Dorothy Watson, the first president of the Whole Language Umbrella, is recognized across North America not only as a brilliant, student centered educator, but also as a champion of teachers and children. Her writing collected in this anthology is in some ways a history of the concerns and interests—as well as the excitement—of the whole language movement over the last few decades. Whether Watson is sharing her favorite miscues, talking about how to replace basal readers with literature, or portraying the workings of a successful teacher support group, her deep knowledge base and commitment to learners shine through.
In choosing articles for this collection, Sandra Wilde has looked for pieces that stand the test of time. Many readers will be happy to see articles they may not have known about before, but all will discover ideas about teaching, learning, and teacher growth that are fresh, useful, and relevant to today's classroom practices. Watson has also written introductions to each article that put them in the context of her current thinking. The anthology concludes with a previously unpublished article that describes her most recent thinking about communities of learners and ways to create them. |
