Students write a better story if they have a personal connection to the subject.  In this ongoing writer's workshop, each week students can bring a prized possession to class as the subject of their writing.  After all students have shared with the class, each student will write a story about their item.  

Students can choose an item to share like a favorite toy, souvenir, book, DVD, picture, award, outfit, costume, sports jersey, or any other momento that holds a sentimental value.  I will guide them to introduce their item (opening), prompt them to give more information about it (details), and end their sharing with a 'feeling sentence' (closing) about the item.  This will become the basis for their writing.  

In addition to writing, this class will emphasize phonics, spelling, reading skills, and writing conventions.  I'll guide the students to hear the sounds in words to help spell their words correctly.  They'll practice reading their story when they share it with the class.  Based on what individual students need at the moment, students will be guided to use correct capitalization and punctuation, organize their writing, use complete sentences, write their content with an opening sentence and details and closing, use nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adjectives correctly, and use correct letter formation and spacing in their handwriting. 

This class is for 1st or 2nd grade students, or can be a review for 3rd grade students. Kindergarteners can participate if they have a basic knowledge of the alphabet so they can at least recognize the beginning and ending sounds of the words in their sentence.  I'll prompt beginning writers to hear the sounds in the words and the use of inventive spelling is acceptable. Perfect spelling is not expected, but I'll support the writing of complete sentences with uppercase and periods.  Parents of beginning writers may choose to transcribe for their student off screen, or I can help them.

Students who are finished with their writing can draw a picture to go with their story while others continue to write. 

Students are invited to share their writing and picture.  Beginning writers who want to share their story and picture can hold their stories up to the computer screen and I will read their stories for them. 

Some students may finish their writing sooner than others and some may need extra time.  I will try to finish class on time. Those students that are finished can be dismissed on time while I continue working with those needing extra time.

Students can subscribe to this ongoing writer's workshop class and attend one time or many times.  They can drop in and drop out as they choose.  Subscriptions can be stopped at any point if parents decide they no longer wish to have their student enrolled in the class. Parents will receive a full refund of their most recent subscription payment if subscription are stopped within 24 hours of the auto-renewal.