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Customer Reviews (5)

Picture books
A lot of good examples and it help you get your creative juices flowing so you can create similar ideas from books you already own!

Great Resource!
I'm a first year fourth grade teacher and always on the lookout for good resources.I'm so glad I found this one.When I first introduced picture books into my mini lessons, I explained that picture books aren't "baby" books -- there are so many high quality, beautifully written and illustrated books out there.Students love the books, they are engaged in lessons, and they use the books as references for their writing.

In addition to the many detailed lesson plans throughout the book, there is a comprehensive listing of things to do with other picture book titles.

Using Picture Books To Teach Writing With The Traits
A third grade teacher colleague had shared this book with me, and I had to have my own.There is nothing like having a list of books that teach the traits at your fingertips.This resource is another must-have for anyone teaching elementary students the 6 traits of writing!

Great book for teaching children how to write
This book is excellent to teach children how to write. Great connections with literature as well. Teaches the 6 traits of writing!

A Fabulous teaching tool for the 2000's!
As a parent and teacher, this book has valuable ideas that are easily accessible and understood!I found it to be a great book to have in my bag of tricks for teaching!Thanks Ms. Culham for another insightful book in your line of great books on the traits! ... Read more

Product Description
Good teachers have long recognized the power of using picture books as models of good writing. The short, focused, and tightly woven text mirrors the kind of writing they want their students to be doing. In this essential resource, the authors have organized by trait more than 150 annotations of new and classic books that will delight young studentsNand inspire powerful writing. Peppered throughout are 18 step-by-step, trait-focused lessons based on specific books.For use with Grades K-2. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits
I think that "Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits K-2" is a great book.I've seen many books that focus on teaching for 3rd grade and above, but this is the first one that I have seen that focuses on K-2.This book is great because it teaches the writing traits through lesson plans.Each writing trait is divided into a chapter.In each chapter, there is a lesson plan.There are various picture books to support the trait that is being taught in each chapter.Also, each trait has a definition and what students exhibit when they are becoming fluent in the usage of the traits.

I really like this book because of it's organization.It is very simple to use.For example, if I want to teach about voice, I can go to the table of contents in this book, go to page 41 and have a lesson plan/idea ready as well as books listed that support this trait.The books that are recommended to teach these traits are popular books that children like, not out of date.I would highly recommend this book to all teachers for teaching writing in their classrooms!!!!!

Great specifics
Gives great ideas for those days you are having a block - love how it is broken down by the traits and gives specific lesson ideas that you can go off of.

Using Pictue Booksto Teach Writing With the Traits: K-2
This is a terrific book for teachers who are finding difficulty teaching writing to young children.Full of great books that most teachers use in their classrooms anyway, this professional book helps to bring picture books to life, while lighting a fire within the young writer.

A perfect way to use Picture books
Ideas for using picture books is so helpful for teachers. Picture books are usually rich with vocabulary and content. Often picture books have an emotional hook. This book is such a help in using that rich resource. Why reinvent the wheel? Just buy this book and plug the ideas into your writing curriculum. I teach third and fourth graders and I can adapt these ideas. Picture books are for all ages.

Nothing But the Best!
It's here!This is a teaching resource you won't want to be without.New to the traits?This book provides you with a definition of each trait that's user-friendly for teachers and young children.What follows is an annotation of a number of picture books that can be used for the trait.As if that isn't enough, each of the six main traits has three focus lessons and follow-up activities to get you going.For those of us that love teaching with the traits and use them faithfully, this book is an energizer.You'll find new picture books to add to your collection, plus old favorites with new ideas on how to use them.
As a resource person in my school, I'm often asked to do a lesson at the last minute.No problem!I pull out this magic book, look through the lesson, grab a picture book, and I'm good to go.Classroom teachers love the user-friendliness just as much as I do.
Ruth and Ray are to be applauded.In this age of test scores, change, and everything else that's going on, Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits is a breath of fresh air.It simplifies our teaching lives while making it exciting and fun for teachers and children alike.
Thank you, Ruth and Ray, for yet another excellent teaching resource! ... Read more

