1st Edition
When Writing Workshop Isn't Working Answers to Ten Tough Questions, Grades 2-5
Writing is hard work. Teaching it can be even harder. As most teachers know, writer's workshop doesn't always go as planned, and many find there are obstacles that they consistently struggle with. In his role as a literacy coordinator and teacher, Mark Overmeyer has heard the same issues raised again and again by both new and experienced colleagues. When Writing Workshop Isn't Working: Answers to Ten Tough Questions, Grades 2-5 provides practical advice to overcome these common problems and get your writing workshop back on track. Acknowledging the process-based nature of the writing workshop, this book does not offer formulaic, program-based, one-size-fits all answers, but presents multiple suggestions based on what works in real classrooms. The ten key questions this book addresses include:
- How do I help students who don't know what to write about? How do I help students develop stronger vocabulary and word choice? How do I prepare my students for standardized tests without compromising my writing program? How should I assess student writing? How can I help my students use revision effectively?
Biography
Mark Overmeyer, who has more than twenty-eight years of teaching experience, recently retired from his job as a literacy coordinator and coach in the Cherry Creek Schools near Denver, Colorado. He now works full-time as a literacy consultant for schools and districts interested in implementing or refining writing and reading workshops. Mark is also an adjunct professor in the graduate program at the University of Colorado at Denver, where he codirected a National Writing Project site for four years.