Write About It Wednesday: Mentor Texts for Narrative

Yay for May! I can't believe the school year is wrapping up.  We are in the middle of our state testing and I couldn't be more exhausted.  My classroom walls are bare and my desks are in rows.  It feels like 1983... except with better hair styles.

I cannot wait to put my room back together and regain some structure in my day!

But... thank goodness I scarfed down a FREE Chipotle burrito today. That made it better.  I would have taken a picture but I did not for two reasons:

1. I felt bad about those who did not partake. Lie. (I ate it too fast I didn't have time to.)
2. I feel weird about posting pictures of about-to-be binges.

Either way, I'm already feeling much better.  And just in time for...

A new Write About It Wednesday with Halle from Across the Hall in 2nd Grade!


This week's topic is 'Top Mentor Texts for Narrative Writing'.

Halle and I both picked our favorite mentor texts that we use to teach our kiddos important writing craft skills for Narrative writing.  Truth: We totally had to tell each other our picks because it was likely we'd have the same books!

Here we'll share them with you along with what lesson focus we use them for.


Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe
  • Great beginnings (Action)
  • Action words that paint a picture: (thrust, tremble, dash)
  • Figurative language examples
  • Satisfying endings/reflection endings
The Seashore Book by Charlotte Zolotow
(I use this book first to teach visualizing in reading. The first time I read it, I don't show them the pictures. Then we revisit the text for writing.)
  • Painting a picture with words (helping the reader visualize your writing)
  • Figurative language examples
  • Expanding a moment

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
  • Creating an interesting setting
  • Figurative language examples
  • Building suspense/creating suspense for the reader
How I Became a Pirate by David Shannon
  • Great beginnings
  • Bringing characters to life with action and dialogue
  • Using humor to engage the reader
  • Satisfying endings/reflection endings

I hope you can check out these books if they're new to you! And if they aren't... well, then you've just got great mentor text taste!

And by the way, don't forget about the HUGE TpT Teacher Appreciation Sale!!

Just about everything in my store is 20% off!!

This is good for me since I've got another five weeks of teaching to do! I'm stocked up and hoping I don't forget the code at checkout this time...


I hope you found this idea helpful! Link up with us and share your favorite mentor texts for narrative writing!

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Thanks for playing along! Don’t forget to check out Halle's post on the same topic!





4 comments

  1. Thanks for the book ideas. I am going to add these to my list. hcarpenter@ebrschools.org

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those are great books and great ideas to do with them. Thanks for sharing:)

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  3. I love Owl Moon! We read it to our kiddos in the winter and do a visualization for the beginning, middle and end. I love that story :) Found ya through the fun giveaway!
    Have a great weekend!
    Elizabeth
    Kickin’ it in Kindergarten

    ReplyDelete
  4. I found you through the mystery box giveaway!

    ReplyDelete

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