This book pulls together the experiences of teachers and children in pre-school through Grade 3. It demonstrates that nonfiction composing is a highly creative process for young children. It provides suggestions for writing assignments, focused reading, and assessment. The theme that underlines this book is that joy and creativity are inherently part of nonfiction and non-narrative composing with young children.
Acknowledgements
Prologue
"It's Not a Story"- Children Responding Through Nonfiction
"I Hope You Feel Better And Raindrops And Rain Clouds"- Nonfiction Composition in the Play of Young Children
Composing Choices: Representing Response to Experience
"What Happens to the Bee?"- Children Composing Nonfiction in Classrooms
The Role of Reading in Nonfiction Composition
Assessment as a Nonjudgmental Process
References
Biography
Susan J. Britsch is associate professor of Literacy and Language Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Purdue University. A former preschool teacher, her interests include the development of children’s original storytelling, children’s writing in nonfiction genres, and the integration of science and literacy curricula in elementary schools. She has published numerous academic articles about children’s language and literacy development and about the ways in which teachers can take a research perspective to young children’s literate behavior in classrooms.
