I see two positive effects of the North Carolina writing test. There's more writing going on in classrooms and children are learning a structure for thinking through story. But the bad outweighs the good. Teachers feel they must teach a formula. Test requirements go against every belief I have about real writing. And worst of all, so many children hate writing. Here are a few books to lessen test fear and reintroduce children to the pleasure of writing.
Klutz Press has two new journals that are beautifully designed with elegantly- edged black paper. Both come with a silver pen. My Life According to Me is for younger journalists. It gives them quizzes and questions to launch them into the joys of recording their thoughts and beliefs. A Blank Journal: For Teens and Beyond has the same elegant design, but pages are empty, waiting to hold private pictures and words of older girls.
Beginning journalists may want to check in with other journal writers. In Speaking of Journals author-journalist Paula Graham interviews twenty-seven children's book authors...from naturalist illustrator Jim Arnosky to hard-hitting novelist Jacqueline Woodson. They offer insights, practical advice, and personal stories which show how journaling is a crucial part of their writing and their lives.
Writing pleasure often comes in the form of poetry and there's a great new book to help. Scholastic's How to Write Poetry is by Paul Janeczko a man whose work I've watched for years. His own poetry is powerful, he compiles exquisitely, and when I learned he's taught poetry workshops throughout the world, I wasn't a bit surprised. His how-to book is poet-friendly, conversational, image- rich, filled with personal tips and passions, and gives a slew of resources. Janeczko gives warm up ideas, warns of beginning pitfalls and shares his own creative process. He takes writers on an exciting journey which combines the art and craft of many different poetry options.
Many young writers seek publication. Two resources from Writer's Digest can help. Anne Stillman's Grammatically Correct: The Writer's Essential Guide to punctuation, spelling, style, usage and grammar is an easy to read, well-indexed book that's useful for young adults to adults. When polish is finished, marketing begins. Both my children published poems with helpful writing and marketing hints from Kathy Henderson's Market Guide for Young Writers. Now in it's fifth edition, the book offers help for writing and editing a manuscript for submission. It also lists numerous publishers and contests for blossoming writers, ages 8-18.
It's my hope that teachers and parents find writing resources like these so they can combat writing fear and help children discover the joys of writing.
Klutz Press, My Life According to Me: A Journal for Girls (ages 7 and up, $14:95)and A Blank Journal: For Teens and Beyond ($14.95)
Paula Graham, Speaking of Journals: Children's Book Writers Talk About Their Diaries, Notebooks and Sketchbooks (Boyds Mills Press, $14.95, ages 8-12)
Paul Janeczko, How to Write Poetry (Scholastic, $12.95; ages 9-14 and teachers)
Market Guide for Young Writers, 5th Edition, Kathy Henderson (Writer's Digest, $1-800-289-0963)
Anne Stillman, Grammatically Correct: The Writers Essential Guide to punctuation, spelling, style, usage, and grammar (Writer's Digest, $19.99)