Wondrous Words: Writers and Writing in the Elementary Classroom

As a first year teacher, I have made it my obligation to get my hands on as many resources as possible to learn my "craft." I am amazed at how much this book has changed my concept of teaching writing. I now understand what it is to "describe" a good piece of work rather than "prescribe" a good piece of work. When I received this book after having attended a workshop, I did not know what to do with it-how to read it, understand it, but after having a year of experience and assessing my weaknesses (how to teach writing), I now understand. I thank Katie Wood Ray for sharing herself and her findings with us.

I've taught for 21 years, but I always felt like there must be a better way to teach writing to children. This book tells how. Katie Wood Ray gives specific techniques for teaching structure, ways with words, and teaches you to teach your students to read like writers. For all of this, she uses the most marvelous children's books, most picture books but some young adult novels. I have worked on increasing my library under her direction, and I'm having a ball watching my students learn to love to write.

Katie Wood Ray has made a very readable, very usable book to help teachers teach students to 'read like writers'. I use the ideas when I am reading and reviewing new children's literature and each time I begin writing instruction with my elementary remedial students. Truly shows how to integrate student writing and good children's literature.

I have enjoyed everyword of this book. I am an aspiring English teacher who is fortunate enough to have Katie Ray's guidance as a professor and mentor. This book is one of the few that I will not sell back. This unique way of teaching writing writing is creative, relaxing, and enjoyable for both the teacher and the student. No matter what grade you teach you need this book! Katie has an amazing gift as a teacher and a writer which she expresses wonderfully in this book.

Katie Wood Ray's book, Wondrous Words, not only informs us as educators but it also pushes us to be better teachers and to strive to reach the level of excellence Katie has obtained. Her examples and detailed explanations of the study of writing craft are wonderful (wondrous?) and they are also embedded within her own writing, so you see it in many contexts!! Katie does not tell us what we should do, she walks next to us and points out what she sees, what she thinks, and shares what she would do. This is a book that every educator who loves teaching and writing and reading and learning alongside their students, should definitely have. Bravo Katie!