Understanding Writing: Ways of Observing, Learning, and Teaching

Thomas Newkirk's most recent books with Heinemann are The Art of Slow Reading (2011), Holding Onto Good Ideas in a Time of Bad Ones (2009) and Teaching the Neglected "R" (2007, coedited with Richard Kent). His Misreading Masculinity (2004) was cited by Instructor Magazine as one of the most significant books for teachers in the past decade. A former teacher of at-risk high school students in Boston, Tom is Professor of English at the University of New Hampshire, the former director of its freshman English program, and the director and founder of its New Hampshire Literacy Institutes. He has studied literacy learning at a variety of educational levels - from preschool to college. His other Heinemann and Boynton/Cook titles include the NCTE David H. Russell Award winning Performance of Self in Student Writing (Boynton/Cook, 1997), Taking Stock: The Writing Process Movement in the 90s (Boynton/Cook, 1994, coedited with Lad Tobin), and Nuts & Bolts: A Practical Guide to Teaching College Composition (Boynton/Cook, 1993). In addition, Tom is coeditor (with Penny Kittle) of Children Want to Write, which is a collection of Donald Graves' most significant writings paired with recovered videotapes that illuminate his research and his inspiring work with children and teachers, and coeditor (with Lisa Miller) of The Essential Don Murray, which gathers the most important insights about writing and teaching writing from "America's Greatest Writing Teacher." Thomas Newkirk has been named the 2010 recipient of the Gary Lindberg Award for his outstanding contributions as a faculty member of the University of New Hampshire. Read the Award Announcement » Nancie Atwell is the author of several books for teachers including Coming to Know: Writing to Learn in the Intermediate Grades; In the Middle: New Understandings About Writing, Reading, and Learning; and Side by Side: Essays on Teaching to Learn. In these books, Atwell provides practical tips for teaching presented with humor, eagerness, and a love for students. Teachers throughout the country have accepted her theories and implemented them with great success. Parents interested in their children's education can also greatly benefit from her expertise. Atwell learned and perfected her techniques as a teacher of eighth graders for twelve years. She is now the director of Writing to Learn in the Elementary School, part of the Bread Loaf School of English Project.