I struggled with my Writer's Workshop time, thinking about how my students had fantastic ideas, yet their writing wasn't flowing.
I knew they had it in them, but I was struggling to get them past that hesitation... the fear of it not being "just right." A lot of writer's workshop time is wasted because their writing isn't fluent.
After much thought, I remembered a writing exercise I'd done in the past at seminars and training on teaching writing. I also thought about how I believe in the need for a warm-up in all areas—reading, math, even singing, and sports!
I've used discussion as well as graphic organizers for a writing warm-up. Although these definitely have value, they didn't quite do the trick, so I made these booklets.
They use these booklets and write anything they can think of for two minutes. The only rules are that they cannot erase and that they must keep the pencil moving. If they can't think of anything, they simply write, "I can't think of anything."
The purpose is to get the thoughts flowing from their brain, through their fingers, onto the paper.
Here's a bonus: we have found that these booklets help the children generate new ideas for writing!
See here: Writer's Workshop Warm-Up Booklet or explore the image to download the resource (it's a Dollar Deal!) or design your own booklet!
I've been noticing a difference in their writing fluency!
