Rethinking Writing One Word at a Time


Book Description

Reviews “Sheila Beverly’s new workbook, Rethinking Writing One Word at a Time, is a promising tool for helping students who struggle with writing. Mrs. Beverly, who holds a B.A. in English and an M. Ed. In reading education, has years of experience teaching students to write. At first, her innovative ‘Grammar Bubble’ appears to be a part-to-whole approach to teaching writing. But, in truth, she uses direct teaching of the eight parts of speech as an entry point – a conceptual structure and motivational “hook” to get hesitant writers to put their ideas down on paper. Then, Mrs. Beverly uses a workshop, collaborative model to keep her students writing – drafting, sharing, revising, and editing. It is obvious that much thinking, trying out, and improving has gone into the activities described in this workbook. It is also obvious from reading the revealing Preface that Mrs. Beverly is a committed educator who is passionate about empowering her students to express their voices in print.” - Dr. Darrell Morris, Professor of Reading Education, 2016-2017 Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award; Director of Anderson Reading Clinic Department of Reading Education & Special Education, Emeritus Faculty, Appalachian State University “This workbook, containing resources and supplemental activities, along with the Grammar Bubble Manipulative Toy, games, charts, and lessons, has been Divinely orchestrated and blessed. Adults and children will learn and understand the Eight Parts of Speech and how to utilize this knowledge to become better communicators. Teachers will benefit tremendously. This information will give them a fresh approach on how to introduce writing using the Eight Parts of Speech. This hands-on approach will help make writing fun and more meaningful.” - Linda Beverly, BS of Elementary School Education, Primary Reading Teacher, Retired-34 Years of Experience “Written communication skills remain a vital asset in our increasing technological world. I had the privilege of working with Shelia for many years and can attest to her dedication in helping her students’ written voices to shine on paper. Her passion now extends to assisting teachers who also recognize the importance of writing. Shelia Beverly’s Rethinking Writing One Word at a Time provides a framework for teachers to cultivate a community of strong writers and shares engaging activities to help students acquire essential language skills. Rethinking Writing One Word at a Time is a valuable addition to a teacher’s classroom.” - Teri G. Lewis, BA English, MEd of Reading; English Department Chair, Retired I wish I had Rethinking Writing One Word at a Time – Eights Parts of Speech when I was teaching in the classroom. Finally, a workbook that really breaks down grammar and writing in a way that builds and makes sense to the teacher and the learner. The “Grammar Bubble Manipulative Toy”, games, writing prompts, and more are great for emerging writers and those who need a writing refresher. It is interactive and thought provoking. This workbook could benefit anyone who desires to grow in their writing journey by starting with “Rethinking Writing.” - Dr. Renita L. Webb, Ph.D. Educational Leadership Strategist; Former Elementary School Principal; Former Middle/High School English Teacher




Reading, Writing, and Rising Up


Book Description

Give students the power of language by using the inspiring ideas in this very readable book.




On Writing Fiction


Book Description

The pieces of a satisfying novel or story seem to fit together so effortlessly, so seamlessly, that it's easy to find yourself wondering, "How on earth did the author do this?" The answer is simple: He sat alone at his desk, considered an array of options, and made smart, careful choices. In On Writing Fiction, award-winning author and respected creative writing professor David Jauss offers practical information and advice that will help you make smart creative and technical decisions about such topics as: • Writing prose with syntax and rhythm to create a "soundtrack" for the narrative • Choosing the right point of view to create the appropriate degree of "distance" between your characters and the reader • Harnessing the power of contradiction in the creative process In one thought-provoking essay after another, Jauss sorts through unique fiction-writing conundrums, including how to create those exquisite intersections between truth and fabrication that make all great works of fiction so much more resonant than fiction that follows the "write what you know" approach that's so often used.




Rethinking Writing


Book Description

The traditional Western view of writing, from Aristotle down to the present day, has treated the written word as a visual substitute for the spoken word. The eminent Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) was the first to provide this traditional assumption with a reasoned basis by incorporating it into a more general theory of signs. In the wake of Saussure's work, modern linguistics has ignored or marginalized writing in favour of the study of speech. In all literate societies, however, speech in turn is interpreted by reference to the culturally dominant writing system. This puts in place a system of educational values which ensures that the more literate members of society maintain superiority over the less literate, and at the same time establishes a hierarchy among literate societies which favours the local product (alphabetic scripts in the Western Case). Roy Harris shows that the theory of writing adopted in modern linguistics is deeply flawed. Reversing the orthodox priorities, the author argues that writing is a far more powerful mode of linguistic communication than speech could ever be. His book is a major contribution to current debates about human communication written and spoken.




