https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb This padlet will include books that can be used as Mentor Texts for writing instruction. This basically means that these are books that can help teach students how to write; from things like conventions, voice, word choice, and sentence fluency. I hope, in my classroom, that I can use these books to help inspire children to write and give the motivation to write. These books can really inspire students to want to write and to want to get better at writing, so it's crucial I include some of these in my future writing classroom. I hope my students will want to write and love writing just as much as they will be proficient in it, so all of these books will be interesting/appealing to a young student. Hopefully I can learn a lot whilst creating this! en-us 2023-01-27 20:32:29 UTC 2023-04-17 12:09:45 UTC hello@padlet.com Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459456014 Voice is crucial to student writing, because each student is going to have a different voice, and they need to understand that different voices are good. Each author has a specific "voice" that they write with, and all of the books in this column can teach students about "voice", and even show some distinct examples to inspire them to develop their own voice in writing. ]]> 2023-01-27 20:42:51 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459456014 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459463007 Finding and/or expressing an idea can be one of the hardest parts of learning to write for children. Many students want to express an idea, but don't know exactly how, or are not far along enough in their writing skills to do so. It's important that we use texts to inspire ideas and show students ways to share ideas, even if they are emergent writers. All of the texts in this column will aim to show children how easy it can be to express an idea, and give some ideas they might want to express.]]> 2023-01-27 20:53:50 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459463007 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459463977 One major part of the writing process is presenting it or showing it to others. This doesn't have to be (and usually shouldn't be) something boring like an oral book report or written history project, but can be fun things like sharing a story or even just collaborating with peers to create a story. The books in this category will give children examples and inspiration for presenting their writing work to others. ]]> 2023-01-27 20:55:36 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459463977 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459465195 Conventions are very important to our language; lots of sentences can have different meanings with just a missing comma. Conventions can also be some of the most boring things to learn (on the surface), but it doesn't have to be that way. The books in this column will show the rules of conventions, but also that conventions can be fun and easy to learn, and students will pick up on them quickly.]]> 2023-01-27 20:57:36 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459465195 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459467296 Organization in writing can take many different forms, including major ones like a "hero's journey exposition" or more of an informational, biography type timeline. Either way, the way writing is organized is vital to learn so that students can create works that are comprehensible to others. The books in this category will show students many different types of ways to organize a story or just writing in general, but can also serve as inspiration for ways to organize their freestyle writing at home. ]]> 2023-01-27 21:00:42 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459467296 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459468573 Word choice, similar to vocabulary, is a key point in student writing instruction. It's not just about choosing high quality words, it's about choosing the right words that make sense in the sentence. Students can learn, too, that there are many different definitions for one word, and can go from there when choosing words for their works. The books in this category will give students lots of words to choose from when they write, but will also emphasize the importance of word choice in writing. ]]> 2023-01-27 21:02:54 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459468573 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459469556 Sentence fluency basically means that students are capable of writing things that look appealing to read and sound appealing when read out loud. Their sentences should flow nicely, and this is something that can easily be taught. The mentor texts in this category will focus on different types of sentence flow (freestyle, poetry, etc.), but will also show the importance of a good sentence flow in helping the reader understand what they wrote.]]> 2023-01-27 21:04:33 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459469556 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459479535 This book exemplifies great sentence fluency, and can show students what good sentence fluency can look like (could be related to a lesson where students try to emulate this style of sentence). ]]> 2023-01-27 21:23:01 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459479535 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459480221 This book has lots of good words in it, and exemplifies how to choose certain words when writing for students. It also presents vocabulary acquisition in a positive light, and can inspire students to learn more vocabulary words.]]> 2023-01-27 21:24:10 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459480221 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459484668 This book exemplifies lots of grammar rules with punctuation in a fun and interesting way for students. It could be used in a lesson where students write a sentence with one punctation mark "on vacation" and then explain why their sentence sounds strange. ]]> 2023-01-27 21:32:00 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2459484668 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2462043723 This book shows students that they don't have to have perfect ideas or writing skills to be good writers, they just have to be creative and write about whatever they wish.]]> 2023-01-30 20:11:28 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2462043723 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2462047617 This story shows that students don't need to have perfect writing skills to write when they want to, and gives some examples of "squiggly" writing that can inspire students to have lots of different presentation styles. ]]> 2023-01-30 20:14:50 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2462047617 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2475712238 This story can show students that they don't need to be a great writer (or in this case, artist) to develop their voice, they just need motivation and to try their best; just be yourself!]]> 2023-02-09 22:44:19 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2475712238 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2475719775 These poems provide good examples of the many things students can write about, and can just inspire them to write in general. ]]> 2023-02-09 22:56:02 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2475719775 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2475743292 Writing can be presented in many ways, even with lots of pictures! This book shows a comic-book and integrated text style of writing that might inspire students to use different presentation styles.]]> 2023-02-09 23:36:14 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2475743292 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2475757319 This book provides a good example of different voices in writing, and the way a voice can change depending on the writer (or their "color"!)]]> 2023-02-09 23:59:06 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2475757319 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2480585139 This book has an easy to follow organization and could be related to a lesson where students write stories emulating this organization style. All of the kids in my internship class love Pete the Cat as well, so it's relatable for them. ]]> 2023-02-14 01:04:16 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2480585139 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2480605848 This book has a very unique organization style, and can be used to exemplify fun and interesting organization style students can use in their writing.]]> 2023-02-14 01:07:42 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2480605848 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2480609667 This book exemplifies things like alliteration to help students learn more about word choice and how it can improve one's writing. Could be used to show how word choice makes a book more interesting (the book wouldn't be the same without all of the fun words).]]