Children cannot simply learn about how to become better writers by writing passively without guidance. Built into the Writers Workshop has to be a mini lesson component whereas every day prior to the independent writing session the teacher leads the class in some sort of teaching about writing, whether it be on the technical side or simply modeling a story form or planning page.
In this case, and at the fifth grade level, a teacher should make one of those mini lessons focus on the use of the thesaurus. At this level, children need to start going beyond generic word use to become more sophisticated writers. I model this in my guided writing but also teach the use of the thesaurus in a more technical sense.
I make sure, first, that all children have a thesaurus on hand prior to my lesson. I provide each child with a single word to research using the thesaurus. Some good examples of words to have children research the synonyms to are: tired, good, bad, ugly, nice, happy, sad....these words when used consistently in their writing paint vague pictures and are generally dull. As children begin to realize alternatives to these words new doors will open for them.
On a piece of loose leaf I have each child research his word and write down all the possible word choices that go along with it that are listed in the thesaurus. After the ten minute session is over the children share their words and the synonyms that go with that word. I then collect each paper and bind them together into a class resource book so that whenever the children are looking for alternative word choices for those given words they can refer to the class book. In doing this activity more than once during the year the resource book will get thicker.
On top of it, the children will start using the thesaurus, ideally, when they are looking for more interesting words in their writing.
