• Home
  • Membership
  • Master Mentor Sentences
    • Mentor Sentences for K-2
    • Mentor Sentences for 3-5
  • Courses
    • K-2 Course Login
    • 3-5 Course Login
    • Master Mentor Sentences Course
    • Interactive Read Alouds
    • FREE 1-2 Mentor Text Course
    • FREE 3-5 Mentor Texts Course
  • Shop
    • My Account on Jivey’s Site
    • Shop Jivey’s Site
    • Join the Mentor Text Membership
    • Shop on TpT
    • Mentor Texts on Amazon
  • About
    • Meet Jivey
    • Disclosure & Affiliate Policy
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • 0 items
  • Ideas by Jivey

    Jivey shares ideas and lessons to make literacy accessible for all.

    • Shop
    • Master Mentor Sentences
      • Mentor Sentences for K-2
      • Mentor Sentences for 3-5
    • Maximize Time With Mentor Texts
    • Vivid Vocabulary
    • Close Reading
    3-5, Mentor Texts

    Why I Love Using Mentor Texts All Year (And You Should, Too!)

    July 29, 2021

    Share
    Pin
    Tweet

    Teachers know that using literature is the perfect way to introduce a lesson, but starting EVERY lesson with a new book would make it impossible to teach all of the required standards! That’s why it’s important to use mentor texts: a short text like a picture book (fiction or nonfiction), a chapter from a novel, an article, a song, or a poem, which can be used to teach several skills.

    Mentor Texts

    Using mentor texts is a best-practice strategy that maximizes your teaching time. You’ll have more time to teach because once you’ve read the book one time, you only need to re-read or refer back to parts of it for your different mini-lessons.

    And best of all, a well-chosen mentor text will be enjoyable to read, and one you will want to return to over and over!

    Choosing Mentor Texts

    When choosing mentor texts, you’ll want to find models that inspire students to practice a few skills.

    It’s typically easy to identify reading standards that can be addressed with a book, but make sure to step back and look at the book with a writing eye, too.

    A good mentor text will always have writing and language techniques that students can imitate. (This is another reason why using picture books is SO important, even in upper grades!)

    More Bang For Your Buck

    Of course, it’s a bonus when you can tie in another content area, too!

    It’s so great when you find a book that also incorporates some science, social studies, math, or even social-emotional skills!

    A new favorite of mine does just that! You do not want to miss the book, Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds. (This link is an Amazon affiliate link- if you use it to purchase the book, I earn a few pennies which I put toward book giveaways for teachers, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra!)

    Say Something by Peter Reynolds

    In this empowering picture book, students will discover the many ways that a single voice can make a difference with our actions, our words, and our voices.

    This book can be used for SO many skills across all content areas!

    Peter Reynolds writes this book almost entirely in conditional statements (these are sentences with dependent clauses beginning with “If,” followed by an independent clause with advice or directions). This is the PERFECT way to help students practice writing conditionals, as it’s been modeled over and over for them in this book.

    Say Something Mentor Sentence Conditional

    There is also a VERY clear message in this book. Students can identify key details in the text to determine the message.

    Say Something Reading Details

    (Want this lesson for free? Receive it directly in your inbox by clicking here!)

    And of course, what better way to reflect the message than to show students that even kids can make a difference when they say something? Allow students time to learn about famous young people like Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, or Mari Copeny, just to name a few. I like to provide an article that can be used for more reading comprehension practice, like the one below about Mari Copeny and the Michigan Water Crisis, but you can also let them practice their research skills to learn about them, too.

    There is so much more that can be done with this book and topic!! I have an entire mentor text unit that provides a week of explicit lessons and activities for reading, writing, and grammar:

    Say Something Mentor Text Unit by Ideas by Jivey

    This unit is a part of my Mentor Text Club: Second Edition, where teachers get a weeklong mentor text unit once a month which THEY get to have input, and even WIN the mentor text for their classroom! This club is NOT a membership- it is a one-time purchase and then all 12 weeklong units are yours to use year after year.

