Setting-up the Writing Resource Center: A guided demonstration To show you how to set-up the center we’re going to return to some folks we’ve seen in prior lessons - Mr. New, our novice teacher, and Ms. Knowall, his advisor and master teacher. Once again, Ms. Knowall has some wise advice for Mr New as he sets up his center.

Mr. New: Could you help me set-up a Writing Resource Center? I don't even know what it should look like! Ms. Knowall: Oh, I've been running a Writing Workshop for years in my classroom. Let's look at mine.

Now keep in mind that yours may end up looking different than mine. On the left are the writing materials and supplies, and the writing references are in the bookcase to the right. I keep student-writing examples in this file cabinet sorted by genre and on top of it is a “teacher-edit box” where students put their final drafts for me to edit. On the floor is the “final copy file case” with copies of students’ final writings.

Students are constantly moving in and out of the Writing Resource Center as they are getting writing materials supplies needed for writing like pens, paper, scissors, etc., using dictionaries, thesaurus, and other writing references, locating student-writing examples on the different genres, like book reports or short stories, placing final drafts of their writing in the "teacher-edit box” for later editing by teacher, and filing final copies in "final-copy file case" where their final "publishable" papers are kept.

Setting up the Writing Resource Center begins with determining its location within the workshop configuration. Its location will depend on your classroom, but in general the center should be centrally located since students at all writing phases will be using the center; be easily accessible so that furnishings and materials can be arranged for maximum access; have sufficient space for at least two bookcases and a file cabinet; and be located away from "No Man's Land" which is a place for students to work in quiet.

Mr. New: Wow, this looks great! It must have taken you a long time to assemble all of this!? Ms. Knowall: Well, over the years I've learned to keep track of what I've done in the form of checklists and a procedure list.

Mr. New: Do you think you could lend me the checklists and job aid? Ms. Knowall: Of Course! In fact, I have an extra copy.

First, let's look at the Procedure List - Setting-up a Writing Resource Center. On this list, setting up the center is divided into five major steps, each comprised of smaller sub-steps. The major steps include Step 1: Set-up Furnishings and Equipment Step 2: Set-up Writing Materials and Supplies Step 3: Set-up Writing Reference Books Step 4: Set-up File Cabinet with Writing Examples Step 5: Set-up Final-Copy File Case

Now, let's look at the Checklist for Writing Materials and Supplies. The checklist identifies essential and optional materials and supplies. To have all of the materials on the list is optimal, but not always practical. At the beginning of the year when I'm organizing the center, I always make sure that the center has the essential items and that it is well- stocked with at least these materials.

Finally, let’s look at the Checklist for Writing References. The checklist names general types of references and suggests a minimum number of copies needed for each type. The titles of the references listed below each type are just my recommendations. You probably have some great ideas yourself and ones that may be better for the grade level you're teaching.

You will be watching Mr. New as he uses the procedure lists to set-up his resource center. Print these out right now so you can follow along - just double- click on this highlighted link here. Take some time to review these lists. During the next frames, you will be asked questions to make sure that you understand how to use them. You are expected to use the lists as you answer the questions.

Now let's watch Mr. New as he begins to follow the procedure outlined on the Procedure List - Setting-up the Writing Resource Center. To do Step 1, locate furnishings and equipment, he finds several items in the school's storage closet that seem perfect, but he's forgotten his checklist. Using the Procedure List - Setting-up the Writing Resource Center, which of the following items should he take to his classroom? (you can select more than one)  table  file crate with hanging files bookcase  lamp  cardboard box  file cabinet  teacher desk  student desk  bookcase

How do your answers compare with those Ms. Knowall would have chosen? table file crate with hanging files bookcase  lamp cardboard box file cabinet  teacher desk  student desk bookcase If your answers differ, then review the procedure list carefully, but remember that these are optimal answers. Certainly in setting up the center there will be some degree of judgment involved in your selections.

Mr. New is ready to do Step 2, setting-up the writing materials and supplies. This time he tries to set-up the materials and supplies without the checklists. He's located the necessary paper, writing utensils, and supplies, found some containers, put writing utensils and supplies into containers, and placed these materials into the bookcase. Using the procedure list, which of the following steps did he skip? (you can select more than one)  Locate Checklist for Writing Materials and Supplies  Locate essential paper, utensils, and other supplies  Locate containers  Label containers and bookcase  Place utensils and supplies into containers  None of the above, he did it correctly

How do your answers compare with those Ms. Knowall would have chosen?  Locate Checklist for Writing Materials and Supplies  Locate essential paper, utensils, and other supplies  Locate containers Label containers and bookcase  Place utensils and supplies into containers  None of the above, he did it correctly If your answers differ, then review the procedure list carefully, but remember that these are optimal answers. Certainly in setting up the center there will be some degree of judgment involved in your selections.

Now, Mr. New is ready to do Step 3, setting-up the writing reference books. He locates the Checklist for Writing References, and as he reads it, he becomes concerned that he doesn’t have all the titles listed. In fact, most of the books are too advanced for his second graders. Of the following statements, what should he do? (you can select more than one)  The titles are simply suggestions  Locate reference books of the same type  References should be age-appropriate  Find the correct numbers of these books  None of the above

How do your answers compare with those Ms. Knowall would have chosen? The titles are simply suggestions Locate reference books of the same type References should be age-appropriate Find the correct numbers of these books  None of the above If your answers differ, then review the procedure list carefully, but remember that these are optimal answers. Certainly in setting up the center there will be some degree of judgment involved in your selections.

Ms. Knowall: It looks like you skipped a step in doing step 4, setting- up the file cabinet with student-writing examples. Mr. New: But I got the writing examples, put them into the file cabinet, and labeled the cabinet. What did I miss? Ms. Knowall: Well it’s very important to organize the examples into folders by genre. Otherwise, students simply won’t be able to find the ones they need.

Mr. New: Finally I can move on to the last part, step 5 and set-up the final-copy file box! Ok, according to the procedure list I need to locate the final copy folders for each student, create alphabetized file dividers, alphabetize the folders and place them in to the file crate. Using the procedure list, which of the following steps did he skip in setting up the final-copy file case? (you can select more than one)  Locate student final-copy folders  Create alphabetized file dividers  Alphabetize folders and put into crate  Label file crate  None of the above

How do your answers compare with those Ms. Knowall would have chosen?  Locate student final-copy folders  Create alphabetized file dividers  Alphabetize folders and put into crate Label file crate  None of the above If your answers differ, then review the procedure list carefully, but remember that these are optimal answers. Certainly in setting up the center there will be some degree of judgment involved in your selections.

Mr. New: Finally I’m done!!

Now you’re ready to set-up the writing resource center in your classroom. Be sure to use the procedure list and checklists as a guide and to ensure that you’ve done everything properly. Good Luck!