Coaching Teacher-Writers

Book excerpt: When teachers write, good things can happen; writing helps educators to better understand themselves, as well as students, parents, and colleagues. This practical book illustrates how to encourage, lead, and sustain teacher-writers, especially in group contexts. In contrast to guides on writing and teacher research, this book is designed for those who support teacher-writers, such as teacher educators and literacy coaches. The authors offer descriptions of key practices they have developed over years of coaching, teaching, and collaborating with K–12 teachers who write about classroom instruction, teacher research, or advocacy for better policy and pedagogy. Knowing firsthand just how hard writing can be for teachers, they provide a repertoire of strategies to elicit writing, to support teachers as they write, to find audiences for the teachers’ work, and much more. This book offers clear guidance to coach teacher-writers to: Choose topics and shape ideas.Conquer insecurities and draw from their strengths.Establish authority with their audience.Navigate publishing, including choosing venues and working with editors.Find time and space to write and create the habits of writing daily.Respond to audience reaction to their writing.Reflect on their teaching and writing. Develop a voice and vision as a professional. “Understanding writing is a lifelong journey. This book is an indispensable guide to beginning that journey yourself and together with colleagues.” —Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, executive director, National Writing Project “Gives advice on how I can become a better collaborator, facilitator, and cocreator who helps teachers celebrate the power (and joy) that writing can give them.” —Cathy Fleischer, professor, Eastern Michigan University “The authors know how to support teachers in gathering the courage to write. I am grateful for the ideas that have ignited my own writing.” —Penny Kittle, Teacher and Author