Why Cauley Writes Well: A Close Look at What a Difference Good Teaching Can Make
Katie Wood Ray
A close look at the writing of one first grader, Cauley, reveals the extent to which good teaching has supported him to produce quality writing and to develop a strong sense of authorship. The article examines the classroom environment in which Cauley writes, an environment where he selects topics that are meaningful to him, develops the stamina to stay with a piece of writing over time, uses talk to support his thinking about writing, and composes with a clear vision for the kind of writing he is making. Cauley’s developing ability to read like a writer and the organization of the teaching that supports this kind of reading are explored, particularly the development of units of study, a series of lessons/inquiries around “big topics of interest to people who write” which give focus to the teaching. Eleven units of study in the writing workshop are outlined and the goals for each study - written to teach writers rather than writing - are listed.
Language Arts, Volume 82, Number 2, November 2004
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