Customer Reviews

How's It Going?: A Practical Guide to Conferring with Student Writers

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As a mother, I really want my child to learn to write so she can enjoy all the benefits that come through written expression. I found this book to be very practical and immensely readable, filled with examples and anecdotes that make the suggestions come alive. A parent could use this book as guidance for inspiring a child's interest in writing -- and in the process, might discover all kinds of things about what the child is thinking and feeling. If you don't read this book yourself, buy it as a gift for your child's teacher! (So much better than bubblebath ...)

If you teach 1-5th grade writing workshop, you NEED to read this book! Especially if (like many of us) you're using the Lucy Calkins writing kits. Mr. Anderson really breaks things down in a PRACTICAL way so you can feel confident sitting down with every single child you confer with. He also includes blacklines for forms that for me, have made the difference between confidence and exasperation! Way better than One on One by Calkins herself. !
Plus, he was in the project with her, so his philosophy lines up completely. Do yourself a favor, seriously. (Maybe check out Assessing Writers, it does repeat some of this book and has some really great other stuff too.) I couldn't live without them both, though! (and I don't work for anyone but my 26 third graders).

This book is excellent for teachers wanting to know more about how to have effective converstaions with their students during reading conferences. This will change how you approach conversations about writing with your students.

If your writing conferences are not going well, them pick up this wonderful book on conferring with writers. The book starts with how to create a classroom environment that encourages writing conferences and then goes on to show how to discover students intentions and give them strategies to achieve them. Carl's advice is sound: "Improve the writer, not the writing." I was able to use his advice to immediately improve the effectiveness of my conferences, and I could also see how I could better structure my writing workshop next year.

"how's it going?" is outstanding! It is a must read for any teacher interested in teaching writing!
Conferring is an intregal ingredient in the recipe of teaching writing!