Ray, Katie Wood & Cleaveland, Lisa B. (2004)
About the Authors: Writing Workshop With Our Youngest Writers.
Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Written by writer and researcher Katie Ray and kindergarten/first grade teacher Lisa Cleaveland, this very readable text provides a “simple” and basic way to teach children to write and ways to encourage them to want to write. The basic premise is that children should write every day, “no matter what, let them write every day” (p. ix). Included in the book are “books” written and illustrated by kindergarten and first grade students.
The book is divided into three sections to explain writing workshop in the classroom: “Building a Strong Foundation,” “Understanding the Teacher,” and “An Overview of Units of Study.”
Cleaveland includes time for writing workshop in her first grade class from the beginning of the school year. Encouraging children’s curiosity and providing them with materials for their writing allows them to use their energy “to fuel the writing” (p. 7). According to the authors, teachers must be able to accept that the writing done by five and six-year-olds will look just like that – writing by five and six-year-olds. The term “approximation” is used to describe what teachers must be willing and able to accept from the students. Teachers must see past the spelling and language to the understanding and intent of the children.
Writing workshop is regimented only in that it is a regular occurrence in the classroom. Cleaveland believes “that two things are essential for the development of children as writers: experience and teaching” (p. 24) In order to learn to write they must write and they must be taught through lessons during each writing workshop time. Also necessary for the children to learn to write is “environmental support.” This means that the children should be surrounded by writing. It is through the many kinds of writing that children learn – games, banners, posters, songs, menus, blocks, and books.
The final section of the book provides units of study which include techniques, resources, ways to make the writing and illustrating better, discussion of genre, and sample children’s books.
This book gives the necessary information for a teacher to implement writing workshop in the classroom. The authors have done their homework and tried the various strategies and ideas in the classroom. It is organized and easy to follow, providing a wealth of information. The examples of books written by children indicate just how much children can do if they are allowed to freely write.
Pages: 256
Price: $25.00
ISBN: 0-325-00511-7
Reviewed by Naomi Williamson, Associate Professor, Library Services, Central Missouri State University.
