Indiana University Southeast Writing Project » writing workshop

Mentor Text Lesson – Writing Leads For Writing Workshop

David Stoner — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:56:22 +0000

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The Seven Conditions For Effective Writing

David Stoner — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:19:53 +0000

There are many ways to teach writing. I believe that in any writing class it is important that some features are put into place and fostered throughout the year to provide the rich, healthy environment that will elicit high quality writing. There is a chapter from Donald Grave’s book, A Fresh Look at Writing that comes to mind when thinking about what things a young writer needs to be successful. In his chapter The Seven Conditions for Effective Writing.

Donald describes seven conditions that he feels young writers require to be successes. Often when my workshop goes flat I come back to these conditions and ask myself if I am being faithful in providing them in every session. More often than not I have to admit I’ve slighted one and need to make an adjustment. Soon the workshop is humming along again as it should.

Peer Conferencing in Writing Workshop

David Stoner — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:19:07 +0000

Writing Conferences are only one part of the writing process. If properly introduced and incorporated, conferring in groups becomes a most beneficial tool to improve student writing. In the group conference, students should be positive, constructive, and specific-behaviors which middle school students do not normally practice. This group conference method does as much to develop these behavioral skills as it does to develop good writing. I will present how to set up a framework for group conferences that will enhance the observation/editing skills of the responder/listener, as well as build confidence in the student/writer – to essentially get beyond the “Gee, I really liked that story” response. The method I use is based on my UNH writing program background. I will describe the approach as I have used and adapted it.

Using Mentor Texts in a Writing Workshop

David Stoner — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:17:08 +0000

I have twenty-five to thirty favorite picture and chapter books that I turn to when I want to teach a young writer about the craft of writing. I keep them in front of my flipchart in my grandfathers suitcase. When I choose a book to include in my mentor texts I might look to see if it has one of three kinds of tensions: Person vs Person, Person vs Self and Person vs Nature. It may be a good book to demonstrate leads. It might work to discuss with my young writers how a story needs certain elements to be a good story. I’ve created a template to use to help me look at the potential of each candidate for my texts.