Sarah Petersen

1 grade teacher at PS 24s Annex

Formal observation
st

Writers Workshop Lesson Plan

Mini-Lesson Plan for 1.26.05
Authors as Mentors Unit 5, session III
Studying Angela Johnsons writing: ellipses create dramatic tension

Background:
I have introduced several of Angela Johnsons books in both English and translated
Spanish via interactive read-alouds and shared reading activities.

In addition, we

published a small moment story in Spanish, so my 1 st grade dual language students are
also familiar with this autobiographical, detailed writing style. This is my 5th Writers
Workshop lesson in the Authors as Mentors unit. I like to reinforce ideas by teaching
similar lessons with a different approach, so that my ELL students are more likely to
internalize these writing strategies and concepts.
In order to meet the specific needs of my learners I am tailoring my lesson
plans to the individual needs of my 14 students in the following ways:

Conferencing individually with each of my students, keeping anecdotal record

of my teaching points during these conferences & the students reaction to my
suggestions.

Expecting that each student:

use the correct tools with which to write (the right paper, pencil or pen,
alphabet chart, digraph/blends chart, word wall)
can work independently & with partners
writes about a variety of things
writes for longer periods of time & edits own work

Establish successful writing partnerships, which help both students develop

skills or behavior appropriate to the lesson. During this inquiry, I am focusing
1

on challenging all of my students who range in writing capabilities.

Therefore, in order to keep challenge the more advanced writers and keep my
emergent writers focused and self-confident, I will pair up a stronger writer
with an emergent writer.

Daniel & Jason

Guadalupe & Brian

Elizabeth & Rinaldy

Vanessa & Michelle

Luis & Sergio

Astrid & Jennifer

Shamara & Alexis

The actual lesson:

At the rug:

Teaching Point:
o Today we are going to revise or edit the writing piece we started Monday.
Remember how I was reading Angela Johnsons story about moving and she
used those three dots? What are those three dots called? Why is Angela
Johnson, the author, using those dots?
o Today were going to create a chart, or a big paper listing all the writing
techniques she uses. These writing techniques are called the authors CRAFT.
So, lets call this a CRAFT CHART.
o Show chart and fill it out with students (p 22 of Unit 5, Authors as Mentors)

Active Engagement:
o Now I want partner sun to tell partner moon why Angela Johnson, the author,
is using the ellipses

Record their answers on my craft chart

o Now I want partner moon to tell partner sun in what other books does Angela
Johnson, the author, is using the ellipses?

Link:
2

o Writers, I want you to go back to your desks and:

Re-read your work and add ellipses in to create suspense in your

writing, just like Angela Johnson does in hers

Remember, that if you have any question you can always ask your
writing partner and use the tools you know how to use as good writers.

Students go off to their desks to write and I conference individually with 3-4 students

Call students back to the carpet and share several pieces

ASSESSMENT
When I am listening in during their turn-and-talk (accountable talk) time I will be
able to assess whether or not they understood my teaching point and/or can list
teachable topics & write about them.
I will review each students writing during their independent writing time (conferring
individually), and ask them what effect the ellipses create in their writing
When I conclude the Writers Workshop I will ask students to share their revised
writing pieces.