Monday, January 5, 2015

Conferences in Writing



It's the time of year when I really take a close look at my students as writers and figure out who needs help with what.  Of course I do this all year long, but now it's crunch time!  I really zone in on very specific needs and confer with my students accordingly.

Here's how I do it:  Every few weeks, I take my students' writing home.  I go through it and see how they are doing.  I sort their work into piles based on need/skills.  Once I have 5 groups, I create a conference schedule.  I print the schedule on card stock and place it in a plastic sleeve or laminate it. I leave it at my small group table and each day after my writing mini-lesson, I pull my group.  The rest of the students know they may only interrupt if they need a staple {even then, they are trained to bring me another blank paper and hand it to me with their first sheet so I can staple without distracting my group}.  I share the things I feel the kids need to work on with them.  I think it's important for them to know why I've pulled them.  Conferencing with students in a rotation has the following benefits:

-it ensures I am meeting with all my students each week
-it ensures I am helping students with skills they actually need to work on
-it gives the students accountability for areas of improvement
-it leaves less students at their seats for independent writing time, which equals less kids to manage {bonus!}

To grab the conferencing schedule, click the cover below.  It's included in my "Writing Workshop Resources" pack, which is 150+ pages!  To see all of my Writing products, click here.  






xo
Megan 

4 comments:

Room 214-Ms. Wenzel's Blog said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

It is so important to be organized and be able to keep notes/records in an efficient manner! Kuddos!!

Lori said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Love your organization for Writer's Workshop! I enjoy seeing how other teachers manage their writing time. I like having a schedule for conferencing too. I know if I didn't, I wouldn't get all the students in!
Lori
Conversations in Literacy

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Awesome! Are your other students writing independently while you meet with your small groups?

Edmond Hill said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

The writing objects will almost help the students to understand every possible stance to which they must needed to look for and favorably these will prove to be much better for them. rewriting service

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