Every writing unit should start with mentor texts. Students need many examples of the type of writing we expect them to do. In this article, I've compiled my favorite middle school mentor texts. Each mentor text includes grade levels, a summary of the text and skills you could teach. Note: This article doesn't cover how to teach using mentor texts. Read how to … [Read more...] about Mentor Texts for Middle School by Genre+Summaries and Skills to Teach
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Teach Students HOW to Use Mentor Texts
Most writing workshop teachers know what a mentor text is (examples of writing). But, what about how to use a mentor text? When I scoured the internet for the answer to this pressing question I found very little. Thus...this post. I came up with a five step process for using any mentor text. I hope it inspires you to try the process yourself! 1. Choose Mentor Texts Before … [Read more...] about Teach Students HOW to Use Mentor Texts
We Need to Stop Neglecting Fiction
Fiction writing is neglected in English classes everywhere for many reasons. We don't have enough time. Or we are afraid students might produce pages and pages and pages and we feel too guilty about not reading all of those pages! Or maybe some of us don't do it because we feel it's just not academic enough... In the TED Talk I've included below, Ken Robinson talks about the … [Read more...] about We Need to Stop Neglecting Fiction
What I’m doing the very first day of school might surprise you…and why you should try it too.
I let students socialize the first day of school. Read on to find out why... After reading this important article by Write On with Miss G (which I highly recommend you read), I thought back to my first day of school, last year. Here's what's written in my plan book 8/14/2017: introduce self, read My Name by Sandra Cisneros, go over routines/procedures and record … [Read more...] about What I’m doing the very first day of school might surprise you…and why you should try it too.
10 Reasons Secondary Teachers Should Try Reading & Writing Workshop
Don't have time to read this article? Listen on iTunes instead! We all have our own curriculum, our own teaching teams, our own way of doing things but it's summer vacation and time to ponder other options! This article is meant for secondary teachers who are on the fence about whether to try reading and writing workshop in their class next year. Below you'll find ten … [Read more...] about 10 Reasons Secondary Teachers Should Try Reading & Writing Workshop