This accessible book examines the nature of children's writing, and helps teachers discover how to best nurture in children's creative potential. A thorough explanation of the practices and strategies needed to understand young writers and their writing, the book provides a wealth of information and ideas about the language, interests, and creative capabilities of today's children. Strong pedagogy offers explicit, practical examples with direct application to instruction. Each chapter begins with a brief vignette that captures the drama and excitement of becoming a writer. Boxed features summarize the best approaches to putting instructional concepts and strategies into practice. For Elementary English Teachers.