Mentor Text: An Open Letter to the Person Who Stole My iPod: Please Let Me Explain My Music Collection by Dan Ozzi (Be aware, contains some cussin’!) Writing Techniques: Reflective Writing Humour Writing about music Background: In Canada, this past weekend was a long weekend. I did my best to shut off the TeacherBrain and […]
Mentor Text: Various Poems Writing Techniques: Writing poetry Writing around a theme or topic Building a writing community Background: Though it’s no longer something that I do, I have taught Art. It’s pretty clear in my classroom, as I do a lot of work that incorporates visual elements. I love having students express their learning […]
Mentor Text: Swindle magazine Icons issues The Time 100 Issues The Time: Person of the Year Issues Tributes to Merle Haggard from Rolling Stone magazine Excerpts from Brad Meltzer’s Heroes for my Son & Heroes for my Daughter Profile of Frederick Law Olmsted from Nick Offerman’s Gumption Writing Techniques: Writing biography Focusing presentation of research […]
Mentor Text: Barney Frank & Frederick Law Olmsted excerpts from Nick Offerman’s Gumption Writing Techniques: Integrating quotations into writing Essay Writing Voice Highlighting an Opinion or Personal Connection Background: The thing about being a teacher on the lookout for mentor texts is that you never know where that inspiration will come from. Pretty much every […]
Mentor Text: Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska Writing Techniques: Lyrical Analysis Academic writing of analysis Looking at tone and mood Looking at voice Writing lyrical poetry Writing narrative poetry Pairing writing with other creative work Background: Recently, I found myself thinking about dream projects. Like many teachers, I have some crazy ideas rolling around the ol’ noggin. […]
Mentor Text: WFM: Allergic to Pine-Sol, Am I the Only One by Melissa Barrett Writing Techniques: Poetry (specifically found poetry) Manipulating existing text for creative purposes Critical Thinking Creative response Editing The importance of a title Background: In the spirit of Poetry Month, I decided to commit the remainder of April’s columns to poetic mentor […]
Mentor Text: The Twin Peaks poetry of Liz Worth Writing Techniques: Poetry Manipulating existing text for creative purposes Pop culture analysis Creative response Editing Background: I’ve already admitted to how I feel about magazines in this column. They’re these wonderful collections of information and inspiration that call to me on a regular basis. I read […]
Writers’ bios provide lessons in voice, brevity and writing for social media.
moving writers 