Teaching Writing in the Caribbean

Sandra Robinson is Lecturer in English and Language Arts Education in the School of Education at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.Victor C. Simpson is retired Senior Lecturer in Hispanic Caribbean Literature at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.Krishna Seunarinesingh is Lecturer, Teaching of English at the School of Education, the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.

'Teaching writing in the Caribbean: Culturally responsive practice and research for educators is a fresh, direct and enthusiastic guide for teachers of writing in the Caribbean. It has been prepared by more than a dozen, well-qualified Caribbean nationals with experience and expertise in teaching as well as in writing. It encourages personal planning, training, research, flexibility and focus on the learner in the preparation of teachers of writing. It should be a compulsory textbook in courses aimed at converting students into sensitive and sensible teachers of writing.'Peter A. Roberts, Professor Emeritus The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados and former Chief Examiner for CSEC English 'A'.'[T] he teacher is also foregrounded and treated in a professional, collegial and developmental way. As we move through the book, the teacher-reader is constantly being asked to reflect on the information, the applications and the research – to integrate the ideas into her own practice and monitor her own development through continuing research and professional learning communities. In fact, the number of articles and myriad voices in this collection models a kind of community in itself.The core of the book is learner-centred with its concern for honouring the language background of the students by its use of culturally relevant examples that draw on authentic classroom interaction, and artefacts, while also referencing Caribbean curricula and literature. The title itself makes clear that focus on the ‘particular’As important as cultural responsiveness, is the essential principle of planning, which is foundational to language teaching, especially second language teaching. This is underscored in the chapters that focus on ‘design’: the work can be naturalistic and authentic but must also be intentional in its rigorous implementation. Several of the chapters foreground planning in its widest sense – taking account of external factors whether it is the contextual elements of classroom ecology; or the necessary systematic planning embedded in a specific writing task. Or, broader still, the meticulous work of lesson and unit planning.'Beverley Bryan, Retired Professor of Language Education from The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica

• Foreword – Beverley BryanPrefaceIntroduction –Teaching Writing as Necessity and Skill – Sandra Robinson, Victor Simpson and Krishna SeunarinesinghFraming a Perspective of Writing with Teachers in MindChapter 1Writing Teachers: Transforming the Knowledge of Writing into the Teaching of Writing – Sandra Robinson, Victor Simpson and Krishna Seunarinesingh Chapter 2Becoming A Strategic Writing Teacher – Krishna Seunarinesingh Chapter 3Establishing a Context for Writing – Adeola MatthewChapter 4 Theoretical and Pedagogical Foundations of Teaching Writing – Sandra RobinsonConstructing Writing through Research, Planning and Use of TechnologyChapter 5: Perspectives on Writing Research – Marise ButlerChapter 6Technology and Writing in the English Classroom –Judith Hatt and Krishna Seunarinesingh Chapter 7Designing Writing for Teaching: Principles and Practices – Angelina PoliusChapter 8Planning for Writing – Using the Unit and Lesson to Shape Writing Instruction –Desryn CollinsBuilding the Structure and Content of WritingChapter 9Instruction in Critical Writing Elements – Victor SimpsonChapter 10Enabling Student Writing through Note Taking – Kelvin QuintyneChapter 11Improving Writing Skills – The Mechanics – Janice Jules and Korah BelgraveChapter 12Responding to Student Writing – Lynette Tyson-NoelSupporting Students’ Writing Experience Through Practice: Strategies and ActivitiesChapter 13Writing Strategies that Work – Karen Thomas and Yvonne Alexis-Jones Chapter 14Writing in Response to Literature – Karen Thomas and Sharon Philip with Andrea Keizer-Bowman Chapter 15Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum – Janice Jules, Bernisa Roberts, Lydia Quinn and Gillian Fleary-Lazarus with Veronica Simon Chapter 16An Afterword: Teaching Writing for Now and BeyondIndexAppendicesHelpful resourcesSome strategies that workUseful websitesTemplatesResources