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Book: Becoming a Teacher Who Writes

Chapter: 6. Knowing Where You're Going: The American High School

DOI: 10.1558/equinox.45157

Blurb:

Chapter 6 introduces 20th and 21st century scholarship on the teaching of creative writing in America and Britain. In “Trends and Findings” the author traces the decline of creative writing experiences from a high in the elementary years to a low in high school and college. The author supports these trends and findings with evidence from her students’ memoirs. Chapter 6 tackles the dilemma all teachers face: how to teach writing in your subject area if you are not a writer or a creative writer. The author offers an answer: becoming a teacher who writes. The remainder of Chapter 6 presents a model creative writing classroom based on the author’s Creative Writing I semester-long elective. In “how to” fashion, the author demonstrates a “day one pep talk,” establishing a community of writers, process writing prompts, a contract grading system, and portfolio assessment. Chapter 6 concludes with Interdisciplinary Applications for Teachers and Students and a “Non-Stop” writing prompt.

Chapter Contributors

  • Nancy S. Gorrell (book-auth-442@equinoxpub.com - book-auth-442) 'English teacher and poet'