Once Upon A Time:Empowering Authors to Write

Happily Ever Afters

Barbara Bouck, Plattekill Elementary Schoolbbouck@wallkillcsd.k12.ny.us

Inquiry Question:

•What happens when readers analyze mentor texts through the eyes of a writer?

•What features of the mentor texts (from the fairy tale genre study) are evident in the student writing?

Lucy Calkins: The Art of Teaching Writing (p73)“Unless children are conscious of an author’s techniques when they read, it is hard to imagine they will deliberately borrow these techniques when they write.”

Read Mentor Texts • Use the “eyes of a writer”

• Complete anchor chart

• Look for fairy tale features

Launching the WritingUnit:

• Using a wordless picture book to “force” the fairy tale language

Planning Next Steps: Graphic organizers and mini-lessons

Observe student work:

What happens when readers analyze mentor texts through the eyes of a writer?

What features of the mentor texts from the fairy tale genre study are evident in the student writing?

Give it a try!