Help organizing writers workshop

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Primary Elementary Teachers Chatboard

Help organizing writers workshop

by Lynne3

Mar 22, 2009

My mind is numb trying to figure out a better way for my third graders to keep their writing organized for writer's workshop. I have 0 budget. I started the year with spiral notebooks (the 10 cent variety) divided into sections and had the children glue in special pages that helped with vocabulary/ideas/spelling ect. Well, it only took a few weeks before the pages fell out, got torn and wrinkled. Students couldn't find their graphic organizers or drafts. Just a mess. I then tried to get them to keep their writing work in paper folders, but again - stuff is lost, folded, torn , ripped... Folders are smashed into desks and bent. Help! Need cheap and efficent way to organize my writers! I would like the students to be able to access their writing work easily without me collecting and distributing daily.

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Stacy/2nd On 3/22/09, Lynne3 wrote: > My mind is numb trying to figure out a better way for my > third graders to keep their writing organized for writer's > workshop. I have 0 budget. I started the year with spiral > notebooks (the 10 cent variety) divided into sections and > had the children glue in special pages that helped with > vocabu...See MoreOn 3/22/09, Lynne3 wrote: > My mind is numb trying to figure out a better way for my > third graders to keep their writing organized for writer's > workshop. I have 0 budget. I started the year with spiral > notebooks (the 10 cent variety) divided into sections and > had the children glue in special pages that helped with > vocabulary/ideas/spelling ect. Well, it only took a few > weeks before the pages fell out, got torn and wrinkled. > Students couldn't find their graphic organizers or drafts. > Just a mess. I then tried to get them to keep their > writing work in paper folders, but again - stuff is lost, > folded, torn , ripped... Folders are smashed into desks > and bent. Help! Need cheap and efficent way to organize my > writers! I would like the students to be able to access > their writing work easily without me collecting and > distributing daily.

About five years ago, I used my own money to purchase very inexpensive binders and materials for my writers workshop. This was when I didn't really have a budget to work with, like you explained. I got the cheap, 1 inch binders at a local store, along with two folders (two different colors) and hole punched those folders to fit inside the binder. Students brought in notebook paper and I put a bunch of it in the back of each notebook. This is the paper that my students use to write on during workshop time. The notebook paper is on the back-to-school supply list. All resource papers like you mentioned above (special pages) go inside this binder, along with their special writing pens (blue for drafting, green for editing, and red for revising). My students rarely lose any writing papers because these binders help them to stay organized. I spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year going over how we use these binders properly.

You can see how I organize my writers notebooks on my website if you'd like. Maybe you speak with your principal about finding some extra money somewhere for these? OR maybe you can have the students each bring in the materials at the beginning of the year, as part of the back-to-school supply list? These are just some options for you. I could not use anything else during my workshop time now that I've used these binders! I bought all of these materials about five years ago, and they have pretty much lasted me this entire time. I replenish the pens every year and maybe a binder or two, but most of the materials have held up well.

Good luck to you! I hope you find something that works out for your young authors!

Stacy

Mar 22, 2009

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Judy2/CA Each child in my class keeps their writing in a legal size file folder with their class number/name on it. The folders are kept in a writing "tub" (one of those plastic file cubes) on one of my classroom tables and each folder is in a hanging folder. When they are working on their writing, their writing folder should be on the top of their desk. Wh...See More

Mar 22, 2009

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Sherie/LA Thank you for sharing how you set up your binders. I have also been using binders with my 3rd graders, only I used dividers, not folders inside. Those dividers have made me crazy all year. They rip and come out and kids can't figure out to put things behind the dividers for each section. So, despite my attempt at being organized, it hasn't really w...See MoreThank you for sharing how you set up your binders. I have also been using binders with my 3rd graders, only I used dividers, not folders inside. Those dividers have made me crazy all year. They rip and come out and kids can't figure out to put things behind the dividers for each section. So, despite my attempt at being organized, it hasn't really worked. I checked out your website (and bookmarked it). It looks like it will be helpful for next year. I will definitely be using folders in my binders next year. Great idea.

Sherie/LA

> About five years ago, I used my own money to purchase very > inexpensive binders and materials for my writers workshop. > This was when I didn't really have a budget to work with, > like you explained. I got the cheap, 1 inch binders at a > local store, along with two folders (two different colors) > and hole punched those folders to fit inside the binder. > Students brought in notebook paper and I put a bunch of it in > the back of each notebook. This is the paper that my > students use to write on during workshop time. The notebook > paper is on the back-to-school supply list. All resource > papers like you mentioned above (special pages) go inside > this binder, along with their special writing pens (blue for > drafting, green for editing, and red for revising). My > students rarely lose any writing papers because these binders > help them to stay organized. I spend a lot of time at the > beginning of the year going over how we use these binders > properly. > > You can see how I organize my writers notebooks on my website > if you'd like. Maybe you speak with your principal about > finding some extra money somewhere for these? OR maybe you > can have the students each bring in the materials at the > beginning of the year, as part of the back-to-school supply > list? These are just some options for you. I could not use > anything else during my workshop time now that I've used > these binders! I bought all of these materials about five > years ago, and they have pretty much lasted me this entire > time. I replenish the pens every year and maybe a binder or > two, but most of the materials have held up well. > > Good luck to you! I hope you find something that works out > for your young authors! > > Stacy

Mar 22, 2009

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Jenetty77 Thank you so much for sharing all your organizational tools, ideas, and hard work with us! I can see how your system really streamlines writers workshop. I love it!

