Writing with Mentors: How to Reach Every Writer in the Room Using Current, Engaging Mentor Texts

While the idea of writing with mentors isn't a new one, I found this book to really make this teaching strategy accessible. This book differs from many of the other PD texts I've read in the sense that it really takes you through the process step-by-step. They talk about how to gather mentor texts, how to introduce mentor texts, how to teach kids to plan, write, revise and publish with mentor texts. For each of those categories, there are vignettes, detailed lesson plans, actual mentor texts, and troubleshooting for when things aren't going as planned. I've read SO many books with great ideas but then I find myself struggling to incorporate those ideas in my own classroom. This text leaves little room for confusion. I know exactly how I'm going to incorporate writing with mentors from day one.Another perk: a long list of mentor texts they've used! While I agree with their mentality of finding hot-off-the-press mentor texts, I do appreciate all the QR codes for the texts they've had success with in the past. I've spent many plan periods and endless nights searching for the perfect mentor text, and this book gives you a decent head start. I'm sure it will save me some time come this fall!What I liked best is that these women have truly thought of everything. Even when finishing other texts that I loved, I'd walk away with SO many more questions. In this case, every time a question popped up, it was answered shortly after. I wondered, "How did they incorporate grammar instruction?" Answered. And then, "But what if I want to incorporate grammar as a regular activity instead?" Boom, answered. What was especially helpful were the sections that covered "If a student says xxx, here's how to respond..." because we've all been there before. It was written in a progression that made sense to me, and I found it to be incredibly thoughtful. You can tell these authors are still in the classroom because of the realistic scenarios they presented and addressed.Sure, they pay homage to some other contemporary leaders in the field like Penny Kittle, Kelly Gallagher, and Jeff Anderson, but I didn't feel like any of it was redundant (and that's coming from someone who has already read many of the referenced works!) They'd make mention of how an idea was explored in full in another text and then move on. Money well spent, in my opinion!

This book is going to revolutionize my teaching! I have gotten so many amazing ideas from these authors. They give step by step instructions on how to run a writing workshop and use mentor texts to deepen students’ writing.

Excellent resource with practical and clear methodology, viable resource links, and primary source samples. Well written to inform, motivate, and empower teachers who want to empower their students. This is a book you’ll want to keep hand as a how-to resource.

I teach middle school English and this book is geared towards high school, particularly IB/AP English. I couldn't use many of the ideas or texts in my 6th grade class.

I've used a few of the exercises exactly as described with my college-prep 9th graders. The students were incredibly enthusiastic! I've also just been inspired by some of the methods described and used them as a basis for my own mentor text units. Overall, I think this book is worthwhile, especially for ELA teachers in grades 8-10. I'm surprised by some of the weak reviews. The ideas in this book have reinvigorated writing instruction in my classes.

Okay ... redundant and too obvious. Thought it might be a great tool for my classroom. Could have saved my money.

I have found this text, as well as Marchetti and O'Dell's website, to be incredibly helpful. I have been cautiously stepping my toes into the reading/writing workshop, and their work has helped guide me. While the first workshop I did this year came directly from Writing with Mentors, I felt confident enough to follow their plan and try it on my own for my second unit.One of the challenging aspects of using a mentor text model for workshop, in my opinion, is finding the mentor texts that kids will latch on to. In Writing with Mentors, teachers will find QR codes to nearly every text they mention! This makes reading their book and referencing the articles a breeze! They also offer some great advice for storing your own articles as you start to collect them, and they share their own collection with readers of MovingWriters.org.I'm still learning how to do what they are teaching, but I have already seen my classroom change and my approach to teaching writing morph for the better. I definitely recommend getting your highlighter and notebook ready as you read Writing with Mentors.

What a refreshing, new look at writing with mentor text. I've read a number of books in this area. Marchetti's ideas gave me a new perspective for collecting mentor text.