Explains how a teacher uses a mystery novel and an aesthetic approach to literature appreciation, as opposed to one concerned with facts in the text, to engage students and prep them for writing their own mystery stories. Shows how one student in particular overcame her sense of exclusion and felt a part of the "literacy club." (TB)

Suggests that the interplay between illustrative objectivity and artistic impression is nearly the same, in essence, in the imagery of poetry and in the imagery of painting. Discusses the nature and function of imagery in poetry and visual art. Describes the dilemma of attempting to convince students to "show" rather than…

Describes an exercise designed for K-6 grade levels based on books where the characters undergo transformation. Explains that students should write a story in which the main character goes through a transformation, and then act out the story. Emphasizes that younger students may not pay attention to the "why" or "how" of the…

Describes how creative writing led to a development in literacy and had a therapeutic effect for incarcerated youths in a county jail. States that six inmates composed and recorded a rap song "How to Stay Out of Jail" as a caution to their younger siblings. Concludes that this improved the inmates' self-esteem and helped them reevaluate…

Hawaii's Young Playwrights Workshop is a place for students willing to explore new worlds with discipline, self-reliance, and creativity. In the Workshop, students discover their own way of creating plays. The article explains how the teacher encourages students to be creative, letting go of preconceived ideas about writing. (SM)

Describes how creating a poem that focuses on memory, understanding, and emotion can lead to the construction of a meditative poem. States that poetry of meditation can be modified for use in almost any writing or literature classroom environment. (PA)

An elementary teacher presents suggestions for helping students focus their thinking, find a central theme, and develop story ideas for writing. She describes how to demonstrate focus in writing (via teacher's writing, professional authors, and student's writing) and how to develop focus when conferencing. (SM)

Describes a program of the Adirondack Museum in which local students learn about their cultural and natural heritage, listen to Adirondack stories, and learn the techniques of writing historical fiction. Includes samples from student stories. (SV)

Describes how the writing lives of professional authors can provide excellent models of writing for both teachers and students. Shows how different writers use very different processes in producing their texts. Considers how writers choose topics for writing and how they utilize childhood and teenage memories. (HB)

Presents an outdoor education drama created by a student in an outdoor education class. The primary purpose of the assignment was to introduce one or more environmental education concepts to students using drama. The example titled, "Goldenrod and the Three Barks" introduces the concepts of competition for food and mutualism for survival. (KS)

Describes a teacher's efforts to create an anthology of poems written by fourth grade students. Whole language activities progressed from poetry reading and group writing to individual writings based on outdoor themes. Presents examples of students' poetry. (KS)

Presents an interview with Suzanne Fisher Staples, author of the children's novel, "Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind." Discusses Staples' creative writing process, background, and the writer's role as cultural observer. (HB)

Presents citations, descriptions, and critiques of two current volumes that focus on helping writers to develop better writing skills. (HB)

Discusses the life and writing career of the popular author of adolescent literature, Gary Paulsen. Considers each of Paulsen's novels individually as literary works and the entire corpus as artistic achievement. (HB)

Describes the genesis of three children's books to illustrate how the author borrows from the traditions of others to write her children's tales. (SR)