The Writing Teacher's Companion: Embracing Choice, Voice, Purpose & Play

by Ralph Fletcher

Celebrated author and educator Ralph Fletcher provides a practical and illuminating guide to writing workshop for both new and veteran teachers that details the best ways to get started, the components that are vital, and what it takes to sustain a successful workshop across the school year. Fletcher, a wise and witty writing companion, shows us why encouraging choice, purpose, and play helps students find their voices and produce strong, effective writing.

Genres: Education, Writing, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2017

About the author

Ralph Fletcher is a friend of young writers and readers as well as writing teachers. He has written or co-authored many books for writing teachers includng Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide, Teaching the Qualities of Writing, Lessons for the Writer's Notebook, Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, and Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful Craft That Sparks Writing. Ralph has worked with teachers around the U.S. and abroad, helping them find wiser ways of teaching writing.

Ralph's many books for students include picture books (Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, and The Sandman), novels (Fig Pudding, Flying Solo, and Spider Boy), poetry (A Writing Kind of Day and Moving Day), and a memoir, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. His novel Uncle Daddy was awarded the Christopher medal in 2002. He has also written a popular series of books for young writers including Poetry Matters, Live Writing, and A Writer's Notebook. Ralph lives with his family in New Hampshire. He is a strong environmentalist who believes we all must work together to live in a more sustainable way. His other passions include travel, good food, dark chocolate, growing orchids, and sports.

Reviews

[William Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might be okay for beginner elementary and middle school teachers, but this book is really general. Can't put that $41.99 sticker price value on this.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

As slim and dense as a flourless cake, not a word is wasted in this succinct primer for writing teachers. Speaking as a writer who has never taught, but is going to start doing so tomorrow (literally!), I found this book to be priceless. Whether I apply everything within its pages or not, there was no poor advice here, no sour notes, and nothing which did not make immediate and perfect sense. Fletcher clearly knows what he's writing about, and how to write about it. It will be worth referring to this volume again when I get to the end of the eight-week workshop I'm co-leading, and perhaps at points in between. I can enthusiastically recommend this to writing teachers at any level.

[Kevin Gutekunst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A straightforward, practical and insightful book about the teaching of writing. Ralph Fletcher seems to have more experience with elementary and middle school writers, but his insights are applicable to any writing classroom: choice, voice, ownership, audience, purpose, and fun. Worth reading to pick up a few new tricks, and/or to honor the challenging (and fun) task of teaching writing.

[Kendell Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very straight and to the point. Fletcher describes relevant ways to teach writing and how to make writing workshop a productive time. I got some great ideas on how to revamp my writing instruction for the better.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

an essential book about teaching writing I will revisit again and again! filled with practices for kids, engagement for teachers, stamina, passion.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I will read again and again. Such wonderful reminders. Ralph said he wrote it with short chapters so teachers could identify the place in their writers' workshop where they wanted support and advice - find it, read - and make a plan all in a day. He did that - what a masterful support. I have and am, again, so appreciating his advice and reminders. Writers' workshop feels better managed and jazzed up this year.

[Emily Dia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully simple, clean introduction to writing workshop from one of the best gurus of we ever. Fletcher gives teachers a challenge to let children write more and freely in order to become joyful and autonomous. Not a ton of meat here so teachers new to this work won't be overwhelmed. Veteran workshop teachers will be encouraged and enjoy the beautiful wiring. 3.5 stars!

[Wendy Gardiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a clear, readable text. I still prefer Writing Workshop: The Essentials (and couple that with a text such as Stacy Shubitz's Craft Moves (using mentor texts) and/or Ackerman & McDonough's Conferring with Young Writers and/or Jennifer Savallo's Writing Strategies book.

[Kayla Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love this book!
So simple, so inspiring, so crucial.
Such a great read for parents, teachers, admin.
I plan to reread this again & again.
Amazing!