Argues that teachers routinely stifle their students' voices, creativity, and passion by teaching writing using the behaviorist view that writing must be taught from part to whole. Argues that this pedagogy should be replaced by a truly democratic, collaborative environment, in which students are given something to do, not something to learn. (SR)

Focuses on Nancie Atwell's "In the Middle," a seminal description of a middle school reading/writing workshop. Discusses how changes in the recently-published second edition show a revised conception of the teacher's role, of writing workshop pedagogy. Discusses implications for writing teachers and for the training of teachers of the English…

Argues that too many teachers are looking for quick fixes for students' writing problems. Shows how formulaic writing of the kind J. Schaffer advocates forces premature closure on complicated interpretive issues and stifles ongoing exploration. Argues that writing teachers must help students develop a repertoire of strategies for identifying and…

Challenges the common assumption that the rise of an instructorate unsupported to do traditional forms of research will necessarily result in an exploited academic labor force and inferior teaching. Explores the ways in which the "teaching substructure" existing now in composition and rhetoric has already begun to contribute substantially to the…

Argues that the teaching of composition in Indian boarding schools, through the combination of textbooks, pedagogical philosophy, and historically-generated pedagogical emphasis on industrial/domestic training, created a situation in which the writing was intended not to assist Indians in becoming "civilized" but to aid in the erasure of Indian…

Describes a medieval history access course at the University of Glasgow (Scotland) in which non-traditional teaching methods were used, specifically collaborative group work and embedded rhetorical training for essay writing. Questions the idea of discipline-specific pedagogical practice. (Author/DB)

Argues that teachers need a comprehensible and flexible view of what counts as a written text in the larger world outside the classroom. Discusses two cases that demonstrate working with middle schoolers and their writing. Discusses the kind of knowledge about written text that teachers of writing need, and offers recommendations for teacher…

Argues that one way to learn the art of concise, tightly-structured, focused prose is through the composing of 55-word short stories. Outlines stylistic characteristics of 55-word stories and discusses how its practice can improve journalistic writing. (SR)

Notes that during adolescence, girls become withdrawn and suffer from lapses of self-confidence, however, girls authoring Web pages devoted to girl power use the Web as a place where they confidently assert themselves and actively shaped their identity. Identifies girl-power sites, explores their potential strengths for girls as authors and…

Suggests the learning curve of a multi-user, object-oriented domain (MOO) blockades effective use. Discusses use of an IBM/PC-compatible interface that allows developers to modify the interface to provide a sense of presence for the user. Concludes that work in programming a variety of interfaces has led to a more intuitive environment for…

Addresses two kinds of writers: (1) writers who seem to want approval more than feedback; and (2) writers who refuse to do all but the bare minimum. Presents several strategies to address these writers and notes that these strategies can help educators critically examine their beliefs about what a Writing Center should accomplish. (SC)

Explores the influence of the children's writing on the preservice teachers conceptions of writing as a complex growth process rather than a discreet set of skills. Notes many preservice teachers thought of writing as a set of linear skills to teach, but their paradigms shifted as they came to recognize the highly predictable and developmental…

Proposes abandoning the traditional auto mechanic metaphor for teaching news writing (which establishes the teacher's expertise at the expense of the student's learning) in favor of a dialogic method. Argues that dialogic learning that is double looped creates learning advantages for students, and models the social inquiry process of journalism.…

Considers what kind of classroom environment must be created to encourage first grade students to choose to read and write. Describes how the author changed her classroom arrangement, dividing it into 7 centers: the science center; information center; computer center; library center; family room; learning center, and the writing center. (SG)

Examined the positive and negative aspects of using computers to teach writing within a context of intensive teacher and peer feedback and support for fifth- and sixth- year Montessori students. Found that technology enhanced the writing process for creative, collaborative work and for peer response and editing. (KB)