1st Edition
Scaffolding Young Writers A Writer's Workshop Approach
The goal of teaching writing is to create independent and self-motivated writers. When students write more often, they become better at writing. They acquire habits, skills, and strategies that enable them to learn more about the craft of writing. Yet they require the guidance and support of a more knowledgeable person who understands the writing process, the changes over time in writing development, and specific techniques and procedures for teaching writing. In Scaffolding Young Writers: A Writers' Workshop Approach , Linda J. Dorn and Carla Soffos present a clear road map for implementing writers' workshop in the primary grades. Adopting an apprenticeship approach, the authors show how explicit teaching, good models, clear demonstrations, established routines, assisted teaching followed by independent practice, and self-regulated learning are all fundamental in establishing a successful writers' workshop. There is a detailed chapter on organizing for writers' workshop, including materials, components, routines, and procedures. Other chapters provide explicit guidelines for designing productive mini-lessons and student conferences. Scaffolding Young Writers also features:
- An overview of how children become writers; Analyses of students' samples according to informal and formal writing assessments Writing checklists, benchmark behaviors, and rubrics based on national standards Examples of teaching interactions during mini-lessons and writing conferences Illustrations of completed forms and checklists with detailed descriptions, and blank reproducible forms in the appendix for classroom use
Biography
Linda Dorn is a professor of reading education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she is the director of the UALR Center for Literacy. She teaches graduate classes in literacy theory, research, classroom practice, and literacy leadership.She has twenty seven years of experience in education, including teaching at the elementary, intermediate, and college levels. Linda is the primary developer and lead trainer of the Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy Model, a nationally recognized model that uses literacy coaches as agents of change. She has worked with many school districts across the United States and she has collaborated with several state departments on comprehensive literacy initiatives. She believes that school-embedded professional development is critical for supporting teachers in new learning. The schools described in all our books use this approach for improving classroom instruction and student achievement. Our teachers use book clubs, literacy team meetings, and professional study groups. When writing a book, Linda's goal is to mesh theory and practice into a readable text. I enjoy writing with my coauthor, Carla Soffos, who is also my friend and teaching colleague. We have developed a great working relationship. Linda is a native of Tennessee and received her Ph.D. in reading from Texas Women's University. She is married with three children, two stepdaughters, and five grandchildren.
