Strategic Writing: The Writing Process And Beyond in the Secondary English Classroom

by Deborah Dean

Deborah Dean is back with a significantly re-envisioned and revised edition of her popular Strategic Writing . After working with high school teachers who implemented the approach detailed in the first edition, Dean has refined, reorganized, and updated the material to better support classroom teachers dedicated to teaching not just the process of writing but also the strategies of writing that help students develop the ability to write effectively throughout their lives. Most of the changes were prompted by the desire to help teachers better understand an overall strategic approach that can counter the testing climate that pervades many schools. This approach works within a workshop model and uses the writing process as an umbrella framework. In addition to providing engaging and practical classroom activities, this new edition As always, Dean considers students’ out-of-school as well as in-school writing tasks, preparing them for a world in which writing is a critical skill, whether for school, work, information, or self-expression.

Genres: Teaching, Nonfiction, Writing, Professional Development, Education

203 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2006

Reviews

[Andria]

This is my favorite book about teaching writing. It is overflowing (Okay, so a book can't exactly be overflowing, but if it could, this one would be!) with ideas for teaching students how to write. If you're looking at books for teaching writing right now, skip over all of the books that are filled with "activities" and get this book, which is full of "strategies" that can be adapted to almost any situation.

[Lindsay Ercanbrack]

Good PD. I went to a conference where Debbie Dean was the presenter and appreciated her writing insights. Good resources to use in writing instruction.

[Pat]

My school is in Winterim right now-(a three week learning focus in specialized subjects-marine biology-scuba diving, play production) and as a part-time faculty I've spent the time creating a new writing program. I pulled out Dr. Dean's book and as a working learner, I appreciate it even more now than when I was her student-though I loved it then too.

[Sirpa Grierson]

Love this book. Debbie is not only a wonderful colleague, but this book proves that she is a practical and eminently readable writer and teacher of writing.

[Michelle]

Well worth your time and money if you are an ELA teacher. Get your own copy and grab a notebook to take notes because it’s full of great ideas!

My only complaint is that it seems she spends far more of her year on writing than reading, and that suspicion was confirmed by her biography at the end of the book: “Her language arts classes were always heavily focused on writing.”

[Whitney Sorensen]

What a fabulous book for teachers! I loved this book because it allowed me to understand a certain perspective to teaching writing- the strategic perspective-- but it also gives the tools to use strategic writing in the classroom. The principles in this book are logical and ring true, and I definitely plan on using this book a lot!

[Aimee]

I'm only a few chapters in, but what a page-turner! I actually am finding myself very interested and engaged in this book even though it is written for teachers, which I'm not. What a great author!

[Dee Anne]

I have a class that I am helping with this summer and this is the text. I think it is an interesting approach on writing.

[Mandy MacKay]

A great teaching book that made me reexamine the way I teach writing. I love Debbie Dean!

[David]

This book has been on my reading list since I learned of its release a few years ago. I had a few classes with Debbie while I was a student at BYU, so this book was a good reminder of the the memories from taking her writing course and how much I grew as a writer and as a teacher of writing. I'd recommend this book to both preservice and practicing ELA teachers. There were multiple ideas I have previously given thought to (like audience, for example) that Debbie expounds on that were not only informative, but also gave me a few ideas to ponder afterwards.

[Heather Stringham]

Interesting book discussing how using strategies helps writers. I wish she had been more clear about the strategies, but I appreciated the lesson plans and discussion.

[Renae Salisbury]

Loved the first chapter. I am quoting it at my next workshop! Hope I can finish it as I've already loaned it out!

[Tavia Richards]

There are so many great ideas in this book!

[Liz Thackeray]

Fewer books do I use more than this as I am teaching. There are so many great and accessible ideas to teach each stage in the writing process.

[Samantha]

Good way to teach out students how to write. I hope I always remember this book.