More than a sourcebook, this fourth (and retitled) edition of "Rhetoric and Composition" celebrates the writing-teaching process, reflecting the best writing about the teaching of writing published during the 1990s. Of the 32 essays in the book, only 7 appeared in the earlier editions; 25 of the essays are new to this sourcebook. All essays were…

The elementary school teacher faces unique challenges with struggling writers, whose writing differs from that of more skilled students in both process and product. This book demonstrates how process writing and strategy instruction can be integrated to help young writers untangle the complicated writing process. The book introduces its readers to…

Suggests that it may be important for teachers (1) to identify the social elements and pressures that kindergarten children must manage as they try to "write themselves" in an interactive environment; and (2) to identify the coping strategies children develop to accommodate their social agendas. (SR)

Investigates whether a general or specific working memory (WM) system is related to writing and whether individual differences in reading and/or processing efficiency underlie correlations between WM and writing. Indicates that WM measures contribute variance to writing, and WM performance improves under gain conditions--this enhanced efficiency…

Describes how the use of haiku in elementary level writing instruction can develop writing and cognitive skills. Focuses on both traditional haiku with syllable pattern limits and nontraditional adaptations keeping with the intent of haiku to evoke a mood. Highlights how improvements in students' haiku writing benefited other types of writing.…

Describes a second-grade project in which students write, produce, and perform their own marionette plays. Steps of the project outlined are sharing, prewriting, writing, responding and revising, editing, evaluating, and publishing. The team project meets all classroom objectives and curriculum demands in an environment that fosters creativity,…

Argues that family stories encourage students to learn more about their heritage, acquire and refine literacy skills, and develop greater respect for the multicultural differences that make the students unique. Discusses starting with children's literature, collecting stories, sharing aloud, preserving the stories through writing, and celebrating…

Examines the need for a new perspective in research on young children's writing development, one which identifies writing as a language process in which children construct meaning. Presents an example of a linguistic analysis of a child's writing. Discusses the implications for early-childhood educators of a text-focused approach to studying…

Observes, for a school year, a first grader's spontaneous utterances and actions while composing. Identifies seven shifts in the composing process, and identifies four factors that influenced these shifts. Suggests that during the transitional period, a child's ownership of the process is set in a complex relationship with the teacher and peers,…

Though students enjoy tasteless topics, teachers must set classroom standards that reflect community standards and tolerance levels. Strategies for moving students beyond tasteless topics in writing include: not making them feel bad about their interests; not being afraid to change the rules when there are unhealthy writing ruts; and letting…

Contends that children assimilate enormous amounts of information from society. Reveals the presence, in one child's fictional piece of writing, of complex layers of gender (including gender stereotypes), societal tensions, and economic social forces which one might expect to be beyond the grasp of a seven-year-old. (SR)

Studied the use of punctuation in children's early writings in connection with organization of the text. Collected 134 stories of second graders written in Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian. Children tried to make sense of writing conventions, including the use of punctuation, and some tried to distinguish the functions of punctuation marks. (SLD)

Describes how the author introduced journal writing in her kindergarten classroom and discusses how children's writing took on new dimensions when they were offered opportunities to engage in authentic dialogue. (SR)

Notes that research in three primary schools in Southern England draws attention to the ways in which the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) is prompting changes in contexts for writing and in the nature of teacher intervention. Concludes that developmentally appropriate, affirming strategies need not contravene the educational ideals of the NLS.…

This article is based on a comparative study of French and English infant schools. The first section examines the understanding of "mistakes" from a socio-cultural perspective, relating assessment to teachers' culturally situated practice and values. While mistakes and failure for some are an inevitable outcome of French pedagogic choices, they…