Writer's Workshop and Bookmaking

Why bookmaking?

Bookmaking provides children with a real and authentic purpose for developing their own writing and sharing their stories and ideas with others in a meaningful way.

James and Alex are reading a published book by one of their classmates

Luca is sharing his own published book with the class during bookmaking share

Bookmaking teaches children that their own oral stories and words have value and meaning. Their words are their stories and will become their books!

Emma and Mallory are hard at work on their books

Bookmaking helps the children to develop their writing voice (learning to tell and share their stories) and to find the value in sharing their stories with others. 

Ania proudly shares a book with Alex and Kaitlin
as she prepares to begin the publishing process

How does it all come together?
Teachers will tell their own stories in oral fashion, model the thought process involved with putting these words onto paper, step by step, revising our thinking and work as we go and seeking input and advice from our students along the way, 
we are partners in this process (student and teacher, student and student, teacher and teacher)

Remember that story I told you about....

Well I think I am going to write a book about it...

So I have to decide where I want to begin and what I want to put on this first page...

Afterwards asking the children, "Who else has a story to share?" Students create a list of their ideas for narrative writing.

Kyle is hard at work rereading a page in his book before moving on...

Writing books helps each student gain ways to think about crafting their own writing and using conventions to help their writing improve.

What do writers do as they write?
They go back and reread, they ask themselves what else can I add to my pictures and my words to help the reader understand all that I want to share.

Can Seth possibly add anything to make this first illustration share even more?
He does!

Teaching children how to include information to help the reader to know more, and to understand all that you are trying to convey and share. 

The process of boomaking helps each writer learn how to revisit his/her writing. This is done through conferencing with the classroom teacher.

Mrs. Greene and Emma chat about Emma's writing

Teachers often ask questions of the writer and through simple conversation the writer is able to determine if they need or want to add more...

Through conferencing with a student teachers are reinforcing all the things that writer's do, all the things that are taught during mini lessons at the start of bookmaking.

Such as...how to stay on topic, make sure text and illustrations support one another, use words to create visual images, how our voice reveals feelings and thoughts, how to begin a story, how to end, how to revise and make simple changes.

A whole table of happy writers

It helps each writer understand the reasons we write...
to share our ideas, to remember special moments, to learn more about something or share what we already know.


A big part of the fun in this process is working together to build a sense of independence for each writer through carefully thought out...
classroom set-up, student folders, booklet trays, publishing materials, student work spaces, book display shelves and more!

A publishing spot for one

A publishing table for 4 children

Sorting trays for blank books and additional pages

Our writer's workshop folders help keep us organized

Our favorite rock shaped crayons are great for background color

The publishing process magically makes students feel as though they have accomplished something great, and they truly have! Having their teacher place a book of the child's own words, typed up and waiting for illustrations to emerge creates an instant sense of excitement, wonder, and pride for the child.  To then see the published books on display in our room and being enjoyed by peers throughout the day brings the entire process full circle. To invite friends from other grade levels into our classroom to share with us about their own process and advise us in the process builds bonds all across our school. It's a joy to be part of this process with the children each day!