The secret to being a
writer is that you have to write. It's not enough to think about writing or to
study literature or plan a future life as an author. You really have to lock
yourself away, alone, and get to work.
Augusten Burroughs
Augusten Burroughs
Launching Writers’ Workshop with second grade
writers is an exciting time. Many
children will have at least some, if not a great deal, of experience in
learning and writing in Writers’ Workshop communities. They increasing see that, from their
experiences, questions, and learning, they have an infinite number of topics to
fuel their writing. Second grader
writers are earnest in working hard and taking on new challenges.
Still, in the beginning days or week of second
grade, a good portion of our collective energy will focus on creating Writers’
Workshop with one another. From
establishing routines and rituals for bringing everyone together and conferring
to figuring out the logistics of folders and getting more paper, it is critical
to take time to help everyone “get back in the groove” of being an independent
writer, interdependent learner, and collaborative fellow teacher. The strength and efficiency of our Writers’
Workshop communities stands on the shoulders of these opening efforts.
At the heart of our second grade launching studies
is immersing and marinating students in small
moment writing. Taking a memory and
working to “really see it in your mind” and “share it with your readers by
recording it on paper” are two chief messages as we model, practice, and nudge
students to write their own small moment pieces. By sharing small moments, students and
teachers come to know and connect with one another more. Thus, this genre study helps to build the
essential mortar of Writers’ Workshops – relationships.
What a child can
do in cooperation today, he can do alone tomorrow.
Lev
Vygotsky
MENTOR TEXT
SUGGESTIONS
for
Launching Writers’ Workshop Studies
|
Build a mentor text collection with your students. After sharing even just
a few of the following mentor texts, invite/recruit students to find mentor
texts which echo the message of your launching studies (what writers do, small
moment stories, living a writerly life, etc.).
Mentor texts to support
students’ learning about living a
writerly life/what writers do:
·
Arthur Writes a
Story
by Marc Brown (picture book)
·
Begin
at the Beginning: A Little Artist Learns About Life by Amy Schwartz [beginning any artistic venture with what you know best;
procrastination in the face of challenging work] (picture book)
·
The
Best Story by
Eileen Spinelli [authentic fictional window into the
life of a writer] (picture book)
·
The
Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Be Dr. Seuss by Kathlelen Krull [biographical]
·
The
Character In The Book by Kaethe Zemach (picture
book)
·
Click
Clack Moo: Cows That Type by
Doreen Cronin (picture
book)
·
Diary
of a Spider by Doreen Cronin (picture
book)
·
Diary
of a Worm by Doreen Cronin (picture
book)
·
From
Pictures to Words: A Book About Making A
Book by Janet Stevens (picture
book)
·
If You Want to Write
by Janet Wong (picture
book)
·
If
You Were a Writer by Joan Lowery Nixon [authentic
fictional window into the life of a writer]
(picture book)
· In Your Own Words: A Beginner’s Guide to Writing by
Sylvia Cassey
·
The
Plot Chickens by Mary Jane Auch
·
What
Do Authors Do? by Eileen Christelow (picture
book)
·
Where
Do You Get Ideas? by Sandy Asher
·
You
Have To Write by Janet Wong (picture
book)
·
From the “Meet the Author” series which offer inviting and enlightening
autobiographical pieces (all picture books)
o
Best
Wishes by Cynthia Rylant
o
On Phoenix Farm by Jane Yolen
o
Once Upon a Time by Eve Bunting
o
Tell Me a Story by Jonathan London
Mentor texts to support
students’ understanding about what
writers make (sorted by authors; all
picture books):
Aliki.
How a Book is Made.
--- Painted Words, Spoken Words: Marianthe’s Story.
Althea. Making a Book.
Cole, J. & Saul. On the
Bus with Joanna Cole: A Creative
Autobiography.
Garland, Sherry. Letters
from the Mountains
Kehoe, Michael. A Book
Takes Root: The Making of a Picture
Book.
Knowlton, Jack. Books and
Libraries.
Martin, Bill. Books
Are By People.