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Trait expert Ruth Culham has created a diverse set of papers grades3-5, assessedand annotated them, and created an interactive whiteboard CD of exemplars so teachers and students can use them as the focus of trait-based writing instruction.The papers are highlighted by key quality for each trait, making it easy for writers to see what works and what doesn't by simply pressing the color-coded buttons at the bottom of each projected paper on the white board.Can be used with overhead projectors as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not that great
I've only used this once in my classroom. I have found that using my own student's samples and being able to hone in on specifics within their work far more valuable. The kids connect more because they know it is real work from a peer within the classroom. I always ask my student first if I can use their work with their name blacked out and "reward" their willingness with something like an extra credit point or in our school we use reward coins that buy prizes at the end of the year. I show it on the Smartboard (you can use an Elmo or scan it in). This has been far more valuable than using sources from a book. ... Read more

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Through anecdote, classroom vignette, and his own experience as a writer and teacher, Barry encourages teachers of any grade level to start a writing program tomorrow and not wait until they have attained perfect understanding. Barry's motto: Let's learn along the way! For use with Grades K-12. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

needed this book quickly
The book was exactly what i ordered.it came within 5 days even with the media mail.The picture on the book was important to identify the book.
I didn't use it much for my class but this is a good teacher resource. thanks

Fantastic book!
This book is just right for me! I teach 4th grade writing so this book really has reaffirmed my beliefs about how to teach writing effectively. Barry Lane's humor in the book are refreshing and just what I needed to boost my enthusiasm in the classroom. I would highly recommend this book to all teachers of writing!

Lane Strikes Again
Simple means Simple. And that's exactly what this book is, simple: Simple to read, to understand, to implement. You can tell Lane had way too much fun writing this thing.And I had too much fun reading it. It really leaks Barry Lane. Being a third grade teacher and writing consultant for the Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project, I find this book comforting. You know, like a fresh shirt out of the dryer.I've read all the great authors on the subject: Fletcher, Caulkins, Romano, Graves, just to name a few. Barry Lane brings it here. He brings the heat.He brings the human element, the element missing in today's schools. This book spoke to me in many ways. However, the recurring theme throughout the book, is that we need to teach kids on their turf, in their backyard.He truly believes that everyone can find their writing voice, given the freedom to look for it, EVERYWHERE.

I've recommended this book to all first year teachers and teachers new to Writing Workshop.It's blue collar in nature, but the message? Deep.

Read it, dude.

Fun, witty, useful & empowering
This is an entertaining and useful guide for teaching writing to any student in any subject. As I read this book I tried out the activities with my students. These lessons were engaging and effective. My students buzzed with ideas for hours afterwards, often approaching me in the playground to discuss ways they could develop their ideas.
I am a hyper-busy teacher...show me an education professional who isn't?! I love this book for its sheer practicality, concrete ideas and positivity. Too often books about teaching writing are patronising and alienating. Barry Lane loves people and he truly believes everyone is a writer. This book is imbued with that philosophy and is a must for any teacher in any subject. ... Read more

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Trait expert Ruth Culham has created a diverse set of papers grades K-2, assessedand annotated them, and created an interactive whiteboard CD of exemplars so teachers and students can use them as the focus of trait-based writing instruction.The papers are highlighted by key quality for each trait, making it easy for writers to see what works and what doesn't by simply pressing the color-coded buttons at the bottom of each projected paper on the white board.Can be used with overhead projectors as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Helpful Homeschool Resource
This book is a fabulous resource for home school teachers who want to build solid writing skills.I will be using it as a basis for teaching and evaluating the writing of my beginning writers (K and 2nd grade) this school year.It's helpful to see examples and explanations of how and why they are well written or need more work. ... Read more

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What Student Writing Teaches Us: FOrmative Assessment in the Writing Workshop ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Good First Effort
This is Mark Overmeyer's first book, and it's a good first effort.The first three chapters have very little information that I found interesting, however the last chapters (on student self-assessment and grading) were very insightful.If you really want more "bang for you buck", buy Mark's When Writing Workshop Isn't Working.

An invaluable tool that should not be missed for primary educators
How a child translates his or her thoughts to paper provides much insight into their skills and what teachers need to know for the curriculum. "What Student Writing Teaches Us: Formative Assessment in the Writing Workshop" analyzes elementary and middle school writing from the perspective of the teacher and the student. Assessment of this writing can prove difficult for educators, but the need for feedback is needed. Mark Overmeyer draws on his own experience with children in this age range to give many thoughts and ideas for better language arts education. "What Student Writing Teaches Us" is an invaluable tool that should not be missed for primary educators. ... Read more

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You want everyone in your classes to learn to love literature, to become avid readers for the rest of their lives, to become accomplished writers and thinkers, to show tolerance for each other, and to work with indefatigable enthusiasm every day. You have no time to waste. You've decided to go Bohemian.

