I love this book! It was recommended to me by a fellow teacher, and I am so happy that I discovered it! I have totally shaped my Writing Workshop around this book. It was an easy read and she shares exactly how she would organize her Writing Workshop in a step-by-step fashion. The book is filled with "a year of mini-lessons" and some great ideas. This book has really made planning for my writing block so much easier because she's already done all of the work for you.
Jennifer Jacobson does an excellent job of explaining the problematic writing instruction that is being done in primary grades. She discusses the positive effects of fostering independent writers rather than dependent, as well as specific examples on how to do so. Great read for any educator, specifically those who teach primary grades!
This pairs GREAT with Daily 5 and CAFE. The author provides ways to implement writing workshop with independence and has sample lesson plans that are easy to use.
No More “I’m Done!” by Jennifer Jacobson (Stenhouse Publishers, 2010) is an inspiring how-to manual for early primary grade teachers. Subtitled “Fostering Independent Writing in the Primary Grades,” Jacobson’s book describes a system of nurturing creative writing that lets children take control of the process. After she describes her system, she provides a year’s worth of mini-lessons for encouraging development of ideas in various segments of writing (including voice, organization, word choice, fluency, details) all using well known and beloved children’s picture books as examples. Although I am not a teacher in a classroom setting, her ideas have given me the confidence to institute some similar casual instruction during our “school time.” It is informative and inspiring, helping one think outside the traditional box of writing prompts.
If you teach writing you might want to step out of your comfort zone and try Jennifer Jacobson's approach. I've taught writing for years but I really learned a lot and the best thing was it made writing fun for my students...on early out days they would ask,"We still get to do writing don't we?" This speaks volumes! I also discovered Andy Shane via this book and I ordered a few copies and my whole class girls and boys all loved Andy Shane so this book helped in writing and introduced us all to new lovable literary character!
This was a GREAT book and I can definitely see myself using it this year! And hopefully forever afterwards.
This book explained in detail how to start a writing workshop in a K-2 classroom. It went from very basic lessons and then expanded into the whole year. I sticky-noted the crap out of this book and I am SO PUMPED to do this with my students. I want to find more writing workshop ideas so I totally know what I'm doing in my life. :)
As a homeschool mom, I find it difficult to locate books that truly help me be a better teacher. Most are so focused on classroom management, I can't find any nuggets to apply at home. No my so with this book! Jacobson beautifully explains her writer's workshop philosophy and includes plenty of mini lessons to implement. I feel much more prepared for and capable of teaching writing now that I've read this book.
I loved this book. I am so excited to implement some of her suggestions. I love the Quiet 10 idea and having the kids sign in to conference. Her suggestions are completely do able for primary kids. If you are struggling with how to help your students write, I suggest reading this book. It's a quick read and you won't want to put it down.
This was a great book! The author described in detail each part of the ideal writing workshop and how to foster independence through words and actions. I really liked the Year of Mini Lessons suggestions at the back. As a new teacher, it was helpful to see the entire sequence and the fun activities that she used. Very much aligned with 6+1 Traits.
Great resource for primary teachers looking to improve their writing program. I'm going to use the ideas here for my writing lessons during my Daily 5 mini-lessons. I'm so excited to find something that works so well with D5!
I absolutely love this book! This has been an organized confidence booster for me to concentrate my writing approach for my 2nd graders. It's a real-world application for primary writing written in a user-friendly format by an esteemed author:)
Fabulous resource and I can't wait to implement it in my classroom. I read an eversion and am anxious to get a paper version so it's more real-time user friendly. Highly recommend to primary grade teachers.
I am working on getting my first graders to write more using this book's ideas. I love it! I wish I'd started in the beginning of the school year this way. Great book!
Definitely should be on the shelf of every primary teacher and read and reread by those who use writers' workshop or want to create a writers' workshop in their classroom.