Writing for a Change shows teachers how to engage students in “real world” problem-solving activities that can help them to acquire voice, authority, and passion for both reading and writing practice. Written in collaboration with the Center for Social Action in England, the book describes the innovative Social Action process for encouraging students to collaborate on problems of their own choosing—to analyze options, develop action plans, discover solutions, and finally to reflect on their work. Featuring stories by teachers who have successfully used the method, the book shows that first graders as well as high-school students can enjoy this exciting and educational process. Practical guidance for applying the process to any curricular area is provided along with an extensive list of classroom activities.

Table of Contents:
Foreword, Richard Sterling xi Sponsors xiii Preface xv Editors and Contributors xxi ONE Exploring Student-Driven Learning and Literacy Through Social Action 1 PART ONE Social Action in Practice 9 TWO Power Play 11 Paula Laub THREE Lending Student Voice to Curriculum Planning 19 Dietta Poston Hitchcock FOUR The Story of the Youth Dreamers: In Their Own Words 25 Mildred Harris, Chantel Morant, Shanta Crippen, Chris Lawson, Chekana Reid, Cierra Cary, Tiffani Young-Smith FIVE Reflections on the Youth Dreamers 31 Kristina Berdan SIX Community Action in a Summer Writing Institute 43 Chinwe “La Tanya” Obijiofor SEVEN Changing Our World 51 Lori Farias, Critics of Society Class EIGHT Poetry and Power in the Creative Writing Workshop 57 Maggie Folkers NINE Shall We Dance? 63 Connie Ellard Bunch TEN The March on John Philip Sousa 67 Elizabeth A. Davis ELEVEN Social Action and Parent Involvement 73 Mildred Serra PART TWO Getting Started with Social Action 79 TWELVE Learning from Social Action: Reflections on Teaching and Social Action 81 THIRTEEN Principles for Practice: What Is Social Action? 87 Jennie Fleming, Ian Boulton FOURTEEN Recommendations for the Classroom: Before You Start 97 Jennie Fleming, Ian Boulton PART THREE Stuff You Can Try: Activities for Social Action 107 Metro Map 111 Naming the Group 113 Community Vocabulary 115 Devising the Vision 117 How We Behave in Groups 119 Movie Poster 121 Four Faces 124 But Why? 127 Codes 132 Changing Your Mind 134 Sculpts 136 The Three C’s 138 SWOT 140 Ideal Specimen 142 Force Field Analysis 144 Worst Nightmare 147 Now/Soon/Later 149 The Swimming Pool 151 Messages 153 References 155 Resources for Further Reading 157 Index 159