Students who are engaged writers are likely to produce better writing and to enjoy writing more than students who are disengaged writers. Yet, we are unaware of any existing tool that validly and reliably measures writing engagement. In this article, we describe what writing engagement is and why it is important. Then, we present the Writing…

Before ever entering a formal educational setting, children use writing to make themselves known. Yet by the time students reach the fourth grade, only a small minority of students demonstrate writing skills considered competent by national standards. By this time in their school career, many have begun to internalize that they are poor writers…

The authors focus on how teachers' attitudes toward writing can affect their instructional decisions. The authors give tips for teachers to self-reflect, explore avenues for mentoring and support, and develop and share with students their individual journey as a writer.

The question of what makes writing "good" touches several important areas of classroom writing instruction: assessment and evaluation, instruction, and teacher response during one-on-one conferences. The current paper examines contemporary views of what makes writing "good," along with the classroom implications and limitations…

Describes the encounters with children experienced by a writer of children's books when she makes school visits. Reflects on how authors' visits to schools positively affect children's interest in reading and writing. (SR)

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)

Provides an overview of the development of a new Writing Attitude Survey, for use with groups or individuals, to learn about grade 1-12 students' attitudes toward writing. Offers directions for using the survey, suggestions for application in classrooms and research studies, and a reproducible copy of the survey with a scoring sheet. (SR)

Finds that many immigrant parents (from China, Iran, and India) and their children oppose diametrically many aspects of emergent literacy. Discusses major differences in beliefs about teaching and learning related to accuracy/precision, focus of control, assessment/accountability, expectations, and rote memorization. Suggests a range of possible…

Notes that the move from writing privately to writing professionally can be daunting. Suggests that various kinds of sharing, group interaction, and feedback from colleagues can ease the transition from private to public writing. (SR)

Addresses the role of affect in writing by describing the psychological construct of writer self-efficacy. Presents the Writer Self-Perception Scale that teachers may use to assess classroom writing climates and children's perceptions of themselves as writers. Describes the instrument, its administration and scoring, assessment and instructional…

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 what happened and what was learned when 13 urban elementary school teachers, their principal, and a researcher embarked on a year-long inquiry project that involved meeting as a monthly study group, reading articles, and keeping journals about their teaching. Discusses the contradictions and dilemmas of keeping journals, and rethinks…

Describes a cross-age reading and writing program in which sixth-grade students (all average and low-average readers) were paired with kindergarten children to read and write collaboratively on a regular basis. Finds evidence from the students themselves, their parents, the teachers, and the school librarian showing how students' attitudes toward…