As the 2020-2021 school year sets to start, we recognize that educators need each other more than ever. We need to hold onto our beliefs about the teaching of writing while becoming ever more flexible in our approaches. We need to grow in our understanding of Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy (as described in Gholdy… Continue reading Inviting Voices from the Community
Category: mentor texts
Instructional Ideas Inspired by the Author Spotlight Series
Have you been a reader of our annual Author Spotlight Series? How have you used these posts to inspire your teaching? Read on to find a collection of the Author Spotlight posts and ideas for using these treasures with your students.
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Some Summer Writing Motivation
The idea of creating anything at all that motivates children to continue learning and developing themselves as writers has kept me awake over the last few nights. And after a conversation with a few VERY trusted colleagues, I'm thinking sleep is going to be intermittent tonight, too. (Why can't I just turn off?) I know… Continue reading Some Summer Writing Motivation
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A Review of Kaia and the Bees
Kaia and the Bees is a picture book you can use as a mentor text in narrative writing units. The book contains many craft moves, which makes it perfect for using in minilessons, writing conferences, and strategy lessons. Learn more about the book and take a peek inside of it.
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Gathering Inspiration from Mentors
Here's an idea for using art to inspire students who are reluctant to use mentor texts. After all, creating something beautiful -- inspired by someone else's work -- is something artists, and writers, often do.
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On a Snow-Melting Day + Giveaway
Prepare yourself for some exquisite words to get your writing week off to a wonderful start.
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Focus Lessons: A Review and Giveaway!
Reading Ralph Fletcher's newest book, Focus Lessons, revealed memories of my childhood much the way photos can be revealed in a pan of solution. Slowly, vividly, and magically.
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On Rethinking the Publishing of Information Writing
When it comes to writing, a need for writers to have a clear vision is one of the big reasons we provide mentor texts in writing workshop. Kids need to see not only a goal or end toward which they may aspire, but I would add that they need to be provided models to become inspired. For we all know the effect inspiration can have on anything we are up to in life, right? It matters. It helps. And certainly, writing is no exception. Read on to learn about why making a big deal of publishing informational writing is worth considering...
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A Mentor Text to Inspire the Next Generation of Writers and Activists + a Book Giveaway
I’ve found a hybrid mentor text that will inspire young writers and budding activists. Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of Scot Ritchie’s new book, Join the No-Plastic Challenge.
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Six New Narrative Picture Books for Your Mentor Text Basket
Just as we reflect our teaching practices in the summertime, we can rethink some of the mentor texts we use and find new ones to share with students in minilessons, writing conferences, and strategy lessons.
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Reimagine Notebook Entries Using a Mentor Text
Using a mentor text can be a little like taking a course from a published writer- we can allow him or her to teach us how to be stronger writers. This can certainly happen with our drafts... but we can also do this work in our notebooks. Oftentimes, doing so can free young writers up to do larger-scale revision. Here's one way I tried that...
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Curating an Array of Mentor Texts
If we’re committed to differentiating instruction, then it’s important to use a variety of mentor texts to meet students’ needs.
