https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y Mentor texts for teaching writing in upper grades. en-us 2020-09-26 18:57:58 UTC 2025-12-18 15:22:17 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4da.png amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/762386744 Jaqueline Woodson writes in the voice of Teeka in this picture book; many students can relate to having dinner with quirky family members and could create their own similar voice in a picture book. Woodson combines the modes of image, written language, and layout to tell the story, so this book also demonstrates elements of a multimodal text.]]> 2020-09-20 21:03:03 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/762386744 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781641482 In this humorous book Jimmy Fallon expresses his gratitude more than 200 things ranging from light bulbs to the F12 button on his computer's keyboard. I think this would be a great mentor text for modeling text structure and expository writing, and it would definitely inspire kids to write their own list of thank you notes.  ]]> 2020-09-26 19:22:25 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781641482 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781643932 This informative book about losing weight by making simple food swaps demonstrates comparison contrast text structure. ]]> 2020-09-26 19:25:59 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781643932 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781646177 This book provides explanations of different fallacies and other common attempts at reasoning that contain weaknesses. These weaknesses in logic and argument are demonstrated by cute animals that commit common fallacies. This would be a great way to introduce critical thinking for use in argumentative writing.]]> 2020-09-26 19:29:26 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781646177 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781649037 This book is a collection of expository writing intended to teach boys skills to keep from being bored. This is a good example of expository text that demonstrates several text structures, and I think this book would appeal to my case study student. He is a 9th grade boy who likes biking and playing outside with his friends.]]> 2020-09-26 19:33:37 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781649037 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781650075 Students could read Chapter 1 of Milkweed and discuss memories and memoir writing. Students can use this text to plan their own memoirs based on a specific memory from their past or current life. ]]> 2020-09-26 19:35:02 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781650075 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781654174 My case study student intends to join the Marines after high school, so I thought he might enjoy this text. It is a graphic novel about two childhood friends who enlist together to fight in World War I. The illustrations tell just as much of the story as the text so this will appeal to many of my striving readers.]]> 2020-09-26 19:41:19 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781654174 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781659027 This wordless graphic novel portrays the sometimes frightening experiences of an immigrant as he tries to adapt to his new surroundings and a strange culture. The only writing is an invented alphabet, which helps show how immigrants must feel when they encounter a strange new language and way of life. Many ethnicities are represented in this story and it promotes caring for others, regardless of race, age, or background. ]]> 2020-09-26 19:48:31 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781659027 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781671272  This graphic novel that portrays the experiences of many adolescent Chinese-Americans through three separate but interwoven stories. This novel will appeal to my case study student as well as other students since it is told from the point of view of a teenage boy who experiences racism and bullying. My striving readers will appreciate the graphic aspects and all of my students will learn something about a different culture.]]> 2020-09-26 20:06:18 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781671272 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781675754 My case study student has a clever sense of humor and would find this story amusing. I think this fun story explicitly demonstrates a different point of view and can help develop students' understanding of the different points of view in literature.]]> 2020-09-26 20:13:25 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781675754 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781755059 Told from the point of view of Ivan, a captive gorilla, this text demonstrates a voice that many students will empathize with. My case study student likes animals, so I though he would enjoy this text. Students could practice writing from any animal's point of view.]]> 2020-09-26 22:27:48 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781755059 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781776533 This expository text features inventions and innovations by women and can provide an opportunity for students to search for the 5 W's as they find out what inspired these women, and how they turned their ideas into realities.]]> 2020-09-26 23:10:56 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781776533 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781788433 Any of the Harry Potter books can be used as a mentor text for beautiful descriptive writing. This text could also be used to teach the semicolon since Rowling is a master in its use.]]> 2020-09-26 23:36:29 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/781788433 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948639797
This humorous account of one man's struggle to have his watch repaired is an excellent model of cause and effect, as well as sequence, text structures. Students can mimic Twain's structure in their own writing.]]> 2020-11-21 21:17:15 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948639797 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948644549 This historical speech is a great model of comparison/contrast text structure. Students find Truth's diction more relatable and  her message inspirational. The text could serve as a model for similar writing.

