Describes the challenges and rewards of working with Amy (an eighth-grade girl considered autistic) in a team-taught language arts class that functions in the workshop format and that includes learners with special needs. Describes Amy's progress and setbacks, and notes the importance of the workshop format for her progress and for her teacher's…

Describes why and what happened when a teacher changed from viewing English teaching as a value-neutral act to teaching what matters to her. Relates what she expects from the reading and writing workshop and how raising her own voice in terms of her passions and what she values has strengthened students' voices. (SR)

Describes the Power and Literacy for Disadvantaged Youth (PAL) project which includes more than 45 teachers from 20 different middle schools who are committed to work with at-risk students in a workshop atmosphere in their English language arts classrooms. Describes how each PAL teacher developed an implementation plan. Discusses what these…

Describes how one teacher worked with a learning-disabled sixth grader, who benefited from the opportunity to write about what he knew and cared about. (SR)

Relates how one teacher restructured her classroom to use reading and writing workshops. Describes how three at-risk students in her classroom, in the course of the academic year, moved from being at risk of academic failure to being on the path to promise and success. (SR)