Mentor Author, Mentor Texts: Short Texts, Craft Notes, and Practical Classroom Uses

As I travel all over the United States working with K-12 writing teachers, I always use mentor texts (frequently those written by Ralph Fletcher). We know, mentor texts are the ultimate way to teach and model what strong writing looks and sounds like. Mr. Fletcher has provided us with the best tool ever! In his newest creation, Fletcher gives us short pieces of writing which model for our students (and us) the different crafts to emulate in our own writing. This book's simplicity is ingenious and I wish I had thought of it. He has provided a sample of mulitple genres and skills. Mentor Author, Mentor Texts will make you and your students want to pick up a pencil and WRITE. Cudos to you Mr. Fletcher. Well done!

As a long time reader of Ralph Fletcher's work, I was eager to get my hands on this resource as soon as he mentioned it to me during a school visit earlier this year. On the day the book arrived, I tore open the box, sat down, and gobbled up the wealth of opportunity offered by this work. In addition to the mentor pieces being relevant, interesting, and thought-provoking for my students, Mr. Fletcher has offered a peek inside the writer's brain for how each was crafted. Without over doing the explanation, he simply offers a "nugget" for the students to notice and think about. Already this school year, my fifth graders are talking more about initiating, structuring, and crafting writing than I have ever experienced before.Don't pass over "By Way of Introducing Myself." This introductory section speaks openly and honestly to students about the purpose behind these mentor pieces and puts the power of learning in their hands.If you believe in nurturing young writers by sharing great mentor pieces, discussing what they notice, and allowing them to have a go at some new understanding, then don't pass this resource by. Pick it up, you will not be disappointed!

Aha! What a great way for the author to let you experience his thoughts. It's understanding the process that creates such good writing that makes me appreciate the final result even more. Just retired after 38 years in education and have used Ralph Fletcher's writing books for lesson planning and his other books for student literature circles.

Great Author and resource

This is a solid book for teachers with useful and practical ideas for helping kids to write. Great examples of text for different writing focuses. Highly recommended.

Mentor texts are just what middle school students need for successful writing. I needed some more example for my students so I purchased this book.

One of my favorite teaching tools. A must have for every writing teacher middle school and up. The best of mentor texts!

Quite useful for my 8th grade classroom!