I’m Done…Now What?How to Create Independence in

Primary Students’ Writing

Robin HowellSecond Grade Teacher

Hendrix Elementary

"Producing writing is not so much like filling a basin or pool once as it is like getting water to keep flowing through until it finally runs clear." --Peter Elbow

What Do We Do When We Have Finished A Piece of Writing?Turn and Talk

Writer’s Workshop Mini- LessonWriting Time (Brainstorming, Drawing, Revising and Editing)ConferencingSharing

I’m Done!!!!

What Are Problems In Our Classrooms During the Writing Process? Not wanting to wait for feedbackIllustrate and not writeProcedural ConstraintsHow Writers WorkIs it student centered?Are there goals set?I don’t know what to do or where to startTime on taskMotivationAre they inspired?

Suggestions…

What’s the Difference?Creates Dependence Fosters IndependenceTeacher selects writing

promptsTeacher keeps all

suppliesTeacher helps with

spelling of wordsStudents write during

assigned time and they are done quickly

All students publish at the same time

Students select writing topic

Materials are available to students

Students “write by the sounds they hear”

Students plan their writing and writing continues from one sitting to another

Students publish on individual basisAdapted from No More “I’m Done!” by Jennifer Jacobson

Plan and GatherDecide your goals for your writing for the

yearGather Mentor Texts from all types of genres ( Poems, Notes that come on CD’s, cookbooks, plays, magazines) * Whole Class Studies ---Process and Product ( Needs, Interests, Curriculum Objectives, Motivation to challenge)

SpaceMeeting Area

Conference Area

Writing Center

Management Systems

Publishing Area

Writing Center SuppliesWriting FoldersBlank PaperDate Stamp and Ink PadPencils ( Regular and ColoredAlphabet ChartsScissors and TapeGraphic OrganizersEditor’s ChecklistScrap Paper and supply request forms

Other Possiblities:

Stapler, Pens, Crayons, Sticky Notes, Baby Name Book, Children’s Magazines, Hole Punch, Brad Fasteners

RoutinesMini-Lessons

Foster Independence in the Selection of Writing Topics

Writing TimeConferencing 1. Set Goal 2. Reflect 3. Point 4. Question 5. Teach One Skill

Author’s Chair

What Does This Mean For Your Classroom?

ResourcesJacobson, Jennifer. No More, “I’m Done” . Fostering Independent Writers in the Primary Grades. Portland, Maine: Stenhouse Publishers, 2010

Ray, Katie Wood. Study Driven: A Framework For Planning Units of Study In The Writing Workshop. Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Heinemann, 2006