The Dynamics of Writing Instruction: A Structured Process Approach for Middle and High School

by Louann Reid, Larry R. Johannessen, Elizabeth Kahn

Where do English teachers start when introducing different genres of writing? "Learning begins with activity and learning benefits from reinforcement and repetition."
Peter Smagorinsky, Larry Johannessen, Elizabeth Kahn, and Thomas McCann An indispensable companion for scaffolding the writing process, The Dynamics of Writing Instruction is a guide to working with any student who could benefit from a structured approach. The book is packed full of how-tos, offering everything a teacher needs to get gateway activities, strategies, handouts, and a blueprint of possibilities to consider while interpreting and implementing the curriculum. Peter Smagorinsky, Larry Johannessen, Elizabeth Kahn , and Thomas McCann draw on the teaching and research of George Hillocks to break down the writing process into more manageable steps. Across the commonly taught genres of personal and fictional narratives, essays of argumentation, comparison and contrast, extended definition, and research reports, the authors share teacher-designed, developmentally appropriate, task-based activities George Hillocks' comprehensive review of writing research revealed that over a twenty-year period, structured process writing instruction yielded greater gains than any other method of teaching writing. Now, with The Dynamics of Writing Instruction , teachers can help students fulfill their writing potential by helping them learn by doing and by building their writing ability, one step at a time.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development, Nonfiction

232 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2010

Reviews

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super helpful for creating writing instruction. I would highly recommend it to any English teacher.

[☆Stephanie☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I needed to read this for ENG 310.**
So I skimmed the majority of this book. It was really boring. I think Smagorinsky is a smart guy, but the "structured" approach, though important, is not taught in an interesting way.
I don't have much more to say on this book. I hope I learn more from the books I'll be reading for my multi-genre research project.
If you are out to learn, and you're a major academic....as in, books do not bore you no matter the content, then you might be able to get through this book.
I just...eh. Just. Eh.

[Sidney Ficklin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because it was one that my teacher told me to read for class. I also read this book because I want to get better at writing, and I want to be able to give very good writing instruction when I am a teacher. If I were to recommend this book to someone I would recommend it to someone who is going to be teaching writing. I think that it would be very beneficial for those individuals. I think that really anyone could read this book, but those that are learning about writing would not benefit as much. This book mainly talks to those individuals who will be teaching writing.

I could use this book in a middle school or high school classroom. I could use this book as a guide to help me teach my students about writing. This would benefit me because it has several different examples and skills that I could use. This book also talks a lot about different processes and rules that would benefit my future students. In all, in a classroom I could use this as a reference to show my students what I expect from them.

Content Warning:
-No Warnings

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of stuff teachers can use here to teach writing, which I like. And the structured process approach is a LOT like a strategic approach--the authors just call what I call strategies "procedures." The one disagreement I have with the book is the kind of dismissal of the use of models. In fact, the authors DO use models, but they tend to sprint over that because (I think) they are trying to be true to Hillocks' research that found the use of models to be a less effective way of teaching. Still, the study of models and the setting of product goals (an outcome of the study of models) are two of the eleven elements of the Writing Next report, so the use of models as Hillocks described them is not the same as the effective use of models we see exemplified in such excellent teachers as Katie Wood Ray, Kelly Gallagher, and Penny Kittle. I think the book would have been stronger if it had embraced that newer perspective of models--oh, and added more on reflection, but I still think it can help teachers teach writing.

[Ayn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent resource for teachers! I'm so glad I read it. While not everything in the book will be able to be directly applied in the classroom as is, there are various bases to start from and tweak to you class.

This is a resource of real life ideas that walk through how to introduce students to various genres of writing so that they understand it and it gives excellent ideas of how to build on what they know and learn toward an end goal. The teachers who shared their unit plans have fresh, exciting ideas that are multimodal and there's even suggestions of how to incorporate grammar components. It can be a basis and inspiration for bringing life, creativity and understanding into the classroom, while facilitating an atmosphere encouraging writing and making it a positive experience.

Among the genres covered are: Compare/Contrast, Fiction, Personal Narrative, Research, Argumentative, etc.

[Alex Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a resource! This book helped me understand the world of writing so much better than I ever had before. Smagorinsky approaches writing in a way that simply makes sense. In a world filled with hundreds and thousands of writing books, this one provides the most real-world view on what students will respond to and what will help them learn best.

For those who are nervous about teaching writing skills at the high school level, I strongly suggest you pick this book up, it will calm any fear or anxiety you may have about the subject of teaching writing. I particularly enjoyed the layout of this book, being that it looked less like a textbook and more like a guide to teaching better writing.

This will be one of the books that will grace my shelves for many, many years. I cannot recommend it enough.

[Abbi Dion]

A definite resource for teachers of writing. There isn't a great deal of room for flexibility, but that might appeal to certain teachers. The text really provides a step-by-step guide for implementing a lesson. The process is one of induction, group-decision, and building on skills. This all feels reasonable. Some of the exercises feel a bit dated and/or geared for a younger audience, BUT I feel those exercises can be tailored accordingly. Although this text feels at times contrived and I found myself making notes in the margin such as "personally, I would not do this," I feel privileged to be apprised of this model and plan to implement it in creative ways in the classroom.

[Ronni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't necessarily like how it was used in the classroom, but could see how this is one approach to teaching writing that makes sense in some contexts. Not a waste of time by any means, but not a go-to book for me.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the structure of this book and how useful the information has become. It is worth checking out!

[Tina M · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most practical books on writing instruction I've seen! Thank you Mr. Smagorinsky for a real book for real teachers to use today!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan. I appreicate the theory AND the practical "Somebody did this in a classroom" format of the book. This is a book I will USE.

[Suzette Kunz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great text on teaching writing in a structured process way. I'm using it as a text for my methods class this fall and I think it will work well.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great in helping with constructing an MTA format of a unit

[Sam Mosqueda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the writing sequence breakdowns and lesson ideas, but I found some of it boring.