The "writing workshop" approach to teaching creative writing, virtually unchallenged throughout the United States, has recently come under fire. Two schools of thought, while agreeing that the traditional workshop needs a thorough overhaul, differ in approaches to that overhaul. One approach, using the theories of Harold Bloom, argues…

Writing workshops and narrative experiences for medical trainees can be a useful way to approach certain issues in their education. This article describes a brief writing exercise that can be used for physicians in training to help them recognize issues of countertransference in the doctor-patient relationship. While these issues are generally…

Creative writers have moved into the mainstream of English departments without understanding or reviewing their own history, and without reconceptualizing graduate and undergraduate creative writing programs. Such a history can be constructed from sources in three areas: institutional history, creative writing history, and rhetorical history. An…

At Southerland Institute (a pseudonym), in spite of the teacher's strong statements in favor of encouraging students to think for themselves and to work together, the writing program Southerland's teachers outline is formulaic with its required modes, prescribed five-paragraph-like essay form, and bell-curve grading practices. A new rhetorician…

Designed to be a practical, comprehensive, and illuminating guide for both new and experienced teachers, this book confronts the challenges of the writing workshop head-on, with chapters on all aspects of the writing workshop, including: day-to-day instruction, classroom management, the development of writing identities, and the tone of workshop…

This paper examines the relationship between learning to write and learning to teach. Three beginning teachers implementing writing workshop for the first time were observed over a 5-month period to see how they met with the demands of learning to teach and try innovative ideas in a school district that mandates traditional skills-based…

This topical bibliography and commentary discusses several classroom techniques designed to encourage beginning writers to grow beyond uninspired composition. The strategies employed in the classroom are of equal value for both expository and creative writing. The various classroom techniques discussed share an emphasis on student-centered…

Intended for teachers, this workbook uses 20 well-known children's books as models to teach expository and narrative writing skills. The workbook teaches students about brainstorming, focus, organization, elaboration, and writing conventions with readily-available quality children's literature, such as "When I Was Young in the…

Written by teachers for teachers, this book offers the first-hand perspectives of 7 teachers who used the writing workshop approach. It offers teachers in grades 1-8 a wealth of practical advice, based on the personal struggles, accomplishments, and classroom-proven solutions of the authors. Equally valuable to teachers already using writing…

Argues that children are as deep as the ocean, with secret places inside of them waiting to be opened. Notes that it is powerful for students to learn they can make sense of the world through words, and describes inviting them into poetry as they read poetry, create poetry packets, and write and revise poems. (SR)

Explains the process of implementing a writing workshop for the first time in the authors' third-grade classrooms. Describes the authors' motivations, fears, and concerns in starting these workshops. Outlines components of workshops, such as setting goals, organizing time, peer editing, and conferencing. Concludes that writing workshops change…

Describes the specific elements of "pedagogical triangulation" along with the results of applying this approach in a first-semester college English class. Considers how pedagogical triangulation enhances student confidence, capacity, capability, and collaboration, all vital elements for worthwhile peer-revision workshops. (SG)

Presents five reading activities including "Reading Buddies" (Joyce Kemp); "Documenting Reading and Writing Growth in the Primary Grades Using Informal Methods of Evaluation" (Clifford J. Kramer); "Problem Solving Our Way through Writers' Workshop" (Ann Walker Christensen); "Real Audiences for Real Writing"…

Describes a two-year teacher research project on how one teacher improved writing workshops for her middle school students. (SR)

Describes a writing workshop for eighth graders that seeks to tap into the humor of their everyday lives, and that uses humorous literature and film to spark writing. (SR)