The Writing Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Writers

Jennifer Serravallo’s brilliant new book, The Writing Strategies Book, Your Everything Guide to Developing skilled Writers, lives up to every word of the title!! It could be added that it is the “everything guide” for every person who works with writers. I have not been able to put it down since it arrived!!! I keep reading it with different focuses and each time I open it, I see how so many different people need and would love this book! The strategies are organized in the clearest and simplest structure I've ever seen, making it a book you can start using the minute you open it. There are sections that will give teachers strategies to work with their most struggling writers, as well as their most gifted writers.But…not to be missed is the introduction section, Getting Started. It is filled with practical information that will help you or those you coach manage and produce a goal-driven, productive writers, no matter what type of program you use. From novice teacher to very experienced teacher, from grandparent to home-school parent, from principal to curriculum director, from literacy coach to independent consultant, from special education teacher to gifted and talented teacher, you’ll find treasures in this book.Some of my favorite treasures are: How the Strategies in This Book Might Fit into Your Classroom. (I'm buying the book for my daughter, a high school social studies teacher, because I think she will find it to be a missing link she needs to help her students write effectively in the content area.) It is perfect for me as a consultant, working with teachers who use a variety of approaches and programs. The strategies for Composing with Pictures….the most concise and easy to implement list of strategies I've seen for emergent and struggling writers.( I've been trying out strategies with my preschool-aged granddaughter.)There are hidden treasures that classroom teachers will love, such as the most concise, easy to use narrative, opinion and information progressions in the Organization and Structure chapter. You’ll want to carry the book with you as you confer with writers, with sections tabbed and highlighted. . The clarity in the beginning of each section, How do I know if this goal is right for my student? Is like having Jen by your side to coach you.And just when you think a book couldn't be more complete, clear, and helpful…the writing teacher’s bible you dreamed of ….you find the appendix, just packed with the most complete list of easy-to-implement ideas for Publishing and Celebrating Writing!If you teach writing, give yourself the gift of this book! If you know someone who works with children, buy it as gift for them. They'll be forever grateful.

Jennifer Serravallo has done it again. If you purchase the book, don't get caught up in the fact that the book works a lot like a catalog of ideas. Taking the time to read the beginning of the book before browsing the "catalog" section is important and worth the time. One of the most valuable aspects to that introductory text is that it suggests ways to incorporate the ideas presented in the book to best match the current reading program your school is using. These include Daily 5 Writing, 6 Traits Writing, Being a Writer, and Schoolwide.The book is designed to help you focus on what individual writers need or what your class as a whole needs. Once you determine the need, you can flip to that section, read up on it, and then browse the examples to make an informed choice. The fact that there are examples of actual student work included helps to visualize what to expect and if it would be a good fit for your target audience.Serravallo includes suggested grade levels, genres, and stages in the writing process where each strategy best fits. She even includes mentor text suggestions. What more could you ask for?! And because she dedicates a whole page to each strategy, there is room for even more helpful information like lesson language and teaching tips! To round the pages out, she includes prompts. These are things like directives, questions, re-directions and compliments.Finally, she includes and appendix with is filled with ideas to celebrate writing. Buy this book. Gift this book to a new teacher.

Why ANOTHER book about writing strategies?Because if you are like me, you support students in multiple grade levels K-8 (and above), with multiple needs, in all genres and modes of writing but yet have a need to have all the BEST ideas in one handy dandy reference. That is exactly what Jennifer Serravallo has created in her blockbuster "The Writing Strategies Book: Your EVERYTHING GUIDE to Developing Skilled Writers". This book delivers on the promise of its title.However, if you've not seen Jennifer's video introduction to this amazing book, you will definitely want to spend some time in the "Getting Started" section of this book where you will learn how to navigate the book, how to choose a goal, and how to find a strategy based on levels, genre, or process.As a writing teacher, you will find absolutely EVERYTHING that you need in order to support the learners in your classroom. Use the grade level ranges cautiously for your students who are NOT confident in their own skills or have been in classrooms where writing was not a daily routine or emphasis. You might also find some tips that will help you improve your own writing models - making them more clear and with strategies visible for students to learn from.My favorite quote (today) is this from page 61, "Can we support children in regarding themselves as writers, understanding their own distinct writing styles, and working in a way that feels joyful? I think yes." (Jennifer Serravallo)Seriously, not yet convinced? The visual charts and tools in this book will help you understand "what you're learning from this book." (p. 23) And then these charts can be co-created by you and your students so that your children will be able to remember "what they're learning from you."(p. 23) And I love that there is a whole page on ellipses. The two sections on Conventions will provide perfect guidance for teachers and students.This amazing book has 300 strategies that will answer questions that you didn't even know you had. You will LOVE it!!!

Love this... My students(3 & 4 yr olds) love the many many strategies in this book.

Great book and very informative. The book takes you through various strategies at various levels. The layout of the book is wonderfully organized making it easy to find what you need. Would recommend to anyone.

It is a fantastic book with lots of amazing examples. I love it!

This is a fabulous book with simple mini lessons to start the writer’s workshop

An excellent resource!