The time has come to shift how we think about writing in our schools. In this book, the author calls on educators to embrace the deeply personal, powerful, and transformative potential of the writing workshop by pivoting toward a classroom that honors each student's individual voice. As he argues: When we let-no, push-for students to use their voices for their own purposes, we give them what is rightfully theirs as human beings: the tools to shape the world in their image.
Writing through this lens is an exercise in agency, empowerment, and self-determination. The author outlines key considerations for creating a writing workshop that centers freedom, equity, and equality of opportunity. He begins with what writers need, classroom routines, and how to catalyze creativity through mini-lessons, independent work time, and conferencing. He also addresses how to track growth, advocate for equitable practices, and navigate the trauma that sometimes emerges in student work. A clear-eyed call to action informed by the author's years of classroom experience, this volume will equip educators with all the tools they need to facilitate dynamic practices in their own spaces.