Fun-Size Academic Writing for Serious Learning: 101 Lessons & Mentor Texts--Narrative, Opinion/Argument, & Informative/Explanatory, Grades 4-9 (Corwin Literacy)

Many teachers have saved sample texts over time, but newer teachers or ELA teachers in a new grade or with a new curriculum may need additional texts. This book is based primarily on older elementary and middle school texts, but there are some great selections that you can use to guide your students. Sample texts also provide opportunities for instruction. I teach high school ELA and use resources from this text regularly.I'm glad I found this product. I hope it proves beneficial to you, as well.

I’m so excited to try these lessons with my students. I can use it for whole group, small group, and individual lessons! So easy to follow and everything is laid out beautifully.

The Common Core English Language Arts Standards put considerable emphasis on reading for information; it makes sense, in that most people need to do so as adults more often than they need to use those literature-reading skills, right? Professional Development sessions have focused this year on using mentor texts and mini-lessons to teach reading and writing.BUT... as a special education teacher with a wide spectrum of abilities, multiple grade levels, and a double-size class load, I've struggled to find text my middle schoolers can read and understand. I've tried using the grade-level texts that my colleagues in regular ed are using, but there's a whole lot going on with kids with Learning Disabilities that seems to be left out or ignored in those examples, not to mention the reading level that isn't even in the same zip code as my kids'.I just started using Fun-Size Academic Writing for Serious Learning with my kids and I'm cautiously optimistic. The essays are written by students at different grade levels, complete with misspellings and grammar gaffs, so it actually seems do-able to my kids. The What Writers Do part of the lesson has a specific focus, an objective for students to learn during the activity. During the Activity, the class analyzes what's good about the writing, the structure, word choices, punctuation, sentence type, literary devices - all those English-y type things teachers seem to love, but within the context of a real kid piece. The What This Writer Does part brings it all together for closure, the Big Picture moment. And when you get done with the activity, there are further suggestions for challenges and extensions. Wow!The 101 essays aren't all that's in the book, however. The Appendices at the end are quite helpful.Appendix A: 25 Ways to Use Great Student Essays (hopefully from the ones your students wrote) - some I'd never have thought of myself, such as making a labyrinth on the floor with corners holding examples such as extraordinary vocabulary, striking verbs, etc., and using it as a "walk" for students writing their own essays; or vocal color coding, listening to the first four words in every sentence, in alternating voices.Appendix B: Text Structures, a wonderful visual analysis of different types of text, such as Comparing Notes: 1.) some people think... 2.) and other people think... 3.) But I think... 4.) What that tells me. Yes, it's template-y, but for a number of learners, it's precisely what they need to be able to become the kind of writer/reader/thinker we're trying to get to.Appendix C: Lessons by Writing Trait and Level of Difficulty, cross-referenced so that you can find, for instance, Word Choice lessons at basic, intermediate, and/or advanced levels for differentiated instruction.I wish I'd found this book earlier in the year. I'm glad to have found it at all, though, and will continue with it to see if it's as promising as it seems. If so, I'll come back to update.

This book is full of great lessons with mentor texts. The publisher even provides a companion website with resources including printable pdfs of the mentor texts to print for in class use. This makes the option of getting this as an ebook even more appealing. It is organized very well and provides excellent student centered writing lessons. Excellent choice for any Grade 4-9 Writing teacher.

This book is an excellent source for teaching writing to your students who struggle. Great lessons and examples that cover a wide range of common core writing standards

This book is amazing! Very simple to use, without a ton of extra stuff in the way. Each lesson has a short write up, a one page student sample, and a structure guide to help students break it down. Also, each lesson is manageable for students because it is in small chunks. I just got it, and have already recommended it to my entire dept!

I am a 2nd grade teacher. I was able to use the models given per the different type of writing styles and use them over and over on lower simpler reading material at my students skill level. This book is 100 times better than the Grammar book when it comes to writing. Mr. Matt

The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is that the informational writing section is not what I'd expected. It's more like reading responses. Otherwise, this is a GREAT resource and I am very excited to be able to use it for a full school year next year! Thanks for a great resource for those of us who don't have a writing curriculum, it's a lifesaver!