Stevens, Janet. From
Pictures to Words: A Book About Making A
Book.
Mentor texts to support students’ learning and
practice of memory writing (school
memory writing, especially)/Writers write about what they know about (all picture books):· All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLauchlan
·
Arthur Prize Reader by Lillian Hoban
·
The Day Eddie Met the
Author by Louise Borden
·
The Day of Ahmed’s
Secret by Florence Parry Heide
·
Dear Whiskers by Ann Whitehead Nagda
·
I Was A Second Grade
Werewolf by Daniel Pinkwater
·
Jeremiah Learns to Read
by
Jo Ellen Bogart
·
More Than Anything Else
by Marie Bradby
·
My Name is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada
·
My School by Catherine Peters
·
Nobody’s Mother is in
Second Grade by Robin Pulver
·
Painted Words – Spoken
Words: Marianthe’s Story by Aliki
·
Score One for the
Sloths by Helen Lester
·
See You in Second
Grade! by Miriam Cohen
Mentor texts to deepen students’
understanding about “Everyone Has
Stories to Tell!” (all picture books or early chapter
books/easy novels):
Aunt
Isabelle Tells a Good One by K. Duke
Simon
Finds a Treasure by G. Tipp
Small
Treasures by A. Gibson
The
Stories Julian Tells (series) by A. Cameron
Tell
Me A Story Mamma by A. Johnson
The
Treasure by U. Shulevitz
Treasures
of the Heart by A. Miller
What
a Treasure by J. Hillenbrand
Why
Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by V. Aardema (cassette/CD;
audio
Mentor texts to
support students learning about telling
stories through pictures
Carl
the Dog (series)
by Alexandra Day
Pancakes
for Breakfast
by Tomie dePaola
Mercer Mayer Wordless Picture
Books (such as A Boy, A Dog, and A Frog)
Norman
Rockwell: Storyteller with a Brush by B. Gehrman
Potential
Author Studies:
Tomie dePaola Angela Johnson Ezra Jack Keats Mo Williems
Supportive
Internet Resources:
Barry Lane http://www.discover-writing.com/
Carol Wilcox (A remarkable writer
and passionate reader, Carol shares her recent “best reads” in this delightful
blog. Wonderful source for mentor text
ideas.) http://carolwscorner.blogspot.com/
Father Goose (source for
delightful read alouds) http://charlesghigna.blogspot.com/2011/03/be-still-in-world.html
Kate DiCamillo (first draft focus) http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/flashlightreaders/wd_draft1.htm
Learning Pad:
Lesson Plans
Mary Ehrenworth,
Teachers College (especially helpful for parent education)
Implementing the
writing process: http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/implementing-writing-process-30386.html
Persuasive writing
focus: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/convince-developing-persuasive-writing-56.html
http://www.thetraits.org/index.php www.nwrel.org/assessment/pdfRubrics/6plus1traits.PDF
www.kent.k12.wa.us/curriculum/writing/elem_writing/Bib/6traits.htm
Six Traits and
standards connections as well as anchor paper links and rubric banks:
http://www.smekenseducation.com/idea-library-teaching-writing/writing/writing-to-a-prompt/seeing-the-traits-within-the-new-common-core-standards/ [The referenced standards are the U.S. Common Core State Standards/CCSS but the parallels could be helpful in making connections to the Ontario ELA Standards.]
http://www.smekenseducation.com/idea-library-teaching-writing/writing/writing-to-a-prompt/seeing-the-traits-within-the-new-common-core-standards/ [The referenced standards are the U.S. Common Core State Standards/CCSS but the parallels could be helpful in making connections to the Ontario ELA Standards.]
o
Chapter Two – Getting Started:
Developing an assessment lens; Chapter Three – Assessing Students as
Initiators of Writing; Appendix 1; Appendix 4.
·
Anderson, Carl. (2000). How’s It Going? A Practical
Guide to Conferring with Student Writers.
