Teacher consultants from the National Writing Project in Vermont share some of their most useful texts.

What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers, Expanded Edition by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter (Longman, 1995): The exercises in this book are fully adaptable to other forms of writing. There are over 115 writing exercises, complete with professional and student samples. Bernays and Painter take the writer through all stages of writing process. There is an excellent section on revision. I’ve used this as a textbook in my Creative Writing classes, with excellent results.

ARTiculating: Teaching Writing in a Visual World by Pamela B. Childers, et. al (Heinemann, 1998): The authors demonstrate ways in which visual prompts enhance writing. The book is well balanced between theory and praxis.

Today You are My Favorite Poet: Writing Poems with Teenagers by Geof Hewitt (Heinemann, 1998): Some of my students’ favorite writing experiences were derived from this book. Hewitt explores numerous poetry forms and suggests ways of creating a classroom atmosphere conducive to teaching poetry.

Everyday Creative Writing: Panning for Gold in the Kitchen Sink, Second Edition by Michael C. Smith and Suzanne Greenberg (NTC Publishing Group, 2000): An excellent text for any writing class. The authors provide a range of fun exercises that use various resources: things, processes, behaviors, routines, ideas, fantasies, etc. Each exercise includes “panning” (forms of brainstorming), “excavating” (going deeper), and “nuggets” (student and/or professional writing). I’ve used this as a textbook in my Creative Writing classes, with excellent results.

Writing the Natural Way by Gabriele Lusser Rico (Tarcher, 1983, 2000): Rico provides theories and exercises geared to access the right brain to unleash one’s creativity.

--Ruth Farmer

Atwell, Nancy. In the Middle. Focused on the middle school level, a "bible" of the reading and writing workshop methods. Inspires and gives lots of tips, ideas, and booklists.

Atwell, Nancy. Lessons that Change Writers. This is Atwell's latest work which is a guide and a three ring binder of worksheets for duplication. A real hands-on guide to utilizing her workshop methods with kids.

Baumann, Amy and Peterson, Art. Breakthroughs. Essays from NWP teachers about classroom discoveries. Interesting to read and many connections for teachers.

Bayne, Sarah. Helping Kids Write. Straightforword manual of strategies to utilize in the classroom. Pick and choose.

Brandvik, Mary Lou. Writing Process Activities Kit. Ready to use Lessons and Worksheets. Can be useful for subs or distinct skill needs.

Cameron, Julia. The Right to Write. An invitation and initiation into the writing lifestyle. Techniques, tools, and support for getting into your inner self and writing practice.

The Center for Learning. Writing 1: Learning the Process. Lesson plans and worksheets.

Collins, John and Chadwell, Gary. Five Types of Writing Program; Developing Writing and Thinking Skills: A Practical Writing Program for Schools; Implementing the Cumulative Writing Folder Program; Developing Effective Writing Program for the Elementary Grades. A structured program for writing instruction based on students learning the language of the 5 types of writing as well as the individual goals for each piece. A possible skeletal structure to use to build your program around so students learn a consistent way to approach writing pieces and what the focus is for each piece.

Daniels, Harvey. Literature Circles. A step-by-step guide to implementing literature circles in the classroom at any grade level. Useful tips and answers to many questions.

DeMarinis, Rick. The Art and Craft of the Short Story. Lots of insights and strategies for the writer, as well as good examples from the masters.

Dixon, Deborah. Writing Your Heritage: A Sequence of Thinking, Reading, and Writing Assignments. An entire unit on heritage that takes you and your students step by step through the experience of learning about personal family history. Lots of good ideas for writing to learn.

Egri, Lajos. The Art of Dramatic Writing. A study of script writing principles and human motives.

Elbow, Peter. Writing Without Teachers. Not exactly an approach we can completely embrace as elementary teachers, yet very helpful in developing personal writing groups, collegial writing support, and a deeper understanding of the writing self and the writing transaction.

Fletcher, Ralph and Portalupi, Joann. Craft Lessons Teaching Writing K-8. A handy little grab bag of lesson ideas. A nice resource for your shelf when you just need a spark to get going.

Fountas, Irene and Pinnell, Gay Su. Guiding Readers and Writers: Grades 3-6. A big book. Lots of information - take what you need from it. Loads of booklists and other useful stuff.

Goldberg, Natalie. Writing Down the Bones. Very readable and entertaining. Gives a great example of fluid prose - inspirational.

