This study considers a contextualized approach to grammar instruction, asking: "Does embedded instruction using published authors as mentors improve grammar and usage for young writers?" Twenty-three students in one second-grade classroom participated. Students were taught grammar conventions through use of mentor texts for 45 minutes a…

Teaching writing is complex, and a number of ideas circulating among schools and teachers often belie the difficulty of how to teach the techniques and processes of writing. I've come to believe that authorship is not a passive undertaking and does not originate in the struggle to put something onto the page. Rather it emerges by living with a…

In the digital era, writing experience usually comes in the form of digital writing in virtual spaces. Social network sites are the ubiquitous platforms where authentic communication makes writing meaningful in our daily life. In addition, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged all human activities to be done online. In the academic…

Southern University's Baton Rouge campus is the flagship of the only historically Black university system in the nation. Southern University has been, like many other postsecondary institutions across the United States, facing ongoing problems of declining enrollment and retention. Reeling from a decade of recession and deep budget cuts starting…

Over the past two decades, writing studies scholars have continually stressed the importance of fostering the development of student metacognition in the writing classroom. Not only does the development of a metacognitive awareness of the writing process help students to become stronger writers, it also allows them to more successfully transfer…

This article considers the experience of a literary professor working to maintain connections and creativity--as well as model pedagogy--in the context of Fall 2020. The author created invitations for undergraduate and graduate students to reflect on experiences and engage with texts/course readings, using poetic and visual choices for composing.…

For over a decade, there has been growing concern about declining 'standards' of school students' writing (Gardner, 2018; Wyatt-Smith & Jackson, 2020). Teachers' own writing experiences and writer identities are important considerations in developing teacher preparedness and skill in the teaching of writing. It cannot be assumed that…

Contrastive rhetoric (CR) has made great contributions to our understanding of L2 writing. Nevertheless, CR has endured countless criticisms over the years, resulting in "reimagined" forms attempting to address many of these criticisms. In doing so, these forms have shaped CR into a collection of complex ideologies that have…

Assessment as learning (AaL) aims to develop students' metacognitive awareness of their learning process, and promote their academic study and self-regulated abilities. The study investigates the benefits and challenges perceived by students regarding the implementation of AaL strategies in a general writing course in a Chinese university. The…

This article is an expanded version of my presentation to Division 15 (Educational Psychology) of the American Psychological Association for the Career Achievement Award for Distinguished Psychological Contributions to Education in 2019. It provides an overview of research conducted by colleagues and I that examined the following four topics: (a)…

In this critical essay, Yumi Matsumoto uses the concept of English as a lingua franca to understand multilinguals' communicative practices and to support an alternative understanding of English language use among international students in US university classrooms. The essay draws on two examples of university classroom interactions involving…

Drawing on the authors' experiences as Black parents, researchers, teachers, and teacher educators, this timely book presents a multipronged approach to affirming Black lives and literacies. The authors believe change is needed--not within Black children, but in the way they are perceived and educated, particularly in reading, writing, and…

This article argues that we are living in a climate where trauma is taxing students and teachers alike. In order to teach and learn in this moment, we recommend and explore a variety of contemplative practices to help teach awareness and kind attention. Some of these practices involve writing and others don't, as writing itself can be a source of…

Despite the push for all institutions of higher learning to embrace a corequisite model for writing instruction, there is limited evidence that suggests this model is desirable for all students. This study seeks to expand our understanding of the characteristics of students enrolled in Basic Writing at a 4-year comprehensive university, and the…

One goal of college education is to ensure that graduates can meet the writing demands of the workplace and further education. The purpose of this study was to determine if UNH Manchester is preparing students to write effectively in their careers and in graduate education. Data were collected from respondents who rated themselves on 20 statements…