mentor texts · nonfiction

5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Review + Giveaway

Get ready to add many amazing nonfiction picture books to your TBR list! 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, by Melissa Stewart and Marlene Correia, is THE professional text you need to learn more about the different types of nonfiction and how to enrich your writing lessons through nonfiction mentor texts! Be sure to comment for a chance to win your own copy of 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.

Author Spotlight Series · nonfiction · nonfiction writing

The Story Behind WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS and Writing Lyrical Nonfiction

Carole Lindstrom discusses the inspiration behind WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS and talks about how she approaches nonfiction stories.

immersion · informational writing · nonfiction · nonfiction writing · noticings · writing workshop

The Immersion Phase of a Unit: Reading and Writing Collide

The immersion phase of a unit allows us all to get to know our subject. For students, it might be ideas they have and for teachers, it is about getting to know their writers a bit better.

expository · mentor texts · non-narrative writing · nonfiction · nonfiction writing · picture book

The Joys of Sharing Expository Nonfiction Mentor Texts with Students + a Giveaway

Consider sharing these six books with your fact-loving students. Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win all six books for your classroom library.

Author Spotlight Series · fiction · Lester L. Laminack · nonfiction · picture book

Building a House of Fiction on a Foundation of Nonfiction

Meet Lester Laminack at the corner of story and information. You’ll chat a while. He’ll introduce you to a couple of characters and walk with you through the South Carolina Lowcountry. And hopefully you’ll leave filled with new information.

craft · giveaway · mentor texts · nonfiction · social studies · writing workshop

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.

mentor texts · nonfiction · picture book · Read Aloud

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.

biography · informational writing · mentor texts · non-narrative writing · nonfiction · nonfiction writing · picture book

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.

Diving into Information Writing Blog Series · nonfiction · nonfiction writing · poetry · writing workshop

Writing Information Books with Voice and Beauty: Diving Into Information Writing Blog Series

When I was a kid, our town library had a whole special room filled with children's books. It was one of my favorite places in the world. That was where I fell in love with Corduroy, and Caps for Sale, Where the Wild Things Are, and later, Matilda, and Superfudge, and The Babysitters Club. But another thing I remember about… Continue reading Writing Information Books with Voice and Beauty: Diving Into Information Writing Blog Series