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Write Beside Them: Risk, Voice, and Clarity in High School Writing [With DVD ROM]
by
Penny Kittle (Goodreads Author)
Please join us in congratulating Penny Kittle for her 2009 NCTE Britton Award for Write Beside Them
"This book is about teaching writing and the gritty particulars of teaching adolescents. But it is also the planning, the thinking, the writing, the journey: all I've been putting into my teaching for the last two decades. This is the book I wanted when I was first given nint...more
"This book is about teaching writing and the gritty particulars of teaching adolescents. But it is also the planning, the thinking, the writing, the journey: all I've been putting into my teaching for the last two decades. This is the book I wanted when I was first given nint...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
March 1st 2008
by Heinemann Educational Books
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Jun 09, 2008
Newengland
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
English teachers; fans of writing
Shelves:
teaching,
finished-in-2008
Writer's Workshop. The term has almost become cliché among English teachers, and it means very different things to different educators. For a new take on this now-old warhorse (though Nancie Atwell shall be forever young in our minds!), teachers should revisit the writer's workshop as Penny Kittle runs it in her New Hampshire classroom.
In fact, this book will appeal to teachers across a wide spectrum: those who have never tried writer's workshop for a myriad of reasons, those who sampled the wa...more
In fact, this book will appeal to teachers across a wide spectrum: those who have never tried writer's workshop for a myriad of reasons, those who sampled the wa...more
4 likes · like · see review
view all 3 comments
Only half-way through and I already love this book. Kittle distills the best of writing-workshop theorists and practitioners, adds her own perspective, and packages the combined sophistication so that English teachers can feel comfortable juggling writers workshop. I predict that this will do for High School teachers what Nancie Atwell has done for middle school professionals.
To be clear: Write Beside Them isn't a substitute for Atwell, Calkins, Routmann, the Dons, the Boomers, and all the rest...more
To be clear: Write Beside Them isn't a substitute for Atwell, Calkins, Routmann, the Dons, the Boomers, and all the rest...more
After seeing Dr. Grierson's comment on this book, I ordered it for the second semester writing program I was creating. It gave me the courage to implement the important idea of writing WITH my students. IT has turned my focus to writing as a process instead of a product and the results have been amazing. I have students who come back from the five minute break because they WANT to write. We are having a blast as a class writing together. We are reading texts with the eyes of a writer.
PK provides...more
PK provides...more
Here are my big take-aways from Write Beside Them:
1. Play is a very important component in learning how to write. (p. 37) (I don't need many excuses to play around with writing in class, but it's good to have reminders that it's not just goofing off.)
2. Making a list is a good way to get unstuck or a solid basis for a prewriting activity. (p. 137) Outlines can seem daunting or overly formal, but a list -- anybody can do a list. It's not as scary-sounding as an outline, but it can serve many of t...more
1. Play is a very important component in learning how to write. (p. 37) (I don't need many excuses to play around with writing in class, but it's good to have reminders that it's not just goofing off.)
2. Making a list is a good way to get unstuck or a solid basis for a prewriting activity. (p. 137) Outlines can seem daunting or overly formal, but a list -- anybody can do a list. It's not as scary-sounding as an outline, but it can serve many of t...more
I have just finished this book and my eyes are pooled with tears. You can't say that about most professional development books, but this book ended with a story of how powerful words are, and how important our work as teachers of writing is. Oh-so-much more than a "how to" book, every ELA/writing teacher would benefit greatly from reading this book.
What shines through is Kittle's love for her students and her firm belief that everyone IS a writer and can become a better one through being in her...more
What shines through is Kittle's love for her students and her firm belief that everyone IS a writer and can become a better one through being in her...more
Penny Kittle is an Education Goddess, but her voice is honest and compassionate. She writes with her students and annotates their drafts instead of immediately giving grades. Her reasoning: writers need more feedback and coaching than evaluation or they will stop taking risks. I love her scathing indictment of the evil five paragraph essay, "Writing is flexible; for every short story and idea there are many forms that might lend it light. Formulas (like the five-paragrah essay) limit the develop...more
The message of Write Beside Them is both inspiring and practical. I foresee re-reading this wonderful book many times in the years to come. As I read Kittle's experiences and insights, I remember what I love about teaching high school English, and I feel a renewed sense of commitment to use my time with my students in the best possible ways to help them become all that they can be. The details of curriculum and pedagogy are amazing--I'd like to incorporate her every suggestion immediately; howev...more
This book REALLY helped me remember why I wanted to become a teacher - for me, this book got me back to the roots of my teaching philosophy. Just switching some gears in tutoring after reading this book showed a spark in my students. I am actually excited to start school!
