Student Writing

Education professionals interested in understanding student writing will want toread this book. It describes Generous Reading a novel method of approachingthe writing of culturally and linguistically diverse students. This book addressesthe increasing diversity present throughout schools across the U.S. and in othercountries.Drawing from current research and theory in linguistics and compositionSpence has developed a way for teachers to tap into the cultural worlds ofstudents and draw upon their linguistic understandings in order to help themimprove their writing. The book is based on research projects conducted in thesouthwest and southeast regions of the United States. The chapters on languagevariation culturally relevant instruction and language transfer will also be ofinterest to writing teachers.Spence has presented the Generous Reading method across the nation and internationally where audiences havebeen eager to try out the methods in their classrooms with students of all ages. University professors have usedGenerous Reading in teacher education courses. This methodology has potential to change teachers' perspectiveson student writing and illuminate writing strengths previously overlooked.