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  • Ideas by Jivey

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

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    Mentor Texts

    Using Mentor Texts: Dreamers

    October 14, 2019

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    Use the mentor text, Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, to lead an anti-racist lesson on the gifts and beauty of latinx immigrants. Free download included. #mentortext #diversementortexts #weneeddiversementortexts #3rdgrade #4thgrade #5thgrade

    This post is dedicated to Jorge Calvillo Garcia. He was one of the 22 victims in the terrorist attack in El Paso on August 3, 2019. Jorge was at the WalMart to support his granddaughter’s soccer team’s fundraiser. As the gunman approached the soccer team, Jorge stepped between him and his granddaughter and her teammates. He lost his life protecting young children.

    When I heard that the shooter was only 21 years old, I couldn’t help but wonder, had he been exposed to anti-racist lessons that modeled acceptance? Had he learned that the Latinx people, who he specifically targeted, were people with beautiful cultures and gifts?

    You might read that phrase above, “anti-racist lessons” and think, well I don’t teach racist lessons! Of course not. But do you have dialogue with your students about race and other cultures? Do you expose students to races and cultures through literature and other media that represent children in your classroom, but also represent those who they might not have daily interactions? It is not enough to not be a racist. Silence on these important issues just might be exactly what allowed the hate of the Latinx people to fester in the shooter’s heart. Check out this article from EdWeek about ways we can teach important life lessons in our classroom.

    We can no longer be silent.

    This post is one of twenty-two that will share lessons, books, research, anecdotes, and helpful articles to guide you in your next steps. It’s time to talk racism, and we want to make sure you can do it well. Bookmark this link to visit all 22 posts this month.

    The links to the book in this post are affiliate links. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and Amazon shares a few pennies with me for sending you their way, which I put toward giveaways for my followers.

    Using Mentor Texts

    Mentor texts are the perfect tool to teach mini-lessons over several standards and skills across subjects, and also provide a way to teach the required content while representing races, cultures, family dynamics, and other differences that make diversity so beautiful. Read more about the importance of diverse mentor texts here.

    A beautiful mentor text called Dreamers that was just published in 2018 by Yuyi Morales, a Mexican-American author, tells the story of what happened after she immigrated here with her two-month-old son and came upon the most wondrous place- the public library! She learned English and also discovered her love of story-telling through the beautiful picture books in this place of amor. It’s a reminder that we all have gifts and we take them with us wherever we go.

    Dreamers Lesson Ideas

    The word count of Dreamers by Yuyi Morales may make you think this book isn’t appropriate to read to upper grades, however, the words Yuyi uses are high-level vocabulary. Words like resplendent, immigrants, ancestors, suspicious, improbable, and resilience would make great context clue and reference skills lessons.

    Use the mentor text, Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, to lead an anti-racist lesson on the gifts and beauty of latinx immigrants. Free download included. #mentortext #diversementortexts #weneeddiversementortexts #3rdgrade #4thgrade #5thgrade

    The art in the book is beautiful (make sure to point out to students that Yuyi wrote AND illustrated the book) and you could study each page for several minutes to learn even more about her life and what she feels is important. One thing that appears on every page is a monarch butterfly. Monarch butterflies are migratory insects, living in both Mexico and the United States. The butterfly is a great example of symbolism- connecting Yuyi and the monarch as Mexican-American migrants.

    Use the mentor text, Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, to lead an anti-racist lesson on the gifts and beauty of latinx immigrants. Free download included. #mentortext #diversementortexts #weneeddiversementortexts #3rdgrade #4thgrade #5thgrade

    The themes of the book revolve around determination, resilience, and hope. Students can support these themes with evidence in the art and the words of the text. Yuyi arrived without English and learned to speak it, in spite of mistakes. The library became a place of hope for her, a home for her. She learned to read and also learned to have her own voice. It is where she figured out she loved stories and storytelling, and drove her to become an author.

    Use the mentor text, Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, to lead an anti-racist lesson on the gifts and beauty of latinx immigrants. Free download included. #mentortext #diversementortexts #weneeddiversementortexts #3rdgrade #4thgrade #5thgrade

    Make sure to also read the author’s note at the end, where she shares about her life and the reason she wrote the book. This will lead to several opportunities for personal narrative writing, as students can reflect on their own dreams and gifts, and even places that are special and important to them.

    Use the mentor text, Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, to lead an anti-racist lesson on the gifts and beauty of latinx immigrants. Free download included. #mentortext #diversementortexts #weneeddiversementortexts #3rdgrade #4thgrade #5thgradeYou can download activities for the mentor text, Dreamers by Yuyi Morales for free here.

    You can also read more ideas to go with the book from the author herself here.

    Easing Discomfort

    I hope that the ideas I’ve shared using this mentor text help ease any discomfort you may have about including anti-racist lessons in your classroom. Simple exposure and helping students connect to others as humans is a great first step. I know that sometimes we worry too much about saying the wrong thing, or not knowing how to answer a question that may arise, but silence is not the answer. It’s okay to not know. It’s okay to make mistakes and then share that growth with your students as you learn. We must take steps to do the right thing for the future of our world. You could be the one that makes the difference in a child’s heart. You could be the one that helps a student learn that differences are beautiful. You could be the one to plant the seed of acceptance.

    Click here to read more about what happened in El Paso, and more about this special blogger event.

    PIN FOR LATER
    Use the mentor text, Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, to lead an anti-racist lesson on the gifts and beauty of latinx immigrants. Free download included. #mentortext #diversementortexts #weneeddiversementortexts #3rdgrade #4thgrade #5thgrade

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    by Jessica Ivey 

    About Jessica Ivey

    View all posts by Jessica Ivey

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    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!

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    • Teaching Grammar that Supports the Science of Reading
    • Teaching Text Structure With Picture Books
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    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

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    🐟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

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    📚 I'm excited to be back for another Mentor Text Monday! 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. ❤️ 📖 Amazon affiliate link for the book: amzn.to/3MqEFgx✍️ Thinking about integrating this picture book into your curriculum? Head to my TPT store for the last club unit I created that will help teach students about theme, crafting 5-paragraph essays, spreading kindness, and properly using commas in a series. www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Kindest-Red-Mentor-Text-Unit-for-Grades-3-5-Teaching-Them... ... See MoreSee Less

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    💡 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 

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    😬 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

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    🤓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 

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    🌟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 

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    ❓ 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 
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    📚Back for another #MentorTextMonday that celebr 📚Back for another #MentorTextMonday that celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

🌱The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Sophia Gholz is a true story about a boy who transforms a barren wasteland into a thriving forest by planting trees on his island home in India's Brahmaputra River. 

🌳If you're looking for a way to incorporate this book into your curriculum, check out the unit in my TPT store at the link in my profile! This inspiring #picturebook can be used to teach students about social responsibility and community activism while also covering skills like problem/solution text structure, citing evidence, comparing the book to a firsthand account, vocabulary, and more!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Boy-Who-Grew-a-Forest-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Unit-8022666
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