About the Authors is about the littlest authors - those in kindergarten through second grade. Based on a profound understanding of the ways in which young children learn, it shows teachers how to launch a writing workshop by inviting children to do what they do naturally - make stuff. So why not write books?
Gifted educator and author of the best-selling What You Know by Heart (Heinemann, 2002), Katie Wood Ray has seen young authors do just that. And she wants your students to be able to do the same. Beautifully describing young children in the act of learning, she demonstrates what it takes to nourish writing right from the start:
a supportive environment that enables even the youngest students to write
respect and sensitivity to the way children really learn
inviting instruction that both encourages and elevates young writers
rich language that stimulates writing
classroom talk and children's literature that energize young writers
developmental considerations that shape the structure of the workshop, making it natural, joyful, and absolutely appropriate.
What's more, Ray explains step by step how to set up and maintain a primary writing workshop, detailing eleven units of study that cover idea generation, text structures, different genres, and illustrations that work with text. She also draws on data, projects, and the language of teaching used in the classroom of first-grade teacher Lisa Cleaveland. Ray allows readers to 'listen in' to Lisa as she helps her young students learn from professional writers, work with intention, and think about their own process.
Chockfull of examples of little books by young children, About the Authors is proof positive that a primary writing workshop is a smart writing move.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Making Stuff in Writing Workshops
As indicated by the title, this book is about using writing workshops with students in kindergarten through second grade. Although writing is the point of these workshops, the students are not asked to just write anything. The workshops provide a specific goal for students: to make stuff, more specifically to make and write books. The authors thoroughly describe the hour long writing workshops, functions, and teaching opportunities that are typical of an average workshop. Rich examples ... Read More
Rating: - A Great Teacher
Not only is this book chock full of sound advice, rationale, and examples (a good balance, too!), but Katie Wood Ray is a remarkable author herself and serves as a wonderful model as she writes about teaching writing. I read this book cover to cover during a pretty densely packed quarter at school and have gone back to it again and again as a rich resource.
Rating: - Excellent!
If you are at all doubtful or confused how to conduct writers workshop with
younger (K and 1) students this book is for you. It outlines how to get started and sustain successful writing throughout the year. Book layout is easy to read (plenty of space in the margins for notes) and there are pictures along the way to clarify and inspire new great ideas in any classroom. A must read if you are in K or 1 for the first time or want to implement a writers workshop.
Rating: - Beginning Writing Workshop
This is a great book to help k-2 teachers implement writing workshop in the classroom. It offers ideas on how to begin, units of study, and books to incorporate into your mini-lessons. I recommend this book to anyone venturing into the writing workshop approach to teaching writing to young children.
Rating: - About the Authors
The book was very helpful and I got it in efficient time.
- Making Stuff in Writing Workshops
- Excellent!
