Additional Readings

In addition to the resources embedded throughout this guidance for district/BOCES leadership, these readings provide ideas, thoughts, considerations, and strategies to support writing. 

• “Changing How Writing is Taught.” Graham, Steve. Article identifies factors that inhibit good writing instruction, including instructional time; teachers’ preparation and beliefs about writing; national, state, district, and school policies; and historical, social, cultural, and political influences. It then examines how we can address these factors and change classroom writing practices for the better.
• Effective Writing Instruction / Time for a Revolution. Hochman, Judith. Argues that writing is a neglected “R” in our schools.
• Growing Extraordinary Writers: Leadership Decisions to Raise the Level of Writing Across a School and a District. Calkins, Lucy and Mary Ehrenworth.  An article on the necessity of creating the school conditions that foster growth in student writing.
• Instructional Leadership in Writing: An Exploration of Elementary Principal Efficacy and Identities in a Neglected Subject. VanSlander, Jennifer L. A dissertation on teacher and principal identity as writers and the impact it has on writing instruction.  The conclusions and findings starting on page 138 are very interesting.
• Key Literacy Component: Writing. Several researchers have found that, much like reading, improving one’s writing skills improves one’s capacity to learn, and learning to write well requires instruction.
• Leadership and Writing: How Principals’ Knowledge, Beliefs, and Interventions Affect Writing Instruction in Elementary and Secondary Schools. McGhee, Marla W. and Chulsub Lew.  Researchers argue that principals “ho have strong knowledge of and belief in effective writing practices act in ways that help teachers do their best work.
• Progressive Writing Instruction: Empowering School Leaders and Teachers. Lacina, Jan; Block, Cathy Collins.
• Taking Initiative on Writing. NCTE.  Resources for school leaders to consider as they create a school-wide writing initiative. 
• The Write Way by Fisher, Douglas. Short article on writing’s benefit to student achievement.
• Voices From the Middle; Urbana Vol. 19, Iss. 3.  (Mar 2012): 10-17. The article examines how several large districts approach writing instruction.
• Why Kids Can’t Write. Goldstein, Dana.  New York Times article exploring the challenge of teaching writing.
• Writing First.  Elbow, Peter. Argues that reading is privileged over writing in artificial and detrimental ways. 
• Writing Next. Graham, Steve. Highlights specific techniques for teaching writing and identifies 11 elements of writing instruction found to be effective for helping students learn to write well and to use writing as a tool for learning.

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