Is Writing Workshop Dead? Not Even Close!

Some argue that writing workshop is outdated, while others say it never worked.

But the truth is, writing workshop isn’t dead—it might be exactly what your students need!

However, we do need to rethink how we implement it. For too long, we’ve emphasized a “student-centered” approach that hasn’t always been effective, especially for students lacking a strong literacy foundation.

Many of us are relieved by the shift back toward explicit instruction. Student-centered learning often led to chaos, unproductive time, and disappointing test scores.

With the rise of the Science of Reading and Writing, schools are seeing that a more explicit approach yields better results. These methods are research-backed, helping students develop critical skills more effectively.

Before I explain why writing workshop isn’t dead, let’s review the key components of a writing workshop.

The Key Components of a Writing Workshop

There are three key components that make up a writing workshop:

1. Mini-Lessons:
   These are short, focused lessons where the teacher introduces a writing skill.
   
2. Independent Writing Time:
   During this time, students work independently on their writing. As students write, the teacher meets with them one-on-one to provide individualized feedback and support.
   
3. Sharing Time:
   After independent writing time, students have the chance to share portions of their writing with classmates.

When you examine the components of a writing workshop, it’s clear that the structure itself isn’t the problem. In fact, it follows a standard teaching format: Instruction, Practice, and Wrap-Up.

The issue isn’t with the structure itself, but rather how it’s been implemented.

This leads us to a key distinction between the ‘Old School Writing Approach’ and the ‘New School Writing Approach.’

For writing workshop to truly succeed, a significant shift is needed in how we approach its implementation.

The ‘Old School’ Writing Workshop Approach

The traditional writing workshop model has been around for decades, but in recent years, it’s faced growing criticism.

While it provides students with valuable independent writing time, several aspects of the old school approach don’t align with the research-backed science of writing. 

Let’s break down some of these traditional practices and explore why they don’t work as effectively as we once thought.

Issue #1: Focus on Student Choice Without Structure

In a traditional writing workshop, students are often given broad writing prompts or free-choice topics, allowing them to write about whatever interests them.

While choice can be empowering, it can also leave students without direction. Without enough background knowledge or experience with a topic, students may struggle to develop meaningful content, leading to confusion and frustration.

The science of writing highlights the need for structured choices and explicit instruction. By providing students with guidance, they can stay on track, build essential writing skills, and ensure their topics are rich enough for them to write about effectively.

Issue #2: Lack of Explicit Skill Instruction

In a traditional writing workshop, mini-lessons often try to cover too many writing skills at once, without breaking them down into manageable parts.

This can overwhelm students and leave them unsure about how to apply each skill effectively in their writing. Instead of focusing on one skill at a time, the lessons tend to gloss over the details, making it difficult for students to fully understand and master the skill before moving on.

Without clear, step-by-step instruction, students miss the necessary guidance to build their writing foundation. Research shows that breaking down skills into smaller, more focused lessons allows students to internalize and apply them successfully.

By teaching one skill at a time with explicit instruction and modeling, students gain a deeper understanding of how to use each skill, which ultimately improves their writing.

Issue #3: Students Moving Through the Writing Process at Their Own Pace

In a traditional writing workshop, students often move through the writing process—brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing—at their own pace.

This can lead to confusion, making it difficult for teachers to provide timely feedback or ensure that students are applying the skills taught in mini-lessons.

Without structure, students may rush through stages and miss opportunities to fully develop their writing.

The science of writing emphasizes immediate practice and reinforcement, so moving through each stage together ensures steady progress and skill mastery.

So, does that mean the writing workshop model is dead?

Not at all!

In fact, research still supports the writing workshop as one of the most effective ways to teach writing—when it’s implemented correctly.

The key is ensuring it includes explicit instruction, adequate scaffolding, and timely feedback. When done right, a writing workshop can help students develop essential writing skills while giving them the independence they need to grow as writers.

The ‘New School’ Writing Workshop Approach

Creating a writing workshop grounded in research and the science of writing requires a shift toward more explicit instruction, clearer focus, and consistent scaffolding.

With these elements in place, a writing workshop can become more structured, manageable, and effective for all students.

Here are some key components of a successful ‘new school’ writing workshop that have proven to be highly effective:

Tip #1: Allow Student Choice Within Limits

While students benefit from choice, it’s important to provide structure to keep them focused. Ensure everyone writes in the same genre, like informational writing, and offer some guidance on topics that connect to what they’re learning.

For example, in first grade, suggest writing about an animal in the rainforest—something students already have background knowledge about from their science lessons. This allows them to draw on what they’ve learned while still giving them room to be creative.

This balance prevents confusion, keeps students on task, and encourages engagement without overwhelming them. Allowing choice within a structured framework ensures they have enough content to write about while providing autonomy.

Tip #2: Provide Explicit and Focused Skill Instruction

Teach one specific writing skill per mini-lesson, with clear instruction, modeling, and student practice.

For example, when teaching the use of specific words in writing, use visual aids, mentor texts, and your own writing to teach and model how to choose precise and powerful words. Afterward, allow students time to practice using specific words in their own writing.

Focusing on one skill at a time ensures mastery before moving on. Explicit instruction and modeling help students internalize the skill, building a strong writing foundation.

Tip #3: Stick Together in the Writing Process

Instead of having students work at different stages, move through the writing process together.

Start with brainstorming, then move on to drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Model how to work through each stage using your own writing, and then have students work through the same stage in their own writing.

By progressing slowly through the writing process, you ensure students properly learn each skill and apply it to their writing before moving on to the next stage.

This approach also gives you the opportunity to provide specific, targeted feedback at each stage, helping students refine their work and build confidence as they go.

Scaffolding each step of the writing process ensures steady progress and allows for consistent growth in writing skills.

Writing Workshop is NOT Dead!

Writing workshop is far from dead—it simply needs to be taught with the right, research-backed approach.

When we combine research-backed strategies, explicit instruction, and structured support, writing workshops can thrive and lead to incredible progress for students. With the right framework in place, students can not only grow as writers but also develop a deeper understanding of how to effectively communicate their ideas.

Full-Year Writing Workshop Bundle

Now that we’ve talked about why the writing workshop approach is such an effective way to help students improve their writing, let me share a resource that makes implementing this approach easier.

This Writing Workshop Bundle is designed to support you with everything you need to guide students through the writing process—from brainstorming and drafting to revising and publishing.

Packed with mini-lessons, anchor charts, graphic organizers, and more, this bundle breaks down each step of writing so students can focus on one skill at a time.

With clear, research-based lessons that follow the Science of Writing, it ensures students build their writing skills with confidence, mastering narrative, informational, and opinion writing.

The bundle also makes your life easier by being low-prep and ready to go. With daily lesson plans, mentor texts, rubrics, and other resources, you’ll have everything you need for a successful writing workshop.

Plus, it’s designed to help students grow into independent writers who understand the writing process and can apply skills in their own work.

If you’re looking to make writing workshop effective and manageable, this bundle is a great way to support your students and keep them engaged all year long.

Free Narrative Writing Lessons

Want to try a few writing lessons before committing to the full curriculum?

These free prewriting lessons are a great way to get started with your next narrative unit. You’ll get everything you need—lesson plans, posters, graphic organizers, and conference forms—all in one download.

About Jen Goasdone

Jen Goasdone, the owner of ELA Skill Builder, is a dedicated educator committed to empowering teachers with simple, research-based strategies for effective writing instruction. With a focus on making ELA teaching easier and more impactful, Jen helps students build a strong writing foundation that will serve them for years to come. Passionate about both teacher and student success, she strives to make writing instruction enjoyable and effective for elementary students.

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