Writing Workshop: Writing Groups

It seems that lately, the only time I find to blog is during writing workshops in my English classes. That means that I can get a post in once a week, which is apparently pretty normal. If this is the case, however, why is it that it is October 26th, and I only have one other post for the month?

Today, my kids are engaging in their very first writing group meeting. I read to them excerpts from "The Helping Circle" and modeled a writing group, and it seems like they're doing a pretty good job. I hear some constructive comments, but they're still very timid about reading their writing aloud. Understandable - I would hazard to guess that there aren't very many teachers that have made them do this before. I hope they find it valuable; I know I do. I adore my writing group - I just hope my kids learn to adore theirs as well.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the college essays are over. I think after this week, I will split up my writing workshops like so:

1. Quick Write
2. Mini-Lesson
3. Writing Group Meeting
4. Work Time

I can't wait to see what they do for their own personal writing - if they do their own personal writing. They must do their own personal writing. I'm forcing them to - but doesn't that go against the whole idea? If I take a "damn the man" stance with writing workshops, doesn't that give them the right not to write anything? Yes, it does, but then they will lose credibility with their groups. Peer pressure is a lovely thing. If most of the group members are into this writing workshop thing, maybe they can goad reluctant group members into participating.

One thing I'm definitely going to make them do is submit to the Troubadour. I'm toying with the idea of making them look through Writer's Market and submit to an outside magazine. How cool would it be if one of my kids got PUBLISHED! I would die.

Conferencing is also, surprisingly, working out fairly well. It's not structured - just whoever wants help. I was very worried about the conferencing aspect of writing workshop, but I think I've made it work with my teaching style. Conferencing will come during the work time; I won't be interrupting writing groups for that.

That is all.

Question Floods, Part Deux

My fourth period is currently engaged in their second writing workshop. They are doing REALLY well with the question floods - much better than my first period. I think it might have something to do with the fact that they're more awake than my first period. I also really like how the groups I created interact with each other. Of course, I have a few that don't seem to be paying attention, but for the most part, people are getting along and aren't being shy about sharing. I was afraid they might be, considering the fact that about half of them indicated on their preference cards that they were NOT comfortable with sharing.

They just finished (or are still working on) their revisions. Some people wrote PAGES of stuff. One student in particular wrote on her preference card that she didn't like writing because she wasn't any good at it, but she is still writing as people are sharing their revisions. She's written at least two pages worth of stuff and is still going!

Writing workshops are my favorite thing in the entire world. It's so amazing that all of the techniques I learned over the summer are not idealistic dreams, but techniques that actually work and get them expressing their ideas. True, some take it more seriously than others, but I'm okay with that because we just started.

I'll hook them all. It will be done.