The Writing Thief: Using Mentor Texts to Teach the Craft of Writing

Price: $38.64
(as of Jun 16, 2021 03:30:14 UTC – Details)

It's been said that good writers borrow while great writers steal. Writing thieves read widely, dive deeply into texts, and steal bits and pieces from great texts as models for their own writing. Ruth Culham admits to being a writing thief—and she wants you and your students to become writing thieves, too!

A major part of good writing instruction is finding the right mentor texts to share with students. Within this book, you’ll discover more than 90 excellent mentor texts, along with straight-forward activities that incorporate the traits of writing across informational, narrative, and argument modes.

Chapters also include brief essays from beloved writing thieves such as Lester Laminack, David L. Harrison, Lisa Yee, Nicola Davies, Ralph Fletcher, Toni Buzzeo, Lola Schaefer, and Kate Messner, detailing the reading that has influenced their own writing.

Ruth's renowned easy-going style and friendly tone make this a book you'll turn to again and again as you guide your students to reach their full potential as deep, thoughtful readers and great writers. There's a writing thief in each of us when we learn how to read with a writer's eye!

From the Publisher

“Great writers steal.”

__________________________

T.S. Eliot has been attributed as saying, “Mediocre writers borrow. Great writers steal.” This book will show you how to help your students become writing thieves. Through Ruth’s friendly and practical guidance, The Writing Thief offers a foundational understanding about teaching writing and why using mentor texts is such a powerful teaching strategy. You’ll find more than 90 examples of picture books, chapter books, and everyday texts in each of the writing modes—informational, narrative, and argument (opinion)—that can be used to show students exactly what to try in their own writing to make it stronger. Ruth gladly invites all readers of this book to steal her writing thief moves!

Contents

Time to Rethink the Teaching of Writing

The Power of Mentor Texts

Informational Writing

Narrative Writing

Argument Writing

Reproducibles

Stenhouse Honors Teaching

Stenhouse provides quality professional learning resources by teachers, for teachers. All of Stenhouse’s resources, ranging from literacy and math instruction to classroom practice, are grounded in a philosophy of education that respects both teacher and learner. They are designed to integrate theory, research, and practice in an accessible manner, enhancing educators’ professional knowledge and building their students’ skills as readers, writers, and thinkers. Stenhouse is a subsidiary of Highlights for Children.

Publisher‏:‎Stenhouse Publishers (August 26, 2016)
Language‏:‎English
Paperback‏:‎206 pages
ISBN-10‏:‎1625311419
ISBN-13‏:‎978-1625311412
Grade level‏:‎2 – 5
Item Weight‏:‎1.05 pounds
Dimensions‏:‎7 x 0.55 x 9.25 inches

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