> 2023-02-14 01:10:07 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2480609667 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2493190697 This book can inspire kids, and is a great example of voice because it presents many different stories throughout the "city". This can show kids that everyone has a different voice, and can help them develop their own voice in writing.]]> 2023-02-23 22:23:00 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2493190697 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2493226279 Lots of interesting words in this book, can be used for vocabulary instruction or encouraging students to widen their word knowledge to choose other more fun words. Importance of one word.]]> 2023-02-23 23:28:02 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2493226279 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2501848975 This book provides great examples of ways to use fun and specific ("strong") words in writing, and can also introduce students to new vocabulary that they can use that they have never heard before. ]]> 2023-03-03 00:00:09 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2501848975 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2505804726 This book gives a clear example of a beginning, middle, end organization to a story. They don't like each other's sandwiches, they try them, and then they do like them. It's easy to understand and a great example for young kids.]]> 2023-03-06 21:00:06 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2505804726 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2505827686 Writing activities are crucial to helping students learn writing in a fun and engaging way. Students can't be expected to learn in an environment that hinders their learning by making writing boring and purely academic. Kids want to branch out, try new things, learn by doing, and be creative. That's why it's so important to choose writing activities that allow them to do that. All of the activities in this column are fun, engaging ways to get kids to learn something, but also foster a love of writing in them that will stay there for years to come. ]]> 2023-03-06 21:27:47 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2505827686 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2505828186 2023-03-06 21:28:27 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2505828186 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2505829244 2023-03-06 21:29:42 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2505829244 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2510973965 This book presents ideas as wonderful things, and can help inspire students to hold onto their ideas and put them down on paper, whether or not they are "good". It can help students see the importance of their ideas and find value in them.]]> 2023-03-09 22:36:29 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2510973965 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2510995317 This book is easy to follow for young kids, and is a fun way to show an "idea" in a physical form. Can help inspire students to take their ideas and use them to write, rather than stuff them down and forget about them. ]]> 2023-03-09 23:11:10 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2510995317 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2529478408 I used this book as the mentor text for my writing cycle lesson with my focus student. This book is a good example of how to present a small amount of time in writing, and can also help students focus on ideas when writing and find meaning in their ideas.]]> 2023-03-23 21:18:38 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2529478408 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547976313 This book presents sentences in an interesting way, and can help students understand the meaning behind sentence fluency. It can help them see that sentences can be presented in many ways, as long as it's able to be easily read by others. ]]> 2023-04-09 13:26:12 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547976313 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547984027 This book is very colorful and interesting for students, but is also a great example of voice. The author presents information in a very distinct way, saying he can only draw worms and then doing just that, and it could be used in a lesson where students write about what they can draw. ]]> 2023-04-09 13:44:39 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547984027 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547985338 This book has a very interesting presentation style, and could inspire students to be creative with their own presentation. It could be used in a lesson where students try to emulate the presentation style of Klassen and draw pictures to go along with it.]]> 2023-04-09 13:47:56 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547985338 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547986311 This book is told mostly through speech bubbles, and can be a great text to show how speech bubbles can be used to present text. It could be included in a lesson where students have to present their ideas through speech bubbles like in the book.]]> 2023-04-09 13:50:13 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547986311 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547987393 This book is a great mentor text to teach the meaning and importance behind punctuation. It can be used in a lesson where students write personalities for each punctation mark, with an explanation relating to punctuation, just like in the book.]]> 2023-04-09 13:53:02 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547987393 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547988452 This book gives a great example of how sentences can change meaning when punctuation is changed, but it shows this to students in a way they can relate to. It could be used in a lesson where students write their own sentences, and then change the meaning based on the punctation, like in the book.]]> 2023-04-09 13:55:46 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547988452 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547989585 This book can be used to exemplify the use of apostrophes, and teach students the meaning behind them in a way that's fun for them. It could be used in a lesson where students write a sentence with a "greedy apostrophe" to see how it turns out, and then explain why it's incorrect.]]> 2023-04-09 13:59:02 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547989585 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547990629 This book is organized into journal entries by a worm; some short, some long. It can be used to show students that books can be organized in many different ways, and can be shown in a lesson where students must write their own journal entries just like the worm.]]> 2023-04-09 14:01:52 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547990629 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547991526 The way the sentences are crafted in this book makes one feel like they are there in the snow with the dogs. Could be used to show students the importance of "strong" sentences, and have them practice writing their own "strong" sentences that make people feel like they are there with them, and ones that flow nicely. ]]> 2023-04-09 14:04:11 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547991526 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547992434 This book does a great job of showing a specific type of sentences over and over, and can be used with very young students to introduce them to the idea of sentence fluency. A writing activity could go along with it where students use the format of sentences in the book to practice writing their own. ]]> 2023-04-09 14:06:28 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547992434 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547993982 This book does a great job of showing the uses of question marks, which is something that my internship class students are struggling with right now (they only really use periods). This could be used in a lesson where students write their own question sentences using question marks, after seeing in the book how they can be used. ]]> 2023-04-09 14:10:37 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547993982 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547995015 This book is organized into similarities between animals and their behaviors, and can show students another form of organization besides the typical narrative or BME. It can be used in a lesson where students listen to the story, and then write their own stories, organizing information by similarities. ]]> 2023-04-09 14:13:20 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2547995015 Neilhughes https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2556850783 This book helps students understand that they should come up with their own ideas when writing, instead of taking someone else's. It can also inspire students to come up with some crazy ideas when writing, and can show them how fun it can be to write about fun ideas. This text could be used in a lesson where students read the book, and then use red marker to write their ideas, like Chester. ]]> 2023-04-17 12:09:40 UTC https://padlet.com/Neilhughes/4xiwv0kl4tnsnahb/wish/2556850783