“These essays provide models for teachers, students, and others interested in education and community, as distinct from test scores and political sound bites.”
—From the Foreword by Paul Lauter

“This is a book for K-16 teachers who care deeply about social literacy. It is filled with inspiring stories and practical strategies for creating innovative and authentic student-teacher research, and for promoting active cultural citizenship.”
—Lois Rudnick, Director, American Studies Program, University of Massachusetts, Boston

“This splendid collection convincingly demonstrates the utility, efficacy, and effectiveness of teaching and learning communities in fostering innovative opportunities and genuine partnerships involving educators, students, and the public alike.”
—John F. Stephens, Executive Director, American Studies Association

This practical volume addresses teachers’ most immediate and constant wish—to engage students in meaningful learning. Written by teachers affiliated with the National Writing Project, this engrossing collection presents examples of classroom-based community studies projects that showcase teachers’ reflective practice in action, models for professional growth, collaborative staff development programs, and much more.

Features:

• Replicable projects emphasizing approaches for doing research and writing that are both engaging for students and academically rigorous.
• Comprehensive curricular models for building energetic, public connections between the classroom and the larger community.
• Chapters that connect this standards-based classroom work to teacher professional development and to emerging trends in American Studies and literacy instruction.

Chapters include: From Personal Research to Community Learning; Public History, Controversy, and Civic Engagement; Collaborative Learning About Cherokee Heritage; Claiming a Neighborhood Landmark; Learning to Write as a Community; Writing a Museum; Building Community Through Performance Activities; Linking Community Stories in a Music-Drama-Documentary.

Sarah Robbins is the director of the Keeping and Creating American Communities program and author of Managing Literacy, Mothering America. Mimi Dyer is co-director of Keeping and Creating American Communities and coordinator of the Advanced Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy at Kennesaw Mountain High School.