Methods of eliciting writing from children are explored in this monograph, which includes samples of nine- and ten-year-old students' writing. The monograph offers four recommendations for improving writing skills: make writing a daily activity; take children's writing seriously; maintain flexible standards of form and language; and identify group themes. Emphasis for teachers is two-fold: allow children to find their voices, and study their work for what it reveals about them as individuals and about their learning processes. Classroom atmosphere, confidence-building, and teacher flexibility are explored in "The Children, the Classroom, and Getting Started.""What Do Children Write?" looks at the emergence of themes, styles, and forms from a particular group of children, and treats the pleasures of form and the expression of the pictures in their minds. "Andre" is devoted to the gifted and motivated child, while "Developing as Writers: Andre and Ruthie" traces writing trends, continuities, perplexing themes, and the perspective of time. The use of memories, everyday chronicles, and speculations about the future are explored in "Past, Present and Future." Finally, suggestions on being patient, approaches to correction, the purpose of exercises, and the importance of the power of words are examined in "How Do You Teach Writing?" (JK)