The Art of Teaching Writing (Hardcover)

by Lucy Calkins (Author) "If our teaching is to be an art, we must draw from all we know, feel, and believe in order to create something beautiful..." (more)
Key Phrases: teaching adolescents, developing learning communities, traveling through the dark, New York, Children's Books, Macmillan Children's Book Group (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“An outstanding publication on the latest developments in writing instruction.”–Language Arts

Product Description
Cloth Edition. The Art of Teaching Writing, New Edition, has major new chapters on assessment, thematic studies, writing throughout the day, reading/writing relationships, publication, curriculum development, nonfiction writing and home/school connections.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann (April 4, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0435088173
• ISBN-13: 978-0435088170
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,594 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for writing teachers, October 1, 2001

By	"inglis_33" (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews

Elementary and high school English teachers looking for a quick fix or complete list of how-to lessons and activities for hooking young writers will be disappointed by The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy McCormick Calkins. What readers will find, however, is a coherent and thorough argument that challenges teachers to develop their own vision of excellence. On the opening page she states in no uncertain terms her definition of good teaching: "To teach well, we do not need more techniques and strategies as much as we need a vision of what is essential" (3). Through five sections and 29 chapters, it is her vision of what is essential that emerges as the overarching theme. Calkins helps students to experience a "wide-awakeness and curiosity" (516) of the world by placing their lives at the centre of their writing. The writing workshop is lauded throughout as a model that makes such an experience possible. Insightful anecdotes and glimpses into elementary and high school classrooms show how all phases of the writing process, including prewriting, drafting, sharing, revising, editing, are managed. Practical discussions on standardized testing, curriculum planning, and assessment are also included. The Art of Teaching Writing is comparable to other landmark texts in the field of writing instruction, including Nancie Atwell's In the Middle (1998) and Linda Rief's Seeking Diversity (1992). However, few texts offer the breadth and passion evident in Calkins' book. Although the book's length (and weight) might be initially daunting, it is a must read for anyone wanting to improve their understanding and use of the writing process and writing workshop. For more than twenty years, Lucy McCormack Calkins has been one of the most respected voices in the field of writing instruction. The Art of Teaching Writing is a testament to why this is the case.

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To Teach Writing---Read About The Art of Teaching Writing, October 9, 2000

By	Trevor M. (Aurora, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Teaching Writing (Paperback)

This book was used in the two summer sessions of the Colorado Writing Project that I have taken. It is geared more towards elementary teachers, yet I teach middle school & have learned so much from Calkins. It gives great scenarios of teachers not giving proper feedback to child writers & gives examples of what is better. As teachers, we know that even constructive criticism is not always taken well by children. Calkins knows it's hard to teach writing without the criticism, but she helps us learn to conference better with our kids. Being able to say the write thing(pun intended) at the right time is crucial. The book reteaches the stages of writing and gives hundreds of samples of student writing. It's a great book to go along with the book What A Writer Needs. Also, Calkins just came out with The Art of Teaching Reading...I just got a copy & can't wait to have the same great experience as I have had with The Art of Teaching Writing. Of course, these are books we are done reading...never done learning!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for All Writing Teachers, April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Teaching Writing (Paperback)

This widely encompassing book includes chapters on poetry, fiction, and report writing. It includes extensive sections on reading-writing connections, writing development, and teacher-student conferences. This book is truly a a must have in your professional libray. You'll wonder how you taught writing all these years without it!