Create a plan to implement a writer's workshop in your classroom. This plan should consider all the elements needed to implement a Writing program in a grade of your choice: 1 to 6

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First, I want to commend you for this project! I have been a teacher of this same grade level, but then went on to become a professional editor for 6 years with a national publishing company. During that time, I put on an annual writers conference and covered many of the things you are doing with your students.

How does this information I am giving you help you? Two ways:

1) When you present this to your students, I suggest you let them know that this is not just a classroom exercise, but that they are doing what professional writers do. I would set this up with an "air" of professionalism. Organize your classroom in a way that appears this is a conference. There could be a check-in table where they get name badges (I know they already know each other, but it would help your atmosphere). You might require a specific dress code that day. Plan breaks with maybe small refreshments. They would call you the editor that day and not the teacher.

2) In your Rationale for having this, include the fact that this is done in the professional world of writing and editing. Ongoing education of writers and communication between writers and editors is critical to the success of both publishers and writers.

Now, back to your assignment. Are you to get more specific about your expectations?

4e44: generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience; -- I would be more specific by first, once again, applying this to the real world of writing. There are two ways writers turn in things to editors: either by just writing about a topic they think people will find interesting, and they think the editor will like, and then turning it in hoping the editor will buy it from them. That is called "on speculation." The other way is on assignment or as a staff writer. In this case, the editor assigns a topic and includes information about the audience. The writer then researches the topic with that audience in mind.

Perhaps you could present this to the class both ways. You could lead in a discussion about audience (a very, very key thing in writing that most writers forget all about. They usually assume anything that will appeal to them, the writer, will appeal to everyone else). You could then tell them as writers for this editor (you) they can either choose today to write on speculation or take an assignment. Some will need the extra help of having an assignment, while your more advanced students will relish the idea of coming up with their own topic and audience.

Have ready several assignments with an audience. These could be things like: children of your own age who are interested in sports. The topic could be to write about a specific player in a sport of their choosing. It could be a "feature" article for your magazine (remember you are the editor).

Be sure to have resources available for those who are choosing one of your assignment to get the background information they need.

I would suggest that when they turn the writing in to you that they include at the top of the page their intended audience and a few things about their audience that guided them in thinking about what to write. For example, they could say that their audience is girls who take gymnastic classes. Their interest would be in gymnastics because they spend time practicing. Their interest could be in the person on which the article is focused because they want to be like her. Don't just gloss over the idea of audience, it is very important. Be sure they tell you in some way why they think this piece they ...