Wednesday's Writer's Workshop

Last Wednesday our entire field experience class participated in a Writer's Workshop that was demonstrated by an experienced fourth grade teacher at University School. The Workshop took place in an actual fourth grade classroom and lasted for approximately 45 minutes. Each IU student was given the opportunity to partner up with a child in the class in order to gain the full experience. Once we were partnered up, the teacher that led the Workshop had us start out by participating in a short free write. She gave us the topic of "brushing our teeth" and then had us focus on the tiny details that went in to this everyday task. We were given two minutes to jot down any details that made up the process of brushing our teeth, and then we were given one minute to share what we had written with our partner. This was an excellent strategy to get us thinking and ready for our next writing activity. Our Writing Workshop leader then led us in a mini-lesson where we focused on trying to come up with "first times" and "last times." She asked all of us (IU students and fourth grade students) to come up with a T-chart that would help us organize our thoughts. Our leader first gave us examples so we would have something to work off of before we were asked to come up with our own ideas. Some ideas I came up with for first times were: living on my own, my first babysitting experience, and when I learned how to drive a car. Some thoughts I had for the last time I did something were: the last time I saw my family, the last time I went to the lake, and the last time I went on vacation. By giving us this simple framework to expand from, we were able to come up with material that we wouldn't usually choose to write about. After the mini lesson was completed, we went off with our partners and discussed each of our ideas. It was interesting to hear how my topics connected with the thoughts of my fourth grade partner. This entire activity was beneficial to both grade levels, and I plan on using several of these methods with my future elementary school class.