Oak Park students learning writing skills

By Lori Porter porter@theacorn.com

Oak Park Unified School District third-, fourth- and fifth-grade teachers recently launched a Writer’s Workshop Program to instruct students how to write in every genre.

The program, implemented in the district’s primary grades last year, is part of New York’s Columbia University Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Project.

To teach the program, Oak Park teachers received one week of intense on-site training by specialists from the New York College and will continue with additional training throughout the year.

"This was deemed a worthy project to pursue," said Brookside Elementary School Principal Esther Winkelman. "In the long run, it helps all students become more proficient in their writing skills."

The program’s goal is to raise the level of literacy instruction within schools through professional staff development. In the program, educators learn how to establish writing workshops where they act as mentors and coaches for children who are beginning to learn how to read and write.

"The program has created tremendous energy to write with our students," said Winkelman. "What turns teachers on to it is when they see students who normally don’t like to write, turned on to writing."

In the workshops, students are taught the strategies and habits of effective reading and writing.

Although students are taught how to write in every genre, they begin by learning how to write a narrative. They then explore different genres such as fiction, procedural writing, essays and personal narratives.

The workshop’s approach to grammar is different, too. Students are taught to first write, then edit. Students are told to spell, "as best they can," in order to establish fluent writing.

The workshops help students become better writers by teaching them that writing is a process that involves many edits and drafts before a finished piece is produced.

Students also learn ways to clarify their thoughts through their writing, add important details and answer anticipated questions.

Brookside Elementary’s website has some informative facts about the writing program, including a list of great literature for children to read.

For more information, visit www.bes.opusd.k12.ca.us and click the Writer’s Workshop link.