The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy Calkins-New Edition
ISBN 0-435-08809-2
Heinemann Publishing
Copyright 1994
Reviewed by Andrea Harwood

This text discusses the underlying philosophy of an integrated reading/writing program and gives practical methods and strategies to bring it to life in elementary/middle school classrooms.  The author is an accomplished teacher, researcher and professor of writing at Columbia University.  She has studied children and teachers in classroom environments, and synthesizes her observations in this well organized and teacher friendly book.

Lucy Calkin's primary theme is that writing is an opportunity for students to make significance of their personal insights and experiences.  She points out that students must see themselves as writers and that there is value in "lingering with a bit of life and layering it with meaning." (p. 4)  Quite eloquently, she points out that every student has stories worth telling, and the role of the teacher is to facilitate the student getting in touch with their personal stories.  Each student keeps a notebook, "seed beds out of which rough drafts grow." (p. 24)  The student notebook is used as a journal, an imagination depot, a place to reflect on literature, and a place to safely play with words.  The author's premise is that students become deeply involved in their notebook writing, and hence do not require extrinsic motivators.  The notebook is the starting place, followed by writing workshops, and relevant mini-lessons.  A great number of practical guidelines are offered throughout the text, and useful examples from teacher lessons and student work are included. 

The author's respect for students permeates every page.  She constantly reflects on the wonder and magic of student writing, and the power of writing as a tool for communication and self-discovery.  She devotes chapters to revision and editing, but always keeps the student's creative voice and vision intact.  Through her methods, the student is always in charge of their process and product, and develops the self-image of author and creator.

There are several ideas the author proposed that I plan to use in my classroom including:

?       student notebooks

?       writing workshop/conferences

?       integration of literature into the writing curriculum

?       rituals that celebrate children as authors

?       memoir studies

?       Recommended Literature lists to aid lesson planning

Lucy Calkins inspires teachers to promote a love of writing to their students.  I highly recommend this book for elementary and middle school teachers, and plan to add it to my bookshelf to refer to next year.