It’s usually one of the first questions I hear: How do you host Writing Workshop – in Kindergarten?
And the answer is: We just start. We start making books on the first day of school.
Kindergartners (and their parents) are always shocked to discover this fact. During our very first Writing Workshop, why, you can hear crickets chirp. Little ones’ eyes dart and heads duck as they wonder, “Does she think I know how to write already? I’m just five!”
writing workshop begins...
Everything will have gone beautifully on this first day of school. Until now.
You see, I will have just read a wonderful book and we will have laughed over our favorite parts. And then I will announce, “We know you have stories of your own, too. We can’t wait to read them. In fact, why don’t you go ahead and get started on those books now – and then we’ll meet right back here to share them with each other?”
Crickets.
Our meeting inspires their work, giving them ideas of things to try
Some brave little soul will finally confess, “But, we don’t even know how to write!”
Others will nod sheepishly, eyebrows raised, wondering if they’re in the right room.
“Sure, you do!” I’ll emphatically say. “What did you love about this book we just finished?”
Someone will timidly remark, “… Um, the pictures?’
“Yes! You can draw awesome pictures,” I’ll agree as I flip back through pictures in our read-aloud. “See how the writer makes the story flow from page to page? You can draw your pictures out like that, too.”
“I don’t know how to write any words.” Another confession.
“Really? … How about your name? Sure! … ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ – I’m sure they’ll be in some of your stories… ‘Love?’ Absolutely, there’s room for love in your book. What else could you do with your book?”
After a few more ideas surface about tossing in some other letters we hear and being sure that stories make sense, we’ll rally them to jump up and give it a try. Go make a book!
The Writing Workshop itself
Some rush right over and immediately start, digging through those beautiful new crayons. Others falter a bit. Each one looks around to see what their new friends are doing, trying to get ideas from each other. My assistant and I wander, exclaiming over the bright colors of this one and the abundant details of that one. We’ll “ooh and ahh” over their attempts.
writing samples are as unique as your students
Despite all the unknowns, books start emerging:
significance of the Gong in our writing workshop
About ten minutes in, I’ll tap our gong. Everyone will freeze while I’ll tell them the significance of this beautiful gong during Writing Workshop. (It means, “Freeze. Take a breather and see what else is going on around you.”)
I’ll ask for a few children to show us what they’ve done so far, holding them high and slowly showing them around as the author shares. As we all see the abundant variety of beautiful markings on paper – and how each one is celebrated right where they are – each child seems to gain much more confidence about what writing moves they can try next. I’ll thank each volunteer and then announce that we’ll take about 10 or so minutes to finish up our first Writing Workshop.
How to support your struggling new writers...
There are always the reluctant ones – afraid to make mistakes, confused about the excitement, perhaps unsure of any letters at all. I’ll invite them to walk around with me, looking over shoulders, asking kids for their inspiration, soaking it all in. Hopefully, they’ll return to their seats, at least to sketch a picture and jot their name. My goal is for each young writer to compose something – anything – on this first day in Writing Workshop.
Meeting to debrief writers workshop
All too soon, I touch our gong again. As the sound reverberates and lessens, I announce that our very first Writing Workshop is coming to a close. Believe it or not, there are usually groans. “Already? We just got started!”
I laugh and say, “There’s always tomorrow! We’ll write every single day during our Writing Workshop time. You’ll get a special tool tomorrow to help you keep up with all your books; but, for today, why don’t you just bring your books over here to our sharing chair? You can put them in our basket – and I’ll cherish reading them tonight!”
writers' responses
Little ones murmur:
- “Not enough time…
- “Not even finished!
- “Why can’t we go longer?”
examples of teaching points
l’ll discover a few extra minutes while we’re all seated at the carpet to showcase several samples:
- “Ooo… tell us what you did here! Where did you get that idea?”
- “What is that ‘f’ for? How did you know to write it?”
- “My goodness! Could you please explain how you made that roller coaster – just in case we want to try one ourselves?”
After each child shares, we all clap and cheer.
As I get to know these children over the coming days – the hesitant ones, the artistic ones, the train-loving ones, the ones with some knowledge of books, I’ll look for picture books to engage and inspire them. Once we share meaningful experiences and enjoy some laughs together, I’ll know even more what will drive them to write.
But, this is how I start it all – this introduction of Writing Workshop to a bunch of little kids on the first day of kindergarten. This is what our new life as authors will be like:
- We’ll be inspired.
- We’ll try some things together.
- We’ll work on some things by ourselves.
- Then, we’ll finish by sharing our writing with our friends – which will inspire others.
every. single. day.
(One thoughtful child notices, “It’s like a great, big circle. A circle of writing!”)
And this hesitant, messy, sweet start will be enough for now.
After all, they're just five.
yes, it starts small. but if you'd like to see some of the later writing these children do, check out these 2 posts to see their writing in preparation for their student-led conferences:
How would you like to view this blog post on Youtube? Just head over here.
I'm so thankful...
… to have gleaned so many wonderful ideas from amazing teachers, small and tall, near and far – particularly Dr. Heidi Mills and my colleagues at the Center for Inquiry in Columbia, South Carolina, as well as Katie Wood Ray and Lisa Cleaveland.