Elements of a Writing Conference

An effective writing conference can reinforce a mini-lesson or previous teaching point and always moves the student forward as a writer by teaching him/her the current piece of writing.


Research

Make sure you thoroughly look over the student's writing before making comments. Check previous conference records to see what other comments, corrections, etc. have been made.  Ask the student "What are we working on today?  What are you trying to do as a writer?  

Compliment/Give Support

Make sure you find something to complement the writer on.  You want to follow a 'know and grow' mentality.  Tell the student what he or she 'knows' <is doing well> and the student will rise to the occasion!  

Decide and Teach/Reteach

Choose one area that you would like to reinforce.  Use language like "Let me teach you something else that good writer's do..." or "I saw this in a book one time.  The author _________.  Let's see if you can do something like this."  Another way to introduce a teaching point is to say, "Today I'd like to show you how to ________ your writing."

Guided Practice

Guide the student and give support.  Do not abandon your writer!  Help the writer find a place in the writing to incorporate the new skill.  At this point, it is OK to leave the writer and let him or her work independently.

Link

Give a reminder to the student that he/she is to try this during all writer's workshops.


**This was based on the Writer's Workshop Framework that was developed at the national Reading and Writing Institute at the Teacher's College of Columbia University


Below is my Know or Grow Writer's Conference From that helps me make sure that I cover all of the parts of a good writing conference.  Feel free to click on the pic and download it for FREE!!

I also wanted to let all of my readers know that starting in June, I will be doing a book study on the book Reading Without Limits by Maddie Witter.  It is an EXCEPTIONAL book with lots of great info that can be easily implemented into the classroom!  If you click below, the link will take you straight to Amazon where you can purchase the book and be ready to rock and roll when the book study begins.

Have a great Friday!

FREE Know and Grow Writing Conference Form

Documenting writing conferences has become an important part of teaching at my school. In the past, we would conference, add a few notes at the top of the student's paper, and that was it! These days, teachers seem to have to be able to prove just about everything that we do in the classroom. This is my attempt to create a form that enables teachers to quickly, but thoroughly, conference with students. After conferencing, this form is inserted back into the student's writing folder. It is important to note an area of mastery and an area of growth so that the student still feels a sense of accomplishment while becoming aware of mistakes that are being repeated. Enjoy your conferences!! I hope that you can use this FREE FORM!

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