A Resource of CSE at EDC
More Resources & Publications | CSE Home

Writing for Publication

This section provides resources for explaining your work or science and math education reform in education journals and newsletters, school publications, letters or op-ed pieces in community or national periodicals.

Click on the following issues related to writing for publication to see links and bibliographical references to resources that address those issues.

ISSUE: How do I get started?

ISSUE: What special formats should I pay attention to?

ISSUE: What do the various publications want (or not want)?

ISSUE: How can I access a list of publications?

ISSUE: How can I avoid plagiarizing if I’m writing about a common topic?

ISSUE: Where can I find people to mentor or provide advice on writing?

ISSUE: How do publications judge submissions? How do they judge credibility, for example?

ISSUE: How do I find time for writing?

ISSUE: What are the copyright implications of publishing?

Read an interview with Hector Ibarra, a secondary science Presidential Awardee.
Read an interview with Susan Eddins, a secondary mathematics Presidential Awardee.

ISSUE: How do I get started?

Writing for Teachers
Sheree Rensel
http://www.wizzlewolf.com/writing.html

Advice to teachers about the practice of writing for educational purposes. Includes information on writers block, starter statements, and writing for publication.

Writing for Professional Journals
Pamela Galus. ENC Focus, 9 (1), 2002
http://www.enc.org/professional/guide/foundation/leadership/document.shtm?input=FOC-002602-index

Why teachers should write for publication and advice for writing and submitting an article.

Right from the Start
National Science Teachers Association.
http://www.nsta.org/main/pdfs/writestart.pdf

Tips to prospective authors from NSTA journal editors. The focus is on the essential parts of an article and the steps you can take to promote a smooth publication process.

Advice from Teacher Writers
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
http://my.nctm.org/eresources/mt/teachers_mt.asp

Three vignettes offering advice from teachers with experience writing for publication.

Writing for Publication: Some Guidelines
Dr. Neil Moreland
http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/~lsche/resources/prdc_drtry/wrtng_publctn.htm

This is an extensive guide for writing for publication. See the “Writing for Journals” for information about getting started such as deciding your angle, checking out the journals, checking journal ratings, and writing an abstract.

Writing for Publication: A Practical Guide for Educators
Mary Renck Jalongo, 2002
http://www.christopher-gordon.com/Authors/jalongo.shtml

This guide helps you publish on topics such as classroom experience, conference presentations, or research projects. Included are strategies, examples, recommended resources, and advice from experts. Available from Christopher-Gordon Publishers for $24.95.

Thinking and Writing for Publication: A Guide for Teachers
Bonita L. Wilcox, April, 2002
http://www.edu-books.com/Thinking_and_Writing_for_Publication_A_Guide_for_Teachers_0872074994.html

A how-to guide that discusses the important role of thinking in writing for publication, how to form a writing habit, and potential writing outlets for educators. Available on edu-books.com for $17.95.

Top

ISSUE: What special formats should I pay attention to?

Writing OpEd Articles
Ross E. Koning, Plant Physiology Web sit, 1994
http://koning.easternct.edu/seminar/opedhints.html

A writing teacher’s comments to students on their op-ed articles.

How to Write a Letter to the Editor
Assessment Reform Network. FairTest
http://www.fairtest.org/arn/mediaguide/howtowrite%20a%20letter%20to%20the%20editor.html

Suggestions which can help in writing the kind of letter that's most likely to receive favorable consideration on the editorial desk.

Elevate Your Impact: Influence Editorials
Assessment Reform Network, FairTest
http://www.fairtest.org/arn/mediaguide/Editorials.html

Tips for writing an editorial for influencing public opinion.

Top

ISSUE: What do the various publications want (or not want)?

Submission Information for Mathematics Teacher
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
http://my.nctm.org/eresources/submission_mt.asp

Links to the guidelines for writing for Mathematics Teacher journal and writing tips.

Write for ScienceScope
National Science Teachers Association
http://www.nsta.org/153

These are the guidelines for writing for NSTA’s middle school journal.

