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.
Category Archive: mentor texts
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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 and I was… Continue reading
New Mentor Texts for Information Writing
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.
A Closer Look
Try typing out a mentor text to get a closer look.
Teacher-Written Mentor Texts: Diving into Information Writing
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
Allowing Student Choice within Information Writing: Diving into Information Writing
How do you encourage students when beginning the writing process for information writing? Give them choices!
Writing Workshop is Hard Work
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?
Notes from the TCRWP workshop with Carl Anderson: Writing With Mentor Texts — Part of #TWTBlog’s Throwback Week
It is Throwback Week on Two Writing Teachers! Revisit this post from Tara on analyzing mentor texts in your classroom.
A New Mentor Text for Opinion Writing
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.
Who’s Up For a TWT Voxer Book Club?
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.
Let’s invite every writer in our classroom to create mentor texts!
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…
Walk Like a Writer
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!
The Cupcake Metaphor
Find out what sprinkled cupcakes and figurative language instruction have to do each other!
Talking About Unlikely Mentors with Lisa Eickholdt
Using students’ writing as mentor texts builds kids’ self-esteem and lifts the level of writing of every other student in the room.
Conferring Toolkits: Mentor Texts
Two elements form the very heart of every conference: the student, and the mentor text I can use to nudge her writing piece forward. …
Throwback Week: NOTICE & NOTE AND MEMOIR–WHEN READING WORKSHOP MEETS WRITING WORKSHOP
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.
Q&A with Robert Burleigh + a Book Giveaway
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
Black History Month & Beyond – My #NF10for10 + 10 Book Giveaways
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