Writing Celebrations--how should they run?

Have any of you had writing celebrations in the past? I'm getting ready to have our first one on Tuesday. I know that it's supposed to be a big deal (I have my class mom bringing in goodies and we sent invitations out to all the parents).

But how exactly does one of these run? Does EVERY child read their piece? Do the kids go around and read them and comment using sticky notes? I'm just wondering what I should plan for.

Thanks!!!

Re: Writing Celebrations--how should they run?

Okay, I have not done a celebration like that, but I've done other celebrations. The first time, I had all the families and each child read his or her piece. NEVER AGAIN!!! Too many parents and children in my room and it was exhausting. So I did something different and I liked it so much better. I set up their desks so they were in rows but next to each other IE:

XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX B
o
a
XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX r
d


door

Then I had the visitors walk around and when the children had a visitor, they would do their thing. There was movement, people could come and go as they pleased and overall, it was so much better. Yes, the room was loud, but the kids were NOT nervous as they were reading in front of 50 people.

Re: Writing Celebrations--how should they run?

Re: Writing Celebrations--how should they run?

I do writing celebrations and I have the desks set up in a square. Each child invites one special person. That person sits at their desk and my student sits on their lap.(I teach 2nd grade) They read their writing piece to the person. It is noisy for a bit, but all guests and students are so involved in each persons writing it is so touching. Sometimes if parents or an adult can't make it, I invite that child's sibling to our class. I have also had the school nurse stand in, the principal and past teachers. No one is left out. I love having writing celebrations. Let us know how yours turns out.

Re: Writing Celebrations--how should they run?

i like to do a "musuem walk". my students sit in groups of six. each student puts six post its on their desk. They kind of do "musical chairs" around their table. for each of the tablemates pieces, they write one thing they like and one thing they were confused about on the post it. when they get back to their piece, they read the notes from their tablemates and write a reflection on their work, taking the comments from their peers into consideration.

i like this because its quiet, theres no stage fright, and everyone gets to SEE the other kids work. its like a wake up call to some!