Writing Through Childhood: Rethinking Process and Product / Edition 1

by Shelley Harwayne

Overview

Shelley Harwayne has been rethinking the teaching of writing ever since she opened the Manhattan New School ten years ago. There, as principal, she had the unique opportunity to follow her students' growth as writers from the very first day they entered kindergarten through graduation six years later. Now, as superintendent of her New York City school district, Shelley continues to take a hard look at the teaching of writing across schools and throughout the grades, questioning what has become traditional practice.

In Writing Through Childhood, Shelley dares us to rethink our beliefs about how we design writing workshops, use writer's notebooks, choose appropriate genres, teach spelling, help students connect their reading to their writing, and even edit and publish students' writing. Filled with stories and work samples of real children in a diverse urban setting, the book will inspire rich conversations in which educators ask essential questions about their own practice, including:

• Does my writing workshop support the notion that writing during childhood is different than writing as an adult?
• How can I tap into the interests and attitudes young students bring to the writing workshop?
• How can I approach revision with children's sensitivities and strengths in mind?
• Are the genres I've been assigning really appropriate for young writers?
• How can I help young writers make deliberate and long-lasting connections to the literature they read?
• How can I simplify publishing so that children joyfully and frequently publish high-quality work?

In this volume, the third in a trilogy that includes Going Public and Lifetime Guarantees, Shelley provides a close-up look at the subject that has meant the most to her. Her special insight and discoveries will challenge all educators who are involved in elementary writing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780325002903
Publisher:	Heinemann
Publication date:	10/12/2001
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.87(d)
Age Range:	5 - 10 Years

About the Author

Shelley Harwayne was affiliated with the New York City public schools for more than thirty years as a teacher, staff developer, codirector of the Teachers College Writing Project, founding principal of the Manhattan New School, and superintendent of District #2 in New York City. She has worked as a consultant and keynote speaker throughout the world and has published numerous books and videos with Heinemann including Learning to Confer (2004), Writing Through Childhood (2001), Lifetime Guarantees (2000), Going Public (1999), Lasting Impressions (1992), Living Between the Lines (1990), and The Writing Workshop: a World of Difference (1987). In addition, Shelley has published two children's books: Jewels and What's Cooking?.

Table of Contents

Meet Some Childhood Writers

Designing Writing Workshops with Children in Mind

Revising Our Use of the Writer's Notebook

Responding to Student Writing

Reading to Inform Your Writing

Working with Our Youngest Writers

Spelling: An Essential Ingredient in the Early-Childhood Writing Workshop

The Writing Workshop: A Place to Experiment, Improvise, and Invent

Focusing on Particular Genres: Poetry

Editing, Publishing, and Other Ways to Make Parents Smile

Bibliographies:

A. Favorite Poetry Collections

B. Poetry Anthologies That Can Help Students to Understand Notebook Writing

C. Picture Books in Which the Style of Writing Can Inspire Notebook Writing

D. Informational Texts That Demonstrate the Potential of Notebook Keeping

E. Professional Books That Highlight the Needs of Childhood

F. Picture Books That Contain Characters Who Write

G. Picture Books Written in Letter Format

H. Children's Books About Being an Author or Illustrator

Autobiographical Works by Children's Authors

J. Biographical Material About Children's Authors

K. Biographical Material About Authors for Adults Written in Child-Friendly Formats

L. Children's Writers on Writing

M. Starter Shelf of Picture Books to Inspire Teacher Talk About Crafting Techniques

N. Professional Books That Support Teachers Learning to Confer

O. Professional Books That Support Teachers Learning Crafting Techniques

P. Professional Books That Inspire Teachers to Work on Their Own Writing

Q. Professional Books That Explore the Reading-Writing Connection

R. Books for a Jonathan London Author Study

Appendixes:

A. Worksheet on Schoolwide Rites of Passage in the Teaching of Writing

B. Questionnaire on Carving Out Time for Regularly Scheduled Writing Workshop

C. Worksheet on Implications of Broad Goals

D. Joanne Hindley Salch's Worksheet for Learning from Conferences

E. Conference Practice Sheets - Our Youngest Writers

F. Mattie's Writing Folder - Illustrating a Variety of First-Grade Genres

G. Editing/Publishing Checklist H. Blank Spelling Study Sheet

Professional Development Scenarios in the Teaching of Writing

J. Calendar Project Directions and Planning Sheets