Because Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Our Schools [Hardcover]

National Writing Project (Author), Carl Nagin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787965626 | ISBN-13: 978-0787965624 | Publication Date: February 3, 2003 | Edition: 1

Because Writing Matters examines the myths and realities surrounding the teaching of writing in schools. This important book reveals how kids learn to write, what schools need to do to teach writing effectively, and shows that effective writing teachers address more than content and skills. Sponsored by the National Writing Project, a nationally recognized organization for teachers, Because Writing Matters offers step-by-step recommendations for developing effective writing programs in all grades. Each of the book's action steps is prioritized from the easily achieved to the larger and longer term.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"At last a book that is both comprehensive and up-to-date on the status and importance of writing in America. [This] carefully researched book shows how writing can be marginalized through ineffective assessments yet be a force in student lives. This book is must reading for teachers, school district leaders, and policy makers who wish to restore writing to its rightful place in student learning."
— Donald Graves, professor emeritus, Education, University of New
Hampshire

"Because Writing Matters is a highly accessible, reader-friendly book that reviews what we know about written language and that explains clearly how that knowledge can be used to build effective programs for teaching writing. I predict that this book will become an indispensable guide for policy makers and legislators as well as for professional educators who strive to build research-based instructional programs."
— Sarah Warshauer Freedman, Professor of Education, University of California, Berkeley

"Because Writing Matters makes clear the connection between learning to write and learning to read. It easily explains how children can increase their comprehension of concepts and ideas in all content areas through the writer's craft. Busy principals who want to know what really matters in building a successful school writing program need to read this book."
— Frank Murphy, principal, General George G. Meade Elementary School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

From the Inside Flap

A good writer can effectively present an idea, argue a point, analyze an issue, clarify the confusing, and evoke the intangible. The writing ability children develop in their school and college years is a valuable skill that will last them a lifetime.
Because Writing Matters examines the myths and realities surrounding the teaching of writing in schools. This important book reveals how kids learn to write, what schools need to do to teach writing effectively, and shows that effective writing teachers address more than content and skills. Sponsored by the National Writing Project, a nationally recognized organization for teachers, Because Writing Matters offers step-by-step recommendations for developing effective writing programs in all grades. Each of the book's action steps is prioritized from the easily achieved to the larger and longer term.
Teaching writing well involves multiple teaching strategies that deal with both process and product, both form and content. This book offers many examples of these effective strategies and classroom practices. In addition, Because Writing Matters includes a guide to help educators and administrators analyze and improve writing instruction in their classrooms.
From curriculum and assessment to professional development, this book will provide teachers, parents, administrators, and policy makers with a blueprint for improving writing in their schools.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (February 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787965626
• ISBN-13: 978-0787965624
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great theory, great advice in practice, April 22, 2009

By 

Amber Hathaway (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Because Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Our Schools (Paperback)

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.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good appraisal of best practices in teaching writing, February 14, 2007

By 

Sandra "Sondra" (Alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Because Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Our Schools (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you need to brush up on composition pedagogy, July 12, 2011

By 

Erika (YA Lit Crave) (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Because Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Our Schools (Paperback)

I'm more into literature and reading rather than composition, and so I found that I simply wasn't familiar with the research and best practices in teaching writing. I had heard bits here and there in college, but I didn't have a solid foundation. I picked up this book so that I could learn those things, and that's exactly what this book gave me, in a very readable way. It may be a refresher or regurgitation of what many already know, but I recommend it for teachers who may know more about best practices in reading rather than writing.