What is modelled writing?
Modelled writing is the first stage of writing in The Workshop Model. Modelled writing is when a teacher demonstrates the process of writing in a particular genre, style, form or point of view. The learning experience is an opportunity for our students to observe a proficient writer generating, expressing and presenting ideas and information to communicate in written form. As the process is modelled, we think aloud to make the decisions and strategies we use visible throughout the composition, editing and revision stages without the input from the students. We can focus on the elements of writing ( sequencing and linking ideas and choosing words for instance) or using text features and literary devices and elements. Modelling can be used at any stage of the process and at any grade level either as a whole class or in small groups.
Why is modelled writing important?
Modelled writing offers students a clear, comprehensible model for writing. The steps of the writing process are transparently described and shown. As we showcase our writing for our learners, we are demonstrating our skills and strategies and techniques so our students may foster their own processes, metacognitive and communicative skills. By deconstructing the process and making it visible, our students are able to see and use the experience to express and present their own ideas and information as they progress toward becoming proficient independent writers.
Modelled writing is the first stage of writing in The Workshop Model. Modelled writing is when a teacher demonstrates the process of writing in a particular genre, style, form or point of view. The learning experience is an opportunity for our students to observe a proficient writer generating, expressing and presenting ideas and information to communicate in written form. As the process is modelled, we think aloud to make the decisions and strategies we use visible throughout the composition, editing and revision stages without the input from the students. We can focus on the elements of writing ( sequencing and linking ideas and choosing words for instance) or using text features and literary devices and elements. Modelling can be used at any stage of the process and at any grade level either as a whole class or in small groups.
Why is modelled writing important?
Modelled writing offers students a clear, comprehensible model for writing. The steps of the writing process are transparently described and shown. As we showcase our writing for our learners, we are demonstrating our skills and strategies and techniques so our students may foster their own processes, metacognitive and communicative skills. By deconstructing the process and making it visible, our students are able to see and use the experience to express and present their own ideas and information as they progress toward becoming proficient independent writers.
What can modelled writing look like?
As modelled writing involves the teacher demonstrating the thinking and actions of a proficient writer it needs to be strategic, focused and brief. The students are observers of the actions and decisions of the teacher and as we engage in the process, we ask our learners to watch and note the strategies we are using and consider why these strategies are being used, important and/if effective. Depending on the learners age, five to ten minutes would suffice. You may visit idea generating or synthesizing as you gather the information for communicating ideas and information. Depending on the development and skills of your learners, you may choose to demonstrate a particular concept, genre or form and construct of a meaningful piece of text. We can model the spelling of certain words, the layout of language and conventions, paragraphing, persuasive and narrative writing, past tense or present tense. We can visit the revision process or the editorial work needed for a text or develop vocabulary. We can demonstrate how to use figurative language, imagery, metaphor or certain text features. What we are modelling is not as important as the process, the thinking and the strategies we use.
As modelled writing involves the teacher demonstrating the thinking and actions of a proficient writer it needs to be strategic, focused and brief. The students are observers of the actions and decisions of the teacher and as we engage in the process, we ask our learners to watch and note the strategies we are using and consider why these strategies are being used, important and/if effective. Depending on the learners age, five to ten minutes would suffice. You may visit idea generating or synthesizing as you gather the information for communicating ideas and information. Depending on the development and skills of your learners, you may choose to demonstrate a particular concept, genre or form and construct of a meaningful piece of text. We can model the spelling of certain words, the layout of language and conventions, paragraphing, persuasive and narrative writing, past tense or present tense. We can visit the revision process or the editorial work needed for a text or develop vocabulary. We can demonstrate how to use figurative language, imagery, metaphor or certain text features. What we are modelling is not as important as the process, the thinking and the strategies we use.
Useful Videos
Please watch the videos below. They will provide some examples on how you could approach modelling and thinking aloud for writing in your classroom.
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Learning together on the ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Nation.
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