Dr. Sandra Eckard is an Assistant Professor of English at East
Stroudsburg University of
Pennsylvania, where she teaches composition courses, works with
English Education
undergraduate and graduate students, and directs the Writing
Studio. She lives in the
Poconos, where she practices her storytelling daily.

This book analyzes what happens when teachers and
students talk
to each other in writing environments, such as classroom
workshops, office visits, conferences, and tutoring
sessions.
Presented in both narrative and case study format,
this research
offers insight into how the stories that teachers
tell can deepen
meaning-making for students, as well as how the
stories students
tell teachers and tutors can provide insight into
their prior
experiences, worries, fears, and motivations. This
study sorts the
types of stories--and the purposes for
storytelling--into clear
categories that any educator can find useful. In
addition, this book
offers suggestions for becoming a deliberate
storyteller and tips for
spotting and analyzing heard stories more
effectively. Although
primarily designed for writing teachers and writing
center
administrators, this text can be meaningful for
educators at any
level, in any discipline, as they strive to become
even more effective
teachers.