Writing to Make a Difference : Classroom Projects for Community Change

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 in 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, including 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.

Chris Benson is Publications Coordinator at the Bread Loaf School of English and Research Associate at Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University. Scott Christian is Director of the Professional Education Center at the University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau. Dixie Goswami is Coordinator at the Bread Loaf Teacher Network, Bread Loaf School of English and Professor Emerita of English at Clemson University. Walter H. Gooch was Telecommunications Director at the Bread Loaf Teacher Network, Bread Loaf School of English.