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Since its publication in 1998 Craft Lessons has become a mainstay of writing teachers, both new and experienced. Practical lessons--each printed on one page--and the instructional language geared to three grade-level groupings: K-2, 3-4, and 5-8 are contained in this book. In the decade since Craft Lessons' publication the world has changed in many ways, yet one thing has remained constant: teachers continue to feel starved for time. With new curriculum mandates, daily specials, "pull-outs," and precious time devoted to test preparation, the situation has never been worse, and the need for a succinct resource like "Craft Lessons" has never been greater. The features that made "Craft Lessons" so valuable have been augmented. This edition includes: (1) Seventeen brand new craft lessons; many based on veteran teachers' observations about typical student writing; (2) Revisions to other craft lessons: model texts that have gone out of print have been replaced with current titles, and the resource materials sections have been expanded; (3) New thinking about teaching elements of craft and the reading-writing connection; and (4) Two new indexes: a handy subject index to make it easier to find specific craft lessons, and an index that shows how these craft lessons can be integrated into Ralph and JoAnn's curriculum resource on the "qualities of writing"--Ideas, Design, Language, and Presentation. The 95 lessons in this book provide a wealth of information for teaching leads, character, endings, stronger verbs, and much more. This new edition reestablishes Craft Lessons as the crucial "desert island book" for harried writing teachers everywhere. The book contains the following sections: (1) Contents; (2) Craft Lessons Organized by Subject; (3) Acknowledgments; (4) Introduction; (5) Setting the Table for Craft; (6) Craft Lessons K-2; (7) Craft Lessons 3-4; (8) Craft Lessons 5-8; (9) Questions and Answers; (10) Appendixes; (11) Children's Books; (12) Qualities of Writing Index; and (13) References.

The writing workshop has endured and even flourished in thousands of schools across the country because no other approach or program matches the writing workshop when it comes to growing strong writers. This guide introduces and explains the writing workshop and reveals how it can be a potent tool for empowering young writers. The guide aims to be a practical book, providing everything a teacher needs to get the writing workshop up and running. In clear language, it explains the simple principles that underlie the writing workshop and explores the major components that make it work. Each chapter in the guide addresses an essential element, then suggests five or six specific things a teacher can do to implement the idea under discussion. There is also a separate chapter entitled"What about Skills?" which shows how to effectively teach skills in the context of writing. The guide closes with 16 appendixes, including 11 practical forms to ensure that the workshop runs smoothly, as well as strategies, editing, and assessment materials. Contains a glossary and suggestions for additional reading for the teacher. Contains 35 references. (NKA)