Fostering Better Writers Through Workshops

         

        After reading some excerpts from Welcome to Writer's Workshop by Steve Peha, it is evident that writing workshops are crucial in building better writers. Writing workshops are a flexible way to teach students without immense pressure. One way they are vital in building better writers is through the mini-lessons. Mini-lessons are flexible and don't need to be presented whenever you want to engage in a writing workshop. However, due to their brevity, mini-lessons provide focused support on a topic that students may be struggling with and plan to use in their writing. Mini-lessons are also beneficial in building better writers because they remove the intimidation that comes along with normal lessons. Typically, students feel pressure when listening to a new lesson because they know a test of some sort is going to follow. However, mini-lessons are quick and straight to the point for the benefit of more time dedicated to writing and less pressure for students. 

        Another way writing workshops are crucial in building better writers is through the status of the class checks. These checks, which are very flexible and only need to occur every once in a while, help keep students and teachers on track. With writing workshops, every student is welcome to go at their own pace. Status of the class checks are also beneficial for both the teacher and student as they allow progress checks and can encourage time management skills for students who want to set goals for themselves and their writing. These moments are also vital in building a sense of community in the classroom since students will be interested in where their peers are in their writing, motivating students to continue their own work. 

        Writing workshops are also crucial in building better writers through sharing with an audience, whether that's with peers or the teacher. Students tend to really value their peer's opinions, sometimes even more than the teacher's. No writer is going to improve their writing without receiving feedback, whether it's good or bad. Hearing different perspectives and ideas is imperative in building better writers as it opens the door for new ideas, possibilities, and improvements. Ultimately, writing workshops are critical in building better writers because they allow, "Students spend less time on worksheets, fill-ins, repetitive drill work, and other sub-skills of writing. They spend more time applying what they've learned authentically. They spend time writing and sharing-- two things they enjoy--instead of doing things they find boring and meaningless" (Peha, 1995-2010). When students are allowed to apply what they've learned in an authentic way rather than worrying about a test or worksheet, they are more likely to absorb the knowledge and use it more organically in future writing. Based on your knowledge of writer workshops, do you find them to be crucial in building better writers? 

Sources: Peha, S. (1995-2010). Welcome to Writer's Workshop. Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. https://ttms.box.net/shared/static/18htc7rcb2.pdf