Write for The Science Teacher
National Science Teachers Association
http://www.nsta.org/169

These are the guidelines for writing for NSTA’s high school journal.

Educational Leadership: Guidelines for Writers
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
http://www.ascd.org/cms/index.cfm?TheViewID=635

What ASCD looks for and tips for preparing your manuscript.

Top

ISSUE: How can I access a list of publications?

Phi Delta Kappa
http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/khome/khpsubmi.htm

Phi Delta Kappa is an international association for professional educators. They publish Kappan 10 times a year, September through June. Guidelines for submission are on their Web site. In addition, the Center for Professional Development & Services at Phi Delta Kappa International welcomes proposals for original publications (books, CD-ROMs, and other media) that help education professionals do their work better. Guidelines for submitting proposals are also on their Web site.

New Horizons for Learning
http://www.newhorizons.org/

New Horizons for Learning is an international network of people, programs, and products dedicated to successful, innovative learning. They publish an online Quarterly Journal. Submissions are welcome and should be sent to: building@newhorizons.org

National Association of Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/pubs/submit.asp

This Web site provides documents that describe the National Association of Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) reading audience, the kinds of projects NAEYC might be interested in publishing, and what you can expect if your project is accepted for publication. They include instructions for potential authors about how to prepare and submit a proposal letter and writing sample for formal review. Writing style, documentation (citations, references, notes), and formatting, and instances where NAEYC house style varies from The Chicago Manual of Style, are all included. These documents also cover how to prepare your finished manuscript for editing and production, submit artwork and photography, and obtain permissions, as well as explaining the various stages in the publications process.

The Reading Teacher and the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy
http://www.reading.org/publications/for_authors/index.html
http://www.reading.org/publications/journals/jaal/index.html

The Reading Teacher and the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy welcome manuscript submissions for peer review. International Reading Association’s peer review standard is “double blind”: authors and reviewers are not revealed to each other. This Web site allows you to familiarize yourself with the journals prior to submitting your article, and ensures that your work is relevant to the intended audience of the publication.

Heinemann
http://www.heinemann.com/author_resources.asp

Heinemann is a publisher of professional resources and a provider of educational services for teachers, kindergarten through college. Heinemann is constantly on the lookout for new voices and visions, and welcomes proposals from published authors as well as previously unpublished authors. This Web site provides answers to some frequently asked questions, guidelines for submitting proposals, author guidelines, and a list of its online resources.

Science and Children
http://www.nsta.org/162

Science and Children is the National Science Teacher’s Association’s journal dedicated to those concerned with teaching science at the elementary science level from preschool to sixth grade. This Web site provides guidance on writing and contributing articles that reflect the needs of classroom teachers, science supervisors and administrators, teacher educators, and parents.

NSTA Journals
National Science Teacher Association
http://www.nsta.org/journals

A list of links to NSTA’s journals.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
http://www.nctm.org/publications/

A list of links to NCTM’s journals, books, and other publications.

NSDC Publications
National Staff Development Council
http://www.nsdc.org/library/publications/index.cfm

A list of links to NSDC’s journals and reports. Some require membership to view.

Educational Leadership
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
http://www.ascd.org/cms/index.cfm?TheViewID=353

The home page to ASCD’s journal. Provides links to current and archived issues. Many articles require membership to view.

Top

ISSUE: How can I avoid plagiarizing if I’m writing about a common topic?

Avoiding Plagiarism
The Writing Place, Northwestern University, 2003
http://www.writing.nwu.edu/avoiding_plagiarism.html

A guide for avoiding plagiarism that includes information about what it is, tips for avoiding accidental plagiarism, and examples of acceptable paraphrasing.

Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism
Penn Online Research Tutorial, University of Pennsylvania
http://gethelp.library.upenn.edu/PORT/documentation/avoiding_plagiarism.html

Four tips for avoiding plagiarism.

Ethics: Plagiarism
WebReadyPlus
http://smccd.net/accounts/webreadyplus/lesson9_plag.asp

A definition of plagiarism and tips for avoiding it.

Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources
The Writing Center. University of Wisconsin-Madison
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/QPA_plagiarism.html

Tips on avoiding plagiarism and explanation of common knowledge.

Top

ISSUE: Where can I find people to mentor or provide advice on writing?

Writing Tips for Teachers—Part 2
Joy Jones, TeacherView.com, May 2003
http://www.teacherview.com/joyjones/may2003.htm

This article provides teachers advice on the writing process, particularly with joining a writing group to support writing and finding ways to get your writing published.

The Buddy System
Carol Sjostrom Miller, Writing-World.com, 2003
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/buddy.shtml

This article gives advice for finding and using a writing buddy.

How a Writing Mentor Can Help You
Julie Rayl, Absolute Write
http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/mentors.htm

This article explains what a writing mentor is, how they can help a writer, and how to go about finding one.

Group Therapy: Finding, Forming, Joining and Participating in Writers’ Groups
Lois J. Peterson, PoeWar.com
http://www.poewar.com/archives/2005/03/04/group-therapy-finding-forming-joining-and-participating-in-writers’-groups/

An article describing the benefits of writers’ groups and how to join or form one. This article focuses on other types of writing such as fiction and poetry, but the advice is applicable to teachers writing for publication.

Top

ISSUE: How do publications judge submissions? How do they judge credibility, for example?

What is a Refereed Article?
University of North Florida Library User Guide
http://www.unf.edu/library/guides/refereedarticle.html

This is a description of refereed articles and the blind review process used by some journals.

Identifying Peer-Reviewed/Refereed Journals
Walden University Library
http://www.lib.waldenu.edu/serials.html

This site provides descriptions of scholarly journals, peer reviewed articles, refereed articles, and different review processes.

MT Reviews: Writing Helpful Reviews
National Council of Teacher of Mathematics
http://my.nctm.org/eresources/mt/reviews.asp

A description of the review process for referees of NCTM’s Mathematics Teacher and a sample of a helpful and less helpful review or an article.

Top

ISSUE: How do I find time for writing?

Writing Tips for Teachers
Joy Jones, TeacherView.com, April 2003
http://www.teacherview.com/joyjones/april2003.htm

This article helps teachers get started in the writing process, particularly with finding the time to write.

Find Time to Write
Bob Brooke Communications
http://www.bobbrooke.com/WritersCorner/timetowrite.htm

This is a list of 20 tips for reorganizing your time so that you can get more writing into the time you have.

Finding Time to Write
Connie Shelton, Small Publishers Association of North America
http://www.spannet.org/timetowrite.htm

This article outlines several tips you can use to spur creativity and carve out time to write.

Time and the Writer
Moira Allen, Writing-World.com, 2001
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/time.shtml

This is an extensive article to help you find ways to make time work for you instead of against you when it comes to writing.

 

Top

ISSUE: What are the copyright implications of publishing?

Write for The Science Teacher
National Science Teachers Association
http://www.nsta.org/169

Go to the “What about copyright?” section to see NSTA’s copyright policy for reprinting and republishing articles you have written.

NCTM Copyright Policies
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
http://www.nctm.org/publications/copyright.htm

See the “Author’s Use” section for information about reprinting an article you have written for an NCTM publication.

Basic Copyright Concepts For Writers
Claire E. White, Writers Write
http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/sept97/cew2.htm

This article is an extensive guide explaining copyright issues for writers.



Disclaimer:

The Web resources collected on these pages are not maintained by Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), nor does EDC make the claim that they are accurate. As with all Web-based information, links change from time to time. To our knowledge, all links were functional as of August 2006. Please notify Kerry Ouellet at kouellet@edc.org if you experience any problems.

 

 

 

Education Development Center, Inc.

Education Development Center, Inc.
55 Chapel Street
Newton, Massachusetts 02458-1060
Phone: 800.225.4276 ext. 2430
Fax: 617.630.8439

Site hosted by Education Development Center, Inc.
©1994-2007 Education Development Center, Inc. All Rights Reserved.