Writer's Workshop Author Celebration

February marks the end to our two month non-fiction writer's workshop unit. For eight weeks we read and explore elements of non-fiction texts before reading and research topics of our choice! 

If you've followed along on my Instagram you know my class did a shared literacy immersion experience where each student reads, researches and writes a nonfiction book of their own about penguins. In order to differentiate, students were able to use facts from our class anchor chart or stretch their learning by including facts/new voaburlary they researched on their own. This takes place during the month of January.

After having completed one book with the support of each student writing it on the same topic, students are able to choose a nonfiction topic of their choice. Students read and record new learning in reader's workshop. In February, they write a second nonfiction book on the topic of their choice. This progression is the perfect scaffolding! 

Therefore, by the end of our two month unit- we could use a big celebration!  All families are invited to attend via this invitation (picture shown above is from last year). 

I also prepare a special publishing shout-out of each student's book title to be handed out at the event.

The day of the celebration, I surprise the class with balloons and decorations. You can see their faces light up with excitement and its truly makes it feel more special. 

Students greet parents at the door and hand out the publishing shout-out. After, students welcome families and introduce them to our classroom. They continue to read a small blurb describing their hard work and efforts in the classroom the past few months. After, they invite them to walk around the classroom and listen to a reader. Lastly, they encourage parents to write a compliment on a post-it and place it on the whiteboard.

Parents are always so impressed with the work of their first grader. It's truly a special moment in our classroom!

If you're interested in grabbing a copy of the materials featured in this post, you can download an editable version HERE. 

Setting Up Writer's Workshop

I'm excited to share with you how I set up Writer's Workshop in my classroom! There are a few must have resources that are key to establishing a great start to the school year. I've broken it down into three main components. It's all about the creating the perfect space, setting up organization, and student partnerships!  

SPACE

By now I'm sure you've already thought about the best space for your writer's workshop materials and anchor charts. I believe writing and reading go hand in hand so I personally feel they are best next to each other. You may feel definitely of course and that's okay!  It's important that you have ownership over your classroom setup. Often times anchor charts correlate and it's beneficial to see them as one literacy space. Therefore, I have also positioned them perfectly in our classroom library. You'll want to ensure there is enough space for plenty of anchor charts.

In addition to ample space for anchor charts, I display writing process posters for my students. Our school uses a writer's workshop curriculum that is adapted from Lucy Calkin's.  These stages will align to that curriculum, as well as one that you may be implementing on your own. I have seen many variations of "writing stages" online and I found a system that works for me. Although students are working independently, we are moving through the writing stages together as a class. Therefore, we have one close pin that is clipped onto the name of the stage and we move to it. This allows students to know the status of the class during independent writing time.

The clip is moved during my mini-lesson. If you use a curriculum similar to Lucy Caulkins, please note that after choosing, we move back to revising and editing before moving to publishing and celebrating

You can find my Writing Process Posters in my store here. 

The writing process posters come together in a bundle that includes many options to match your classroom color scheme. The black line version can be printed on colored cardstock. 

Lastly, I am sure to include a space for materials in a student centered friendly environment. You may notice the student writing choice papers and materials are located next to their book bins away from the classroom library. This allows for a smoother transition away from the mini-lesson space. Students can retrieve their materials on their way to the desks without having to step on any little firstie fingers or toes!

ORGANIZATION

Before the start of the year, I set up student writing portfolios. These portfolios are home to all of their published writing pieces. They are meant to be a tool in helping you communicate and share with families what we are doing in the classroom.

For our writing curriculum, we have a new unit each month. Students write ("collect") different pieces throughout the month during our writing process and then choose one to publish and celebrate at the unit. After the unit is completed, I place student writing pieces in their respective writing portfolios. 

In the editable document, you can add the unit title and month that correlates to your curriculum. Students can go home and share their published piece with their families. Parents are encouraged to write a message in the comments notes highlighting their student's successes. They will keep their writing in the folder and return it back to school until the next month.

You can use the student checklist to check when students return the portfolio in order to keep track of who still needs to return it before the next month. The sticker chart can be used two ways. Students can celebrate by placing a sticker in the sticker chart for each published piece their complete. Another option is one I choose to do each year. 

At the end of the year, we have a big publishing party by taking our writing portfolio and sharing it in partnerships. Students feel so proud of themselves after looking back on all their growth throughout the year. After reading in partnerships, students get to choose stickers to place in their "Write On" sticker chart before taking them home for the year.

