| Being a former teacher, I believe mentor texts | | | | the children's librarian to lead you to some great |
| are so important. They are great to use when | | | | authors. Some of my favorite authors to use for |
| teaching your child. They offer modeling for skills | | | | mentor texts are Chris Van Allsburg, Cynthia |
| that you need to teach. If you are home | | | | Rylant, and Patricia Polacco. I remember when I |
| schooling your child you know that a lot of times | | | | taught school using the Cynthia Rylant short |
| you are searching through books trying to find | | | | stories for guided reading. Her use of |
| ones that model the skill that you need to teach. | | | | personification and good vocabulary added to the |
| Sometimes you just need a book with rich | | | | story's richness. It was easy to turn the book into |
| vocabulary, other times you are searching for a | | | | a guided reading lesson. Once the lesson is |
| book that has good transitions, and still other | | | | complete, you can extend the lesson into a |
| times you are trying to teach quotations. Instead | | | | writing lesson by taking a paragraph and having |
| of finding worksheets to teach these skills and | | | | the child write the next several paragraphs trying |
| isolating the skills, mentor texts provide the same | | | | to emulate the author's unique style. It is truly |
| skills, but in a true to life setting. You can find | | | | amazing the quality of the writing you will get |
| great mentor texts using picture books. | | | | from your child if you use this method. |
| When you go to the library, use the expertise of | | | | |