Buddy Books in the Writer’s Workshop:Teaching The Good Traits of Writing Through
Children’s LiteraturePresented by Patty Poltzer
The beautiful part of writing is that you don’t haveto get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon. You can always do it better, find the exact word, the apt phrase, the leaping simile.
-Robert Cormier
The Writer’s Workshop ModelSchedule 3-5 days per week
Whole Group(Mini lesson – Direct Instruction)10-30 minutesIndividual Writing Time
(Status of the Class - Conferencing)20-45 minutes
Whole GroupAuthors ChairShare writingPresentations5-15 minutes
Whole Group Mini-lesson (10-30 minutes)
Short & focusedWriting processStandards Scope &
Sequence Qualities of good
writing (traits)
Teach more than one strategy at a time
Buddy BooksDon’t reinvent the
wheelMay not necessarily
direct the course of the writing component
Read student cues and clues – what do they need?
Writing Time (35-45 minutes)
Begin with status of the class
The meat of the workshopOngoing projectsPurpose for writing
◦ Often self-selected ◦ Sometimes assigned◦ Opinion/Argument◦ Informative/Explanatory ◦ Narrative
Teacher floats discreetly
Brief student conferences
Anecdotal notesTeacher commentary
◦ Post-Its◦ No red pen◦ At least one
positive
Back to Whole Group (10-15 minutes)
Sharing time◦ Author’s chair◦ Partner share◦ Question &
Answer◦ Student creates
schedule for next writing workshop
◦ Jots down questions for teacher (conference time)
Wrap-up◦ Ticket out the
door◦ Mini-lesson review◦ Thoughts to
ponder at home
Organizing Writing
Journal◦ Mini Lesson notes◦ Text Features◦ Grammar ◦ Information students
can access during individual writing time
◦ Differentiate: copies for students to glue into their journals
Writing Folder◦ Two-pocket folder
(see example)◦ Students keep
track of their individual ongoing writing
◦ Hand-outs and assignments
◦ Published work
How do the good traits of writing fit into the
writing process?
Writing Process Good Writing Traits Planning
Revising
Editing
Publishing
Ideas Organization Word Choice Voice Sentence Fluency Conventions
(Language Standards)
Good Traits of WritingIdeas
The content, or main theme
The reason for your writing
Informative explanatory
OpinionNarrativeThe heart of the
message
OrganizationGives the writing
directionMoves the
reader through in a purposeful way
The internal structure of the writing
Good Traits of WritingVoice
The personal voice of the author comes through – YOU
Gives the writing personality, flair, style – a sound all its own
Word ChoiceThe use of
precise, colorful, and rich words to communicate your message
The use of words to help you say exactly what you want - not come close - nail it!
The Good Traits of WritingSentence Fluency
The writing flows with a rhythm and cadence
Varied sentence length and style
Purposeful sentence beginnings
Linking words and phrases (transitions)
ConventionsThe rules of
language;◦Spelling◦Punctuation◦Grammar/
usage◦Paragraphing◦Capitalization
Enough with theory…Show me what to do!
Establish the standard/s and/or trait you will include in your lessons: ◦ ELACC3W3, 4W3, 5W3 -
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences…
◦ Ideas/Word Choice◦ Character development
(real or imagined)◦ Dialogue and
descriptions to show response of characters to situations
◦ Illustrations
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll
Character Development
Our Monsters
Getting Started Choose any piece of writing (picture book, chapter
book, newspaper, article, greeting cards, junk mail…) upon which to build your lesson
Design a short writing activity that emphasizes the standard, skills and/or trait that you are teaching (The web is an amazing wealth of lesson ideas)
Examples:◦ Transitions for organization◦ Details for ideas◦ Verbs/adjectives for word choice
Model the writing activity with the class (It’s not copying!)
Sources and ResourcesWriting Workshop The essential guide By Ralph FletcherCraft Lessons Teaching writing K-8By Ralph Fletcher & Joann PortalupiMechanically Inclined Building Grammar, Usage, and Style into Writer’s
WorkshopBy Jeff AndersonAfter the End Teaching and Learning Creative RevisionBy Barry LaneGoing Bohemian Activities That Engage Adolescents in the Art of Writing WellBy Lawrence Baines & Anthony J. KunkelMaking Revision Matter Strategies for Guiding Students to Focus, Organize,
and Strengthen Their Writing IndependentlyBy Janet AngelilloWritingFix.com (Northwest Region Professional Development Program)The Common Core Guidebook: Informational Text Lesson Grades 3-5By Rozlyn Linder
Sources and ResourcesEveryday Editing; Inviting Students to Develop Skill and Craft in Writer’s
Workshop
By Jeff AndersonUsing Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits
By Ruth CulhamNorthern Nevada Writing Project’s Writing Across the Curriculum Guide (2006 Edition) Available through WritingFix.orgNorth Central Regional Education Laboratory (NCREL) Learning Under the Influence of Language and Literature By Lester L. Laminack and Reba M. WadsworthAwakening the Heart ~ Exploring Poetry in Elementary and Middle School By Georgia Heardhttp://educationnorthwest.org/ (FKA Northwest Regional Education Laboratory)http://readwritethink.org (International Reading Association)http://daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.comhttp://www.ilovethatteachingidea.comTtms.org Teaching That Makes Sense
Questions?