MSirmans

As a speech/language pathologist, I am closely involved with the strategies and methods used for improving writing skills.  My language disabled children do not grasp language concepts readily and I am always open to new methods and ideas and anxious to try different ways to help them.  I appreciated the thoughts of the authors and identified with their mission to search for proven ways to improve students' writing and to communicate thoughts more concisely. My objective is to help the SI students express thoughts both orally and in writing on an  appropriate age/grade level.  This book will be very beneficial as I work with all grade levels Pre-k - 6th and will understand general guidelines of what is acceptable for my students in the classroom.  Since my time is limited with the students, I have to rely on the classroom teacher to provide the time to form the ideas (conceive) and see my role as dealing with the "middle element " as the authors refer to the crafting process.  This includes sequencing, spelling, organizing ,questioning, and rereading to craft the text.

          The speaking, reading and writing skills are blended nicely through the ideas in this book, and I look forward to reading more of it and trying the projects with my language students both in the resource room and through inclusion in the regular education classroom.