With these words, you enter the updated edition of an award-winning collection of writing strategies that have sparked true enthusiasm for writing in adolescent students-including reluctant students, English-language learners, and gifted writers. Bohemian writing lessons rely on unconventional strategies, art and multimedia, competitive games, and indirect approaches to teach some of the difficult lessons of writing. You too can watch your students' talents emerge as they engage in lessons such as The Delicate Art of Sarcasm, A Playlist for Holden, Adagio in Your Back Pocket, and Pensive Pirates!

Half of the lessons in Going Bohemian: How to Teach Writing Like You Mean It (2nd edition) are brand new and relate to crucial topics such as the fundamentals of writing, connecting writing to reading, building vocabulary, using visuals to spark creativity, and applying writing in real life. All of the 42 lessons in this book are classroom proven and can be worked into you current curriculum immediately. Lessons include reproducibles to use in your own instruction and student examples that show you what's possible.

Go Bohemian! And instill in your students high literacy standards, an artistic sensibility, and an unshakable belief in the power of words-leading them, ultimately, to increased success.

The International Reading Association is the world's premier organization of literacy professionals. Our titles promote reading by providing professional development to continuously advance the quality of literacy instruction and research.

Research-based, classroom-tested, and peer-reviewed, IRA titles are among the highest quality tools that help literacy professionals do their jobs better.

Some of the many areas we publish in include:

-Comprehension
-Response To Intervention/Struggling Readers
-Early Literacy
-Adolescent Literacy
-Assessment
-Literacy Coaching
-Research And Policy ... Read more

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For decades, scholars have urged teachers to integrate grammar and writing, yet few have provided teachers with enough strategies and materials to do so. With this ground-breaking book, Harry Noden meets this need in a unique way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Great for new teachers
I am a grad student working towards a certificate and masters degree in teaching high school English. This book gives a great starting point for teaching grammar in a meaningful and memorable way. I used this book to put together a minilesson on parallel structure for my classmates. It really helped me to simplify this complicated topic and make it understandable for those in my class. I feel that I have a better understanding of how specific grammatical structures influence quality of writing. Great book. I recommend it. The CD-rom is a little outdated in my opinion. However, it does contain the example quotations from the book in easy copy and paste format that facilitates handout and transparency printing.

Ehh
I had to buy this book for my son's school (elementary level) and it was a real snooze fest. I'm all for educational advancement and I can honestly say that the book has some wonderful ideas, but good grief! I had to hit the caffine to stay awake long enough to get to the points of interest. To sum this up: Great educational material if you can get past the over the top terminology.

Finally the book I've been waiting for!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK!I have searched for years for a useful way to teach grammar.This book has been an inspiration to my teaching.I have tried several of Noden's techniques, all with great success.This book is a must have for any English teacher!

Painting Pictures With Words
After attending a writing workshop conducted by Harry Noden and realizing how powerful his methods are in teaching students the art of descriptive writing and in developing one's own skills, I was thrilled to find his book.Its nine chapters are full of specific, concrete strategies to create a writing masterpiece with each concept that is presented.

Great Tips on Improving Student Writing
Image Grammar is a great tool to use to quickly improve student writing!
... Read more

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A landmark book on the teaching of writing, Donald M. Murray's A WRITER TEACHES WRITING has had a profound influence on composition theory and practice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Philosophy, Methodology, Exercises for Writing Teachers
Donald Murray has written many books on writing: how to teach writing as well as how to write. All of his books are recommended.

This book, written for college level instruction, might be restricted to an audience with the opportunity to write one essay over multiple class periods, with time for teacher conferences in between.Still, there are many great tips for the writing teacher of all grade levels.There are also great writing tips for the author as well.

I think of Murray's books as squeezing Peter Elbow's long-winded philosophy on writing into a condensed and more easily understood form.This Elbow philosophy proposes that you should write to determine what you really want to say.

The book by Murray is only 264 pages but the density of great ideas and things to do make this book feel longer.

I particularly liked Murray's discussion on getting reactions to writing and what he calls the "response theory of teaching" in getting the student to react to his own writing.

