Writing Every Day: Reading, Writing, and Conferencing Using Student-Led Language

Many of today's schools struggle with large class sizes, a continually evolving curriculum, and a wide diversity in the ability and background of their students. How best to build an effective literacy community in this constantly changing environment is an increasingly difficult challenge for teachers, new and experienced alike.

In Writing Every Day Kellie Buis demonstrates that sharing stories is a fun and engaging way to motivate children and encourage cooperative learning in K–8 classrooms. It proposes students writing letters every day as an efficient, effective, engaging and fun teaching strategy for organizing language instruction. Children’’’’s personal stories become the catalyst for language experiences that involve reading, writing, and all forms of communication.

Student samples throughout the book illustrate the power of using their own life experiences to engage children in authentic reading and writing. Writing daily letters gives children a stronger voice and engenders feelings of self-worth, self-respect, and competence. This strategy reaps benefits beyond the language arts curriculum and helps students make connections and recognize patterns in everything that they read, write, and learn.