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 […]
I heard Dance Monkey for the first time after watching the NYT analysis. My response was limited to “catchy and cool”. All my mentor texts are new to my ELLs and they read them for the first time when I bring them to class. Their response is similarly limited to “nice and good”.
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 […]
Do students in your school write a personal essay of some kind every single year? They do in the three schools I’ve taught in. In fact, narrative writing — especially nonfiction, personal narratives — are perhaps the most ubiquitous piece of writing taught in every school I’ve ever visited. How can we differentiate that — […]
Mentor Text: “U” excerpted from The Alphabetical Diaries by Sheila Heti Techniques: Exploring a gimmick in writing Writing within constraints Background – Although I’m largely an analog reader, I can’t deny the allure, and ease, of reading digitally. Especially using a library app like Libby. I’m lucky enough to have a pair of library cards active […]
Mentor Text: Fall From Grace by Mitchell Toews Techniques: Memoir Establishing Setting Background – I mentioned last time how a combination of some chaotic work days and my insomnia had me on a real reading tear. You had to know that the sharing I do here would be impacted by that. I pulled Mitchell Toews’ Pinching […]