I keep going back to re-read Murray's recommendations on the writing process.As in all of Murray's books, he provides a very thorough list of references.

This book is highly recommended as it provides many practical exercises with a philosophy that I agree with.

John Dunbar
Sugar Land, TX ... Read more

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Fun and effective strategies teach the basic literary elements of character, point of view, setting, plot, style, and theme, and the activities are aligned with NCTE standards. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Playful WayTeach the Elements of Fiction
It can be difficult to teach concepts like story problem, character, and theme with novels, even when students have outstanding reading skills. Using a picture book, a teacher can read an entire masterfully crafted tale in less than ten minutes, and then devote the balance of the period to a discussion of a targeted story element. Ms Heitman's excellent resource recommends the best books for this purpose. Related Web sites and critical sources are also included, along with correlations of the lessons to standards. A must for every creative teacher of writing and literature. ... Read more

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Help your students develop their writing and proofreading skills with hundreds of creative hands-on activities

If you are looking for supplemental material for your writing program or are in search of practical exercises to boost your pupils' proofreading abilities, this invaluable resource has it all!

Teach Terrific Writing, Grades 6-8 features 170 activities--including an answer key--versatile enough to be adapted to any existing program or approach. This book provides all the guidelines and tools you need to develop a classroom of great writers.

With help from Teach Terrific Writing,Grades 6-8, your students will learn how to:
o Focus their topics o Organize ideas o Write a draft o Construct paragraphs o Understand the order of ideas o Recognize good writing o Use proofreading strategies o and much more

Soon your students will become masters at producing complete pieces of writing as well as polishing their work.

Customer Reviews (1)

Teach Terrific Writing Book - okay but not great.
The bookhas all the basics that many books have - not much new. ... Read more

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Make your living through writing

If you want to write for magazines on a freelance basis you will find a treasure of information in Teach Yourself Writing for Magazines. This practical, step-by-step guide informs you about the entire process of getting published, from the initial research to targeting a specific audience to ensuring you meet your deadline.

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"Teach Yourself Creative Writing" opens a window wide onto an exciting creative landscape - your own imagination. It covers a variety of different areas, using exercises to help the reader explore and develop their own ideas. This book makes the subject easy and therefore accessible to all. A great deal has happened in the creative writing world over the last five years and this new edition includes new chapters on 'Writing from Experience', 'Magazine Short Stories', 'Creative Writing Competitions', Research and the Internet' and 'The Writer and Technology'. It also restructures existing material to make it easier for the reader to navigate around the book: starting with short experimental forms of writing to get the reader started, moving on to bigger projects and further to specific writing techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not Impressed....
I buy lots of books about Creativity.This was a gift.There is some good advice in the book about techniques and publishing but the CREATIVE part that sucks me in was just not there!

This books is more for the real serious writer wanting to know the ends and outs of what do with your writings once you have mastered your creativity.

Basic book for those thinking about writing .....
This book is a good overview for people who are considering a writing career, but are not sure what direction they want to go in.Here is a sampling of the basic chapter outline: (1) Developing your talent, (2) How to write an article, (3) The radio talk, (4) Working arrangements, (5) Presentation of manuscripts, (6) the short story, (7) the radio story, (8) the art of revision, (9) characterisation, (10) Dialogue, (11) setting, (12) style, (13) poetry, (14) the non-fiction book, (15) How to conduct an interview, (16) the novel, (17) writing for children ..... has 22 chapters.Now all this is covered in 143 pages -- so you realize that there are only a couple pages covering each topic.Also, when the writer talked about typerwriter ribbons I looked and saw that this book was first released in 1983 and this copy was re-released in 1999.So the information is a little dated as well.For example, a reader probably shouldn't follow the manuscript layouts given based on the original date of publication -- they could be well outdated.

Though this book would likely be a waste of time for the seasoned writer, or even the unpublished writer who knows what direction they want to pursue, it would be a good basic resource for those who just want a basic idea of the multitude of writing options they have.

Though I enjoyed reading it, I turn to more specific writing books for my purposes. I'm glad I didn't buy this book, I got mine from the library. Perhaps the reader of this review should do the same before they decide to purchase this book.

If only I had more time...
Doubtfire certainly gets you to think outside the box when doing her prescribed exercises. The only problem - finding the time!

