A mentor is someone who models, coaches, and lifts another to higher level. In a similar way, mentor texts model, coach, and lift students' writing to a higher level. We are in need of exemplary, beautifully written, engaging, rich texts to study. Please help us crack open the author's craft!
My school is considered "high poverty", and many students come from disadvantaged homes.
As someone who came from a disadvantaged background, I feel motivated, every day, to set high expectations for my students. I believe that every child can learn, and every child can succeed if we give them the tools they need to soar to new heights. Through rigorous lessons, inquiry-based learning, and a simulated virtual United States tour, I strive to provide my students with the best I can give. That, of course, involves a whole lot of love, sweat, and tears. It also takes a lot of my own money. Our school is not able to provide teachers with ANY money to buy materials. In fact, we may not be able to go on any field trips beginning next year due to funding deficits. (It's a sad reality.) Please help me to provide my students with high quality books that will help them become better readers and writers! Thank you in advance!
My Project
My third grade students learn how to write personal narratives, fiction, essays, nonfiction "All- About" books, memoirs, literary responses, and reviews during their time in my classroom. Primarily, I use Lucy Calkin's "Units of Study" to guide my instruction. In Writer's Workshop, the students are explicitly taught skills and concepts through mini-lessons. They are carefully scaffolded to begin independent writing, and they are given opportunities for peer review and collaboration throughout each unit. At the end of each unit of study, the students participate in an Author's Celebration that celebrates their growth and proficiency as writers.
The Writer's Workshop hinges on the use of high-quality mentor texts. Students use mentor texts to learn about word choice, white space, the placement of words on each page, conventions, rhythm, cadence, powerful leads, strong endings, and dialogue. Mentor texts also teach students how to evoke a response from readers and make an impact.
Not only will this project greatly impact my students' writing, it will also directly impact reading instruction.
During Reading Workshop, the students learn how to use their schema (or background knowledge), infer, make connections, determine importance, synthesize, use metacognition, make predictions, and visualize as they read. In my experience, these reading strategies GREATLY improve comprehension and engagement. Quality literature yields in-depth studies and great results!
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Nickerson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.