Meredith Pike-Baky

What happens when an idealistic young woman sets off in 1971 to live and work in a remote community in sub-Saharan Africa? Propelled by campaigns at home for peace, social justice and racial equality, she joins the Peace Corps and requests a position in the north of Togo, far from the capital city. Once in Africa, her revolutionary zeal is challenged by others who embrace America and its politics. She encounters unfamiliar authoritarianism in a school run by European nuns and reframes her opinion of men in uniform when she falls in love with a policeman. She works hard to fit in, hiring "boys" for help, traveling in mammy wagons, busses and trucks over murderously bumpy roads. She practices expressions in four languages to greet, bargain and teach. Her efforts introduce her to family roles and cultural practices that are shocking. She comes face-to-face with life-threatening illness. Her adventures reveal curiosity and creativity that keep her afloat and result in adaptation and appreciation. She is transformed in the process.

Prompted to Writeoffers help for teachers who are preparing their students for "high stakes" writing tests. This book features fifteen in-depth and reproducible lesson units to help students develop proficiency in crafting essays in all subjects, building their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills, and assessing the quality of their written work. The lessons cover a variety of essay genres and are useful in preparing students for state-mandated writing tests, school entrance and exit exams, and the SAT. Each lesson includes guided pre-writing and planning activities and concludes with a timed writing task (complete with a revision/edition checklist) and a customized scoring guide. Student writing samples are provided along with extensive instructional and assessment guidance.

This book shows how adolescent students at all skill levels, including English learners, can be engaged in systematic writing practice, enabling them to communicate quickly, confidently, and thoughtfully on a variety of topics. In describing their innovative approach, the authors: Show how to introduce timed writing exercises to build fluency and thinking skillsProvide 150 powerful writing prompts on provocative topicsOffer strategies for enabling students to overcome writing blocksInclude assessment, grading, and motivational guidance The approach has been extensively tested by a master teacher, takes about one hour of instructional time per week, and can be used over an entire school year.