Friday, July 29, 2011

New books!

So, if you've read a little bit about me you already know I LOVE to buy books, shoes, and journals.  I am honest and up front about my proclivities. :)  And, with the start of school here for my district, it is just the right time to pour over some new professional titles for bits and bobs I can try on for size with staff and students.  My teaching, writing, and conversations will be richer with updates...my thinking, expanded.

Right now, here's my shopping list: 
  • Writing Toward Home: Tales and Lessons to Find Your Way - Georgia Heard
  • Thinking Through Genre: Units of Study in Reading and Writing Workshops Grades 4-12 - Heather Lattimer
  • The Writing Workshop: Working Through the Hard Parts (And They're All Hard Parts) - Katie Wood Ray
  • Mechanically Inclined: Building Grammar, Usage, and Style into Writer's Workshop - Jeff Anderson
  • Everyday Editing - Jeff Anderson 
  • My Quick Writes: Everyday Writing - Donald Graves and Penny Kittle
  • Writing Places: The Life Journey of a Writer and Teacher - William Zinsser
  • Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices - Ralph Fletcher
  • Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful Craft That Sparks Writing - Ralph Fletcher

I'd love your input, too.  Please post your picks for any or all of the following categories...
  • Which sturdy books do you lean upon when considering writing instruction?
  • Do you have go-to titles, easily accessible for a chapter here and there?
  • If you could only recommend one book that strengthened your own writing or writing instruction, what would it be?

If you were close by, I'd definitely ask to have a coffee date so we could chat more about your favorites.   (Good conversation is the perfect accompaniment to a spicy chai latte!)   

Thanks a million for sharing...I love that we can all learn from each other electronically!

Write on,
b

    7 comments:

    1. You have a lot of great books on your list. I especially love the Jeff Anderson books. I also love anything by Penny Kittle. Two writing books that I have and can't wait to get a chance to read are Vopat's Writing Circles and Gallagher's Teaching Adolescent Writers. I also just got Robb's Teaching Middle School Writers in the mail. There's always so many great books it's hard to choose!

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    2. I have so many books I've read these past years, I don't know what to choose. All have influenced me as a writing teacher & as a writer. I guess I'd read the early Lucy Calkins, Nancy Atwell, anything by Ralph Fletcher, & I love the recent book by the Two Writing Teachers, so good at reflection. Also, have you seen the new one for students called Spilling Ink? Your list is terrific; I've also especially enjoyed & used parts of Georgia Heard's books. Happy Reading And beginning of school!

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    3. There are so many good writing books out there. Your list is great...I'd add Aimee Buckner's books if you haven't read them. Good stuff, mine are dog earred. Good luck!

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    4. Sorry, thought of another must have...Kate Messner's Real Revision. Incredible examples to share with your class. I'll have this one close at hand all year long.

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    5. @Mrs. V. --- thanks for the additional titles; Amazon and I are BFFs. I'll research them. I love Jeff Anderson too; he is captivating, funny, and challenging. I'm meeting Penny Kittle for the first time this week, and just received "Quick Writes" in the mail :).

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    6. @Teacherdance: I don't know about "Spilled Ink"...but I'll find out!!! Thanks for the suggestion. Is your baby here yet? :)

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    7. @Elizabeth G.: Yes; I have both Buckner books as well as her "Mentor Text" DVD --- they're all invitingly practical! I don't have "Real Revision" though, so thanks!

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    Hi! I'd love to hear what you are thinking right now, so please take a sec and drop me a line. I'm so glad you stopped by today -- thanks a billion. :)