Nancy Atwell wrote In the Middle in 1998 through Heinemann Publishers, Portsmouth, NH. Having just read this masterpiece of a mentor text, I am sure that many who have gone before me have already gained much knowledge from this book. Although the length of the book can be daunting, the wealth of information inside is well worth the time and energy.
Atwell takes the reader through a mental voyage of how she set in motion shifting her classes over from the traditional writing and reading instructional models to Writing and Reading Workshop. She candidly shares her failures and successes. Atwell also excels at standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before her. She eloquently hands out the names of the mentors who influenced her on her teaching journey.
Full of details and great organizational tips, Atwell helps the new and veteran workshop instructor find many necessary and applicable tools to successfully work with students and the intricate details of Workshop. Craft, mechanics, organization and great examples are jammed into this reference guide.
One of the keys to Atwell’s workshop success is her clear examples of how she writes with and in front of her class. Penny Kittle, in Write Beside Them, mentions how her own class lacked depth, until she risked the writing process in front of her students. She credits Nancy Atwell for encouraging her to take on this challenge and take her class to the next level of risk in their writing through this modeling process.
I strongly encourage anyone who is seeking guidance in Writing or Reading Workshops to read or re-read Nancy Atwell’s In the Middle.
Reviewed by Jeri Tarvin, TC '10
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