]]> 2020-11-21 21:21:57 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948644549 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948648777 Golding's writing demonstrates symbolism very clearly. This text is also excellent for teaching theme, allegory, and characterization. The language in the text lends itself to analytical writing.]]> 2020-11-21 21:26:25 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948648777 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948654709 This short poem is jam packed with figurative language and sound devices. It is great way to introduce the analysis of poetry devices. ]]> 2020-11-21 21:32:27 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948654709 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948657810 This talented rapper demonstrates numerous poetic devices in his hit song "Robbery." Students already know and love this song, but will be engaged on a more literary level when asked to analyze the artist's use of language. Student's could write their own lyrical poem with an extended metaphor.]]> 2020-11-21 21:35:34 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948657810 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948663753 This is a great story for demonstrating the unreliability of a first person narrator. It is laced with dramatic, situational, and verbal irony. Students can write traditional analysis of the story or create cartoon strips demonstrating examples of irony in the text, or show Montresor's true thoughts as he tells his version of the story.]]> 2020-11-21 21:41:44 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948663753 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948670212 This graphic novel tells the true tragic story of a young gang member. The images in the text can be used for analysis and multimodal writing.]]> 2020-11-21 21:48:08 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948670212 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948679267 This is a combination memoir and guide on how to write a memoir. Using an excerpt from this book can provide good advice for students on how to write their own memoir. ]]> 2020-11-21 21:57:28 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948679267 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948682256 This memoir is about Manzano’s journey to becoming Maria on Sesame Street. It also demonstrates the plight of Puerto Rican immigrants attempting to make a new start in America. Students could follow the author's example and practice writing from their own younger perspectives.]]> 2020-11-21 22:00:55 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948682256 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948686248 Excerpts from these personal essays about the author's experience working in Macy’s as an elf in Santa’s workshop. can inspire students to write about their own observations of everyday occurrences in their own lives.]]> 2020-11-21 22:05:31 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948686248 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948690878 This graphic novel gives an excellent objective account of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. The images in this texts can be used for analysis and multimodal writing activities or the novel can just be a very engaging, instructive read for a reluctant reader.]]> 2020-11-21 22:11:09 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948690878 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948696535 This checkbook, published in 1932, can be a very engaging way to teach inferencing. Students can work cooperatively to interpret the story of Lawrence Exeter Sr. & Jr. and create a timeline of events based on their interpretation of the checkbook using apps like Padlet or Canva.]]> 2020-11-21 22:17:34 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948696535 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948703812 This illustration-based book can be used by students to make inferences and write an accompanying story. ]]> 2020-11-21 22:25:59 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948703812 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948707410 Dr. Seuss demonstrates meter in a way that students can easily understand. Students can write their own poetry with meter and sound devices.]]> 2020-11-21 22:30:20 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948707410 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948717612 This nonfiction account of a surgeon's first appendectomy is another great mentor text for demonstrating text structure and descriptive writing that students could imitate.]]> 2020-11-21 22:36:54 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948717612 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948776705 This text gives students a very descriptive window into the horrors of slavery and the Middle Passage. This rich text can be used in both language arts and social studies classes. ]]> 2020-11-21 23:51:03 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948776705 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948793404 This is a new feature from the Learning Network that will showcase published resources to help teach young people how to write. There will be new mentor texts and writing prompts featured every week.]]> 2020-11-22 00:15:00 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948793404 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948803754 Visit my Peartree to see a collection of multicultural texts and ideas for teaching and writing.]]> 2020-11-22 00:31:33 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948803754 amychendry https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948807129 This is a collection of books I have put together that all share a common theme about hope and perseverance and should appeal to a diverse audience.]]> 2020-11-22 00:36:41 UTC https://padlet.com/amychendry/7wo9rrpqx7nscb1y/wish/948807129