Mentor Text: Lamb by Eric Hoffman Techniques: Memoir A pointed non-sequitur Background – It’s the last week before the holiday break. It’s Winter Concert, Christmas Party, final practices before the break week. And my Grade 12 students write a Provincial Exam the week we get back, so we’re prepping for that. There’s a lot on my […]
Mentor Text: Red Vise, Blue Vise by Eric J. Stormer Techniques: Imagery Symbolism juxtaposition Background – I’ve long been a proponent of maintaining a notebook as a teacher – a place to capture all the half-baked ideas and flights of lesson planning fancy. I love my physical one, and have developed a similar pattern with the […]
Mentor Text: The Giraffe from Vanishing Treasures by Katherine Rundell Techniques: Research Essay Background – Daylight Savings Time and insomnia don’t work very well together. I feel like I’ve just gotten that part of my life halfway regulated. Of course, it’s meant that I have a lot more time for reading. Combine that with the ease […]
Mentor Text: a scar tells a story by Maggie Smith Techniques: Connecting images and ideas Word choice Background – Sometimes my reading choices are influenced by my job. I read a lot of memoir anyway, but sometimes, when I flip through a book, I am deciding not just whether it is going to interest me, but […]
Mentor Text: Ten Things I’ve Been Meaning to Say to You by Jason Reynolds Techniques: Considering Audience Voice Varying Paragraph Length Background – Sometimes, discovery of a mentor text is a second hand thing. I assume that folks reading these posts of mine are taking the things I’ve shared and are doing really cool things with […]
Mentor Text: The Reserve Went Silent by Sky Dancer Louise Bernice Halfe Techniques: Point of View Background – As a Canadian teacher, my work in my classroom has been influenced by this country’s history, most specifically our work in the areas of Truth and Reconciliation. On September 30, we have a Day for Reflection on Truth […]
Mentor Text: That Word, It Does Not Mean What You Think It Means by Tara Thorne Techniques: Voice Organization Background – A couple of things my life that influence this particular choice of mentor text for you: I have become quite curmudgeonly, but I think maybe in that Roy Kent, a little bit weary because folks […]
Mentor Text: like a paper cut by Lindsay Soberano Wilson Techniques: imagery simile Background – It’s one of those weeks when the business of the school year, and life, makes you think you should be saying no to something, letting something go. It’s in those times when the stuff you’ve set aside for later, the notes […]
Mentor Text: Three Dragons in Three Styles from Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer Techniques: Exploring style Description Background – I’ve had Jeff Vandermeer’s Wonderbook on my shelf for a minute, but I recently pulled it off, and while my students read independently, that’s what I’m reading. And taking lots of inspiration from. Wonderbook is a wonderful exploration […]
Mentor Text: “Grandma’s Favourite Colour” from Louder Than Hunger by John Schu Techniques: Writing about a loved one Background – This is one of the “long weeks” in my school year. There are parent conferences this week, report cards due on Monday morning, and we’re between dance competitions and concerts at home. I don’t have time […]
