Intended to encourage teachers to examine their assumptions about teaching writing, this document containing a mixture of theory and practice deals with many aspects of writing. The chapters discuss (1) an examination of children's writing and some questions arising from the examination; (2) reasons for failure to write well, including the home background, the nature of writing, and the school; (3) a model for writing that focuses on report writing, story writing, and record writing; (4) a return to the basics (punctuation and spelling); (5) teaching strategies for beginning writing that include using drawings as a communicative act, teaching handwriting, and setting up a writing area; (6) things to do in writing to create a context for learning; and (7) teacher response to writing, including teaching drafting, editing, and correctness. The document concludes with samples of children's writing and an appendix charting children's developmental stages in different kinds of writing and in various skills. (EL)