As summer takes over, I’ve realized our routines are shifting with the season. Typically I write for 15 minutes in the morning and again at night. During the summer I write first thing in the morning and usually have more than hour, sometimes stretching into almost three. No matter what time of the year, though, there is a routine to my writing life.
Routines are important for the writers in our classrooms too. It is with a predictable routine that we are able to learn to write (even when we don’t feel like it). Even though it’s summer and routines are shifting, maybe even becoming more relaxed, I think it’s a perfect time to consider some writing routines for your classroom.
First notice what routines work for you as you write this summer. What are the routines you go through for Slice of Life Tuesdays? If you are participating in #TeachersWrite, what are some of the routines that are making it possible to get words on the page?
Second, consider how you can empower students to establish some of their own routines.
For example, maybe you use music to help inspire your writing time. Is it possible to transfer this routine into your classroom? When I taught high school, I challenged students to create writing play lists. In middle school and elementary classrooms, I play music as a way to transition from the minilesson to work time. What are some other routines you’re considering for writing workshop next school year?
And one more thing…
I’m participating in My Dad is the Best Playground blog tour on Ruth Ayres Writes. Random House Kids is giving away a copy of the book. Click here to enter.
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I’m so glad to hear I am not the only one needing guidance in establishing writing routines for the summer. I have the desk, the music, and the time. But I’m fearful to jump in and fall in love with writing all summer only to be ripped away in the fall by my schedule of teaching every day. I guess I need to learn to relish the moment and take advantage of the time I do have. Just do it, right?
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I had workshop for my middle school students for about an hour and a half. One routine I had was that we always gathered first to have about 15 minutes of ‘what worked, what is not working’ sharing. This is the time for students to hear from each other with tips and successes or frustrations. It was routine, so we lost no time beginning. Students knew what was coming & came to participate & learn from each other. I added some things, but not much. Mini-lessons came at other times.
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I like the idea of starting the year with a challenge. My students loved the routine of Slice of Life, then daily poetry. What can I do to start the year? Any challenges out there?
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Writing routines are so important. My classroom really settled into a routine with the Slice of Life challenge this year. They were still asking to write their Slice of Life on Tuesday at 12:00 noon the last day of school. It is amazing what a pattern will do to help us think and move forward. My pattern is off completely as well since I tried to switch to writing early mornings in the summer. I can’t seem to do it. I am a late night writer. ( It is now 10:03 pm and I am ready to write).
I plan to begin my year with a writing challenge to help student settle into that routine of writing daily. It will be interesting to see where they go with it. Thanks for pushing us all to think about the routines we use.
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Hi Ruth, I was mulling over why I have lost the momentum with slicing and notebook entries, and seem unable to find the time to participate in #teacherswrite. You have hit the nail on the head for me – I don’t have a routine to my writing life!! A very timely post from you, thank you
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