Because Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Our Schools

Although people familiar with recent research on teaching writing might feel as though this book is something of a broken record, I was very pleased with it. For one, it is written in a way that is easy to understand, and it is broken down into categories that make sense and are coherent in their organization. Also, I found the advice to be specific enough for me to apply to my classroom (high school) without excluding bits of advice that would be helpful for teachers of older or younger students. One huge benefit, as sad as it is, is that this book is really short. I tend to feel pretty intimidated by 300 and 400 page textbooks about teaching writing, but this slim volume was not difficult to get through and still provided me with a wealth of information on both theory and practice. The only reason this is getting four instead of five stars is that there is not a whole lot of brand new information here. Anyone who's been keeping up with journals and other publications will have heard most of this stuff 100 times already. If, however, you're new to the scene, are looking to get caught up, are trying to institute writing-across-the-curriculum programs at your school, or just want a handy summary of the latest theories, this volume is right for you.

excuse no capitalization. the national writing project published this inquiry and best practice driven look into real writing as it intersects with real schools. teacher reflection, teacher as writer, and teacher as facilitator factor prominently into the discussion of what authentic and meaningful writing looks like in the midst of k/12/college high stakes testing. ultimately, a subversive approach in light of what we, as educators, know works, this text uses research and the voices of educators to acknowledge, honor, and encourage the processes that thoughtful and inquisitive teachers practice every day.

This book is a must for teachers, parents, and administrators who want to understand research-diven methods for teaching writing. Nagin explains the myths and reality involved with creating good writers. This book sponsored by the National Writing Project explores current research on teaching writing and discusses how that translates into sound classroom practices.