Side by Side: Essays on Teaching to Learn

by Nancie Atwell

In this sequel to In the Middle , the award-winning best-seller about her experiences as a teacher of writing and reading, Nancie Atwell explores the conditions that make it possible for children-and their teachers-to become writers and readers. In two key chapters she reconsiders In the Middle itself, in light of the experiences of other teachers and their correspondence with her, and she proposes some intriguing revisions of the workshop mode. Other topics address in Side by Side include the teaching of poetry, contexts for teaching critical thinking skills, making a place for special education students in writing and reading workshop, the significance of teacher research, and implications of reader response theory for literature-based approaches, and the parallels between the literate behaviors of Nancie's adolescent students and those of her young daughter.

Genres: Teaching, Education

164 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1991

Reviews

[Shannon Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection if essays by Nancie proved that workshop is the way to go over basal programs-evidence of this is presented by her letting us get a glimpse of one of her special education students.

She references her book, In the Middle, which is in my BIG stack of PD books yet to be read, but I'll be moving it up on my list!

This book was proof that I'm headed in the right direction concerning my thoughts on reading and writing.

[Chris Kostenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Nancy Atwell to be a brave practitioner and a brilliant teacher.