This paper describes some of the key principles and practices of Teachers as Writers groups in the UK. It draws on participants' own accounts of the personal and pedagogic benefits of these voluntary teacher-led activities. It also presents a case-study of a teacher who used her experience of the process of writing in such a group to support…

Primary school holds an important place in the acquisition of writing skills. Writing attitudes and habits of teachers are influential in writing education provided by primary school teachers during this period. This study aims to examine the writing habits of primary school teachers. To this end, writing habits of teachers were investigated in…

Considers what poets themselves have to say about poetry. Discusses how they write poems, why they write poems, and what poetry is good for. (RS)

Presents a poem inspired by the experience of a course in language across the curriculum for teachers in training in which students were offered the opportunity to take risks with their writing, to "bungee-jump" with pen and paper. (SR)

Describes how a veteran writer and English teacher who only recently began writing poetry encourages others to invigorate their teaching by taking up a new writing genre. Details the lessons he has learned from poetry and passed on to his own students. Outlines six problems he encountered and presents solutions for each. (SG)

Discusses Linda Sue Park, the 2002 Newbery Medal winner, and includes excerpts of an interview with her. Notes that her diverse writing career began at an early age. Discusses writing Korean "historicals" and researching her other books. Identifies mentors as an important characteristic of both her life and work. (PM)

Presents a letter written by a professional writer (and a former high school and college teacher) to a young female student who has started writing poems. Discusses why and how she writes. Urges the student to continue writing. (RS)

States that teachers who view themselves as writers experience the same sort of mental changes that regular writers do. Explains that attitudes about writing change, and higher interest in all things relating to writing increases. Argues that keeping a portfolio of writings is beneficial in the development of writing skills, even in writing…

Discusses ways to introduce poetry to college students and to have high school students discuss quotes from famous individuals concerning reading and writing. (RS)

Discusses publishing on the Internet by young authors. Describes "fan-fiction" Web sites where fans write passages that link to characters in popular books, television shows, or movies; fan-fiction inspired by the Disney film "Newsies"; posting short stories on Web pages; poetry, book reviews, and other publications; the attraction of the Internet…

Notes that when students write and exchange poetry and letters, they feel drawn by the responsiveness to their words of "real" audiences. Argues that students sharing letters and poetry give voice to ranges of experience, to name features of their worlds that might otherwise have remained unnamed. (RS)

Explores the considerable benefits of reading poetry, why poetry is often neglected, and some of the ways the author brings poetry and children together, making poetry an integral part of the curriculum. Offers a list of recommended poetry volumes, as well as a list of recommended professional reading/supporting poetry-instruction in the…

Describes how the author's 6 middle school students living in a village in the Yukon, 100 miles off the road system just below the arctic circle, enthusiastically wrote stories or poems about their lives. The students shared their works via an online electronic conferencing system with students from the unimaginably different landscape of the…