A straightforward approach
I enjoyed the simple, straightforward style of this book. It doesn't get weighed down with artistic issues but instead offers a practical guide to writing technique, with exercises, which can be applied by even the mostnovice of writers, a group of which I count myself a member. ... Read more

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Successful author and veteran writing teacher Nigel Watts walks you through the novel-writing process-from germinating an idea, through developing plot, character and theme, to finding an agent and contacting publishers. He also provides priceless pointers on how to get started and keep the momentum going and how to conquer writer's block. Each chapter features examples from some of the greats along with skill-building exercises. This new edition contains fully updated listings of writing courses and additional resources not found in the previous edition.

Customer Reviews (17)

Written Thoughts
The book, from the very first page was helpful. It answered some questions I had and encreased my awareness of what it takes to write a novel.

Writing a Novel by Nigel Watts
I enjoyed the book and it was a quick review of all the things I've learned from other sources. I didn't find anything astonishing in its newness, or anything like that, but it contained sound advice for all writer wannabes. I like it as a reference, to be honest, a book that I can return to for purposes of refreshing myself on certain points. Since the book's not excessively large or wordy, and there are many headings in bold print, it's ideal for such purposes, as far as I'm concerned. A welcome addition to any writer's "how-to" collection!

Most useful writing book I've read so far
Like most writers, I have read many a writing book and they all start to sound the same after awhile.The thing I love about this one is that Watts seems to take all the useful things in the other books and put them into one.I often feel like I'm sifting through books and gleaning only a few useful ideas and writing them down in my notebook.With this book I find myself taking notes constantly.If you're looking to spend more time writing and less time reading about writing, I highly recommend this book.

This Book Packs a Punch!
This is the book I keep with me at all times.I simple love it, because it is small, yet has a wealth of information. How to write, the 8 point arc, ideas and how to start and finish your novel is some of the information you'll find in this volume.

Worth the read
This how-to book has plenty of practical tips, food for thought as well as helpful warnings of common mistakes to avoid. The reading is brisk, due to smartly-organized mini chapters throughout.

Housekeeping note: of three how-to books on novel writing I've so far read, I was surprised that there were numerous spelling mistakes or misplaced words in Watts' book (and I'm not referring to mere British vs. American word spelling variations). For a book on the art of writing, one would expect -- or at least hope -- that the proofreader wasn't quite so asleep. That, and a few too many vague instructions on "do this, but don't do what I just told you too much" lowered an otherwise 5-star book to a 4 or 4 1/2. Hopefully they'll clean up the sloppy typos and make some of the instructions clearer on a subsequent edition of this otherwise nifty work. ... Read more

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This new series entry delivers anuncomplicated analysis of the nature ofwriting, particularly in terms of process,product, and genre. Descriptions of abroad range of writing tasks enableteachers to select those that will bemost effective in developing students¿writing skills.

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Learn more about the Heinemann Seminar based on this book: Inside the Teaching of Writing

Customer Reviews (1)

Great addition to a writing teachers shelf!
Both of these were wonderful books that definitely have helped me determine how my year will be next year (in addition to other works from Penny Kittle and Nancie Atwell). The notebook is set up so that teachers can begin "practicing what they preach" and get in the habit of writing on a daily basis. It also gives you some quick writes for your students which are really great. Inside Writing takes teaching writing to a new level and shows teachers how to incorporate teaching craft into their lessons. Another bonus is the DVD. I love to read to see how to do things but I LOVE that I am able to see teachers in action and take from their experiences when putting writing into my classroom. ... Read more

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Writing to Teach; Writing to Learn in Secondary Schools is a comprehensive guide for high school teachers who want to use writing as a teaching tool in any discipline. This user-friendly and hands-on book provides instructional materials for generating and structuring writing, guidance for developing writing assignments and for evaluating writing, and sample syllabi and assignments. ... Read more

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Teaching writing just got easier and more effective because of these sturdy crates. In them, teachers will find everything they need to help students use the six traits-ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions-improve their writing. Each crate contains an array of materials designed to engage students and enrich their writing experiences, including: 6 high-interest picture books hand selected for each trait 6 teaching guides filled with step-by-step lessons, graphic organizers, a scoring guide, and extension activities.Sing-Along Trait Songs, a music CD containing lively, trait-specific songs to share with your students. Includes a bonus track on presentation.6 full-color 17 x 22 posters contain lyrics to the songs on the CD Color-coded stickers for organizing classroom libraries and teaching materials. Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits: K-2, 112-page resource containing 18 step-by-step lessons and 150annotations

of new and classic books, organized by trait What's more, each crate comes with hanging folders one for each trait for easy, expandable storage for years to come.Second Grade Picture Books Ideas: Tulip Sees America Organization: A Busy YearVoice: Alice the Fairy Word Choice: The Best Class Picture Ever!

