Profile of Amy Miller
€ Remember your first teaching job and the sudden panic of knowing you were responsible for teaching kids to read and write? The reading part I could handle. I had those college classes and knew how to begin. On the other hand, teaching writing was much more of a challenge. I avoided it. Why do something that was painful for both the teacher and the student? Then there was this teaching partner. She seemed to teach kids how to write while not even breaking a sweat. Well, I figured she was on to something so I started copying everything she did. Eventually, the light clicked on. I began to feel like a real writing teacher. Kids felt successful too. The teacher was Shirley Poulton, and her tools were lessons designed to teach the traits of writing including an expanded version of Power Writing. After learning from my struggles to teach writing successfully, I hope to help spread the word that teaching writing doesn't have to be painful or scary anymore. After 14 years of teaching both elementary and middle school, I am ready to share what I have learned through my writing experiences. Teach the Traits of effective writing will give you the tools you need to create and foster a successful writing environment and energize your teaching.