Harper: "Writer's Toolbox"

Laura Harper is matter-of-fact when she questions the effectiveness of writing workshop with her students. Generally speaking, teachers take great care to make sure all the materials are needed for the students ready to use during the lesson. Harper was just as careful to equip her students with those materials, so she thought. In this case, Harper discovered when it came to helping students understand how to make changes in their writing, it would take a step-out-of-the-box experience. Harper expressed her heartfelt challenges of getting 'all' of her students to understand that changing their writing to be more meaningful meant more than just changing words and neater writing.
What I respect of Harper and other authors alike was the attitude she took when seeking researched guidance practice; Barry Lane, author "After the End" provided the toolbox of engaging tools she needed for her students to use for demonstrating their understanding of what writing revision sounded and looked like. I agree! After witnessing the effectiveness of using these five tools of revision in our NIWP class, it is a win-win for students to get hooked on writing!
Not only does Harper credit Lane, but includes established colleagues of this thinking philosophy such as: Nancy Atwell, Sharon Creech, Janet Emig as well as other authors Gary Soto and Gary Paulsen. What is incredible about individuals like Lane and others is what the research reveals; success for the students and the teachers.