The Confident Writing Teacher: Cultivating Meaningful Writing in Middle School

by Shelley Barker, Penny Kittle (Foreword)

"If you are currently a member of the teaching profession, it is very likely that you were never taught to write. Shocked? Think about it. Certainly, we wrote, but what did writing instruction look like when you were a kid? Do you remember receiving any? I do not remember being taught to write. My language arts teachers focused on those things that could be measured and counted as right or wrong, like parsing sentences, identifying linking verbs, and making sure those darned participles didn't dangle." If Shelley Barker's description rings true, then you know that students need more than corrections to thrive as writers. In this practical and uplifting guide, Shelley invites you into her classroom and "Take what you need from your writing past-the positive experiences, the times when you felt successful, the times when writing made sense to you-and leave the rest-the red ink, the negative or empty comments, the references to your spelling and penmanship," Shelley says. "We need to produce confident writers who when faced with difficult writing tasks may not know how to begin, but trust that they have the skills and perseverance to find the way."

Genres: Education

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2013

Reviews

[Briana Cleveland]

If you've heard about reading and writing workshop, but are unsure where to begin, I'd point you to this book as well as Donalynn Miller's The Book Whisperer. Though not comprehensive of the strategies and structures present in a healthy workshop classroom, this book will help you shift your thinking about writing instruction and give you some ideas about how to begin. Plus, it's a quick and accessible read, which is always a bonus for time-starved teachers!

[Tim Oldakowski]

Very helpful for those who teach middle school and even high school. Barker’s tone is motivating and positive. I look forward to teaching this book in my Practicum Teaching Writing class this fall.

[Deborah]

Very down-to-earth. Lots of good ideas--for the teacher to be a better teacher. There are good ideas for classrooms, too.
A couple of favorite quotes:
*Teaching writing requires more than keeping kids busy.
*Simply having a structure doesn't guarantee successful writing groups.
* Writing instruction is a compilation of your own experiences, the wisdom of others, and what your students tell you and show you they need.