Writer's+Workshop

History of the Writer’s Workshop:  The Writer’s Workshop may have originally stemmed from the concept of “the open classroom,” which experienced some fame in British primary schools in the 1960s. The open classroom featured elements of self-directed learning, teacher creativity, and student freedom and trust (Allen, 1975). Unfortunately, when the open classroom came to America, it failed due to a lack of working knowledge, as well as lack of classroom structure. Teachers who tried this approach may have found an absence of goals, purposes, and/or assessment methods.   The Writer’s Workshop attempted to solve these problems while taking the more favorable aspects of the open classroom into consideration. Advocates of the Writer’s Workshop approach include some superstars such as Nanci Atwell, Lucy Calkins, and Donald Graves. Constance Weaver’s ideas about the necessity of mini-lessons also influenced and shaped the functions of the Writer’s Workshop. Donald Murray and Peter Elbow also carry some weight on the subject, but not necessarily at the primary or secondary levels.  The highlights of the approach:
 * Student-centered
 * Teacher-designed environment and goal progression
 * Mini-lessons on grammar or traits of writing (Six Traits works well)
 * Ample in-class writing time
 * Conferencing (with peers and teacher)
 * Publishing and/or sharing work
 * Equal parts cooperative and individual work time
 * Focus on cultivating writers, as opposed to writing

Allen, H. A. (1975). The open classroom: Elements for successful implementation in american schools. //Peabody Journal of Education//, //52//(2), 97-104.