Growing L2P 2.0 Into a Project That Can Have Impact Beyond the Classroom

Steven Zemelman’s newest Heinemann title, From Inquiry to Action, combines two of his education passions: Choice-based inquiry approaches and civic action. Steve has worked in many capacities to promote the sustainability of innovative schools in Chicago. For eight years he directed the Center for City Schools at National-Louis University, and he is a founding director of the Illinois Writing Project. He has spearheaded the start of a number of innovative small high schools in the city.

Now Zemelman, along with Katy Smith, has provided a guide for developing L2P 2.0 letter-writing into a focused, whole-class civic action effort. With this document, teachers can take L2P 2.0 even further by engaging their students in community-based civic action projects. Zemelman and Smith provide strategies educators can use to support students identifying and researching issues, doing a power analysis, planning letter-writing, and taking action on their ideas.