The New Approach Composition Book

Name: The New Approach Composition Book
Price: $23.99 USD
Author: Richard Lawrence Wallen
ISBN: 9781546270775

by Richard Lawrence Wallen

Formats

Hardcover

$23.99

Softcover

$13.99

E-Book

$3.99

Hardcover

$23.99

Book Details

Language : English

Publication Date : 11/30/2018

Format : Hardcover

Dimensions : 6x9

Page Count : 146

ISBN : 9781546270775

Format : Softcover

Dimensions : 6x9

Page Count : 146

ISBN : 9781546270799

Format : E-Book

Dimensions : N/A

Page Count : 146

ISBN : 9781546270782

About the Book

This book offers teachers and students a new and innovative way to promote skills in composition, thinking, and vocabulary. Through a cadre of one hundred poe-ums, students will be challenged to read and think and then answer thought provoking questions. The questions will focus on analysis, application, creativity, evaluation, explanation, and interpretation. It is estimated that over half of high school students are never taught to think on a number of different levels. A poe-um is designed to illuminate topics of interest to teens and scholars. A free-verse style allows for an easy flow of ideas and information. Use of words that rhyme in the context of a short but comprehensive commentary on a wide variety of topics produces a powerful tool for stimulating thinking. Use of a mature vocabulary invites the student to expand his/her own command of word power. Students learn that even one or two key words, when introduced into a composition, can have a dramatic influence and potent effect. Students with high levels of composition and thinking skills have a potentially dominant advantage in our competitive world. Innovative instructional materials such as this book can be a catalyst for development of both composition and the targeted six thinking skills.

About the Author

The author, Richard Lawrence Wallen, has been active as an educator and in development of instructional materials for over forty years. This current book is for composition students and instructors and it offers a new and creative approach to the learning process. Earning a bachelor’s degree with a major in English as well as a secondary teaching certificate from Central Michigan University, the author was given an opportunity to teach composition and literature at the high school level. Later he taught at the college level which provided him a close look at what students lack coming out of high school. Early experiences in developing curriculum and teaching techniques were a strong factor in motivating him to embrace the importance of effective teaching aides. A master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Central Michigan University opened the door to a better understanding of how students think and what kind of learning experiences best meet their needs. An Education Specialist Degree in Leadership later in his career provided job opportunities to write curriculum,evaluate teachers and interpret student assessment. This book, which is currently being used in many classrooms, has been well received.

Customer Reviews

This is the composition Book I have been looking for. The opportunity to teach students to think and improve their vocabulary and write about topics that are interesting to them is great. The carry over value" is great and really neat because students can create and own. One-time of their own concept of picking and thinking skills until the students have mastered it ..

Thomas Salvador
As a published author myself I know how much thought, creativity and work it took to complete this book. This is an absolutely new concept in teaching composition and the students and teachers will benefit greatly. This is the first time I have discovered an instructional book that focuses on teaching thinking skills. This is a skill that is unfortunately often overlooked. The vocabulary taught in the poe-ums is really college prep level and I applaud the author for exposing students to these words. The poe-ums themselves touch such a wide variety of topics interesting to teens and as such makes it enjoyable for the students to answer the questions assigned by the author to each poe-um. It will be great fun to get the students involved in a contest to see who can write the best poe-um. We had a whole group looking for that one special book for teaching composition and we found it with this book.

Megan Roney
Looking for new ideas on how to motivate students to compose their thoughts has always been like pulling teeth. This book has made it so much easier for me to get students interested in a variety of topics that interest them. They are also learning a new dimension of vocabulary words which will help them in their academics later in life. The concept of teaching students how to think has been an area that I have not really pushed but I will now with this new book. The book has taught me a lot about a more goal-specific way to approach teaching students to compose their thoughts and learn how to think at the same time. I really like the concept of teaching students to be creative. When I think of my years of teaching it seems I challenged students to analyze but that was about it. Now I will challenge them with a variety of thinking skills. The students like the concept of the poe-ums because it is a bit like rap.

