"Purposeful, realistic . . . and clearly written….the book renews my excitement for teaching writing, and for new teachers, the text offers suggestions from a voice of experience-all within the framework of NCLB legislation for differentiating teaching based on learners′ needs." -Julia Weinberg, Instructor University of Nevada, Reno Give students the power to express their thinking in writing and to use writing as a process for learning! How can we improve students′ ability to write "constructed response" to high stakes content area test items? How can we open for them the writing pathway to exploring and understanding informational texts? How can we help them develop the essential traits of proficient writing? Nationally recognized experts in literacy with experience in elementary, middle school, and university classrooms as well as consulting expertise, Barone and Taylor meld theoretical and practical considerations about writing instruction to explain how to teach each child to: Self-monitor to improve writing skills Grow in ability to write successful constructed response Use writing to process and stretch their own thinking Prepare for high stakes writing assessment Improving Students′ Writing, K-8 brings together real-life examples, rubrics, reproducible aids and how-to′s for getting the most out of your writers.

Table of Contents:
Preface About the Authors 1. Writing to Learn and Understand Purposes for Writing Yesterday’s and Today’s Challenges Literacy Connections in Your Classroom The Three Hardest Parts About Helping Student Writers Writing Together as a Way of Communicating, Learning, and Meaning-Making 2. Writing About Information Informal Writing Formal Writing Connections Between Informational Text and Student Writing Reading Informational Text to Learn About Structure Final Thoughts 3. Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Writing Development Gender and Writing Informal Narrative Writing Formal Narrative Writing Final Thoughts 4. Writing With Purpose for Real Audiences Part of a Classroom Culture Writing for Real Audiences Writing for Real Purposes Analyzing Writing as a Craft Revision Responding to Writing Editing Writing With Reason 5. Preparing for High-Stakes Writing Assessments Historical Perspective Writing Assessment Methods Writing Assessment Tasks Helping Students With Trait-Scored Divergent and Convergent Assessment Items Product Versus Process Final Thoughts 6. Connecting Writing and Classroom Conversation Academic Conversations Final Thoughts Afterword Appendix References Index