Writer's Workshop Begins!

This week we began our official “Writer’s Workshop” time. Have I mentioned that this is now one of my favorite things to do?! Last year I thought I started this way too late with my kids so I was on a mission to get it going fast.  To be honest, I am nowhere near an artist, but I can copy stuff by looking at it.  Luckily, I found great inspiration from Cara at First Grade Parade. She has great ideas! You should check them out. So…like all good teachers, I steal, I mean borrow other wonderful ideas. J I discussed with my students why writers write? We write for ourselves and for the READER. Then we talked about what we could write about and went on a BRAINSTORMING ride. 

After completing the chart, I did some brainstorming of my own. I told my students that I was going to start an illustration and I wanted them to look at it and see if they knew what I was going to write about. This helped them to understand that the illustration is an important part of their story.  It didn't take long for them to say "you're at the grocery store."  I choose something very basic because I wanted it to be something that everyone could relate to and for them to understand that they don't have to write about going to Disney World for it to be a good story. We talked about what I could do at the store and what I could buy. I told them I would add more tomorrow and then everyone went back to their tables and created an illustration. I felt it was a very successful lesson. J

This is the first part of writing, brainstorming an idea and then creating the picture. Stay tuned…tomorrow I will post the next day’s work. I think I am having as much fun as the kids! J

P.S. THANKS to everyone for their sweet comments this week. I would love to say my week got better but it didn’t. L Someone we have known for a while died very unexpectedly on Tuesday night and Wednesday as soon as school started I broke my glasses. Um, hello I can’t see without them. LOL! Can we say Hot Mess in the house!! I did buy a new pair because of course my frames were discontinued. Oh well. It’s Friday and it will be a great day! Either way, I woke up with my big girl panties on and I am choosing JOY! Love and virtual hugs!