Principal Snyder,

During the month of June, I attended a professional development conference titled Preparing Writers
for the 21
st
Century. Through this training, I learned how to present writing instruction using Writer
Workshop. After attending this conference, I feel better equipped to teach my students to be effective
writers. I am writing this letter to share my knowledge and encourage you to implement this
instructional method in all classroom on our campus next year.
Teachers should hold writer workshop each day; while the amount of time spent in this activity varies
based on grade level, a 60 to 90 minute block is preferable. This instructional method usually consists of
reading aloud, minilessons, independent writing, and sharing. During read aloud, the teacher reads
mentor texts to the class that offer examples of effective writing. This stage is most often the briefest in
writer workshop. Topics for minilessons can often stem from these mentor texts or cover the steps in
the writing process. The teacher provides explicit instruction of writing strategies, procedures, or
conventions. Minilessons should range between 15 to 20 minutes in duration. During independent
writing, the students are writing on topics of their choosing. The majority of the writer workshop block
should be spent on independent writing projects. At the end of writer workshop, students have the
opportunity to share their writings with the class.
The benefits of writer workshop are endless. During this method, teachers become a learning guide; the
students are actually in control of their writing and learning. All students participate in the writing and
sharing of ideas. Students are respectful and appreciative of others views and opinions. In writer
workshop, students experience authentic writing activities. Students are actively applying their writing
knowledge with authentic tasks; worksheets and skill and drill activities are not used. Writer workshop
provides students with opportunities each day to apply the writing process. Students move through the
five stages of prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing at their own pace; when one writing
activity is completed, they begin the cycle again. Teachers also have opportunities during writing
workshop to confer with students individually. They ask questions to guide the student through the
next stage of the writing process. During these conferences, teachers model the responses students
should be giving in cooperative revising and editing groups. Through writer workshop, a classroom
community of writers is built.
Writer workshop offers an effective method through which to provide writing instruction. Students in
writer workshop are engaged, motivated, and active participants of writing; they are eager learners
ready to share their ideas and reflections with readers. Please consider implementing writer workshop
in classrooms throughout the campus. I guarantee the rewards will be worth it. Incorporate writer
workshop in each classroom, and watch our students soar as effective writers!
Thank you,
Allison Davis