Writers Way

Writers at Work Collection

The Writers at Work Collection contains stationery and posters, math journal story problem cards, writer’s tools, materials for primary writers workshop, and suggestions for writing and publishing in a primary classroom. This set also includes reproducible picture dictionaries to support emergent or struggling writers as well as a high frequency word practice book. Colorful shape books support the final step in the writing process: publishing!

Birthday Writing
Paper

Flap Book for
Report Writing

Model
Sentences

Another 1st Grade Writer’s Checklist

Five W’s
Chart

Letter Writing
(Primary)

My Little Book of Words for Special Spelling

Tiny Tales
(Retelling or Personal Narrative)

Writers
at Work

Packet

Writers at Work (Cursive)

Letter
Diary

Diaries/Journals

Demonstrated Writing

Write
the Room

Writing Logs

(1 of 2)

Writing Prompts

Written Conversation

Weekly Record of Writing Vocabulary


Keep track of the words your students use in their writing. When you get an initial writing sample from the Observation Survey, write all correctly spelled words on this chart. Keep this record handy when thinking about your lesson plans.

(36 pages)

These writing posters are meant to support beginning writers. I have posted these in pdf format, but if you’d like them in a Word Document, just let me know at carl1404@msn.com. That way you can eliminate, add, or change the vocabulary for your particular class. I would suggest reproducing them on card stock and laminating them for durability. If you have other writing topics that you’d like to include here, please let me know at the above email address.

Writing Vocabulary Chart

Fill in this chart on a weekly basis, adding new words that your emergent writers record correctly in their journals. The chart shows change and growth over time. It’s a good one to show parents and use for planning your lessons.

Primary Writers Workshop

My Writing Log

Performance Task One

Performance Task Two

Portfolio Entry

Primary Assessment List for Journal Selections

Two Stars and a Wish

When I Publish
(Pictures)

This reproducible form is meant to assess oral and written language that is used during sharing time. Children are expected to write about their sharing and then read it to their classmates before presenting the actual object. This greatly enhances the experience.

Writing Research Reports


These reproducible forms are meant to facilitate the development of research report and book report writing skills. The suggested ideas and activities on the pages below are intended for intermediate students in a library setting or in a regular classroom. Students should already be familiar with standard book reports that include character descriptions, setting, plot, problem, and resolution. These activities should enable them to go beyond the traditional “book report.” Children should be encouraged to browse, scan the shelves and titles, and skim the tables of content before making a selection. Reading and reporting can and should be a pleasurable experience!

These Dewey book reports are not standard, fill-in-the-blank forms, but thought provoking questions and challenges with critical thinking skills in mind. Individual student and teacher interests and talents are allowed for and cooperative grouping is encouraged. Students should be motivated and trained to be thorough in their reporting and to make a nice presentation package. Teachers and/or librarians may choose to assign particular questions for certain students or add additional bonus projects for others. It is suggested that students always include the top portion of each report page for easy identification of the topic.

Flap Books

(Please note that all of the flap book patterns and samples need to be saved to your computer and then opened. Not sure why, but that’s the way it works! Maybe it’s the original graphics. Sorry for the inconvenience!)
T-Rex Flap Book Sample

Penguin Flap Book Pattern
Sports Biography Flap Book Patterns
Pilgrim Flap Book Patterns
Native American Flap Book Patterns
Ladybug Flap Book Sample

This is a handy little reference book that is meant to support early and emergent readers and writers. It contains Dr. Edward Fry’s first three hundred high frequency words. Each letter of the alphabet has its own page with a colorful graphic that serves as an anchor for the sound. I would suggest laminating the cover and then binding the book at the top.

(sample)

Craft Lessons

The following book lists were outlined in Craft Lessons by Ralph Fletcher.

Grades K-2
Category

Chair For My Mother, A

Using Illustrations to Convey Information

Doorbell Rang, The
The Repeating Line
Fireflies
Beginning, Middle and End
Fireflies In the Night
New Ways to Write About and Old Topic
I’ll Fix Anthony
Use Your Voice When You Write
Important Book, The
Moving Beyond “List” and “Love” Stories
Just Like Daddy
Surprise Endings
Little Nino’s Pizzeria
How to Pace a Story
Medieval Feast
Using Illustrations to Convey Information
My Five Senses
Using Your Voice When You Write
My Little Island
Using Details to Describe the Setting
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Match Words With the Picture
Old Henry
Cause and Effect
Shrek!
Write a Strong Lead
Tar Beach
Describing the Setting
Grades 3-4
Category

Amos and Boris

Using Stronger Verbs
Birthday Presents
Time Focus
Brave Irene
Person vs. Nature
Cecil’s Story
Exercising the Imagination
Danny the Champion of the World
Writing With Voice
Goose That Almost Got Cooked, The
Crafting a Title
Grandpa’s Face
Sharpening the Focus
Honey, I Love and Other Poems
Writing With Voice
John Henry
Using Stronger Verbs
Louis The Fish
The Give-Away Lead
My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother
Crafting a Title
Night in the Country
Using Sensory Details
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Creating a Dramatic Scene
Stories Julian Tells, The
Creating a Dramatic Scene
Twilight Comes Twice
Narrowing the Time Focus
Writing Workshop
Books that stimulate and model good writing
Primary Set I
Category

All Pigs Are Beautiful

Unusual Structure
All the Places To Love
Unusual Structure
Barn Dance
Ways With Words
Canoe Days
Ways With Words
Cherry Pies and Lullabies
Unusual Structure
Dear Annie
Letter Writing
Dear Juno
Letter Writing
Earrings
Ways With Words
Grandad Bill’s Song
Unusual Structure
Letter to Amy, A
Letter Writing
My Mama Had a Dancing Heart
Ways With Words
Seashore Book
Ways With Words
Somewhere in the World Right Now
Unusual Structure
Welcome to the Green House
Ways With Words
Primary Set 2
Category

All the Small Poems and 14 More

Poetry to Support Writers
Birthday Presents
Memoirs
Chalk Doll
How the Physical Things Hold Stories
Cherries and Cherry Pits
Characters Who Write
Dear Mr. Blueberry
Characters Who Write
Great Frog Race, The
Poetry to Support Writers
Jamaica Louise James
Close Observation of the World
Lemonade Sun
Poetry to Support Writers
Nappy Hair
How the Physical Things Hold Stories
Night on Neighborhood Street
Close Observation of the World
Picnic in October
Memoirs
Sitti’s Street
Memoirs
Sky Tree
Close Observation of the World
Tell Me a Story, Mama
Memoirs
This Quiet Lady
Memoirs

Writers Workshop Folders

Materials: Two 12 x 18 pieces of construction paper, although I prefer using laminated vellum for durability.

Assembly: Fold the sheets of paper as indicated below.

#1 #2

Place the folded paper #1 inside folded paper #2 to form a folder with pockets. In first grade we would call #1 a “hamburger fold” and #2 starts with a “hot dog” fold. Staple the pocket on the bottom right hand side. Here’s what your finished folders should look like:

Labels for pockets

Put the student’s name on the cover and use for special assignments, menu of ideas and recording sheets.

Inside left pocket is for ongoing or incomplete work.

Inside right pocket is for finished or completed work.

Back pocket is the “mailbox” for conferencing once a week.
Move some of this work to student portfolios.