Sentence Fluency: Dizzy Conventions: Chameleon! For use with Grade 2. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Trait Crate
I am an office manager at an elementary school and we purchased these trait crates for our teachers to use with their classes.Our teachers absolutely love these trait crates and it has helped our students tremendously with learning their traits for effective writing.I would recommend these trait crates to anyone interested in helping their students to excel.

Great Resource!
I am graduate student who just learned about Trait Crates.I've used them a few times when I have been called to substitute teach, and I think they're great!They are easy to use and the materials are minimal.As a new teacher, I am always looking for new ways to broaden my teaching strategies.I think this is a really helpful resource, and for me, it was well worth the money spent.

Awesome Tool for Teachers!
The Second Grade Trait Crate is an incredible tool for teachers. New teachers can use the crate to guide their writing lessons and just get started with the business of teaching writing. Veteran teachers love the books and lessons and we are using them as a model to create additional trait based lessons.This is a win- win for everyone! Our district has purchased the Trait Crates for all of our K-5th grade teachers and we love them.

Two thumbs up!
I have been waiting for this product, it seems, for years. I loved the versions that were out for grades 3, 4, and 5 that are in my school's library. I even called the publisher to ask if they were going to come out with a version for second grade. I was so excited when it came out! The picture books are a huge hit with my kids, and the posters are adorable. The pendaflex folders and stickers make everything a cinch to organize and store. Thank you!

Teaching writing just got easier!
When Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits: K-2: An Annotated Bibliography of More Than 150 Mentor Texts With Teacher-Tested Lessons came out earlier this year, I didn't think it could get any better.Now the Trait Crate: Grade 2: Picture Books, Model Lessons, and More to Teach Writing With the 6 Traits has arrived, and teaching writing to young learners just got even better and easier!For each trait, there is a well-chosen picture book with a teaching guide that includes three lessons, specific teaching points, and a kid-friendly scoring guide.Also included is a CD of all the trait songs (with vocal and instrumental versions), a poster for each song with the lyrics, stickers to help organize other classroom picture books by trait, AND a copy of Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits: K-2: An Annotated Bibliography of More Than 150 Mentor Texts With Teacher-Tested Lessons! (Having an extra copy means that I can keep one at home and one at school.) All these materials come in a sturdy "crate" with file folders to keep things organized.The bright colored box fits on a shelf in my room, and there's no chance that it will get buried or lost in one of my piles! The Trait Crate guarantees that I have great lessons and books at my fingertips.Ruth Culham is known for providing teachers with high quality resources and lessons that help ensure excellent learning opportunities for our children.Ruth delivers, yet again, with writing ideas that sparkle! ... Read more

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Changing the Way We Teach: Writing and Resistance in the Training of Teaching Assistantsdraws on eighteen case studies to illustrate the critical role writing plays in overcoming graduate student resistance to instruction, facilitating change, and developing professional identity. Sally Barr Ebest argues that teaching assistants in English must be actively engaged in the theory and practice underlying composition pedagogy in order to better understand how to alter the way they teach and why such change is necessary.

In illustrating the potential for change when teaching writing as a process is practiced within graduate education, Ebest considers recent discussions of composition pedagogy; post-secondary teaching theories; cognitive, social cognitive, and educational psychology; and issues of gender, voice, and writing.

Stemming from research conducted over a five-year period, this volume explores how a cross-section of teaching assistants responded to pedagogy as students and how their acceptance of pedagogy affected their performance as instructors. Investigating reasons behind manifestations of resistance and necessary elements for overcoming it, Ebest finds that engagement in composition strategies—reflective writing, journaling, drafting, and active learning—and restoration of feelings of self-efficacy are the primary factors that facilitate change.

To understand composition pedagogy and to convince students of its values, Ebest holds that educators must embrace it themselves and trace the effects through active research. By providing graduate students with pedagogical sites for research and reflection, faculty enable them to express their anger or fear, study its sources, and quite often write their way to a new understanding. ... Read more