To run a successful writing workshop, holding individual writing conferences with students is a must!
For many teachers, this can be an uncomfortable task. I’m here to show you how to use a writing notebook to support your student teacher writing conferences so you always have something tangible to leave with your students.
What do I do in student writing conferences?
Writing conferences are such an integral part of the writing workshop. This is where the differentiation and individualization comes into play. It’s where you get to know your writers on a deeper level than you can from whole group lessons. And most importantly, it’s where you can build those oh-so-important relationships with your writers!
A quick Google search will give you tens if not hundreds of thousands of ideas for what exactly to do in a writing conference.
For me, it’s pretty simple:
- Check in with the student to see what the student wants to share or is currently working on.
- Give honest praise for some of the strengths you see.
- Leave the student with a quick tip or help them to set a goal.
That’s it! I think the part that gets some teachers is the final step. Most of the time, my tip relates back to the mini-lesson. If we are working on adding details, we identify a place the student wants to add details. If we are working on using dialogue in the story, we make a plan for where the student intends to do that.
Should I take writing conference notes?
In short, yes! When you have meetings with parents and they want to know how their child is doing, it’s fantastic to have notes to pull out. But let’s be honest, our time is limited and it’s hard to keep track of every conference with every single child!
Well, I learned a fantastic idea that makes keeping these notes a cinch! You just need some Avery labels, a clipboard, and pen to be ready to go!
I use a sheet of labels like my picture above and jot down the date, student name, a praise, a tip, and sometimes a little tidbit that comes up.
Once I fill up the sheet, I take 5 minutes to stick the labels to blank notebook paper I have in a binder with a section for each student. When it comes time for a parent teacher conference, I get out my binder, flip to their child’s section and have specific information to share that they appreciate hearing!
How can a writing notebook help with my writing conferences?
I have four ways a writing notebook can help during your writing conferences. In truth, it actually helps organize your writing workshop, but for now I’ll show you 4 sections to include in a writing notebook to help you hold meaningful writing conferences with elementary students.
I typically divide my writing notebook into 4 sections as you can see above. They include tools for writers, words for writers, ideas for writers, and goals for writers.
Tools for Writers Section in Writing Conferences
The “Tools for Writers” section is one where I like to put mini versions of anchor charts from lessons throughout the year. If I see students need to work on something we have covered before, I’m able to flip to this section during our conference to give them a reminder. It’s quite handy since we have limited wall space!
Words for Writers Section in Writing Conferences
The “Words for Writers” section is one where there are several reference materials. If I flip to this section during a writing conference it’s either to encourage students to add/pick words from their WOW words chart or to add words to their personal word walls.
Ideas for Writers Section in Writing Conferences
The “Ideas for Writers” section is one where students have several ideas they have brainstormed at the beginning of the year. (And here’s a fun ideas lesson you may not have seen before!) It also has examples of plans we have talked about and notebook paper to plan on.
If I see during a conference that students are struggling to come up with an idea, I generally have them turn to their ideas sections and help them pick an idea and make a plan. It’s fantastic to have this handy. Almost every day there seems to be someone needing help with ideas!
Goals for Writers Section in Writing Conferences
The “Goals for Writers” section is one where I like to have students keep their writing goals. Every so often in our lessons we talk about possible goals and have students write down what they want to focus on on a sticky note. While students work that day, they keep the post-it on the corner of their desks, then put it back in the goals section to either pull out again or look back on.
During a conference, sometimes we flip to this section to look at the progress. It can be very motivating for students to see past goals that are now easy for them! We also might flip to this section to add a new goal during the writing conference.
Having a general focus in mind is helpful during writing conferences, but when you have students who clearly need different instruction, it is great to have these sections in the writing notebook as support.
As a teacher always looking to meet the needs of my gifted and high-ability learners, I also appreciate that the writing conferences and these notebooks have a high ceiling. In other words, there is room to easily support students as high as they want to go.
Students ready for 6th grade vocabulary in 2nd grade? Fantastic! Add those words to the Wow words section and let them fly with it! Students ready for clear organization in a paragraph form while the rest of the class isn’t? No problem! Print an anchor chart for the tools section and have a mini-lesson during the conference! Is one 1st grader eager to try writing a mini-chapter book while others are just aiming for 5-6 sentences? No problem! Make a goal appropriate for that child in the goals section and check-in during your writing conferences.
Setting Up the Sections in Your Writing Notebooks
I prefer to use a folder with brads for my writing notebooks, but these could also be done in a composition notebook or spiral. To make sections in a notebook or spiral, you can use washi tape to make tabs or two sticker labels like I did on either side.
If you’d like to be able to print and go with the sections like mine, be sure to check out my Writing Notebook Pack!
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Keep those kids thinking!
Colleen Patton
