Topic: Writing

Standards: ELACC2SL1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

Duration: about 1 hour

Materials: “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” by Mark Teague, “The Art Lesson” by Tomie dePaola, student writing journals, pencils

Objective or Essential Question: What is writing workshop?

Overview or notes pertaining to lesson: Students learn about writing workshop and make their journals special.

Mini Lesson: Students bring writer’s journals to the floor. Ask students what an author is, and discuss that an author writes down their ideas and stories to share with others. That is exactly what we will be doing this year. Show “The Art Lesson”, which we read during reading, and another story, “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” by Mark Teague. Read this to students and make connections, comment on any parts that really stand out to you as great writing, etc. Tell students we will also be writing about important memories we have. But before authors write, they do a lot of thinking and planning. This is all going to happen in our writing journals. What memories might you write in your writing journal? Have students “turn and talk” then share a few examples. You may want to show students your writing journal and the decorations you added to the front.

Independent Practice: Give students time to decorate the outside of their writing journals, maybe showcasing some of the ideas they just brainstormed during the mini lesson. You can cover the notebooks with white computer paper, or just have them decorate the way it is. While they work, you are free to continue calling students for reading assessments.

Closing: Have a few students share their work.