Heinemann.
o
If
you are new to conferring, this will be an invaluable book to read and study
over the summer. Reading this book with
Carl’s DVD collection in Strategic Writing Conferences offers you excellent
modeling of edifying conferences.
o
If
you have studied with Carl/feel confident about your conferring rituals, make
sure to revisit Chapters One – Conferences are Conversations, Two – The
Teacher’s Role in the Conference, and Five – Laying the Groundwork for
Conferences.
o
If
you have concerns or questions about classroom management, study Chapter 7 –
What Are All the Other Students Doing?
·
Anderson, Carl. (2009). Strategic Writing Conferences: Smart
Conversations That Move Young Writers Forward (text and DVD’s).
Heinemann.
·
Angelillo, Janet. (2008). Whole-Class Teaching: Minilessons and More. Heinemann.
·
Atwell,
Nancie. (2007). Lessons That Change Writers (Text and DVD’s). Heinemann.
·
Ayers,
Ruth and Schbitz, Stacey. (2010). Day by Day:
Refining Writing Workshop Through 180 Days of Reflective Practice. Stenhouse.
·
Bennett-Armistead,
Susan, Duke, Nell, and Moses, Annie. (2005). Literacy
and the Youngest Learner.
o
Chapters
8 and 11.
·
Buckner,
Aimee. (2005). Notebook Know How. Stenhouse.
·
Calkins,
Lucy. (1994). The Art
of Teaching Writing.
o
Chapters
6 and 7.
·
Calkins,
Lucy. (2005). Big
Lessons for Small Writers, Grades K – 2 (DVD). Heinemann.
·
Calkins,
Lucy. (2003). The
Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Writing.
·
Calkins,
Lucy and Mermelstein, Leah. (2003). Launching
the Writing Workshop (from Units of Study for Primary Writing: Grades K-2).
Heinemann.
·
Calkins,
Lucy and Oxenhorn, Abby. (2005). Small
Moments: Personal Narrative Writing. Heinemann.
·
Corgill,
Ann Marie. (2008). Of Primary Importance: What’s
Essential in Teaching Young Writers.
o
Chapters
2 and 5 (The entire book would be an excellent book to read over the summer
and/or for a professional book study.).
·
Cruz, Colleen M. (2004). Independent Writing: One Teacher – Thirty-Two Needs, Topics and
Plans. Heinemann.
·
Cruz, Colleen M. (2008). A Quick
Guide to Reaching Struggling Writers.
Heinemann.
·
Culham, Ruth.
[multiple Six Traits of Writing titles]
·
Dorfman, Lynne. (2006). Mentor
Texts: Teaching Writing Through Children's Literature, K-6. Stenhouse.
·
Fisher, Douglas and Frey, Nancy.
(2007). Scaffolded Writing Instruction: Teaching With a Gradual-Release
Framework. Scholastic.
·
Fletcher, Ralph. (2006).
Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices. Stenhouse.
·
Fletcher, Ralph. (1996).
Breathing In, Breathing Out: Keeping a Writer’s Notebook. Heinemann.
·
Fletcher, Ralph. (2011). Mentor
Author, Mentor Texts: Short Texts, Craft Notes, and Practical Classroom Uses.
·
Fletcher, Ralph. (2010). Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful
Craft That Sparks Writing.
Stenhouse.
·
Fletcher, Ralph. (1992).
What a Writer Needs. Heinemann.
·
Fletcher, Ralph. (1996). The Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You. Harper
Collins.
·
Fletcher, Ralph and Portalupi,
JoAnn. (2007). Craft
Lessons. Teaching Writing K – 8. Stenhouse.
·
Fletcher, Ralph and Portalupi, JoAnn. (2001).
Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide. Stenhouse.
·
Freeman,
Marcia.
(2003). Teaching the Youngest
Writers.
o
Chapter
2 and 3.
·
Fountas, Irene and Pinnell, Gay Su. (2001).
Guiding Readers and Writers (Grades
3-6): Teaching, Comprehension, Genre, and Content Literacy. Heinemann.
·
Glover, Matt. (2009). Engaging Young Writers:
Preschool-Grade One. Heinemann.
