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 … Continue Reading A Bike Like Sergio’s: Review and Giveaway!
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 … Continue Reading Have Charts, Will Travel. Mentor texts? Even better!
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 … Continue Reading Nerdy Birdy: A Review & Giveaway
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.
Q&A with Kate DiCamillo
The one and only Kate DiCamillo is here today to talk about her new novel, Raymie Nightingale. Read the interview and then leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of her book.
Nonfiction Picture Book 10 for 10
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. This is my fourth year participating in this event, which provides me with a chance to share ten nonfiction picture books I have been using as mentor texts with elementary school writers.
Lessons from Characters Who Are Writers: Discovering the Writer’s Life
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?
I’m Trying to Love Spiders: A Review & Giveaway
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 … Continue Reading I’m Trying to Love Spiders: A Review & Giveaway
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 