• Address specific concerns, weaknesses and strengths (focused)
• Used as a method of correcting students' writing (interactive)
• Designed to meet student needs (reflective)
  
  The mini-lesson is a forum for making suggestions to the whole class.  After exploring students' writing we ask ourselves, "What is the one thing I can suggest or demonstrate that might help  the most?"
  
  

Architecture of a Mini-lesson

• Connection: 1-2 minutes
• Teaching: 5-6 minutes
• Active Engagement: 2-3 minutes
• Link: 1-2 minutes

(Younger children may need less time than older children)

Mini-lessons are brief and focused.  Make mini-lessons memorable.  When we make a big deal out of it, children will too.  When we are passionate about our writing, they will become passionate writers!

Mrs. Morrison teaches a writing strategy to her students during a mini-lesson.

Connection
___  I connected today's work with our ongoing work.
___  I explicitly stated my teaching point.

Teach
___  I restated my teaching point.
___  I told a personal or class story connected to the teaching point.
___  I demonstrated by thinking aloud.
___  I pointed out things students should have noticed.

Active Involvement
___  I asked students to be actively involved by turning and talking.
___  I listened / observed / coached their active involvement.
___  I shared an example of what I heard / observed.

Link
___  I restated the teaching point.
___  I told students how what I had taught can be used in the future.