Writing and Teaching to Change the World

Book excerpt: The story begins when some committed and curious teachers from the Red Clay Writing Project gathered into a teacher inquiry community to spend a year focusing on and documenting their experiences with one of their most disenfranchised students. By analyzing and rethinking what they do in the classroom and why they do it, the authors come to re-imagine who they are as teachers and as human beings. These honest and compelling stories about connecting with one student uncover valuable insights for becoming more responsive to all students. The book introduces the Oral Inquiry Process and examines its role in fostering critical awareness among educators. Perfect for use in teacher preparation courses and professional learning groups, the text includes prompts at the end of each chapter to support teacher-writer groups, along with a suggested writing exercise.