·
Graves, Donald. *All Don’s
titles such as Investigate with
Nonfiction, A Fresh Look at Writing,
and Quick Writes offer infinite
learning-teaching possibilities and they are all deeply good for the soul.
·
Harwayne, Shelley. (2000). Lifetime Guarantees: Toward Ambitious Literacy Teaching. Heinemann.
o
Chapter One - Designing the Literacy Landscape; Chapter Two –
Reflecting on the Teaching of Writing; Page 61/60-67 (daily schedule and
supportive schoolwide structures); A-6 (author studies).
·
Harwayne, Shelley. (2001).
Writing through Childhood.
Heinemann.
o
Chapter
Two – Designing Writing Workshops with Children in Mind; Chapter Six - Working
with Our Youngest Writers.
·
Heard, Georgia and McDonough, Jen.
A Place for Wonder: Reading and Writing Nonfiction in the Primary
Grades. Heinemann.
·
Hill, Bonnie Campbell and Ekey, Carrie. (2010). The Next Step Guide To Enhancing Writing
Instruction: Rubrics and Resources for
Self-Evaluation and Goal Setting.
Heinemann.
o
Chapters 1 and 5 and Appendix A, B, C, D, and E.
·
Hill, Bonnie Campbell and Ekey, Carrie. (2010).
The Next Step Guide to Enriching
Classroom Environments. Heinemann.
o
Superb,
practical resource as you develop your setting for literacy learning including
edifying self-evaluation tools.
·
Hill, Bonnie Campbell. Supporting Your Child’s Literacy
Learning: A Guide for Parents. Heinemann.
o
Excellent
text to share with parents.
·
Laminack, Lester and Wadsworth, Reba. (2006).
Learning Under the Influence of Language and Literature. Heinemann.
·
Lane, Barry. (2008).
But How Do You Teach Writing? A Simple Guide for All Teachers. Scholastic.
·
Overmeyer, Mark. (2005). When
Writing Workshop Isn't Working: Answers to Ten Tough Questions, Grades
2-5. Stenhouse.
·
Overmeyer, Mark. (2009). What Student Writing Teaches Us: Formative
Assessment in the Writing Workshop. Stenhouse.
·
Ray, Katie Wood. (2006). Study Driven A Framework of Planning Units
of Study in the Writing Workshop. Heinemann, 2006.
o
Pages 38-46 (vision for writing, counting books, travel guide
writing), 90 (the role of approximation), and 151 (important considerations for
kindergarten teachers and writers).
·
Ray, Katie Wood. (1999). Wondrous Words. National Council of
Teachers of English.
·
Ray, Katie Wood with Laminack, Lester. (2001). The
Writing Workshop: Working through the Hard Parts (and They’re
All Hard Parts). National Council of
Teachers of English.
·
Routman,
Regie. (2000). Conversations.
o
Chapters
6, 7, 8, and 9.
·
Routman, Regie (2004). Writing
Essentials. Heinemann.
·
Spandel, Vicki.
(2003). Creating Young Writers: Using the Six Traits to Enrich Writing Process
in Primary Classrooms. Pearson/Allyn
and Bacon.
Autobiographical and Literary
Texts to Inspire Us as Writing Teachers – and as Writers Ourselves!
·
Allende, Isabelle. Inventing the Truth.
·
Browder, Walter. Happily Ever After:
A Book Lover’s Treasury of Happy Endings.
·
Cameron, Julia. The Artist’s Way.
·
Cameron, Julia. The Right to Write.
·
Elbow, Peter. Writing with Power.
·
Freed, Lynn. Reading, Writing, and Leaving Home: Life on the Page.
·
Goldberg, Natalie. Writing Down the Bones.
·
Goldberg, Natalie. The Writing Life.
·
Gordimer, Nadine. Writing and Being.
·
King, Stephen. On Writing.
·
Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird.
·
Quindlen, Anna. Being Perfect.
·
Stegner, Wallace. On the Teaching of Creative Writing.
·
Strunk, W. & White, E.B. Elements of Style.
·
Ueland, Brenda. If You Want to Write.
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