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.
Category Archive: mentor texts
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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!
Penguin Problems: A Review & Giveaway
This penguin has problems. A lot of problems.
Picture Books in Secondary Classrooms
Picture books are short, visual, and engaging, which makes them perfect for using as mentor texts with elementary AND secondary students.
Because Kids Need to See Themselves in Books: My #PB10for10
Today is Picture Book 10 for 10, which is a community of educators who share “must-have” picture books for classrooms. My list includes stories that will inspire children to write about their own experiences in new ways.
Have Charts, Will Travel. Mentor texts? Even better!
My last post was about some of the reflections that I want to remember when I teach any genre of writing, but I also wanted to share more of our poetry workshop and… Continue reading
Writing with Emotion: A Review of Ida, Always
Ida, Always is a gentle and honest picture book for helping young children deal with and talk about loss. It’s also an excellent mentor text you can use in writing workshop.
Nerdy Birdy: A Review & Giveaway
When I first opened Nerdy Birdy by Aaron Reynolds, I was not (yet) reading it with the eye of a writer. I was way too smitten with the bird on the front cover. I mean,… Continue reading
When to Use Mentor Texts: TEACHING WRITING WITH MENTOR TEXTS
You have the right text now when is the right time?
How to Choose & Mine Mentor Texts for Craft Moves: Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts
I’ve been researching and working with mentor texts for over a decade. Here’s how I choose them and mine them for craft moves to teach young writers.