1. Let writing come from a place of writing, taking students through three types of writing necessary for building a Common Core Writer’s Worshop.
2. Develop thoughtful, short writing prompts that are "infinite" not finite
3. Have students read, critique and learn from master authors in the genre they are writing
4. Create a writing community in your classroom
5. Use anchor charts and minilessons to explicitly teach writing
6.Emphasize content and revision when helping students develop as writers, teaching editing in context of the student writing
7.Use conferencing to grow students as thoughtful, reflective writers
8.Let narratives be personal and creative, focusing on details and imagery to make a story come to life
9.Let informational writing explore a topic creatively
10.Let argument writing be situated in real-world application
Biography
Lori G. Wilfong is a former middle school language arts teacher, current Associate Professor in Middle Childhood Education at Kent State University, frequent conference presenter, and forever supporter of teachers working to weave literacy into their classrooms.
"Read THIS—not that! While a plethora of books exists about teaching writing, this is the ONE that invites teachers to consider their current practices while learning classroom-tested, research-based practices. Deleting less effective strategies to make room for more effective ones, teachers can readily invigorate their teaching by energizing their students. Writing Strategies that Work: Do This, Not That! supports new practices for tomorrow while providing the means to create a year-long instructional plan. Reader-friendly, Dr. Wilfong’s prose encourages a collegial conversation about balancing the demands of a 21st century literacy classroom. Truly a treasure—" - Alexa L. Sandmann, Professor of Literacy and Director of National Writing Project at Kent State University
"The book includes a wealth of practical examples and strategies to apply in the classroom, all clearly explained and straightforward to apply. As well as advising what to do, the author also makes suggestions of techniques to avoid, based on years of experience." – Parents in Touch, UK
