What I’ve Learned from Teachers of Writing: Twenty years of teaching writing have brought many changes in our understandings, but some principles still hold true

Donald Graves reflects on what he has learned about writing since Writing: Teachers and Children was first published in 1982. He highlights two aspects of his learning--learning that is new and learning that still remains true. He discusses teachers he has learned from, including Nancie Atwell, Mary Ellen Giacobbe, Linda Rief, Tom Romano, and Karen Ernst, as well as academics like Frank Smith, Tom Newkirk, Donald Murray Shirley Brice Heath, Lucy Calkins, Jane Hansen, and Camille Allen. He also shares how he continues to learn about writing and teaching from professionals like Neil Simon and James Carroll. In addition, sometimes children are his best informants as they raise questions and provide insights into the best ways to teach.