Teachers at the Center: A Memoir of the Early Years of the National Writing Project

by James Gray, Richard Sterling (Foreword by)

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Writing, Memoir

148 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

About the author

Librarian's note: There are multiple authors named James Gray

Reviews

[Jen Compan (Doucette) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book just validates my excitement to be part of the Greater Madison Writing Project this July. In essence, teachers learn most from other teachers! I can't wait for the experience!

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a very thorough look into the origins of the Writing Projects that proliferated across the US to address ways to improve writing among teachers, and therefore students.

[Carrie Honaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in anticipation of participating in the Blue Ridge Writing Project this summer. I thought the book was well written and did a good job chronicling the inception and early days of the National Writing Project. Gray's passion for the project comes through clearly. I am left with a question though, how does a project that showed so much potential and was so supported now come to be on the chopping block. I know from my NCTE newsletter that funding for NWP was a program President Obama sought to cut. It baffles me that a project of such magnitude and far-reaching effects would be out aside. Either way, the book is well written and would be a great read for anyone not familiar with the goals and workings of the NWP.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a recent TC from the North Texas Writing Project, and I was looking for information about how the project supported itself with funding before it was handled by the government. I found the information I needed in the last 50 pages or so. The first 100 pages were an interesting read, telling me all about the evolution of an idea- and how one person can truly make a difference. Jim Gray, I appreciate you.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it with great interest. I am also curious about how the current educational climate is so like the one that brought about the Project in the first place ... with much more emphasis being put on reading, divorcing it from writing, we are going to go back again to that place where the Writing Project has much work to do. Or are we already there?

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and wise, the memoir provides a clear history for the development of the Writing Project as well as a roadmap for its future. Inspiring reading that's also immediately practical ... a rare combination.

[Annette Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book. A good history.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What? Professional development that works? No way. It will never work. Teachers learning from teachers? No way. It makes way too much sense, the powers that be will never like that.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good prep for beginning work with the National Writing Project. I'm attending the Summer Invitational Institute in July.