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Grades 6-8 (ages 11–14)Ages 11–14

Writing workshop for grades 6–8

Use this template during your daily writing workshop or whenever students need focused time to draft, revise, or edit their writing. The screen helps set clear expectations and keeps everyone on track.

Students see the writing prompt, a countdown timer, a checklist to guide their work, sentence starters, and a symbol for how they should work and sound right now.

Free for teachers. Your screens, classes and uploads are saved to your account.

How to use it in class

  1. 1Choose a background that fits your writing unit.
  2. 2Edit the text widget to add your writing prompt or instructions.
  3. 3Set the timer for the writing period and start it when students begin.
  4. 4Display the checklist for students to tick off as they work.
  5. 5Use the work symbols to show if students should work quietly or can talk.

Why it works

  • Helps students manage their time with a visible timer.
  • Keeps writing goals clear with a checklist they can follow.
  • Reduces off-task behavior by showing work expectations.

Tips

  • Let students suggest sentence starters for future workshops.
  • Encourage students to check off items as they finish each step.
  • Remind students to use the timer to pace themselves.

Make it your own

  • Adapt the checklist for narrative, opinion, or research writing.
  • Use for remote writing sessions with screen sharing.
  • Add visuals or audio cues for students with special needs.

Questions teachers ask

How long should the timer be set for writing workshop?

It depends on your class and goals. Many teachers use 20–30 minutes for focused writing, but you can adjust as needed.

Can students see the checklist from their seats?

Yes, the checklist is projected large on the screen so all students can see and check off each step as they work.

How do I change the writing prompt?

Just click on the text widget and type your new prompt. You can update it for each lesson or group.

Widgets on this screen

Features it uses

Same moment, other ages

More templates for Grades 6-8 (ages 11–14)