A prominent writer and researcher studied a 1st grade writing workshop to understand why the students had such insight into the craft of writing. Videotape footage revealed the importance of authenticity as an aspect of expert teaching, particularly as it relates to authentic questions, authentic studies, and authentic work. Authentic questions--such as what are you thinking about an ellipsis?--are driven by an authentic desire to know. In authentic study, teacher and students work together to find the answers. Finally, students can engage in and make sense of such conversations because they are doing authentic work. Each day, they work on various writing projects of their own choosing, making all their own decisions about topic, genre, organization, drafting, and revision.