    Want even more ideas for mentor text integration?

    I have a FREE database where I have listed all of the mentor texts I’ve used in my resources, as well as all the skills covered with those books. Check it out!

    Share
    Pin
    Tweet
    by Jessica Ivey 

    About Jessica Ivey

    View all posts by Jessica Ivey

    Related Posts

    • Never Smile at a Monkey! Close Reading Practice
    • Mentor Sentences Data: Case Study
    • Growing Readers and Writers with Mentor Texts
    • Mentor texts should be used to teach multiple skills and subjects to engage students and maximize teaching time.The Ultimate Guide to Mentor Texts for Teachers
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Welcome!

    Welcome!

    Hi, I'm Jessica, also affectionately known as Jivey! I am passionate about making literacy accessible for all students using research-based strategies. Students learn best through content integration and in-context skills, and my goal is to help you deliver your instruction with these best practices!

    Looking for something?

    SHOP

    SHOP

    Recent Posts

    • Integrating Primary Sources into Language Arts Lessons
    • Teaching Grammar that Supports the Science of Reading
    • Teaching Text Structure With Picture Books
    • Planning a Language Arts Schedule (How To Fit It All In!)
    • Mentor Sentences Routine: Break It Down (Assessment)

    Facebook

    Ideas By Jivey

    1 day ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    😍How can you not love reading comprehension activities that keep the students' interest piqued while practicing close reading to compare and build knowledge to integrate information and draw conclusions!?💻All of my paired text sets are ready to be used in printable or digital format!💾 Check out this economics set: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Paired-Texts-Print-Digital-Economics-Grades-3-5-2776506 ... See MoreSee Less

    Photo

    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    Ideas By Jivey

    2 days ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    💡 It's time for a fresh, integrated approach to teaching grammar! 🚀 This free webinar will show you how to transform your ELA lessons using mentor sentences - a proven best practice. Say goodbye to ineffective teaching methods and hello to practical application that really works. Register now: members.ideasbyjivey.com/crash-course-registration-page ... See MoreSee Less

    Photo

    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    Ideas By Jivey

    3 days ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    🐟Are you a first- or second-grade teacher who teaches about ecosystems and/or animals? 🐸 Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner is SUCH a great book to use for a true ELA-Science integration!! 🐢The unit I created for this one aligns life science (ecosystems, and classifying and describing animals) with shared research, using text and pictures to learn, as well as writing with vivid verbs and prepositions!👉Check it out here: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Over-and-Under-the-Pond-Life-Science-Integration-Mentor-Text-... ... See MoreSee Less

    Photo

    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    Pinterest

    Instagram

    😍How can you not love reading comprehension act 😍How can you not love reading comprehension activities that keep the students' interest piqued while practicing close reading to compare and build knowledge to integrate information and draw conclusions!?

💻All of my paired text sets are ready to be used in printable or digital format!

💾 Check out this economics set at the link in my profile.

#ideasbyjivey #iteach345 #teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #upperelementary #pairedtexts #pairedpassages #teachingreading

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Paired-Texts-Print-Digital-Economics-Grades-3-5-2776506
    💡 It's time for a fresh, integrated approach to 💡 It's time for a fresh, integrated approach to teaching grammar! 

🚀 This free webinar will show you how to transform your ELA lessons using mentor sentences - a proven best practice. Say goodbye to ineffective teaching methods and hello to practical application that really works. 

Register at the link in my profile!

#ideasbyjivey #mentorsentences #freetrainings #teachertraining #teacherPD #teachinggrammar #grammarteachers
https://members.ideasbyjivey.com/crash-course-registration-page
    🐟Are you a first- or second-grade teacher who t 🐟Are you a first- or second-grade teacher who teaches about ecosystems and/or animals? 🐸 Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner is SUCH a great book to use for a true ELA-Science integration!! 

🐢The unit I created for this one aligns life science (ecosystems, and classifying and describing animals) with shared research, using text and pictures to learn, as well as writing with vivid verbs and prepositions!