Teach Writing Well


Book Description

Ask great writers what the key to writing well is and they will tell you revision. Author Ruth Culham, both a successful writer and writing teacher, understands the challenges elementary teachers face when teaching writing and revision and now shares her knowledge in Teach Writing Well: How to Assess Writing, Invigorate Instruction, and Rethink Revision. Divided into two parts, Culham's book provides ways to teach that are both accessible to the teacher and student. You will find techniques to assess writing that are practical, and results driven. Inside you'll discover: Culham's "traits of writing" and how to use them to read and assess student work Ways to guide revision decisions using these traits as common language How to address challenges students may face within the different modes of writing (narrative, expository, and persuasive) Strategic lessons to teach the writer that scaffold students towards making their own craft decisions A chapter on mentor texts which can be used to model traits and key qualities for your students Teach Writing Well pulls best practices together and shows writing with fresh eyes.




Teaching for Joy and Justice


Book Description

Teaching for Joy and Justice is the much-anticipated sequel to Linda Christensen's bestselling Reading, Writing, and Rising Up. Christensen is recognized as one of the country's finest teachers. Her latest book shows why. Through story upon story, Christensen demonstrates how she draws on students' lives and the world to teach poetry, essay, narrative, and critical literacy skills. Teaching for Joy and Justice reveals what happens when a teacher treats all students as intellectuals, instead of intellectually challenged. Part autobiography, part curriculum guide, part critique of today's numbing standardized mandates, this book sings with hope -- born of Christensen's more than 30 years as a classroom teacher, language arts specialist, and teacher educator. Practical, inspirational, passionate: this is a must-have book for every language arts teacher, whether veteran or novice. In fact, Teaching for Joy and Justice is a must-have book for anyone who wants concrete examples of what it really means to teach for social justice.




Word Study That Sticks


Book Description

"Pamela Koutrakos breaks it down for the novice and streamlines word study for the old pro." – Jeff Anderson, author of Patterns of Power Take word learning to the next level in your classroom Hungry for lively and engaging ways to augment word study? Looking for ways to empower your students and give voice to their ideas? In Word Study That Sticks, teacher and literacy consultant Pamela Koutrakos provides a step-by-step approach that makes word learning jubilant and fun – and encourages students to take ownership of word learning. This hands-on guide connects research with experience to deliver challenging, discovery-based instructional practices that can support all learners in any subject area. You’ll learn how to Set up the physical classroom, prioritize materials, and launch activities Instill curiosity and a self-starting attitude toward vocabulary development Devise routines that highlight phonemic awareness, phonics, meaning, and spelling Differentiate and personalize word study activities Embed word study into all content areas for transfer of learning Word Study That Sticks can be used alone or in conjunction with another program to help you take word learning to the next level. Lesson ideas, word study routines, charts, photos, key practices, and special advice for beginning teachers make word study instruction accessible for educators working at every experience level.




Craft in the Real World


Book Description

This national bestseller is "a significant contribution to discussions of the art of fiction and a necessary challenge to received views about whose stories are told, how they are told and for whom they are intended" (Laila Lalami, The New York Times Book Review). The traditional writing workshop was established with white male writers in mind; what we call craft is informed by their cultural values. In this bold and original examination of elements of writing—including plot, character, conflict, structure, and believability—and aspects of workshop—including the silenced writer and the imagined reader—Matthew Salesses asks questions to invigorate these familiar concepts. He upends Western notions of how a story must progress. How can we rethink craft, and the teaching of it, to better reach writers with diverse backgrounds? How can we invite diverse storytelling traditions into literary spaces? Drawing from examples including One Thousand and One Nights, Curious George, Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea, and the Asian American classic No-No Boy, Salesses asks us to reimagine craft and the workshop. In the pages of exercises included here, teachers will find suggestions for building syllabi, grading, and introducing new methods to the classroom; students will find revision and editing guidance, as well as a new lens for reading their work. Salesses shows that we need to interrogate the lack of diversity at the core of published fiction: how we teach and write it. After all, as he reminds us, "When we write fiction, we write the world."




Rethinking Language Arts


Book Description

In Rethinking Language Arts: Passion and Practice, SecondEdition, author Nina Zaragoza uses the form of letters to her students to engage pre-service teachers in reevaluating teaching practices, thus bringing to life a vision of an alternative classroom environment in which the teacher is the prime mover and creative leader. Zaragoza discusses and explains the need for teachers to be decision makers, reflective thinkers, political beings, and agents of social change in order to create a positive and inclusive classroom setting. This book is both a critical text that deconstructs the way language arts are traditionally taught in our schools as well as a visionary text with clear, no-nonsense directions on how to provide much needed change in our schools.




Rethinking Facticity


Book Description