The Importance of Teaching with Mentor Texts

• Writing
• 5th Grade

The Importance of Teaching with Mentor Texts

The principle of learning from experts in the field

Teaching with mentor texts leverages the principle that learning is best achieved by observing experts.

What do you already know about using mentor texts in writing instruction?

Steps for teaching with mentor texts

Gathering relevant texts, annotating them for teaching points, immersing students in the texts, and using them to teach specific writing conventions or craft techniques.

The process of immersion in mentor texts

Immersion is a teaching method where students are introduced to and engage deeply with mentor texts.

Selecting and using mentor texts for writing instruction

Inviting students to study and apply writing techniques demonstrated in mentor texts.

The role of visual and aural memory in learning from mentor texts

Enhancing students' writing skills by using mentor texts, which becomes intuitive over time.

Definition List

Mentor Texts: Books or passages used as exemplary models for writing instruction.
Immersion: A teaching method where students are introduced to and engage deeply with mentor texts.
Craft Technique: A specific writing strategy or method demonstrated in a mentor text.
Annotation: The process of marking a text with notes or comments to highlight teaching points.
Visual and Aural Memory: The cognitive systems that allow students to remember and learn from what they see and hear.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.