1 like · like · see review
love this book! Can't wait to integrate her ideas in my classroom!
I just finished this book, and cannot find the words to express my feelings. I cried like a big fat baby when I read her last few pages. (And this is a NON Fiction TEACHER INSTRUCTION BOOK!!!)
If you are wondering how to incorporate writing into your classroom..stop reading right now and order this book. If you are unsatisfied with the quality of writing in your classroom, stop reading right NOW and go order this book. Penny Kittle...more
I just finished this book, and cannot find the words to express my feelings. I cried like a big fat baby when I read her last few pages. (And this is a NON Fiction TEACHER INSTRUCTION BOOK!!!)
If you are wondering how to incorporate writing into your classroom..stop reading right now and order this book. If you are unsatisfied with the quality of writing in your classroom, stop reading right NOW and go order this book. Penny Kittle...more
This book has completely pumped me up for teaching writing next year! So many books are out there with great information, but I found Penny’s to be the best fit for me. I think it is because she is a lot like me in her teaching style and beliefs. I LOVED that I was able to see her in action with her students and see how her first day of the workshop goes. So many of the great books on Writing Workshops out there are geared to the elementary school level and not to middle and high school and Penn...more
I enjoyed this book. The DVD helped a lot. I went through a few portions when I questioned whether it was going to be as earth shattering as I had been led to believe. I am left with questions and am still searching for more of a nuts and bolts book about writer's notebook--not one that says "here is exactly how you do it," because formulaic would be so counter to the approach. I want one that has some additional suggestions for starting to use a writer's notebook as a central component of the c...more
I didn't intend to like this book, but I couldn't help myself. Kittle is an effective storyteller, and that's part of it. I just wasn't sure I agreed theoretically with her stance and found myself persuaded that she isn't as much of an expressivist as I thought--or maybe I'm not as much of a social epistemicist as I thought I was. Whichever, the book presents a more realistic approach to teaching writing than I'd anticipated, and one that I think we can all learn from.
Oct 15, 2009
Vicki
is currently reading it
What I love about this book is that it talks about the frustration teachers have with trying to get students to write. Penny also has students samples and a DVD on her teaching the writing workshop process. It has been very useful. I have never read a book like this on my own, only if it was required by a college class. Now I understand how important it is to read text books that can improve my students and me.
Evidently, I am mentioned in this book, which makes it great (obviously). I have to admit that I haven't read it. A friend of mine from college was reading it for grad school and while I am not referenced by name, there is a specific reference to the "Dracula multigenre paper from Tom Romano's website" and that, my friends, would be me. I'm kind of a big deal. People know me. (no, no they don't).
Apr 13, 2011
Ashley Williams
is currently reading it
If anybody has taken Dr. Deakin's class and wanted to explore some of her ideas further, this is a great selection. The quick write ideas and writers Journal ideas are explored throughout the book. Also, the multi genre piece is discussed. I love the fact that it shares student work but it also shows the importance of modeling for your students! A lot of key ideas that we discuss in class.....strong read!
Write Beside Them is a book by Penny Kittle about teaching writing in the classroom. She talks about how to do a writer’s workshop, how to teach the steps of writing, and includes a lot of awesome student samples. There’s also a DVD that comes with it that actually shows her in her classroom.
Rating: 5/5
This is a really great book if you want to teach writing. Kittle offers a great breakdown of how to teach the writing process and what it will look like. The DVD is great, and I really enjoyed wat...more
Rating: 5/5
This is a really great book if you want to teach writing. Kittle offers a great breakdown of how to teach the writing process and what it will look like. The DVD is great, and I really enjoyed wat...more
A practical, no nonsense teacher (...and author), who has a passion for educating students. A practical, no nonsense and practical approach to teaching writing. I'm even more passionate about education and teaching writing than I was before reading this book. I loved it. I highly recommend it for middle school and high school English teachers.