These Student Writing Portfolios are available in color and black line versions in my TPT here. They in a Powerpoint document in order to add student names. They are stapled to manilla folders for use. 

STUDENT PARTNERSHIPS

Student partnerships play a significant role in the success of writer's workshop. After working independently, students meet with a partner to complete "partner writing." My first year of teaching, I gave student complete autonomy when it came to this stage of the lesson. However, I noticed that perhaps this structure was not supporting students to use this time to their fullest potential.

As a result, I created a resource that holds students accountable during writer's workshop, while still giving them a choice. My Partner Editing Checklist can be found in my store here. It includes two options, a vertical and horizontal version, as well as writing paper choices.

Each student has their own "Write On!" booklet of multiple copies of the partner editing checklist. The partners each take turns providing evidence of how they helping their writing buddy that day. The editing checklist provides students with talking stems to ensure positive and constructive feedback, as well as a way to differentiate for primary learners.

They keep this Write On! booklet in their Writer's Workshop folder and it quickly becomes a daily routine. Every once and a while I collect their booklets and use it as a way to assess and inform my instruction! I highly recommend this tool to boost partner writing in your classroom! 


I hope this post left you feeling excited about setting up Writer's Workshop in your classroom this year! Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions!

Classroom Reveal

I have been absolutely overwhelmed and blessed with the amount of support I've gotten from readers this past year. So many of you have reached out about my classroom and asked questions or decor advice. You have given me the experience of a lifetime!

I feel it's important that you know before continuing on that it truly takes a village to create my classroom each year. Behind the scenes there are many people who come together to make this possible. Friends and family members help me laminate, cut and even take pictures.  I wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for them and I am forever grateful for them for making all my classroom dreams come true! You know who you are. xoxo

Like most schools, at the end of each year, we are required to pack everything, stack up our bins and take everything off our shelves so that the furniture can be removed from the classroom to be cleaned and floors washed and waxed. I'll admit, it was a difficult thing for me to do last June after spending so many weeks setting it up last summer. I had felt like I finally found a classroom set up that suited my teaching style and a color scheme that allowed me to return to school each morning ready to start the day! That's why you may find most things in my classroom reveal will appear the same but if you take the time to notice the small details, some changes are there. :) 

First up, my desk and small group meeting area. These bins featured here are from Big Lots. They can be found each summer during their college line release, but are not usually restocked. You know what that means, when you buy them- go big or go home! Last year I wasn't able to get all the styles in the bright colors. I was late to the party haha! The green and pink bins on the lower shelves are actually spray painted. I was pleased with the coverage but I have a feeling there will be some chips by the end of the year.

I'm also sure you're wondering where these gorgeous supply labels are from. My good friend Maria Manore Gavin is a creative genius and has a true eye for design!!! They come in an editable pack (also available in white and brights) and can be found here.   

I was excited to add some additional teacher storage to my desk area. Is it just me or does it feel like you have constant piles of paper everywhere you turn, no matter how organized you think you are?  Everything now has it's own specific place. Well, at least for now.... :)

If you're looking to create a space like this, my tip for you is think about your use and practicality. The bins that you will have easiest access too are those on the top. Therefore I chose to store things I am frequently using throughout the day. 

Each year my good friend Chandra Jayne's Teacher Anchor becomes an absolute staple in my classroom!! You'll always find it within reach at my desk. This year's color scheme truly brings out all the colors of my teaching supplies (it started ever since I was a kid and has kind of become an addiction at this point ha!).  More than it's beauty, The Teacher Anchor's effectiveness and practicality is something you can't even put a price tag on. I highly recommend you check out her products over here a C. Jayne Teach !

My favorite spot in my classroom is most definitely my library! It's a place that feeds into my teacher soul and allows me to "get lost in a book." This year I was lucky enough to be able to add to my library space. Previously I had computer tables behind my library. This year, the computers and tables were removed in exchange for Chromebooks. WIN- WIN! :) I ended up pushing my library back closer toward the cubbies and extending the shelves along the wall.

How the bins are organized in my library has stayed the same. The top shelf is home to all the holiday/seasonal book bins (Fly Guy and Mo Willems in the picture to the right has since been moved). The middle and lover shelf are the leveled and chapter books. The shelves to the left feature the theme book bins.

