Session 1: Starting the Writing Workshop

Goal:
• So our goal today is to learn about how author’s make “New
Year’s Resolutions” by setting goals, and writing new things!
Opening
Tell students:
• Let’s all clap and cheer for a new writing unit that is going to be
AWESOME!!
• Do you know what a New Year’s Resolution is?
• Today we are going to make New Year’s Resolutions to be the
best writers we can possibly be!
Teaching Time
Tell students:
• To help you reach your goals, you will all get to use a Writer’s
Notebook!
• Every writer has the goal to at least be a good writer. To be a
good writer, you need to imagine what you are going to write
about. You need to have it in your mind.
• Listen to this example of great writing. (read p. 5 “Nothing….”)
• What do you notice about this writer’s writing? What makes it
great work? Did you know this writer wrote this work in his
writing notebook?
Activity:
Tell students:
• So now that we have discussed your writer’s notebooks and
 listened to an exemplar, let’s get in small groups and discuss
things you should and should not do with your writing
notebook.
• Let’s see if you can tell me 4 things I’m thinking about that you
SHOULD do with your notebook! Then we’ll turn the page, and
see how many things on my list you were able to guess!
• Things you SHOULD Do with your Notebook
• Bring it to Class Daily
• Date your Paper
• Write stories that have a beginning, middle, and end.
• Keep Writing!
• Now let’s see if you can tell me 4 things I’m thinking about that
you SHOULD NOT do with your notebook! Then we’ll turn the
page, and see how many things on my list you were able to
guess!
• Things you SHOULD NOT Do with your Notebook
• Do NOT forget to bring it!!
• Do NOT write messy!
• Do NOT doodle or draw all over it!
• Do not skip pages!
• Let’s Hunt for Treasure!
• You are going to dig for buried treasure like pirates today! I have
some exemplar notebooks around the room that are great
examples of awesome third grade writing! With a pirate partner,
go find some treasure, some awesome writing. Pay attention to
why it looks awesome, and we will come back together and
discuss it after you hunt it down! Off you go!
Conferencing:
Tell students:
 • I am coming around to hear what you have to say to your group
about what you think about the treasure you find! Let’s do it!
Share:
Tell students:
• Let’s talk about the treasure we found! After we discuss it, we
will go on to the next two pages, review the things we should
and should not do with our notebooks, and then we’ll close out!