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The author presents the findings of her research conducted in a first grade writing workshop at a rural school in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. During the 2004-2005 school year, she recorded more than 30 hours of videotape footage from the workshop. She asserts that collecting this rich data caused her to focus on the language of teaching in a new way and helped her see the importance of authenticity as an aspect of expert teaching. Throughout the article she explores this authenticity, particularly as it relates to authentic questions, authentic study, and authentic work, drawing upon observations from the rural school's workshop.

Reflects on the significance of encouraging students to make books. Explanation on picture books; Instructional tasks which do not help students build identities as writers; Recommendations on how teachers can provide sufficient support to their students.