8 Must Have Writing Workshop Charts

Here is my personal definition of a writing chart: any information displayed in your classroom to support students in their endeavors as writers. Charts can be small, medium or big. They can be handwritten or typed. They can be written on whiteboards or paper. I believe charts can even be digital and posted in Google Classroom for at home reference!

The best charts are frequented by students on a daily basis. They are the ones a teacher can point students to for support and guidance. The best charts solidify learning and build up the habits of effective writers, routines and writing behaviors. So what are the eight must have writing workshop charts you MUST have in your writing workshop class!?! This article will reveal them all...

1. Schedule Chart

2. Choices Chart

Students need to know what you expect of them during work time. I write my work time choices on the board everyday and they change from week to week and unit to unit. Use the chart below to get started with what you'll put on your work time chart. 

3. Don't Know what to Write chart

Let's face it. Students are definitely going to get stuck during writing workshop. I recommend using a chart like this and teaching the individual bullet points as individual mini lessons. You should especially do this if you notice you have a class in mayhem when it is time to start writing!. 

4. Writing Partners Chart

Students often need sentence stems to support on task behavior and meaningful conversations when working with a partner. Writing partner charts with sentence stems like these can go a long way in keeping students on track with their partner. 

5. Writing Conference Chart

Conferring is an integral part of a successful writing program. Conferencing with students one-on-one and in groups is a powerful way to assess and teach in the moment and it is even more powerful when you prep students, so they know what to expect during a conference with you!. 

6. Revision Chart

Revision is a super tough concept for students! You need a chart that helps them think about their writing in new ways they might not have considered. If a student says they are done, point to this chart and have them write out their answers to these questions or talk through them with a partner. 

7. Questions Writers Ask Themselves Chart

8. Habits of Effective Writers Chart

About the Author

Amanda Werner is a full time middle school English teacher in the Bay Area. She has been teaching for ten years and still feels like a novice. Every year is a unique and exciting challenge to inspire a new group of students in becoming avid readers and writers. Amanda reads educational literature voraciously and writes about the teaching of writing on her website amandawritenow.com. Amanda received her B.A. in English Literature with an emphasis in Humanities at Western Washington University. She has both an elementary and secondary teaching license and a mathematics credential. In her free time, Amanda loves being outdoors with her humorous husband and sweet and spunky three year old daughter.