Conferencing
Using Stars and Wishes Technique
Writing Workshop mini lesson conferencing using stars and wishes technique
1. Focus on stars part.
Author shares piece. Class listens carefully. When beginning this process
remember modeling (showing kids how) is the thing that will break or make
this.
What was interesting?
What surprised them?
Wow that's good!
I liked the part about ...
Tell me what you liked about the story.
This reminded me of when ...
Why did the author do this...
What did they like about...
What did they remember?
Use a book, a poem,
nursery rhymes (instead of student's writing) at first to model how
to do memorable and more conferences. Ask questions like: What did you
like about the book? What did you like about the poem? I liked the part
of the book/poem that... Complete whole group, small group, knee-to-knee
or shoulder to shoulder.
Next day, read
another poem. Tell me what did you like about the poem. Tell another
student. Why did the author do this? What they like? What they remember.
If the author could change something what would you change?
Remember to MODEL!
Do whole group then small group then peer!
2. Focus on the
stars and add the more.
Remember these children are vulnerable!!!! Be careful of egos!!!!!!!!!
Writing is really personal.
The steps are 1. Author reads piece
2. Stars (see step 1)
3. Author reads piece again
4. Wishes (I wonder about...)
Teacher should
model whole group on how to make helpful appropriate comments. What
part was confusing? What part needs to be more clear? Start with having
to say one thing that you wonder about. Don't tolerate the negative
comments. How does "stupid" help the writer? This is what I like. This
is what I wonder. When you wrote ________ then _________ . How did that
happen? Teachers can write the kids comments on a paper and give it
to the author. How can you we talk about the piece and make changes?
In third grade use steps 1 and 2. Then read piece, memorable, read piece,
using "more" to push plot development. In fourth grade use steps 1 and
2 at the beginning of year, use model as they don't need the model can
quit using.
