4 Types of Real Writing Mini Lessons

4 types of Real Writing mini lessons

there are four basic kinds of mini lessons teachers might use to move the real writing workshop forward.  they are:

1   Teacher Demonstration

2   Using Great Literature as a Model

3   Items from your own writer’s

    notebook

4   Student writings

Teacher Demonstrations are pretty easy to come by.  All the traditional lessons you would be teaching if you were not using the real writing model can be incorporated into this type of mini lesson. Just “can” (throw away) the worksheets and have kids practice the new skill in their real writing sessions instead.

Using great literature is a lot of fun to do, but takes some foresight and planning.  I use picture books to demonstrate whichever of the six traits we are learning or reviewing at the time.  i have a separate tub for each trait. as i add to my collection of picture books I try to identify which trait is most powerfully demonstrated by the author in that particular book.  Of course there are many books that have several strengths.  simply point that out as you go.  Teacher Read Aloud books are fabulous to use as well.  Simply think aloud about what the author is doing or trying to do as you are reading......it is interesting to have students share their thoughts at the end of the day’s read aloud and even to write about the read aloud in their real writing notebooks.

Using your own notebook entries as examples can be most impactful.  Kids will often times try to emulate something you have done.  Amazingly, they have the ability to get to the heart of a piece with absolute precision when they are trying to do something you, the teacher, did in your writer’s notebook.

Some of the most wonderful lessons and writing ideas have been birthed in the minds of the kids themselves.  Again, encourage kids to try things they have never tried before.  I over exaggerate and fuss all over when I hear a kid share something that has a unique twist to it.  Sure enough, several other kids try that same thing in the following days.