"Cultivating Writers introduces educators to 6 essential beliefs to nurture and grow complete writers who have the will to write. Strategies throughout the book show teachers how to create an environment that helps students see writing as a rewarding experience in and outside the classroom. Powerful real-life anecdotes and ready-to-use activities support this guide to developing classrooms full of thoughtful, passionate writers."--.

Introduction -- Chapter 1: Decluttering Writing Instruction -- Underlying Causes for the Lack of Writing Will -- Too Many Expectations -- Too Much Structure -- Too Much Instruction -- Aiming Too High Too Soon -- A Call to Action -- Six Essential Steps -- Chapter 2: First Step: Develop Your Writing Life -- Foster Your Own Writing Life -- Writing Territories -- Precious Time -- Make Lists -- Guests of Honor -- Everyday Anecdotes -- Express Yourself -- Natural Wonders -- Share Your Writing Life in the Classroom -- My Summer Pencil Path -- Precious Pages -- Author's Board -- Be a Writing Mentor -- The Teacher Is Writing... -- Teacher-as-a-Writer Show and Tell -- Chapter 3: Second Step: Tap Into Your Students' Lives -- Writing Triage -- Interest Inventory -- Writing Survey -- I Am a Writer Who... -- The Writer's Notebook -- Notebook Tour -- Cover Creation -- Mining Our Lives for Writing Ideas -- Unforgettable People and Pets -- Destination Known/Unknown -- Mining a Memento -- I Am From -- When I Was Young -- If You're Not From... -- Chapter 4: Third Step: Model the Habits of a Writer -- Wilful Habits -- Celebrating Commitment -- The Habit of Finding -- Tapping into Our Notebooks -- Burning Questions/Cool Ideas -- Reading to Spark Writing -- The Habit of Planning What -- Format Flea Market -- Format Tracker -- Block Party -- The Habit of Planning When -- Let's Make a Deal -- The Habit of Planning Where -- All the Places We Love to Write -- The Habit of Acting: Thinking -- Writing Is... -- Writing Out Loud -- The Writing Brain -- The Habit of Acting: Reading -- Read-Alouds to Illuminate the Power of Writing -- Replicating our Favorite Writers -- The Habit of Acting: Talking -- Oral Storytelling -- The Habit of Acting: Sharing Formal Sharing Techniques -- Informal Sharing Techniques -- The Habit of Goal-Setting -- Passionate/Proficient Writer Anchor Chart -- Setting a Writing Goal -- Chapter 5: Fourth Step: Make the Why of Writing Visible -- Why Write? -- Giving the Gift of Writing -- Writing to Express Thoughts and Feelings -- Bursting Onto the Page -- Inside-Out Writing -- Writing to Record and Document Memories -- Memories Written to Music -- Write that Down -- Writing for Pleasure and Enjoyment -- Texts that Tickle -- The Enjoyment Factor -- Writing to Clarify Thinking and to Share Knowledge and Experiences -- Triple-C Card -- Resident Experts -- Writing-in-the-Real-World Interview -- List the Learning -- Using My Voice -- Writing to Become a Better Writer -- Quick Writes -- Prompt Power -- Free Writing -- Writing to Become More Appreciative Readers -- Writing to Share Valuable Life Lessons -- Writing to Describe, Explain, Entertain, and Persuade -- Chapter 6: Fifth Step: Provide What Students Need to Write -- Writing by the Numbers -- Gathering the Whole Class -- Small Groups Unite -- A Nook for One -- Tools of the Trade -- Stowing Students' Stashes -- The Classroom Library.