Earlier today, I decided to start a Grades 3-5 Mentor Texts board on Pinterest. I realized not many teachers had a board dedicated to reading mentor texts, and I thought Pinterest would be the perfect place to have one because all you have to do is repin or add a new pin! Seeing I am going to incorporate author's skills and reading strategies every one or two weeks in Reading next year, I wanted to see what kinds of literature was out there. Honestly, it was somewhat of a tedious search because I wanted the list I compiled to be different than many lists out there. For example, so many suggestion lists include How Many Days to America and Cheyenne Again, which I of course included, but there were nor any lists I know of that included One World, One Day, Dave the Potter or Blackout (all tremendous books!). Sometimes excellent picture books for older elementary students are difficult to come by (because they are typically read to the K-2 or even the K-3 audience), but you just have to search and see the possibilities in what is out there.
I included some chapter books on the list as well because the first chapter can be read to introduce a skill. For example, I have read excerpts from A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin and Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke over the years.
Of course I do not use all the books in one year; I pick and choose. The board was made so I could have a visual of books I have used in the past, some I have desired to use, and some I have been introduced to more recently.
I also came across a phenomenal demo reading of Twilight Comes Twice by Ralph Fletcher, which is a book I was introduced to recently and included on the list. The author's voice and tone is perfect, and I love the sound effects in the background as the gentleman reads. You can watch it below.
Do you have any other suggestions for reading or writing-related mentor texts? I have used a lot of resources online, especially Writingfix.com, in discovering mentor texts, but I know there is more out there!
(Last, even though these are not books, I have a board of photographs and illustrations for making inferences, too.)
I just wanted to tell you how inspiring your blog is to me! I am returning to the classroom for the first time in seven (!) years and will be teaching 4th grade once again. (My only year in 4th was when I was pregnant with my daughter back in 2004-2005 and BOY has a lot changed in education!) You have SO much quality information and wonderful ideas (not just the cutesy) packed into your site that I am super excited to implement into my new class. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am in awe and very grateful I found you!!!
ReplyDeleteI noticed you were pinning all kinds of great books yesterday. Great idea to create a mentor text board on Pinterest. Do you have Henry Freedom Box on your list? That is one of my all time favorites.
ReplyDeleteAmanda
The Teaching Thief
I just saw Blackout this summer- what a FABULOUS book! Thanks for sharing some of your other mentor texts. Moving to 3rd grade this year, it's good to find some new ones for the upper grades!
ReplyDeleteJenny
Luckeyfrog's Lilypad
Thank you, friends! Holly, the last time you were in fourth grade was my first year of teaching (which was still fourth grade). HUGE changes have occurred... some for the better, some not-so-desirable. Thank you for the kind compliments about my resources. Amanda, I forgot to add the book you mentioned, but I have heard of it. I have not read it- which skill or mini-lesson do you use it for? And Luckeyfrog, as for Blackout, I think it is a great choice for theme! I am glad I compiled the list for all of you. - Victoria
ReplyDeleteHi Victoria. You could use Henry's Freedom Box for many different skills. I typically use it to launch metacognition and listening to your inner voice. There is so much there for kids to respond to. If I had to pick one reading strategy, I would say questioning. The best part is that is a based on a true story.
DeleteAmanda
The Teaching Thief
I may use this one in the near future, Amanda! Thanks! :)
DeleteThank you for sharing so many of your wonderful idea. I have been a fan of your sites for years now and have used many of them in my fourth grade class! Thanks again!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Flamingos and Butterflies. How long have you been teaching fourth grade? :)
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Jasztal,
ReplyDeleteI am a guided reading teacher at an elementary school in Tampa, FL and I am searching for an engaging text for my next focus areas for my 3rd grade students which are:
-figurative language (simile, metaphor, etc.)
-shades of meaning
-mood.
Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you and I love your site :)
Well, for starters, I use the first chapters of Holes and The Great Gilly Hopkins to introduce negative mood. The Indian in the Cupboard introduces an element of mystery-- the mood is almost mystical. As for figurative language, I use a lot of Scholastic Storyworks and National Geographic Explorer articles. Lauren Tarshis just wrote an article about Mount Vesuvius that is... TREMENDOUS for mind movies! Also, National Geographic Explorer articles oftentimes have phenomenal sensory language. As for shades of meaning, I look a lot at words used in place of "said" in quotations... and find temperature words that describe places like Antarctica, a planet, a volcano... etc.
ReplyDeleteI might write a post about this! Thank you! :)
I agree with your article that there is not a lot of mentor texts around for Grades 4-6 that has not been read before. In our school we have decided what are the crucial mentor texts for each grade level and have pulled them from the classroom libraries so that they can be used appropriately.
ReplyDeleteSome fantastic mentor texts for prediction, inferencing, character studies etc is Rowan of Rin by Emily Rhodda.