Man was my highlighter busy while reading this book. There was so much great takeaway that I literally want to sit down and re-work my entire writer's workshop for the upcoming school year.
Even though I teach middle school and not high school, Kittle has so many great ideas and structures for her writing class that finding a way to adapt them to younger grades should be fairly straightforward for me.
I have always known how important it is to write with students, but my lack of organization alwa...more
Even though I teach middle school and not high school, Kittle has so many great ideas and structures for her writing class that finding a way to adapt them to younger grades should be fairly straightforward for me.
I have always known how important it is to write with students, but my lack of organization alwa...more
I love Penny Kittle. I think we might be the same person, her just being a few years ahead of me in her teaching career.
Thanks, Penny, for being so honest and open regarding the needs and struggles of our kids. I'll use this book for years to come, but especially this year as I restructure my classroom to create better writers!
Thanks, Penny, for being so honest and open regarding the needs and struggles of our kids. I'll use this book for years to come, but especially this year as I restructure my classroom to create better writers!
Pulled this one from the downstairs library this weekend to look over Penny's work again, going back over the notes I had made the first time I read this book. Still finding ideas within the ideas presented here.
Penny's book/resource here is like a love letter to the classroom teacher who wants to bring more writing. . .more reading into their classroom.
Pulling from her own mentoring by Donald Murray and Donald Graves, what I like about Penny's work is her ability to draw from her sources and ta...more
Penny's book/resource here is like a love letter to the classroom teacher who wants to bring more writing. . .more reading into their classroom.
Pulling from her own mentoring by Donald Murray and Donald Graves, what I like about Penny's work is her ability to draw from her sources and ta...more
I attended a workshop with Kittle on teaching writing - wow! I rushed out to buy this (and an earlier book she co-wrote with Donald Graves entitled "Inside Writing"). Great books about how to create a meaningful writing workshop. Can't wait for September after reading this!
This has become one of my "go-to" books for writing with grades 6th - 12th. I've recommended it to many of my teachers and lead a book study on it last year. Penny also came to Vermont Council on Reading to do a workshop and was very well received.
This book has gone to the top of my list of books that I will refer to again and again. While the focus is on high school writing, there is so much that I have already drawn on fore my middle school classes and I look forward to more fully implementing the things that I've learned next year in my high school classes. The book comes with a DVD that I have yet to dive into, but plan to soon. I read this book with pen in hand and writer's notebook within reach. Of the many things that I am taking a...more
This was a 2009 NSTWP book for me, and the TCHS used this one for a book study this year. Here I go again with Ms. Kittle for 2010 summer institute and a chance to hear her speak through Region XI this summer!
Kittle is the premier teacher of writing. She knows how to get kids writing daily and getting them to commit to writing well. Fabulous book for teachers of any age, but particularly for middle-high school students.
Very, very neat. Concise ideas and practical approaches on how to use them. I highly suggest this to any high school English teacher who is muddling through how to run a writing workshop type class.
Excellent ideas for building and sustaining a community of writers in your classroom. Penny is accessible and provides real world writing opportunities for her students as she "writes beside" them.
It's hard to find a page in this book this isn't covered with my underlining and notes. I love how Penny Kittle writes with her students -- her love of the craft and teaching is evident.
Quite simply, this book is brilliant. I put off reading it because I teach middle grades - not high school. I shouldn't have done that, the message is beneficial to us all.
I love Kittle's approach to the Writing Workshop. I met her last year during an instructional PD and was able to watch her presentation in a very small classroom environment with about a dozen colleagues. Her book is on my desk as a "go-to" reference for my own Writer's Workshop, and I recommend it to anyone who needs REAL-WORLD ideas that they can use immediately in their rooms. She is extremely easy to understand, yet not patronizing. I appreciate her work and would definitely purchase other e...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YA Reads for Teac...: September 2012 - Professional Development - Write Beside Them by Penny Kittle | 5 | 46 | Sep 27, 2012 07:31pm |
Penny Kittle teaches seniors at Kennett High School in North Conway, New Hampshire. She is also the K-12 literacy coach for the Conway schools and directs the new teacher mentoring program. She is the author of Book Love (2013), Write Beside Them (2008), The Greatest Catch: a life in teaching (2005), and Public Teaching: one kid at a time (2003); she co-authored Inside Writing (2005) with Donald G...more
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