Writing to Make a Difference: Classroom Projects for Community Change

by Chris Benson (Editor)

The student projects presented in this book demonstrate a powerful approach to teaching writing - one that requires no special equipment or resources and can be adapted for students of any age. The key is getting students involved in action research and writing about issues that are important to them and their communities. Written by public school teachers, these chapters describe projects covering a variety of issues that include avoiding teenage health risks, preserving oral histories, fighting racism, investigating environmental hazards, decreasing instances of teen pregnancy, and much more. Based on a process-model of writing instruction, these projects will show teachers how to engage their students while also teaching the basic skills that appear in educational standards and assessment frameworks.

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2002

Reviews

[Jenni Bader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great resource with examples of how different teachers have used community-based and problem-based learning models as the focus for student writing in English classrooms and in cross-curricular projects. The examples given come from upper elementary, middle school, high school, and junior college classrooms and show how writing to affect change within their own communities can motivate students while meeting the standards.