5: Critical Literacy and the Writers’/Readers’ Workshop

The significance of the analysis undertaken in this book is the focus it brings to the work of Atwell, Calkins, and Rief, and its contribution to the teaching of language arts through the workshop approach. As mentioned earlier, much has been written about the workshop as an approach to literacy education and how it can be implemented in the classroom. While there are important exceptions (Dodsworth, 1994; Finn, 1999; Giroux, 1987; Heffernan, 2004; Kaufman, 2000, 2001, 2004; Morrell, 2008; Peterson, 1999; Shor & Pari, 1999; Sudol & Sudol, 1991; Taylor, 2000), insufficient attention has been paid in the literature to the scholarly analysis of the work of Atwell, Calkins, and Rief, and more work needs to be undertaken in this area.