Writing websites and print resources:

There are countless sites about teaching writing with teens. Here are four that I have bookmarked on my computer along with some of my favorite texts. If you know of a resource that you think I should add, please contact me at L_thurston_2000@yahoo.com and tell me about it~!

http://www.ipl.org/div/teen/
This is a link from the main Internet Public Library page. It’s geared for teens (though I don’t know how many teens actually use this site), but high school teachers will LOVE the no nonsense approach to everyday writing problems.

http://www.teenink.com/
What’s better than a real place for teens to share their voice? This 20 year old national online magazine is written for and by teens. Good stuff~!

http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/922
If you don’t know about the National Writing Project, you simply MUST visit this site. The above link takes you specifically to 30 writing strategies and ideas, but click on the home page to see lots more of this amazing resource. Chances are, you’ll find a local site in your state~!

http://www.all4ed.org/files/WritingNext.pdf
This is a fantastic meta-analysis of the most effective research-based writing strategies…My favorite part is the place where it states that teaching grammar in isolation can actually harm students’ understanding. Like winning the Lottery it was, reading that J

Books on writing:

Teaching Writing in the Content Areas by Vicky Urquhart and Monette McIver
Fabulously organized and user-friendly resource with terrific ideas teachers can use today in their classrooms. The bonus is the myriad additional resources they suggest as next steps. Be sure to read this with your highlighter handy.

Reading, Writing and Rising Up by Linda Christensen
What I love most about this book is that it’s about real kids and real classrooms. Read this over a summer to plan your curriculum for the upcoming year. Great resource~!