On 3/22/09, Stacy/2nd wrote: > On 3/22/09, Lynne3 wrote: >> My mind is numb trying to figure out a better way for my >> third graders to keep their writing orga...See MoreThank you so much for sharing all your organizational tools, ideas, and hard work with us! I can see how your system really streamlines writers workshop. I love it!

On 3/22/09, Stacy/2nd wrote: > On 3/22/09, Lynne3 wrote: >> My mind is numb trying to figure out a better way for my >> third graders to keep their writing organized for writer's >> workshop. I have 0 budget. I started the year with spiral >> notebooks (the 10 cent variety) divided into sections and >> had the children glue in special pages that helped with >> vocabulary/ideas/spelling ect. Well, it only took a few >> weeks before the pages fell out, got torn and wrinkled. >> Students couldn't find their graphic organizers or drafts. >> Just a mess. I then tried to get them to keep their >> writing work in paper folders, but again - stuff is lost, >> folded, torn , ripped... Folders are smashed into desks >> and bent. Help! Need cheap and efficent way to organize my >> writers! I would like the students to be able to access >> their writing work easily without me collecting and >> distributing daily. > > About five years ago, I used my own money to purchase very > inexpensive binders and materials for my writers workshop. > This was when I didn't really have a budget to work with, > like you explained. I got the cheap, 1 inch binders at a > local store, along with two folders (two different colors) > and hole punched those folders to fit inside the binder. > Students brought in notebook paper and I put a bunch of it in > the back of each notebook. This is the paper that my > students use to write on during workshop time. The notebook > paper is on the back-to-school supply list. All resource > papers like you mentioned above (special pages) go inside > this binder, along with their special writing pens (blue for > drafting, green for editing, and red for revising). My > students rarely lose any writing papers because these binders > help them to stay organized. I spend a lot of time at the > beginning of the year going over how we use these binders > properly. > > You can see how I organize my writers notebooks on my website > if you'd like. Maybe you speak with your principal about > finding some extra money somewhere for these? OR maybe you > can have the students each bring in the materials at the > beginning of the year, as part of the back-to-school supply > list? These are just some options for you. I could not use > anything else during my workshop time now that I've used > these binders! I bought all of these materials about five > years ago, and they have pretty much lasted me this entire > time. I replenish the pens every year and maybe a binder or > two, but most of the materials have held up well. > > Good luck to you! I hope you find something that works out > for your young authors! > > Stacy

Mar 22, 2009

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lynne3 On 3/22/09, Jenetty77 wrote: > Thank you so much for sharing all your organizational tools, > ideas, and hard work with us! I can see how your system really > streamlines writers workshop. I love it! > > On 3/22/09, Stacy/2nd wrote: >> On 3/22/09, Lynne3 wrote: >>> My mind is numb trying to figure out a better way for ...See MoreOn 3/22/09, Jenetty77 wrote: > Thank you so much for sharing all your organizational tools, > ideas, and hard work with us! I can see how your system really > streamlines writers workshop. I love it! > > On 3/22/09, Stacy/2nd wrote: >> On 3/22/09, Lynne3 wrote: >>> My mind is numb trying to figure out a better way for my >>> third graders to keep their writing organized for writer's >>> workshop. I have 0 budget. I started the year with spiral >>> notebooks (the 10 cent variety) divided into sections and >>> had the children glue in special pages that helped with >>> vocabulary/ideas/spelling ect. Well, it only took a few >>> weeks before the pages fell out, got torn and wrinkled. >>> Students couldn't find their graphic organizers or drafts. >>> Just a mess. I then tried to get them to keep their >>> writing work in paper folders, but again - stuff is lost, >>> folded, torn , ripped... Folders are smashed into desks >>> and bent. Help! Need cheap and efficent way to organize my >>> writers! I would like the students to be able to access >>> their writing work easily without me collecting and >>> distributing daily. >> >> About five years ago, I used my own money to purchase very >> inexpensive binders and materials for my writers workshop. >> This was when I didn't really have a budget to work with, >> like you explained. I got the cheap, 1 inch binders at a >> local store, along with two folders (two different colors) >> and hole punched those folders to fit inside the binder. >> Students brought in notebook paper and I put a bunch of it in >> the back of each notebook. This is the paper that my >> students use to write on during workshop time. The notebook >> paper is on the back-to-school supply list. All resource >> papers like you mentioned above (special pages) go inside >> this binder, along with their special writing pens (blue for >> drafting, green for editing, and red for revising). My >> students rarely lose any writing papers because these binders >> help them to stay organized. I spend a lot of time at the >> beginning of the year going over how we use these binders >> properly. >> >> You can see how I organize my writers notebooks on my website >> if you'd like. Maybe you speak with your principal about >> finding some extra money somewhere for these? OR maybe you >> can have the students each bring in the materials at the >> beginning of the year, as part of the back-to-school supply >> list? These are just some options for you. I could not use >> anything else during my workshop time now that I've used >> these binders! I bought all of these materials about five >> years ago, and they have pretty much lasted me this entire >> time. I replenish the pens every year and maybe a binder or >> two, but most of the materials have held up well. >> >> Good luck to you! I hope you find something that works out >> for your young authors! >> >> Stacy >

Mar 23, 2009

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