Writer’s Workshop and Technology

Abstract The intent of this research was to determine what effect an increased use of technology, (meaning word processing, digital tools and use of websites) in Writer’s Workshop assignments would have on the quality of writing, engagement and enthusiasm for writing. A writer’s workshop is meant to expose students to the different genres and styles of writing. It is taught in a workshop format where there is a mini-lesson about a particular topic, time for the students to write independently and to receive feedback from both the teacher and peers. The research study took place at a private Montessori School in an Upper Elementary classroom. The sources of data collection used in this research included three writing samples, pre and post surveys of the children and other teachers in the classroom and observation sheets kept throughout the project. The data showed that the student’s engagement and interest increased with the addition of technology into the writer’s workshop. The data also showed that the scores on their writing also increased. The results of this research indicate that having a variety of technological tools to choose from when doing Writer’s Workshop assignments can benefit students’ ability to improve their writing skills. The specific skills that improved were better use of vocabulary, expanded choice of subject matter, basic grammar and punctuation, and the ability to assess one’s work