NCTE 2018: Here We Come!
Here’s a peek at the dates and times three members of our co-author team will be presenting at NCTE this weekend.
Category Archive: mentor texts
0 Comments
Four Mentor Texts to Nurture the Relationship Between a Writer and a Notebook: Notebooks as a Writers Tool
Writers pause to notice the obvious and obscure moments in life. They preserve their memories in their notebooks by jotting words, tucking away photographs, ticket stubs, and other items that have left an… Continue reading
Getting to Know Your Writers
The decisions I make from the classroom library to family connections are intentional and responsive to building a community of writers and learning about the students who make up this community.
Books to Begin the School Year
Add six new picture books to your back-to-school read alouds and to your mentor text collection this fall.
After you read through this post, be sure to leave a comment about how you’d use these books in your classroom for a chance to win all six of them.
A Fall To-Do List for Shared Writing in Your K-2 Classroom
Maybe this will be the year I do a lot more shared writing!
End of Year Reflections and June Planning
As we approach the end of another school year, many of us begin making plans for outgrowing ourselves. But what might be some lenses to think through when taking on such a task? I have a few ideas . . .
Student-Written Mentor Texts: Beyond the Fundamentals of Writing Workshop
While many teachers seem knowledgeable about mentor texts and teacher-created texts, it is my hope that focusing on student-written mentor texts will lead more teachers to realize students can be mentor authors, too.
Comforting Picture Books + Giveaways
These books serve to comfort children during what is a serious and uncertain time. After reading this post, leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of all five books.
Fault Lines in the Constitution: A Review, Five Tips, + Giveaway!
This new book by Cynthia and Sanford Levinson is a treasure trove of information as well as a handy example of many elements of inspiring nonfiction writing.
Mentor Texts: Writing Workshop Fundamentals
Today, in writing workshop, we intentionally teach students how to write by using authors as our co-teachers. As teachers, we write for and with our students, and our writing can show them the possibilities for their own pieces. We highlight student work too as a mentor text, creating a bridge from what students are currently doing to a more effective way of writing.
Creating Teaching Tools for Picture Books
Summer is the perfect time to seek out new mentor texts for your writing workshop. This post contains 20+ new picture book — fiction and nonfiction — suggestions that you can use to lift the level of your students’ writing. Plus, there are book giveaways! (Be sure to read the giveaway information carefully at the bottom of the post.)
Mining Mentor Texts for Craft Moves
Two (more) lesson sets to help you teach the qualities of good writing from picture books by Maribeth Boelts and Nicola Davies.
Reimagining Mentor Texts: A Collaborative Process
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to write a professional book for teachers alongside a friend? Lynne R. Dorfman and Rose Cappelli show us how it’s done in today’s Author Spotlight post.
Three things that might be stressing out your young writers (and what you can do to support them)
Classrooms need to be places where students can take risks, solve problems, and learn to work through the hard parts. But sometimes anxiety and worry get in the way of learning.
Finding Time: With Craft Moves on The Poem Farm
Poetry month in my opinion (and my students’) is a celebration of writing! It’s a time when we writers welcome new beginnings and hone the art and crafting of our writing skills. I watch my students take wings and write with grace and confidence during poetry month.
Changing Tack: Learning from a Writing Conference
It’s great to be prepared when we are conferring with our writers. However, being ‘prepared’ and being ‘present’ are not the same thing…
The Importance of Science: My 2017 #NF10for10 Selections
These ten picture books will not only teach students about important topics in science, but they’ll also help kids become better writers.
A Bike Like Sergio’s: Review and Giveaway!
Maribeth Boelts’ new book A Bike Like Sergio’s will appeal to readers and writers of all ages. It’s a heartfelt story with a message to which readers will relate; the right decision is… Continue reading
Pablo and His Chair + Giveaways!
Meet Pablo and take an adventure in Delphine Perret’s book as he travels the world!
Q and A with Author Cindy Jenson-Elliot and a Giveaway!
Author Cindy Jenson-Elliot answer questions about her newest book, Antsy Ansel: Ansel Adams, A Life in Nature. Comment for a chance to win a copy of this beautiful book that is destined to be one of your mentor texts!