At my school we have been working with mentor texts for writing. Using a mentor text is fairly new to me but I was excited to give it a try. Since we had just had a book fair at school and a few of the students had purchased books for our classroom I decided that I would choose one of those books. I decide to use the book Pirates go to School by Corinne Demas.
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| We loved this book! |
Day 1: The first thing we did as a class was to read and enjoy the book. I always enjoy reading a book for the first time with my class because then the story is a surprise for me too. I was able to share the book and the wonderful illustrations with my class because I was able to use my document camera. After I read it the first time we each got out our writing ideas notebook.
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| These are our Writing Ideas Book-I am luck to have a district printshop who can cut compostion notebooks in half for us. |
Day 2: Today I read the story to the class again and while I was reading the students used their writing ideas notebook to brainstorm different places where pirates could go. Students were allowed to share and trade ideas from their writing notebooks. If anyone heard a great idea they were welcome to add it to their notebook.
Day 3: When we started writing today everyone was given a web to help organize their ideas and put them in a great order. When they felt as though they had their ideas written down with a bit more detail on their web then they were able to begin their rough draft.
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| Writing a rough draft. |
Day 4 and beyond: After spending three days at about the same place students were able to work at their own pace. Some students were ready to peer edit their rough draft. When my students peer edit they are required to meet with two different classmates. We have worked as a class about how to edit a friend’s paper in a kind way. When papers had been peer edited then they were able to write the revised and edited copy in their spiral notebook. After writing in their spiral notebooks (skipping lines) then they were able to place their notebooks on my desk and I would work to publish their writing. I do not type every story students want to publish however I always try to type their first story of the year. When I type I type their story just like they have written it in their spiral notebook. In the footer of the story I type peer edited so readers understand who edited the story.
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| Rewriting in the spiral notebook. |
I am so impressed with the writing of their first story. After their story has been typed I give them their copy so they are able to add illustrations.
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| Illustrating! |
When they have finished illustrating I print the front cover on bright cardstock, laminate the front and back cover, and bind the story. When we have time during our day each student will get the chance to share their story with the class. Sharing their published work is important so they get the chance to share with their classmates all of their hard work. Sometimes sharing stories takes a while. All in all I am proud of the work that they have done for their first story.
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| Published Book! |
