The link listed below will take you to a pdf file created by an experienced teacher. She has taught grades ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade and is currently teaching first grade. She has developed an extensive list of all of the mentor texts she uses to teacher writing. The list includes what writing skill the books model and links to her lesson plans.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Jessica: Writing Rubrics
The link listed below will take you to a website that has writing rubrics that can be used to assess students' writing. These writing rubrics can be used to assess the 6 Writing Traits. Mentor texts are often used as models to help students improve their use of ideas, voice, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. Some of the writing rubrics provided on this website also include presentation.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Jessica: Additional Digital Mentor Text Resources
The links listed below are additional websites that contain digital stories that can be used as mentor texts.
Storyline Online is a website that contains children's stories read aloud by actors and actresses. You can select the closed captioning so that students can also read the words.
CBeebies is a BBC website that is based off of a show. The creators of the show have developed digital stories for kids to enjoy. The words to the stories are also visible.
Storyline Online is a website that contains children's stories read aloud by actors and actresses. You can select the closed captioning so that students can also read the words.
CBeebies is a BBC website that is based off of a show. The creators of the show have developed digital stories for kids to enjoy. The words to the stories are also visible.
The Barnes and Noble Storytime website has digital stories of children's books that are read aloud by authors and celebrities. However, the words to the story are not visible for students to also read.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Jessica: Ralph Fletcher Interview
The link listed below takes you to a website with a podcast and transcript of an interview with Ralph Fletcher. He is an author of both professional books for teachers and children's books. He is known for writing books about mentor texts. In this podcast, he is asked questions about his views of mentor texts. Through the interview, you learn his definition for mentor texts, which kinds of books to use for mentor texts, mentor texts he has learned from as a writer, how mentor texts can be used in the classroom, etc. It is a very informative resource that provides additional background information on mentor texts coming from an experienced author and educator!
| Ralph Fletcher |
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Jessica: Website with Collection of Mentor Text Lesson Plans and Additional Information
The following is a link to the WritingFix website: http://www.writingfix.com/picture_book_prompts.htm. This is a website that has a large collection of lesson plans that involve using picture books or chapter books as mentor texts for writing. These lessons are focused around the 6 writing traits. This website can be used as a resource in combination with the lesson plans listed on this blog to assist with using mentor texts to teach writing.
In addition, this website includes other helpful tips to enhance the teaching of writing. For example, a teacher named Corbett Harrison explains how to print writing checklists on post-it notes. He gives these post-it note checklists to his students during writer's workshop and it helps to guide their thinking as they are writing and editing their work. This information can be found at http://writingfix.com/Classroom_Tools/Post_Its.htm.
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| This is an example Post-It Note Checklist that can be found on the WritingFix website! |
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Jessica: Great Resource for Digital Mentor Texts
On this blog, some colleagues and I developed lesson plans that can be used to teach writing by using mentor texts. I am going to begin posting resources in addition to these lesson plans that can help with teaching writing.
Scholastic has a new eReader called Storia! It can be downloaded for free at www.scholastic.com/storia. When you download the eReader you receive 5 free ebooks. In addition, the site lists articles describing the different ways that you can use Storia. The following link will send you to an article that discusses using Storia for whole-group instruction: www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/whole-class-reading-instruction-storia. In the article, it discusses the ways that Storia can be used to access ebooks that can be used as mentor texts for the teaching of writing. Currently, you can use Storia through your computer to display on a smartboard or students can access the eReader through the Storia app for the iPad. They are in the process of creating an app for the iPod touch which will also allow students to read books in small groups.
Scholastic has a new eReader called Storia! It can be downloaded for free at www.scholastic.com/storia. When you download the eReader you receive 5 free ebooks. In addition, the site lists articles describing the different ways that you can use Storia. The following link will send you to an article that discusses using Storia for whole-group instruction: www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/whole-class-reading-instruction-storia. In the article, it discusses the ways that Storia can be used to access ebooks that can be used as mentor texts for the teaching of writing. Currently, you can use Storia through your computer to display on a smartboard or students can access the eReader through the Storia app for the iPad. They are in the process of creating an app for the iPod touch which will also allow students to read books in small groups.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Lori: 2nd Grade Writing Focus Voice and Word Choice
2nd Grade Writing Focus and Word Choice
By Lori Gentry
I Wanna Iguana
By Karen Kaufman
Mentor Text: I love this book! I Wanna Iguana is a great children's story of how a child trys to persuade his mother into letting him have a pet Iguana. I Wanna Iguana is about a boy named Alex who wants to adopt his friend’s iguana. He decides to write this desire down in friendly letter form, and give it to his mother. The book is told from both his and his mother’s perspective as they write friendly letters to each other. Point out that Alex doesn’t simply beg, but formulates convincing arguments why he and this iguana belong together. His mother replies firmly why he doesn't need one. Then after much persuasion an Iguana appears on his dresser.
Purpose: I chose this book because it has great examples of voice between the son and mother as well as word choice. I think that all children can relate to wanting something so badly that you try to persuade your parents for it. I Wanna Iguana is a great source to model persuasive writing for a young writer.
About the Author: Karen Kaufman is a children's author that has published I Wanna Iguana and If Mom Had Three Arms. She also writes a weekly journal article on family life for the Poughkeepsie Journal. She hasn't disclosed much personal information other than having a husband, two kids, an Iguana, and a guinea pig. For more information on Karen Kaufman her web site is http://www.karenkaufmanorloff.com/.
D. Use revision strategies and resources to improve ideas and content, organization,
word choice and detail.
E. Edit to improve sentence fluency, grammar and usage
By Lori Gentry
I Wanna IguanaBy Karen Kaufman
Mentor Text: I love this book! I Wanna Iguana is a great children's story of how a child trys to persuade his mother into letting him have a pet Iguana. I Wanna Iguana is about a boy named Alex who wants to adopt his friend’s iguana. He decides to write this desire down in friendly letter form, and give it to his mother. The book is told from both his and his mother’s perspective as they write friendly letters to each other. Point out that Alex doesn’t simply beg, but formulates convincing arguments why he and this iguana belong together. His mother replies firmly why he doesn't need one. Then after much persuasion an Iguana appears on his dresser.
Purpose: I chose this book because it has great examples of voice between the son and mother as well as word choice. I think that all children can relate to wanting something so badly that you try to persuade your parents for it. I Wanna Iguana is a great source to model persuasive writing for a young writer.
About the Author: Karen Kaufman is a children's author that has published I Wanna Iguana and If Mom Had Three Arms. She also writes a weekly journal article on family life for the Poughkeepsie Journal. She hasn't disclosed much personal information other than having a husband, two kids, an Iguana, and a guinea pig. For more information on Karen Kaufman her web site is http://www.karenkaufmanorloff.com/.
Lesson Plan: Read I Wanna Iguana. While reading point out the authors word choice and how the mother is thoughtful, but firm. Also, point out how Alex not only begs, but makes a good argument. After thinking aloud have students chose something they would like to have, whether it be a toy or a new pet. Then have students write a persuasive letter to their parent that models the book I Wanna Iguana.
Content Standard: Writing ProcessD. Use revision strategies and resources to improve ideas and content, organization,
word choice and detail.
E. Edit to improve sentence fluency, grammar and usage
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