Graves, Donald. Explore Poetry. Great hands-on ideas to develop children poets and an appreciation of this art form in the classroom.

Graves, Donald. A Fresh Look At Writing. Another book from wonderful Donald Graves, the grandaddy of building a classroom of creative writers. Particularly useful for early grades, it is a lovely resource for teachers.

Harvey, Stephanie and Goudvis, Anne. Strategies that Work. Really useful ideas about teaching reading and incorporates writing as well. A good companion book to Mosaics.

Heard, Georgia. The Revision Toolbox. A wonderful little book with lots of really useful lessons to utilize on revising for word choice, structure, and voice.

Hillocks, George Jr. Teaching Writing as Reflective Practice. Applies to secondary and early college levels of teaching writing. A bit pedantic yet interesting for information regarding theory, practical knowledge, and research questions.

Keene, Ellin Oliver and Zimmermann, Susan. Mosaic of Thought. A compelling and much referred to book on reader's interaction with text. Conversely their theories are relevant as we develop as writers.

King, Stephen. On Writing. A memoir about his writing life. I like him better after reading about his struggles.

Lamott, Anne. Bird By Bird. A personal favorite for writing inspiration. Anytime “writer’s block” develops, I just read a chapter or two to get going again. Humorous and lyrical.

Lane, Barry. Reviser's Toolbox. Fun and useful. Lots of reproducible worksheets and tips.

Oliver, Mary. A Poetry Handbook. A definitive little book on aspects of poetry form. A resource for the serious poet and informative for teachers with an interest in understanding the complexities of this art.

Olson, Carol Booth. The Reading/Writing Connection: Strategies for Teaching and Learning in the Secondary Classroom. Don't let the level of this book deter you if you teach elementary levels. It is one of the most useful and comprehensive teaching manuals I have encountered. It includes theory applicable to all levels and activities and approaches that can be readily adapted to the younger student. Very accessible writing, great examples, and worthy pages to print out from the companion web site.

Morice, Dave. The Adventures of Dr. Alphabet. A fun book filled with unusual strategies to get kids to play with words and interested in poetry.

National Assessment of Educational Progress Report 1992 - 2000. The NAEP Reading Consensus Project. Interesting material if you want to see the origins our state framework and standards in reading.

The National Writing Commission on Writing. The Neglected "R": The Need for a Writing Revolution. The latest report - findings demonstrate the need to look at writing which has been overlooked by the most recent emphasis on improving science, math, and reading instruction in public school.

Roberts, William H. and Turgeon, Gergoire, ed. About Language: A Reader for Writers. A comprehensive educational text of essays on writing, classic and contemporary. Interesting selection covering process to politics.

Roorbach, Bill. Writing Life Stories. A wonderful book to stimulate writing what you know best. Lots of exercises useful for writers of all ages.

Schuster, Edgar. Breaking the Rules: Liberating Writers through Innovative Grammar Instruction. Practical and innovative thinking about what the rules are that student writers really need and how best to get them to understand and utilize them.

Smith, Mary Ann and Juska, Jane, eds. The Whole Story: Teachers Talk about Portfolios. Interesting personal essays from eleven teachers from different grade levels. Ways to evaluate and promote student work through the portfolios

Spandel, Vicki. Creating Writers: Through 6-Trait Writing Assessment and Instruction. This is a comprehensive structured program of instruction employing a 6-trait model: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions and Presentation. Includes very useful tips for working on each trait, a scoring guide, focused revision, adaptations, etc. Useful student benchmarks (samples with score and comment).

Sternburg, Janet. The Writer on Her Work. Essays on the process by contemporary writers.

Tchudi, Stephen. Alternatives to Grading Student Writing. A collection of research based essays on theory, responding to student writing, classroom strategies, choosing alternatives. A serious book for all level teachers which aids in formulating a philosophy and understanding of the complexities in assessment of writing. Dry, yet interesting.

Thiel, Diane. Writing Your Rhythm. Exercises to loosen up and connect the writing event with nature, culture, and myths.

Weaver, Constance. Teaching Grammar in Context. An important book on the issue of teaching grammar. How to teach grammar as the problems arise in student writing and revision.

Wilde, Jack. A Door Opens: Writing in Fifth Grade. One teacher’s experiences and personal development. Particularly of interest since we are in the same bowl of soup.

--Ruth Hall