dragon writer workshop
What Dragon Writer is :
Dragon Writer Workshops are designed for a maximum of twenty 4th and 5th grade students who would like extra time and help with the art of creative writing. It is designed to focus on reviewing one technical skill and exploring one creative aspect of writing each week. (The two wings of the dragon, without which it’s not possible to “soar” as a writer).
Young writers are taken through the same writing process that professional authors go through while also getting practice in Core Curriculm and State ELA Standards. All the work in the class is handwritten to improve students’ handwriting and to more thoroughly engage their minds and bodies in the writing process. The anthology will be typed up and printed by the facilitator once the workshop has concluded.
At the end of the workshop, students will have gained practical experience as creative writers and have their writing published in a book to share with friends and family.
PLEASE NOTE: Dragon writier is not a remedial workshop for students who struggle with simple writing tasks. It is a workshop for students who are already reasonably good at reading and writing and are excited to hone their creative writing skills beyond what there is time for in the regular classroom.
If teachers would like suggestions for helping struggling ELA students, a Teacher Training Session can be included on one of the workshop days.
For more information and/or to schedule a Dragon Writer workshop visit our contact page here:
SAMPLE SYLLABUS
DRAGON WRITER
Facilitator: Grian McFadden
Schedule: Workshop classes are 90 minutes once a week for six weeks or twice a week for three weeks. Homework–a minimum of one hour per week/class.
The purpose of the class is to give young writers an opportunity to improve their skills. At the end of the workshop, students’ work will be published as an anthology by Green Turtle Arts and can be sold as a fundraiser for the school.
How it works:
Each 90 minute class will consist of two 40 minute sessions with a ten minute break in the middle. The first session is for right wing practice and left wing discussion. The second 40 minute session is for students to focus on their writing. They can, of course, work on their writing outside of workshop time. However, if they do so, whatever they write will need to be rewritten in their journals since these are handed in at the end of each class for the facilitator to edit.
Requirements:
- Attendance. Attendance is very important. If you are absent more than once, you will be dropped from the workshop. If you miss a class, it is up to you to make up the work.
- Behavior Students are expected to show up with their homework done, to be attentive and respectful to the facilitator and fellow writers, and to participate in activities and discussions.
Course Schedule:
First Class
Session One: Introductions: discuss expectations and what individual students hope to accomplish. Brainstorm ideas for stories. Decorate writing journals. All writing will be done in these journals and will be edited (not graded) by the facilitator each week.
Break
Session Two: Write three paragraphs (at least 4 sentences per paragraph) about something you like to do. (The purpose of this exercise is to give the educator a chance to assess students’ current skill level.) Hand in journals.
Study spelling words at home. (The first spelling list will be generated by the facilitator. Subsequent spelling lists will come from students’ writing).
Second Class
Session One: Spelling test. Discuss what each student wants to write about and make a class list. (No gore, profanity or inappropriate language to be used). Discuss the elements of plot and whether students’ story ideas coulld have a good beginning, middle and end.
Break
Session Two: In class, write an outline of your plot in your journal. If time permits, begin writing. Hand in journals.
Study spelling words at home.
Third Class
Session One: Spelling test. Discuss nouns and verbs. Play verb game. Discuss author purpose and read examples. Have students decide what their author purpose is for their writing.
Break
Session Two: Begin or continue to write your story, keeping your stated purpose in mind. Be sure to use proper punctuation and capitals. Hand in journals.
Study spelling words at home
Fourth Class
Session One: Spelling test. Discuss adjectives and adverbs. Do adjective and adverb worksheet. Discuss setting and sensory details and read examples.
Break
Session Two: Write at least five sentences describing the setting for your story using sensory details. Incorporate these sentenced into your story. Hand in journals.
Fifth Class
Session One: Spelling test. Discuss sentence structure. Do worksheet on sentences and fragments. Discuss the importance of character and read examples of character descriptions. Discuss character arc/development.
Break
Session Two: Write at least six sentences focusing on character description/development. Incorporate these into your story. Hand in journals.
Sixth Class
Session One: Spelling test. Discuss punctuation and grammar, in general. Discuss how the workshop has helped your writing improve.
Break and end of workshop party
Session Two: Look over stories one last time. Check grammar and punctuation and make corrections or additions as needed. Remember, this is the final draft and whatever is handed in this week will go into the Workshop Anthology. Hand in journals.
Writing journals will be handed back and the anthology will be available approximately 3 weeks after the last class, depending on how long it takes to get it printed and shipped.