Mentor Texts: Teaching Writing Through Children's Literature, K-6

by Rose Cappelli

In their first edition of Mentor Texts, authors Lynne Dorfman and Rose Cappelli helped teachers across the country make the most of high-quality children's literature in their writing instruction. Mentor Teaching Writing Through Children's Literature, K-6, 2nd Edition the authors continue to show teachers how to help students become confident, accomplished writers by using literature as their foundation. The second edition includes brand-new Your Turn Lessons, built around the gradual release of responsibility model, offering suggestions for demonstrations and shared or guided writing. Reflection is emphasized as a necessary component to understanding why mentor authors chose certain strategies, literary devices, sentence structures, and words. Dorfman and Cappelli offer new children's book titles in each chapter and in a carefully curated and annotated Treasure Chest. At the end of each chapter a Think About It'sTalk About It'sWrite About It section invites reflection and conversation with colleagues. The book is organized around the characteristics of good writing focus, content, organization, style, and conventions. The authors write in a friendly and conversational style, employing numerous anecdotes to help teachers visualize the process, and offer strategies that can be immediately implemented in the classroom. This practical resource demonstrates the power of learning to read like writers.

382 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2023

About the author

Rose Cappelli is a K-5 Reading Specialist in the West Chester Area School District. Rose holds an undergraduate degree in Teaching of the Hearing Impaired from the Pennsylvania State University, an M.A. in Reading from West Chester University, and has completed additional post-graduate work at West Chester University and Immaculata University. She currently serves as a Regional VI Director for the Keystone State Reading Association, and is a board member for Chester County Reading Association.