Kids often feel as though that they are the only ones who have ever been stuck for ideas, or been laughed at, or had a story rejected (by a teacher, or friend). No matter where you live, no matter what you write, there is no need to discover every writing problem all on your own. That’s where characters in books come in. Why not learn from them?
When my principal handed me a copy of Bethany Barton’s I’m Trying to Love Spiders, I was intrigued. She had chosen this book as our Everybody Reads title for the month and I was… Continue reading
The books featured in this post, all of which were published in 2015, represent a variety of information writing. All of these are texts that can pull double- and even triple-duty in your classroom, thereby allowing you to use a text during read-aloud time so you can revisit it during a writing workshop minlesson and/or in a content area.
Try typing out a mentor text to get a closer look.
I’ve long believed teacher-written texts can serve as excellent mentor texts during a unit of study. While I’m a huge advocate of student-written mentor texts, sometimes student writing doesn’t have everything we need… Continue reading
How do you encourage students when beginning the writing process for information writing? Give them choices!
Last Thursday, I endeavored to explain writing workshop to parents in my district at Parent University. As I drove home after the presentation, I felt unsettled, like there had been a gap in what the parents were hoping to learn and what I delivered. What would you be sure to include in a presentation to parents on writing workshop?
It is Throwback Week on Two Writing Teachers! Revisit this post from Tara on analyzing mentor texts in your classroom.
Finally! I’ve found a new picture book I can use in opinion writing units of study. Learn more about One Word from Sophia by Averbeck and Ismail in this post. Then, leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of this book.
Are you a Voxer skeptic? Read on to find out how Voxer can enrich your teaching life and an opportunity to use Voxer with others in our TWT community.
As a writing teacher, I am always on the lookout for rich and varied mentor texts to share with my students as we work our way through genres and, more importantly, try to live writerly lives…
Observational walking is useful for professional writers and it can be good for students too!
This fall, head outside with your students for a walk around your school’s neighborhood. But first, read ASK ME by Bernard Waber and Suzy Lee!
Find out what sprinkled cupcakes and figurative language instruction have to do each other!
Using students’ writing as mentor texts builds kids’ self-esteem and lifts the level of writing of every other student in the room.
Two elements form the very heart of every conference: the student, and the mentor text I can use to nudge her writing piece forward. …
Let’s check in on a moment in Tara’s class from early November of last year as she shares connections between reading and writing workshop.
I’ve been a fan of Robert Burleigh‘s writing for the past few years. I was delighted to receive an advance review copy of Trapped! A Whale’s Rescue, his newest picture book that’s out later… Continue reading
Today is the annual Nonfiction Picture Book 10 for 10, hosted by Cathy Mere from Reflect and Refine, Mandy Robek of Enjoy and Embrace Learning, and Julie Balen of Write at the Edge.… Continue reading
Are you looking for books to add to your Black History Month book list? Are you looking for mentor texts to teach your students certain writing crafts? You can add Seeds of Freedom: The… Continue reading
Just in time for Presidents’ Day, I chatted with nonfiction author Katherine L. House about her recent book, White House for Kids. Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of her book.