Chris Roney
Working with many teachers through the years, I have developed a deeper understanding and respect for the daily challenges encountered in the classroom. Here in California, educators are on the cutting edge of new techniques and methodologies to increase student learning. "The New Approach Composition Book" fits right in line with California’s continually evolving approach to education. I enthusiastically recommend this excellent composition book to all my teacher friends. The poe-ums used in this book are germane to current teen issues and naturally facilitate the development of critical thinking skills. While it is often difficult to discern whether a student has mastered critical thinking skills, this book eases the challenge of teaching critical thinking and enhances the ability to confirm mastery of the skill. Poe-ums are the ultimate springboard to provide students with the impetus to write creatively, think critically, and learn voraciously. Students will be thoroughly focused and engaged with the unique approach of poe-ums. This book could become the exemplar for teaching critical thinking skills through the exploration of a stimulating new genre, poe-ums.

Colleen Sanders
I have been an English teacher for over 20 years here in Texas and am always on the lookout for something new, something unique, to help my students learn composition skills. When I saw this book, I was amazed. Just a great and unique approach to the instructional process for my students. I will continue to look for more instructional books from this author as he seems to have that magic touch. My personal perspective on teaching students to learn to think is that all teachers across the curriculum have this responsibility. However, this book is going to make it so much easier for me to do my part. Teaching students to think and to develop a high standard vocabulary are the tools that will help them compete in their years ahead. Great book!!

Janette Vanderpool
As the parent of three children, I have learned how important it is for them to get the type of skills they will need to compete at the college level. I bought the book, "THE NEW APPROACH COMPOSITION BOOK", to motivate them to learn to think as they learn composition skills. This book hit a home run for me and I have recommended it to many of my friends and the local school district. My three sons fell in love with the concept of the poe-ums and the great variety of topics covered in the 100 poe-ums offered. They are increasing their vocabulary and that will pay off for them over their lifetime. Sure wish more veteran educators would share their expertise and write books like this one to help the younger teachers become more skilled.

Charlene Castillo
My interest in this book is that of a mathematics teacher who appreciates the efforts of other educators wanting to help students learn more effectively. In math i teach students how to think but not in the manner this book teaches those six different thinking skills. In education we need these kinds of tools. Taking time to peruse the 100 teen oriented poe-ums helped me focus once again on identifying topics students will enjoy because they can relate. After sharing it with several teacher friends who teach the college prep English classes they have collectively decided to put it on the list of books they will ask our school district to purchase this spring (2019) for use in the classroom next fall. Even though I have a Bachelor and Masters degree , I still had to look up the meaning of some of the words used in the poe-ums. That impressed me because a strong vocabulary is such an important advantage in college level classes. I give the book a grade of A.

douglas july
As a college instructor in Southern Michigan for most of the fifty years of my professional career and an author of several academic books, I am always looking for ways to help students be successful in school. Writing, along with reading, are definitely the most critical skills students need to be successful in college. This book goes a long way in helping them prepare for the challenges of answering thought provoking questions and putting their response in composition form. I am impressed and have recommended it to several of my professional colleagues and school board members.

Dennis W. Bila , Professor Emeritus
As a college instructor in Southern Michigan for most of the forty five years of my professional career and an author of several academic books, I am always looking for ways to help students be successful in school. Writing, along with reading, are definitely the most critical skills students need to be successful in college. This book goes a long way in helping them prepare for the challenges of answering thought provoking questions and putting their response in composition form. I am impressed and have recommended it to several of my professional colleagues and school board members. Dennis W. Bila Professor emeritus

dennis bila
It is infrequent that I write a review for a book I spot online but this book is unique and creative not only for English teachers but for parent and grandparents, too. Students are absorbed with their phones in today's world and it is a struggle for parents and grandparents to find a media to which a dialogue can be established. After reading the current book reviews already written I bought it and I love it. I am going to ask the principal of our high school to get a copy for the teachers to view in hopes that they will get our students involved in the teen issues raised in the book. The poems are delightful and giving students and organized way to learn to think is great. The vocabulary is definitely college oriented which is a bonus. I rate this book very high.

Mary Ellen Dick
As a parent of a teen, I am always looking for ways to help him be successful in school and also to learn to deal with teen issues. The concept of teaching young people to think and to increase their vocabulary appealed to me immediately as I read the book. After discovering the numerous teen issues introduced in the book, I bought another copy so my teen student and I could get involved in dialogue about critical issues all teens face. I hope teachers in Seattle use it because it has great educational value in many ways. The new form of poe-ums is fun and thought provoking. I love to try to answer the questions accompanying the poe-ums. This author knows the minds of adolescents because this book is right on the mark.

Vickie Rawlins

Add Review

Name

Email

Ratings

Please Enter Rating

Comments

Please Verify