Readers and Writers Workshop at Middle Schools
The Alliance for Education has granted money to train teachers and support the implementation of the Readers and Writers Workshop at middle schools. (see Stanford Grant Press Release)
I'm pleased to hear this news because Pathfinder K-8 already uses Readers and Writers Workshop, and from what I have observed, I think this is absolutely the way more schools should go.
Carla Santorno is quoted as saying "This is an approach to teaching from which all students—from those not meeting standards to those exceeding them—can benefit," and I agree. This method encourages students to push themselves to their full potential, and works well with groups of students at varied skill levels in reading and writing.
I'd be interested to know if there are other elementary and/or middle schools in Seattle that were already using Readers and Writers Workshop before the grant and, if the district staff and the Alliance for Education even knows about them. Seems like this would be an excellent chance to build on the knowledge already present at Pathfinder (and perhaps other schools) and give the teachers already using Readers and Writers Workshop a chance to earn some extra money and/or recognition as trainers for other teachers around Seattle.
Visit the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project page to learn more about this instructional approach, and check out this elementary teacher's website from California that details how she uses the method in her classroom.
I'm pleased to hear this news because Pathfinder K-8 already uses Readers and Writers Workshop, and from what I have observed, I think this is absolutely the way more schools should go.
Carla Santorno is quoted as saying "This is an approach to teaching from which all students—from those not meeting standards to those exceeding them—can benefit," and I agree. This method encourages students to push themselves to their full potential, and works well with groups of students at varied skill levels in reading and writing.
I'd be interested to know if there are other elementary and/or middle schools in Seattle that were already using Readers and Writers Workshop before the grant and, if the district staff and the Alliance for Education even knows about them. Seems like this would be an excellent chance to build on the knowledge already present at Pathfinder (and perhaps other schools) and give the teachers already using Readers and Writers Workshop a chance to earn some extra money and/or recognition as trainers for other teachers around Seattle.
Visit the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project page to learn more about this instructional approach, and check out this elementary teacher's website from California that details how she uses the method in her classroom.
Comments
Helen Schinske
Seattle bought this particular program from Columbia University Teachers College for its scope and sequence, something that was sorely lacking in the Language Arts curriculum. Most well known writing programs such as Puget Sound Writing Project and the National Writing Project teach using the writers workshop model.
It is false that it does not address grammar. Every teacher uses Mary Ehrenworth's text The Power of Grammar. And it is false that it's only based on creative writing. By the year's end, students should have completed a variety of narrative and expository pieces.
All middle schools and most elementary schools are required to use writers workshop. It's a pretty good curriculum but, as you know, one size does not fit all. Teachers in middle schools assigned to 150 students per day are really struggling with the program as are all teachers who are teaching full inclusion programs.
If you have more questions, ask you child's Language Arts teacher.
ps. My daughter did writers workshop as a kindergartener at Salmon Bay last year and loved it.