The Child-in-the-World-with-Others: Re-Visioning Lensmire's Critical Re-Visions of the Writing Workshop. A review of When Children Write: Critical Re-Visions of the Writing Workshop by T. J. Lensmire. New York: Teachers College Press, 1994 (original) (raw)

The review critically analyzes T. J. Lensmire's work "When Children Write," exploring the complexities of a progressive writing workshop through the lens of a teacher-researcher's ethnography. It highlights the tension between idealized views of children's potential and the unsettling realities revealed through Lensmire's observations, suggesting that issues of social status and class dynamics significantly influence student interactions and writing experiences. The review calls into question the interpretative approaches used by Lensmire, ultimately advocating for a deeper consideration of the connections between student identity, teacher perceptions, and the role of texts in fostering human dignity.