👉Check it out at the link in my profile! 

#ideasbyjivey #iteach1st #iteach2nd #mentortext #scienceteacher #2ndgradescience #1stgradescience  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Over-and-Under-the-Pond-Life-Science-Integration-Mentor-Text-Unit-Grades-1-2-9078283
    📚 I'm excited to be back for another #MentorTex 📚 I'm excited to be back for another #MentorTextMonday! Today, I'm highlighting The Kindest Red- the sequel to The Proudest Blue by Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad.

❤️ This heartwarming book provides excellent lessons on themes and acts of kindness. ❤️ 

✍️ Thinking about integrating this #picturebook into your curriculum? Head to my TPT store for the last club unit I created (link in bio) that will help teach students about theme, crafting 5-paragraph essays, spreading kindness, and properly using commas in a series. 

#mentortexts #KindnessMatters #ideasbyjivey #iteach345 #iteach3rd #iteach4th #iteach5th 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Kindest-Red-Mentor-Text-Unit-for-Grades-3-5-Teaching-Theme-Kindness-9560190
    📝 Bored of traditional grammar teaching? Your s 📝 Bored of traditional grammar teaching? Your students are too! 

🌟 Come see how to implement a game-changing method that will engage your students and make your grammar lessons stick in this FREE crash course. 

🔮 No workbooks, no PowerPoints, no fancy anchor charts! Intrigued? Sign up at the link in my profile! 

#ideasbyjivey #mentorsentences #freetraining #freewebinar #grammarteacher #professionaldevelopment 

https://members.ideasbyjivey.com/crash-course-registration-page
    😬 Stop the cringe. Start using the fun, resea 😬 Stop the cringe. 

Start using the fun, research-based routine THAT WORKS in K-5 classrooms!

🤓Check out the free webinar to get started!! 
Link in profile @ideasbyjivey 

#ideasbyjivey #teachersfollowteachers #mentorsentences #teachersofinstagram #grammarteacher #teachinggrammar #freePD #teachertraining #freeprofessionaldevelopment

https://members.ideasbyjivey.com/crash-course-registration-page
    🤓Using high-quality sentences from literature t 🤓Using high-quality sentences from literature to illustrate grammar and writing conventions and to serve as examples of effective writing is PROVEN to provide a more engaging and effective learning experience! 

📚 Head to the link in my profile to read about this practical, meaningful approach to teaching writing and grammar to move away from traditional, isolated grammar instruction and toward understanding how grammar works within the context of actual writing!

#ELATeaching #MentorSentences #ideasbyjivey #teachinggrammar #grammarteacher #teachertips #teachersfollowteachers 

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/routine
    🌟Teachers everywhere are seeing just how powerf 🌟Teachers everywhere are seeing just how powerful it is to use mentor sentences for teaching grammar and author's craft!

🖊️Watch your students' writing skills and grammar comprehension bloom as they learn directly from the talented authors of all your favorite books.

🔎Explore #mentorsentences for your grade level by clicking on the categories along the left side of my TPT store (link in profile)!

#fabulousfeedback #ideasbyjivey #teacherspayteachers #mentorsentence #GamechangingGrammar #picturebooks #iteachtoo #teachingrevolution #childrensliterature #educationaltools 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ideas-By-Jivey
    ❓ Did you know I offer a FREE crash course for m ❓ Did you know I offer a FREE crash course for mentor sentences?

⏰ And I've opened it so that you can access it immediately! (That means no saving the date, schedule conflicts, etc... watch it now, or use the link you'll receive in your email to watch it later!)

Register at the link in my profile! 

#ideasbyjivey #mentorsentences #freeprofessionaldevelopment #freewebinar #teachergram #teachersfollowteachers 
https://members.ideasbyjivey.com/crash-course-registration-page
    Load More... Follow on Instagram

    Copyright © 2023 · Prima Donna theme by Georgia Lou Studios

    Copyright © 2023 · Prima Donna on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

    This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See full disclosure here.​

    accept

    This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
    See full disclosure here.​

    accept