When I was offered my first teaching position I did three things: 1. I jumped up and down. 2. I bought some “teacher” clothes. 3. I went to the teacher supply store and bought a bunch of decorations and posters. Then I took those decorations and posters to my classroom in my new teacher shirt and pants and began decorating room 29. Once school began, I soon discovered my cute posters weren’t being used by my students. Didn’t they know how useful they were? I mean who wouldn’t love houses with multiplication facts running up and down them? Eventually I learned these premade posters weren’t all they were cracked up to be, which led me to creating my own anchor charts.
We’ve all made anchor charts. And many teachers make them in different ways. Sometimes anchor charts are made ahead of time. Maybe they’re made while the kids watch and plenty of teachers have their students help them make the anchor charts. Whichever you choose, it’s important to make charts you will actually refer to and charts students will find useful. Here is a great article you can check out to learn more about anchor charts.
Writing workshop has many components and requires some charts for students to refer to. Eventually, you’ll be able to remove some of the charts as students begin to make the parts of writing workshop a routine.
Writing Workshop Structure
The best way to introduce writing workshop to your students is to tell them what to expect in this writing workshop outline. Kids love knowing where we’re going and how long until we get there. This writing workshop description explains to students what their job entails and what your job will be. It shows them the writing workshop structure and in the order you’ll be engaging in each piece. You might want to add times to the anchor chart for the kids that need even more information about what to expect. If you are in need of more information about writing workshop, read Writing Workshop for Beginners, which will provide you with some extra support.
Getting Ready Anchor Chart
This, by far, is the most important anchor chart to start writing workshop. The “getting ready” chart sets the students up for the mini lesson and prepares them for writing. This post, Procedures and Routines for Writing Workshop, provides some writing workshop tips for incorporating these procedures.
In this chart students take out their writing folder, read the book they’re working on, and go to the meeting area. Having them read their piece before the mini lesson, jogs their memories of what they are writing about.
When I’m Finished Anchor Chart
“Done!” Teachers’ number one least favorite word. Ugh. Before you have kids telling you they’re finished and asking what to do next, tell them what to do. As a matter of fact, have an anchor chart for that. Review this chart often, especially at the beginning of the school year. When a student ask what to do next, just point to the chart.
An Anchor Chart to Wrap Up Writing Workshop
The share is the last part of writing workshop and as precious as this time can be, it can also be a challenge. Having students share their work is a great way for students to learn from their peers. But when you have a student share that isn’t prepared, you lose the rest of the class. This is why the number one procedure for share time is to have the student sharing practice reading his/her writing. Once the student is ready to share, the others are listening and ready to retell what they heard in the student’s book. Then students will offer feedback, which is another anchor chart all together!
Teacher and student made anchor charts are valuable when referred to throughout the year. They provide information for students and help them become more self reliant. Anchor charts for writing workshop are also helpful for teachers in that they hold us responsible and remind us of the procedures. There are plenty more writing workshop charts you can create for your classroom, but here are a few to give you an idea of what they could look like. The posters don’t need to be fancy, they just need to be used.
If you’re in need of ideas for keeping your writing workshop organized, I have a plenty of ideas for you in Classroom Organization for a Successful Writing Workshop. These tips along with useful anchor charts will set you up for writing workshop success!
