Lucy Calkins...you are my hero.

Through my masters coursework this past year, I was introduced to the "Writer's Workshop" approach to teaching writing and instantly fell in love! Even when I was excelling, I was always an anxious writer in school and held "perfectionist" mentalities towards the craft. I never was given the opportunity to benefit from a program like Writer's Workshop that encourages risk-taking in writing and emphasizes the idea that writing involves the continual process of revision.

All that being said, I knew I wanted to hold a "Writer's Workshop" each day this school year, but I hadn't yet flushed out all the details of HOW! And this is when the stars aligned in my favor, and Lucy Calkins came to my rescue.  A Teach for America alum was selling Lucy Calkins Units of Study for Primary Writing: A Yearlong Curriculum (see picture below & check out the publisher's website here) at a very reasonable price, and without knowing little more than that Lucy Calkins is a woman to listen to, I bought it on the spot!

I've been pouring over these units this past week, and I am coming to realize how fortunate I was to happen upon these books! My school does not provide guidance on Writer's Workshop, so this will be my lifesaver! More post to come on implementing the curriculum.

Now some Writer's Workshop Pinterest inspiration! 

(1) I have not yet decided whether I would like students to have a writing binder or folder OR binder with folders - so many decisions to make. Nevertheless, below is some inspiration guiding those ideas. Thank you Ms. Madden of Madden's Monsterous Masterminds.  Her ideas for the writing binder are great!

(2) Definitely loved the idea of teaching Six Traits Writing using the acronym - VOICES.  Similar to the CAFE strategies board, I want to have a VOICES board that displays strategies we use in Writer's Workshop. Thank you Ladybug's Teacher Files for providing this great resource.