In the Beginning: Young Writers Develop Independence

Flashing back to my own rather pedestrian educational beginnings in 1962, I watched agog as the ESL five-year-olds in this well-done program--which follows master teacher Emelie Parker as she works with kindergartners in a writing workshop at Bailey's Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences in Falls Church, VA--conceived, wrote, and illustrated their own nonfiction narratives. Parker combines personal attention and targeted instruction to teach the mechanics, process, and creativity of writing, using such terms as “title page,” “illustrated,” and “publishing” (things I didn't even start to think about until, what, junior high at the earliest?). Keeping detailed progress-charts, Parker doesn't worry too much about spelling and grammar at this point (with this particular group of kids, “pk” is good enough for “pancake,” for instance), but instead focuses on laying a solid foundation to help her students develop into independent writers. A fine teacher training tool, In the Beginning, which is accompanied by a study guide, is recommended. Aud: K, E, C. (K. Glaser)