Provides great background information and explanation for using the notebook and lesson ideas. Yet, it's still easy to go straight to the lesson ideas without reading the rest of that other stuff. I bought this along with A Writer's Notebook by Ralph Fletcher, and I liked this book more for helping me teach.

I have been using writer's notebooks with my students for years and always struggled with integrating them into the entire language arts curriculum. This book has several hands on strategies which illustrate ways to use the students' own writing to teach a variety of writing skills. There is also a very helpful chapter on assessing the notebook. One of the most helpful books on the subject I have seen!

This book was a quick and easy read that easliy lent itself to great lesson plans for the whole school year. I highly recommend this book if you are a first time writing teacher, or a novice writing teacher.

I am torn by this book- the first half was full of ideas and lessons that I felt would help me improve writing instruction. The second half was not, at least for me. The writing is brillant and down-to-earth. Buckner has good ideas and great real world lessons.

The downside for me was the amount of time it would take for me to do everything- the ideas work best for self-contained teachers.

Do I recommend this book? Absolutely.

I heard about this book in a workshop, and decided to check it out for myself. Basically, I did find some good ideas on how to shake up my student's writing folder experience. However, most of the book was something I already knew and did.

I'd suggest this book for new ELA teachers, or ones who are rusty. However, it is always a good idea to keep looking for new ideas no matter how "old and dusty" a teacher you are.

This is a fantastic book that provides practical ideas to implement in any Writing classroom. The author refers often to an elementary classroom but I have been able to use many of the ideas with my 8th graders. If you are just starting writing workshop and need a reliable source for organization this is a great resource!

Aimee Buckner writes a user friendly Step by step outline to using the writer's notebook in your classroom. It explains why you should use the writer's notebook with your students to help them jump start their writing. I used it with my third grade students this year, and their writing soared. I did not hear "I don't know what to write about!" because they knew that their writing ideas came directly from their writer's notebook. Lessons are clearly laid out. Can be used for any grade level, but I feel work best with students in grades 3-8. Great book!

Book is useful, hope to use the strategies in my classroom. I'll let you know if it works in September. My concern is being able to stick to the plan.