From the back cover: This book has become the basic text in the movement that established writing as a central part of literacy education and gave impetus to the whole-language approach in classrooms. While many other excellent books have been published that elaborate upon and extend the field of writing education, none has had so significant an effect on the language arts curriculum.

Writing ... shows real teachers in the midst of helping children learn to express themselves, conferring with children, keeping records, talking to parents and organizing classrooms. Readers will meet thoroughly recognizable children - children who write with pleasure and confidence, as well as those who hate to write, can't find a topic, or have trouble spelling words as they engage in the struggle of learning to write. The book carries the reader through numerous classroom problems to successful solutions.