Resources
Suggested Student Readings
Utilize your library and librarian for mentor texts in addition to your classroom library, grade level collections and anthologies. To grow your personal collection in a budget friendly manner, make regular trips to Goodwill and other thrift stores and your local dollar store. Team up with colleagues to share/swap materials. Don’t forget periodicals, newspapers and a wealth of online resources, too. Some suggestions are: Cricket Media (multiple), Time for Kids, National Geographic Kids, Stone Soup, Ranger Rick, Zoobooks, Sports Illustrated Kids, and Highlights. Book recommendations contain nonfiction and realistic fiction choices. The realistic fiction sources were included to utilize resources teachers may already have that closely mimic nonfiction, illustrate aspects of the writing process or tackle difficult topics for younger students. While you should always check for age appropriate content and language, don’t be afraid to read higher level books aloud to young students so they can listen to well crafted writing, and don’t be afraid to use picture books with older students. Seek examples that both mirror existing cultures in your classroom and introduce new ones, too. Ask your students to look for their own examples to share with the class to analyze for good writing qualities. Focus more on excerpts that meet your topic than the complete text. See Annotated Bibliography for specific recommendations.
Suggested Teacher Readings
Read essays, they are the antidote to teachers’ lack of time ailments. Utilize the same sources for yourself that you do for students; borrow, share, sample. Go on Amazon and use the preview features (try the free kindle reader app for your computer) to read passages from different authors and genres. Use bibliography/reference sections from your readings to discover new directions (teach this to students, also.) The annotated unit bibliography below is a good starting place.
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