Parsons, a teacher consultant and author of First Grade Writers, presents five specific units of study designed to help second graders develop a keener sense of what they can accomplish in their writing. A September unit is designed to build a classroom community that supports risk taking and encourages students to immerse themselves in writing. Each successive unit engages children in a different genre and opens up new possibilities as students experiment with reviewing books, exploring humor, and sharing their own research. Each unit includes teaching points for mini-lessons, examples of classroom language, assessment diagnostics, elaborations and variations, troubleshooting tips, and month-by-month planning ideas. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)