Lessons from a Child

by Lucy Calkins

A story of one child's growth in writing, Lessons from a Child explains how teachers can work with children, helping them to teach themselves and each other. Matters of classroom management, methods for helping children to use the peer conference, and ways mini-lessons can extend children's understanding of good writing are all covered here. Most important, the sequences of writing development and growth are thoroughly discussed.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 11, 1983

Reviews

[Keshia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Calkins did a really good job on showing the experimental and growing processes of young writers. I think most of all this book worked to serve as a message that what young writers have to say is important. The earlier stages of writers are just as significant as the research done with later writers, and by following Susie and her classmates through several years of writing, Calkins not only demonstrated this but also showed that from them we can learn a lot about how early writing develops. Maybe in turn this can help shape writing pedagogy in new ways. If anything I'd have to say the only problems I had in this book was that sometimes it appeared as though Calkins was sidetracked. She often spent too much time discussing her own self as a writer or as a researcher, and I found myself skimming around until I came upon sections which actually discussed the research. I also felt like the piece as a whole went over several arguments and observations to much; so that at a certain point when she would mention one thing, I would think, “Yes, I know already. You've told me five times before.” But other than that, I enjoyed the research and I enjoyed watching Susie and her classmates grow as writers. Definitely a staple for anyone at all who is interested in the development of early writers.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calkins follows a child for two years to document her development as a writer using the writer’s workshop method. Calkins writing evokes what these children are like, the experience of real classrooms, and is a close exploration of the process of learning to write using this class and this particular child as a case example.

[Ashlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really needed this book when teaching my lower than grade level 4th graders last year. Their mobile skills were still underdeveloped, and their creative thinking was nonexistent. I needed patience and everthing else this book taught me. This is another book to be kept on your shelf in your classroom.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It is significant that we realize the most creative environments in our society are not the ever-changing ones." (pp32)

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really great resource to have in your classroom. It has a lot of great examples of effective ways to set up a writing program in your class.