Transforming Writing Instruction in the Digital Age

Thomas DeVere Wolsey, EdD, teaches graduate courses in research and literacy and leads professional development for teachers throughout the United States, including on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona, as well as in Egypt, Guatemala, Mexico, China, and elsewhere. He is the author or coauthor of numerous books for teachers and teacher educators, most recently on the topic of teaching refugees and displaced students. Dr. Wolsey has developed training materials for the California Department of Education, TextProject, San Diego State University, and other institutions and programs. His research and writing explore the intersections of literacy and technology, middle grades and secondary literacy practices, teacher preparation, and green school design. Dana L. Grisham, PhD, is Professor (retired) at the California State University and is noted for her research on teaching, particularly concerning the intersection of literacy and technology. She has over 80 publications, including books, book chapters, and articles in national and international journals. Dr. Grisham is a past editor of Reading and Writing Quarterly, Reading Online, and The California Reader.

"Rich with authentic and inspiring examples, this book clearly addresses the 'whats,' 'whys,' and 'how-tos' of integrating technology into writing instruction. It is like an innovative colleague sitting by my side during those stages of curriculum planning when I'm seeking creative support and in need of my own transformative learning experience."--Melissa Provost, MSEd, language arts teacher, Portsmouth (New Hampshire) Middle School"The authors offer an impressive range of practical solutions for promoting skilled academic writing and transformative thinking. Each chapter pairs sound pedagogical practices with concrete examples of how to differentiate and digitize writing instruction across multiple modes and purposes. The authors' keen insights will inspire even the most wary educators to hop on board and join their digital writing adventure."--Julie Coiro, PhD, School of Education, University of Rhode Island"Students will benefit and progress will be made when educators begin to focus on the technology tools that nearly all adolescents already know how to use. Those of us in the classroom who adopt technology readily (and those who are more hesitant) will benefit from a book such as this to get ideas to fine-tune our daily lessons. All secondary teachers, not just English teachers, will find accessible ideas for improving writing instruction in the digital classroom."--Paula Dreyfuss, MSEd, teacher, Vista Unified School District, California"Filled with ideas and instructional activities that cut across all content areas, this stimulating book showcases ways to use technology to help students create, communicate, collaborate, and learn. Through scenarios set in real classrooms, the authors bring to life both the big picture and the day-to-day realities of how to prepare students for new forms of writing and communication in the 21st century. Teachers, literacy coaches, curriculum specialists, and teacher educators will discover a wealth of new learning opportunities that will transform the way they teach."--Jill Castek, PhD, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley"This powerful book fills a huge gap. Teachers recognize the need to respond to students in 21st-century ways, but many just do not know how. Wolsey and Grisham provide classroom-ready ideas for using digital tools to teach writing, complete with solid rationales. The book is organized in such a way that teachers can read it from beginning to end, as I did, or identify specific areas of interest and find ways to improve teaching. I look forward to sharing this book with my students and colleagues."--Susan Lenski, EdD, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Portland State University-

• Introduction Hashtags by Technique I. Getting Started with Tools and Teaching Technique 1. Resources: Anytime, Anywhere Technique 2. Management: Computers in the Classroom Technique 3. Management: The Hardware Technique 4. Direct Instruction Technique 5. A Word about Differentiation II. Writing and Thinking Technique 6. Embracing Writing: Knowledge-Transforming Writing Technique 7. Why Writing Is a Process, and How Technology Can Help Technique 8. Working with Sources: Keeping Track of Learning, and Leaving a Path for Others to Follow Technique 9. Working with Sources: Using Style Guides III. Writing to Understand: It’s All about the Discipline Technique 10. Discussion and Writing Technique 11. Writing Short Pieces Technique 12. Short Writing: Electronic Journals Technique 13. Blogs and Classroom Websites for Writing Technique 14. Online Literature Discussion (Threaded Discussion) Technique 15. Vocabulary and Writing Technique 16. Collaborative Writing Technique 17. Are Those Kids Texting Again? IV. Inquiry and Long Thinking Meet the Disciplines Technique 18. FAQs about Writing in the Disciplines Technique 19. It’s All the Same, or Maybe Not? Technique 20. What Was That Essential Question Again? Technique 21. Learning Because I’m Writing: Logs and Journals Technique 22. Writing Is (Hard) Cognitive Work: Bloom’s Taxonomy Matters Technique 23. Internet Inquiry Technique 24. Prompts Technique 25. Prewriting: Composing before Writing with Pen or Keyboard Technique 26. Prewriting with Graphic Organizers Technique 27. Feedback, Assessment, and Technology V. What about Literature and English Language Arts? Technique 28. Short Writing: Summaries in Response to Reading Technique 29. The Zen of Writing about Literature Technique 30. Persuasion: In This Essay, I’m Going to Convince You… Technique 31. Prompts for Writing: Language Arts VI. Composing with Multimedia Technique 32. Visualize It! Technique 33. Podcasting: It’s Ear-resistible VII. Wrapping It Up Technique 34. Advocacy for Technology and New Literacies Technique 35. High-Stakes Writing Assessments Technique 36. Automated Tools Technique 37. Publication Appendix: Common Core Content Standards for Writing, Grades 6–12 Glossary