteristic...

https://youtu.be/7SRjjb7V4rU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SRjjb7V4rU



“Writers grow with regular response to their work and to the work of other writers.”~ Penny Kittle, Write

Beside Them


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P

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Workshop: Conferencing ThroughoutSupport feedback from self by:

○ ensuring the student is always the one reading the work aloud

○ updating the workshop log○ asking for perceived strengths and

weaknesses of the pieceProvide feedback by:

○ listening first○ consistently circling the classroom○ checking in at multiple stages of the

workshop○ having students identify where the

mini-lesson skill is present

S

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Reading Workshop

Writing Workshop


“Reading and writing float on the sea of

talk.”

~ James Britton



Beginning a workshop...1. Brainstorm/Idea Gathering

Focus own ideas by:○ providing reflection questions○ producing and updating topics inventory

Support peer feedback by:○ providing the opportunity for students to

think aloud○ question cubes○ question flood○ 3-2-1○ talk it out

Provide teacher feedback by:○ Post-It story map

P

T

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2. Write/Drafta. Skip lines > easier revisions and edits

Support feedback from self by:○ writing often.

3. Piece Selection

4. Reading of First DraftsSupport peer feedback by:

○ participation in safe home groupsProvide teacher feedback by creating targeted small group lessons with:

○ Adjective Grading (secondary)○ Color Dots Grading (elem.)

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Workshop: Teach, Write, Share5. Mini-lesson

“Reteach and revise”

T Support students by:○ Having flexibility with mini-lesson content

based on needs of student drafts○ Gradual Release: Model, Shared, Guided,

Independent○ Encouraging experimentation○ Sharing technical and stylistic mini-lessons


Sample Mini-LessonDash and Description - Penny Kittle

“I stared at my father’s photograph - his thin face stern, lips latched tight, his eyes peering permanently to the right.”

- Paul Fleischman, Seedfolks


Sample Mini-LessonDash and Description - Penny Kittle

Luna slept in the wire kennel - her ears flopped over, paws curled close, her chest rising slightly with each breath.

- Mrs. Hicks


Workshop: Teach, Write, Share6. Independent Practice

Support feedback from self by:○ maintaining a workshop log○ ratiocination

Support feedback from peers by:○ pair and share

Support students by:○ maintaining a conversation chart

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Date What can I help you with?Answered by writer.

Like/Hear?Written by listener

What if you…?Written by listener

What will you do next time?Answered by writer.


“Perfect” Writing ConferenceURL: https://goo.gl/qJqyQ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0E6SYTD-ag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0E6SYTD-ag


Workshop: Teach, Write, Share7. Share

Support feedback from self by:○ enforcing “no apologies”○ having students list the perceived

strengths and weaknesses of the piece○ Fishbowl○ students choosing the appropriate

format for presenting (live, recorded)Support feedback from peers by:

○ enforcing the “Thank You For Sharing” norm

○ Author Encouragement Page (elem.)○ Author Grab Bag (secondary)

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Workshop Assessment

1. Growth is slow and personalized2. One writing = one piece of the puzzle3. Be specific and targeted4. Only assess concepts you’ve

taught/reviewed


What’s Next?

● ML that focus on:○ Revising/Craft○ Editing○ Genre Characteristics○ Voice○ Clarity○ A grammar skill○ Use of quotations

● Rework/Publish/Share/Anthology


Reminders for Administrators

● Difference in classrooms● Discussion on grading for department,

campus, district● Encourage teacher modeling● Go beyond ELA rooms

○ History, Science, Foreign Language○ Utilize librarians for ML


Savings and Loans

What will you take with you today?

Education

Achieving Student Progress through Reading and Writing Workshops