Feedback That Moves Writers Forward: How to Escape Correcting Mode to Transform Student Writing

by Patricia M McGee

Student writing is only as good as the feedback we give

In this remarkable book, Patty McGee shares research-based how-to’s for responding to writers that you can use immediately whether you use a writing program or a workshop model. Put down the red-pen, fix-it mindset and help your writers take risks, use grammar as an element of craft, discover their writing identities, elaborate in any genre, and more.  Includes lots of helpful conference language that develops tone and trust and forms for reflecting on writing. 
 

Genres: Teaching, Nonfiction, Education, Writing, Professional Development

280 pages, Paperback

Published April 5, 2017

Reviews

[Nicole Perry Kurilchick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it strange to call a professional book a "page-turner"? I read through lunch today because I did not want to put it down. This book has A LOT to think about, but as the book points out, "reflection is providing feedback for yourself." I will be reflecting and thinking about the ideas presented for a while; I know that there are too many strategies to master in a short amount of time. I already have pages of notes on how I want to revamp writing workshop within my classroom with new intentions and strategies. Even if someone does not have time to read the book cover to cover, I would recommend skimming through and just looking at the anchor charts that are provided.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should basically be titled, "What all Teachers in any Content Area Should be Doing if They are Expecting Students to Write at any Point in the Year." The ideas presented here are the basic blueprint for what a successful classroom looks like for any content area: students taking ownership of goals and receiving formative feedback from their teacher in a timely manner. The focus, though, is on writing, and first-year or fortieth-year teachers will gain plenty of ideas to bring back to their classrooms for how to help all of the writers in their room. I know that even though I generally feel like my writing instruction is good, it definitely has gaps in it that can't be filled by some purchased curriculum. The ideas in this book are what I needed to fill those gaps.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really thoughtful -- lots of writing/pedagogy ideas for me to mull over. She's really student- as opposed to teacher-centered, which I'm good with in theory, but I see a role for more active mentoring than I think she does. McGee works with elementary and middle school students, and so one of the things I'm wrestling with is how to use her ideas in a HS context.

I've read this as part of the Talks with Teachers Summer Book Club, and I'm looking forward to participating in the conversation; I hope that some other HS teachers will have ideas about how to use McGee's theories in our context.

[Joy Kirr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my review: http://geniushour.blogspot.com/2017/0...

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good review and ideas for conferencing. Most of the examples are from the middle grades, but I still found it interesting and worth my time.