Teach Writing Well: How to Assess Writing, Invigorate Instruction, and Rethink Revision

Ask great writers what the key to writing well is and they will tell you revision. Author Ruth Culham, both a successful writer and writing teacher, understands the challenges elementary teachers face when teaching writing and revision and now shares her knowledge in Teach Writing Well: How to Assess Writing, Invigorate Instruction, and Rethink Revision. Divided into two parts, Culham’s book provides ways to teach that are both accessible to the teacher and student. You will find techniques to assess writing that are practical, and results driven. Inside you’ll discover: Culham’s traits of writing and how to use them to read and assess student work Ways to guide revision decisions using these traits as common language How to address challenges students may face within the different modes of writing (narrative, expository, and persuasive) Strategic lessons to teach the writer that scaffold students towards making their own craft decisions A chapter on mentor texts which can be used to model traits and key qualities for your students Teach Writing Well pulls best practices together and shows writing with fresh eyes.

Table of Contents:
Introduction; Part I: Read the Writing; 1: Thinking Back and Thinking Forward; 2: Formative Assessment: The Heart of the Matter; 3: Modes of Writing:; 4: Tools and Talk to Guide Revision; Part II: Teach the Writer; 5: Rethinking Revision: The Real Work of Writing; 6: Invigorate Writing Instruction; 7: Reading Like a Writer

About the Author :
Ruth Culham, EdD, launched a writing revolution with the publication of her book 6+1 Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide, Grades 3 and Up, followed by 6+1 Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide for the Primary Grades and Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide for Middle School, winner of the 2011 Teacher's Choice award. Her groundbreaking work with the writing traits is the culmination of 40 years of research, practice, and passion. Most recently, Ruth has published the bestselling The Writing Thief: Using Mentor Texts to Teach the Craft of Writing that demonstrates how to read with a writer's eye to lift the best writing techniques from favorite authors. Ruth has also penned What Principals Need to Know About Teaching and Learning Writing for all school leaders and literacy coaches. Ruth's professional books have illuminated both writing and the reading-writing connection for countless educators around the globe. Her many professional resources include the immensely popular, grade-specific Trait Crates that use beautiful children's literature titles to spotlight and teach each writing trait and drive home the reading-writing connection. And, Ruth's ground-breaking, all-in-one curriculum Traits Writing: The Complete Writing Program for Grades K-8 aligns the traits with writing process and writing workshop--and enhances teachers' professional understanding of writing as it elevates the effectiveness of student writing. Ruth is currently a contributor and Writing Department Editor for the professional journal Reading Teacher. She's president of the Culham Writing Company and former Unit Manager of the Assessment Program at Education Northwest in Portland, Oregon. She was English Teacher of the Year in Montana, one of the highlights of her 19-year teaching career. Culham holds specialty degrees in Library Science and Elementary, Middle, and Secondary English Education.