This week our Writer’s Workshop has gotten off to a flying start. We’re three sessions in and students have been experimenting with ways to generate ideas for personal narrative writing, as well as ways to improve the quality of this writing. Additionally, we’ve been working to improve our stamina and volume in writing.

Students have begun the early steps of collaborating with a writing buddy, and have put some time into the design of their writing notebooks, turning them into objects of inspiration as explored in this presentation:

Now, our challenge is to begin really living as writers. This means “seeing potential for stories everywhere and giving yourself eyes to find them!”*

Students have been asked to notice details, whenever, wherever. To make note of interesting characters, settings, views, moments and more. To scribble them down on notes, napkins or whatever’s at hand, and to bring these beautiful bits in to school to add to their writer’s notebooks. These then can be used to add detail, depth and truth to their narratives. Please support your child in this. You can do this by calling attention to these things yourself, maybe even scribbling down some of your own! You may even want to start your own notebook 🙂 ! So much of quality writing is about bringing significance to small things.

This habit should begin now, and should last through the year. Students are so excited by this new direction in our writing. I’ve had students cheer that we have writing time, and another say that he’s “never before, in my life, written for pleasure.” Your support can extend this enthusiasm beyond the school day and deeper into your child’s life. Thanks for your help!

*Lucy Caulkins & Alexandra Marron, Narrative Craft, Heinemann, 2013.