Understanding One Writer's Growth: Case Study Materials. Elementary Subjects Center Series No. 66 (original) (raw)

Developed from a year-long collaboration between researchers and a fifth-grade teacher, this paper presents case study materials designed for use with prospective and experienced teachers interested in thinking and learning about students' writing development. Several kinds of information regarding the progress of "Billy" are included in the paper: transcripts of classroom interactions such as sharing time and writing conferences; wr;tten work from Billy's writing folder and journal; self-evaluations; and excerpts from an end-of-year group interview. The materials in the paper are designed to be used flexibly in a group situation where participants can discuss their impressions and insights as they study the examples, drawing on their own knowledge and experience as teachers of writing. The paper offers an initial set of analytic categories for use in interpreting the examples. The three sections of the paper enable teachers to study all or parts of the materials. Section 1, "Tracking Writing Development," provides an introduction to Billy and the context. Section 2, "Looking at Writing Development Over Time," is organized into hree "phases" and provides information about the curriculum that Billy experienced and different sets of examples from each phase. Section 3, "Examining and Revising Beliefs and Practices," is organized around how to document and assess students' writing development and the extent to which teachers' practices are consistent with their beliefs about teaching writing.