The organization of the additional book bins also comes with purpose.

The top shelf of the addition features author book bins, while the lower incorporates characters. I feel it's important students have access to learn to "shop" for books by theme, season, just right level, character and author. 

These library labels also include a matching sticker to place on the books in each bin to ensure student organization. They are one of my favorite products purchased on TPT and can be found in Maria Manore Gavin's store here. Trust me, they are worth every penny!!  

They can also be purchased in white. *Please note they do not include the author and character labels however, it does include an editable template for you to create your own.

My library area is usually my meeting area for reader's and writer's workshop, as well as shared literacy, science and social studies. Therefore I have a chart stand that doubles as a white board. Some weeks I co-teach science/social studies so I find it's important to include enough space to add a space for teachers (or students who share) to join me up front (stool to the right). The stool is from TJ Maxx.

Since our reader's and writer's workshop monthly curriculum units usually go hand in hand, I find it's effective to group it together as one larger bulletin board.  It allows more space for anchor charts and posters.

My  writer's workshop area also includes my writing process posters. This is used as a class clip chart as we move through the writing stages each unit. The pack includes many color schemes to suit your theme. You can find them in my store here!

My library area is separate from my student book bins for reader's workshop. I find this to be effective when we transition from our mini lesson at the mat to independent reading around the room. Students can easily and *quietly* retrieve their bin. The student book bins labels can be found in Learning in Wonderland's store here. 

With the additional wall space from my library being pushed back, it also allowed extra counter space for me to display themed books. 

 I'm really excited for this space! There are so many possibilities with the extra shelf space. It is also home to our writer's workshop paper choices and writing supplies. Once again, student materials are removed from our meeting area to allow for a smoother and quieter transition from the mini lesson.

If you've been following along since the beginning, you know I'm a HUGE fan of math workshop. I am alllll about making math fun and engaging for our little learners. In order to make this successful in your classroom, you need a special space. I have created a student centered "number corner." Here you will find plenty of anchor chart space and math posters, manipulatives, games, tools and models. 

 I spend a lot of time allowing students to explore this space before moving into teaching into the rules and routines for using our number corner. The key to making it effective in your classroom is clean and clear organization. Share with your students the names on the labels and the purpose for where things are. Don't be afraid to mess it up one day to model how things should NOT look and have them work together to put things back in their place. This will build their comfort with this environment so that students know where to find things. Be sure to encourage them to get and return materials on their own.

The pink bins are our math tubs. To the left are where I store games and math models in pocket protectors. The games featured here can be found in a Math Game Bundle in my TPT store.  They are my most frequently sold product because they are easy to prep and can be used all year long! The small teal bins to the right are where students can find their "tools." I printed Reagan Tunstall's Math Tools on colored cardstock and laminated for durability. They have lasted from year to year and are the perfect support for our little learners! The teal bins and drawers are home to math manipulatives. The labels can be found in Amy Groesbeck's store here.

Many of our math routines are also seen in calendar. If you're looking to find our more about how I run calendar in my classroom, you can find a post on it here. Many of the materials here can also be found in Maria Manore Gavin's store.  What I love is that it includes many different size and colors options for you to create your own calendar space.

To the left you will find my objectives board. You can find these resources over at Amy Groesbeck's store on TPT here. It also is where I am trying out a new class goal setting system, also in her store here. 

 Next to calendar you'll find my FUNdations space, along with student material bins. As I mentioned last year, I attempt to spice up the FUNdation decor as much as possible. If you teach it, you know what I mean and I'm sure you may fee the same way. Guilty... :) It is not pictured here but I include and interactive word wall pocket chart for students to be able to take and return word cards as need.
















If you're wondering how I run and organize my classroom community supplies, view my post here.

Student seat sacks are my savior! They are going on their third year here and are holding up well! Don't worry, they are washed after each year. 

I have created editable name tags to match my theme to use in my seat sacks. They can be found here! They can be scaled to size if you're looking for additional uses for them as well. 

By accident, I was playing around with the size and printed the name tags too small BUT found that they actually made great cubby tags. I wouldn't have ever thought of using them for that purpose but was pleased to see how they came out.  They were printed on card stock and laminated for durability. If you're still reading this and not just window shopping through pictures, I truly appreciate all your support!!!!

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