Mentor Texts in the Classroom: Fiction and Nonfiction Tips by Suzy Leopold

 

 

Suzy Leopold is back talking about using mentor texts in the classroom. If you missed her post on Tuesday, go back and read about how she uses mentor texts as a writer too. 

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Mentor Text Definition

Mentor texts are books and literature that students can read, relate to, study, and reread again for a variety of instructional purposes.

 

Why Do I Use Mentor Texts in the Classroom?

Mentor texts:

1. Provide models for students to make the reading-writing connection.
2. Have the power to help a student grow as a writer.
3. Encourage students to connect to new reading and writing strategies.
4. Provide models for students to imitate.
5. Demonstrate the importance of choosing words wisely in their writing.
6. Stimulate creativity and interest

 

A Favorite Mentor Text

As An Oak Tree Grows

Author and Illustrator G. Brian Karas

 

From a single perspective, the life of a magnificent oak tree is shared from 1775 to the present. Not only does the oak tree change and grow throughout the many seasons, the surroundings change and grow throughout the life of this oak tree. Progress with transportation and communication become new and modern, while other things hardly change at all.

 

Many nonfiction books are written with facts and information. The newly published nonfiction books that guide my students with their writing are fresh and engaging. Sometimes referred to as creative nonfiction, these books capture and hook the reader telling a story. Back matter is a special feature: Author Notes, Resources, Facts, and Bibliographies. This fresh look is based on education reforms known as Common Core.

 

An Oak Tree Grows models a timeline for students, as they too, create their own stories using timelines.

 

A timeline is an excellent graphic organizer that represents chronological events in time. There are many types of timelines that can be used based on the grade level and the subject of study.

 

A Timeline Graphic Organizer

 

Documenting a timeline for a seed.

Growing a seed takes time and care for it to become a healthy plant.

1. Pour warm water on a small peat pellet and watch the pellet expand.
2. Plant one or two seeds inside the opening of the peat pellet.
3. For best results, create a green house using a tray that has a dome shaped plastic lid. Plastic wrap loosely placed over a seed tray can also be used.
4. Once the seed has sprouted transfer the entire peat pellet and the growing seedling into a peat pot, adding some rich potting soil.
5. Water the plant gently and place in a location with indirect sunlight.
6. Observe and watch the growth of the plant.
7. Document the information on a timeline for the plant.

 

NOTE:

Using a timeline as a visual can support a reader and a writer to be a better reader and a writer.

 

A timeline can be used for short periods of time or for many years depicting change, growth and facts from the past to the present.

 

A Quick Tip on How to Use a Mentor Text for a Fiction Picture Book

Boomer Goes to School

By Constance W. Mc George

Illustrator Mary Whyte

Boomer’s Big Day

By Constance W. Mc George

Illustrator Mary Whyte

 

Whole Pizza or a Slice of Pizza Metaphor

Writing is like a pizza.

Writing is a process, without one-size fits-all answers, evolving and changing as we write.

1. Draw a circle on a piece of paper depicting a pizza.
2. Write My dog Boomer on top of the circle.
3. The entire pizza represents My dog Boomer.
4. If I begin writing, my focus will be on the whole pizza focus. That means I will  write everything about Boomer.
5. Writers take one more step. They write about one slice of the pizza.
6. Writing a slice is about one event about Boomer. A slice of pizza might be about the day Boomer snuck into the house during a thunderstorm or the day Boomer ran away.
7. Write about the one event in time. The story can be fiction or nonfiction. Writing about one action or experience is writing like a pizza; one slice of pizza at a time.

 

NOTE:

Sometimes we begin writing or researching and realize our focus may still be too wide. It may be time to narrow it some more. Time to write about a smaller slice of pizza.

Sometimes we may need to widen the scope. Time to write about a larger slice of pizza.

Sometimes we have to change our focus completely.

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I am a wife who is adored by my husband, Perry. We are proud parents of five boys and three daughters in law. Pa Perry and Oma Sue [grandparents] enjoy spending time with their seven sweet, smart grandkids, who reside in Texas.

I am an educator of hundreds of students, throughout the years in San Antonio, Texas, from preschool through eighth grade. I also taught at the college level at The University of Incarnate Word College. Additionally, I planned and presented many workshops for administrators and co teachers on staff development days. The highlight of my career was reading and writing with ELLs [English Language Learners] from various countries, including Sweden, Cambodia, Thailand, Germany, Columbia, Mexico and many more. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, a Bilingual certification, Reading Recovery certificate, and a Master’s of Science in Reading.

Currently, I read and write with kids in our community. I provide after school and summer school lessons with Mrs. Sue for six elementary aged students.

I am on The Write Team for a local newspaper, Carlinville~Macoupin County Enquirer~Democrat. The articles I write are about the importance of literacy. For example, two articles published were, Reading Should Not Take a Summer Vacation and Make this School Year the Best Ever by Planning Ahead.

My husband and I are organic gardeners on the Illinois prairie, who enjoy cooking and baking for family and friends. I am a reader and a writer. I am a painter of acrylics & watercolors and a creative crafter. I am a cyclist on a pink Marin Portofina. I am a walker and an occasional 5K jogger. Leaving the world a better place is important to me, so I read, write and create every day.