Writing in Stations Short assignments done quickly and efficiently

Front Work  You have to plan well for stations to work.  Think out each station and make sure that the time for each is equivalent.  Have all necessary supplies set up for each station.  Decide on grouping before the students enter.

What do the kids get out of it?  For students who don’t like to write, stations work well since they are not left at one task long enough for it to become boring or tedious.  They also get to show what they can do on several different tasks so they do not feel that they will not succeed.  Students get to work with friends, so the social aspect is also there.

What do YOU get out of it?  You get to see what it is that the students really can do with what you have taught them.  You get a day of wandering around and listening to the conversations they are having.  You also get to see them get upset when they have to move from a station they really enjoy.

What do you need?  First, you need to know what it is you want each student to get out of the tasks.  You need to have very clear instructions for each station.  You need some way to keep track of time in a place that the students can see or hear. (i.e. an online counter or an egg timer)  You need to set up the desks in the stations you need.

What can you cover this way?  Poetry  Literary terms  Writing structure  Literary content  Higher order thinking skills  Reviews of material

Do Not:  Try to cover new material using writing stations  Think that it is just a time to sit down and be still (we know no one ever does this)  Use stations as a final method of assessment.