Overview

This innovative resource provides teachers with a road map for designing a comprehensive writing curriculum that meets Common Core State Standards. The authors zero in on several big ideas that lead to and support effective practices in writing instruction, such as integrating reading, writing, speaking, and listening; teaching writing as a process; extending the range of students’ writing; spiraling and scaffolding a writing curriculum; and collaborating. These ideas are the cornerstone of best researched-based practices as well as the CCSS for writing. The first chapter offers a complete lesson designed around teaching narrative writing and illustrates tried-and-true practices for teaching writing as a process. The remaining chapters explore a broad range of teaching approaches that help students tackle different kinds of narrative, informational, and argumentative writing as well as complexities like audience and purpose. Each chapter focuses on at least one of the uncommonly good ideas and illustrates how to create curricula around it. Uncommonly Good Ideas includes model lessons and assignments, mentor texts, teaching strategies, student writing, and practical guidance for moving the ideas from the page into the classroom.

Full Product Details

9780807756430

Table of Contents

Reviews

""One thing became apparent as I read the text Sandra Murphy and Mary Ann Smith know writing. They cite current and seminal research to support their ideas. They worked with actual classroom teachers and leading writing professionals in education. They utilize graphics, vignettes, sample of lessons, and student writing, and they write simply and effectively. The text engaged me from the minute I opened its cover, and it has the potential to change my own practice. I hope that it can do the same for you."" - Michigan Reading Journal ""The authors encourage teachers to be bold, to be learners, to continue to grow in what they know about effective teaching and learning, and to ""dive a little deeper during this era when writing has made a comeback. Be fearless.... This is the moment to build your own and students' capacities"" (p.139). This book will be a staple in any teacher's professional library. (VAO) - Language Arts Journal

Author Information

Sandra Murphy is professor emerita at the University of California, Davis. She co-chaired the Steering Committee to develop the 2011 framework for the National Assessment of Educational Progress in Writing and served as a work group member to develop the Common Core State Standards. Mary Ann Smith directed the Bay Area and California Writing Projects and served as Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs for the National Writing Project.

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